Dawn of the Dead  

Dir George Romero / 1978 / USA

ZOMBIE - DAWN OF THE DEAD (Argento's cut) was the first version to be submitted to the Australian censors. This 3252.00mtr (118m 52s) print was refused registration in November 1978 due to excessive violence.

In October 1979 a 3368.50mtr (123m 07s) print was submitted and again banned for excessive violence. Despite being described as the 'Soft Version', this was in fact Romero's cut of the film. An appeal to the Review Board in November 1979 was unsuccessful. 

The distributor then produced a 3338.50mtr (122m 01s) print, described as the 'Reconstructed Soft Version'. The film was still too much for the censors who banned it again in December 1979.

It was finally passed with an R rating in February 1980, 15 months after its initial submission, in a version described as the '2nd Reconstructed Soft Version'. The submitted print ran 3323.60mtr (121m 29s), but was further cut by 10.7mtr (23s) by the censors for excessive violence. This means the print that was eventually rated R ran 3312.90mtr (121m 05s), 2m 02s shorter than its original submission. Note that the quote from CP listed below seems to have an error in its final calculation of the cuts.

Here is how Cinema Papers magazine reported on the films eventual R rating.

The cutting of Dawn of the Dead, however, was much more complicated. There is some confusion in that a footnote in the October 1979 listings states the film was originally submitted for censorship in November 1978 under the title Zombie - Dawn of the Dead is credited to "D.Argento/A.Cuerno, Italy" and at length 3252mtr. Dawn of the Dead in the October 1979 listing is credited to "R.Rubenstein/Laurel Group, U.S." and running 3368.50mtr. This would suggest the complier of the censorship lists has made an error:
(i) Why would an Italian film suddenly become an American?; and
(ii) If the film had been banned at 3252m, why would it be re-submitted at the longer length of 3368.50m?

Anyway, after being banned in October 1979, an appeal was lodged in November 1979; it was rejected. A new version at 3338.50m was re-submitted in December 1979, but rejected. Cut once more, and now only 3323.50m, the film was passed "R" in February 1980, but only after an additional 10.7m was deleted. So the final version runs 3302.9m, or 2mins 20secs shorter than the original.

In retrospect this is not as confusing as it looks. We now know that Dario Argento edited a shorter version for the European market, whilst George Romero produced a longer,  one for the U.S. So it looks like Australia was set to have Argento's cut, only for it to be later replaced by Romero's.

In March 1983 it was banned once more. This time in a 90min (v) version submitted by Risis Ethnic Video. The title was listed as ZOMBIE - DAWN OF THE DEAD.

It would take until June 1985 for the censors to finally pass the Romero's version uncut. CBS/Fox received an R18+ for a 125m (v) tape. This particular release was issued with two different covers by CBS/Fox. 

There is a 'No Name Label' VHS release from around 2000. Thanks to Craig P for checking out this tape. He says that despite the 126m listed on the box, it clocks in around 139m. This would seem to indicate that it is taken from a dub of a U.S. DVD or laser disc. The cover features a poorly drawn picture of a zombie.

This made its Australian DVD debut in August 2004 on the Umbrella Entertainment label. This particular release runs 126m 59s, and was classified R18+ (MEDIUM LEVEL VIOLENCE) in July 2004. 

In May 2006, Umbrella Entertainment released the film once more as a box set titled TRILOGY OF THE DEAD. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and DAY OF THE DEAD are also included.

DAWN OF THE DEAD: EXTENDED VERSION was rated R18+ (Blood and gore, High impact horror violence) on June 30th 2009. Umbrella Entertainment plan to release this 328min DVD.

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Day of the Dead

Dir George Romero / 1985 / USA

Like its predecessor, Romero's follow-up to DAWN OF THE DEAD also ran into problems with our censors. February 1986 saw Hoyts Distribution have a 102m (f) print Refused. The reason given was:
Violence
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

There does not seem to be any record of this having been censored, so presumably a theatrical release never took place.

April 1986 saw the censors pass the documentary Scream Greats Volume 1-Tom Savini. This contains just about all of the most graphic violence that is contained in DAY OF THE DEAD.

June 1986 saw the film banned again. CBS/Fox Video had the 102m (f) print again Refused for:
Violence
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

The fully uncut 97m (v) version was finally passed with an R18+ rating in November 1988. The reason given was:
Violence
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium 
Purpose: Gratuitous
Other: Graphic Horror

Roadshow Home Video released it soon after on video on their Premiere label. The cover uses an image from the 1985 film RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD. The cover also proudly states * Banned in Queensland *. This would have been one of the last titles to sport such advertising. The Goss Labor Government came to power in late 1989, and the Queensland's Films Board of Review (in place since 1974), was soon abandoned.

According to the Chopping List site.

"The Australian OFLC had intended a cut version to be released, according to a letter John Dickie sent to me in the 1990s. However, the full uncut version was put out on VHS rental by the Premier label, much to the delight of horror fans."

Force Video gave the film a DVD release in 2001. A second disc appeared in 2006 as part of Umbrella Entertainment's TRILOGY OF THE DEAD box set. It also includes NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and DAWN OF THE DEAD.

Umbrella Entertainment had the DVD rated R18+ (High Level Horror Violence, Blood and Gore) on March 9th 2007. It was released the following month.

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