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EVIL
DEAD PREMIERES |
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EVIL
DEAD PREMIERES |
US PREMIERE 15 October 1981 Redford Theatre, Detroit Michigan
 Sam Raimi (l) and Ethan Coen (r) at the premiere |
For the US premiere
the film was shown under its original shooting title, 'The Book of the
Dead'. The final reel was delivered to the theatre by Raimi's close friend
Ethan Coen who arrived from New York just in time for the screening.
Ethan's brother Joel had served as the Editor for the film. the Coen
brothers would go on to be Oscar winning film-makers themselves but not
before collaborating with Raimi again, firstly by co-scripting Raimi's
second movie CRIMEWAVE
(1983), then Raimi served as
co-writer for the Coen's own project THE HUDSUCKER PROXY (1994), with Raimi also acting as second unit director
Click here to see two original ticket stubs from this premiere! |
EUROPEAN PREMIERE May 1982 Cannes International Film Festival
The film was most significantly taken to the Cannes Film Festival in May of 1982. It was here that the film garnered the reputation that was to follow it to this day thanks to the attention given by horror/fantasy writer Stephen King who referred to the film as "...ferociously original..." and "...a black rainbow of horror...".
Here the film was bought for distribution by Films Around the World representative Irvin Shapiro. With the film's commercial potential now recognised, largely due to the quotes given by Stephen King, the film's title was shortened to the more paletable 'The Evil Dead'. US distribution was then subsequently sold to New Line Cinema.
UK PREMIERE October 1982 London Film Festival
The first time the film was premiered under its new title of 'The Evil Dead'.It recieved rave reviews for its originality and visual style. This movie had a buzz around it before it came to Britain thanks mainly to the quotes made by Stephen King in a review of the film submitted to the November 1982 issue of 'Twilight Zone' magazine. It was this article that carried the now famous quotes that parade gracefully on almost every video cover and poster for the film.
Click here to read the soundtrack CD cover notes by Stephen King
Other Release dates
WEST GERMAN NATIONWIDE RELEASE
10 February 1984 - General Release
FRENCH NATIONWIDE RELEASE
24 August 1983 - General Release