 One of the original ideas for the script before its many revisions  called for Barbra to be a very strong, charismatic character.  Instead, Romero and the producers loved Judith ODea (qv)s  portrayal as a catatonic and terrified young girl much better, and  hence edited the script to accommodate the part. Eventually, the  idea of Barbara being a strong, central character would be revisited  in Tom Savini (qv)s 1990 remake.