It ’s hard to imagine a gentle , soft - spoken , small fry ’s training advocate like Fred Rogers sit down to enjoy a gory , violent zombie movie likeDawn of the Dead . But it really aligns utterly with Rogers ’s stain of thoughtfulness — he check out the flick to show his support for up - and - get film producer George Romero , whose first paying line was with everyone ’s best-loved neighbor .
“ Fred was the first guy who trust me enough to hire me to in reality shoot film , ” Romerosaid . As a young humankind just out of college , Romero honed his filmmaking accomplishment making a serial publication of unforesightful segment forMister Rogers ’ Neighborhood , creating a dozen or so titles such as “ How Lightbulbs Are Made ” and “ Mr. Rogers Gets a Tonsillectomy . ” The zombie kingconsidersthe latter his first self-aggrandizing production , shot in a operate hospital : “ I still jest that ' Mr. Rogers Gets a Tonsillectomy ' is the shivery moving-picture show I ’ve ever made . What I really think of is that I was scared sh*tless while I was trying to draw in it off . ”
Romero went on to create his zombie conglomerate several days later , and hesaysRogers was costless . " He came and get it on it . He was always a huge supporter over the years . " In fact , say Romero , Rogers calledDawn of the Dead“a lot of fun . ” Although he endure Romero ’s project , Rogers would n’t compromise the effigy of his casting for them .
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" I in the first place wanted a local actress distinguish Betty Aberlin , who was Lady Aberlin onMister Rogers ' Neighborhood , ” RomerotoldtheMontreal Gazette . " He would n’t grant that . I in the beginning wanted to use her in the role of Barbra [ inNight of the Living Dead ] and Fred put his foot down and say no . " ( Thoughhere , he says he wanted Aberlin to bring Judy . )
Even so , Romerodoesn’t begrudgeRogers the casting decision : “ He was a beautiful cat . He was the sweetest man I ever know . What you see is what you get . That was Fred . He was dedicated to educating kids and separate them ‘ There ’s nothing faulty with you . I wish you just the way you are . ’ ”
