The City of the Dead (1960)

A young coed (Nan Barlow) uses her winter vacation to research a paper on witchcraft in New England. Her professor recommends that she spend her time in a small village called Whitewood. He... See full summary »

Director:

John Llewellyn Moxey

Writers:

George Baxt (screenplay), Milton Subotsky (story)

Stars:

Dennis Lotis, Christopher Lee, Patricia Jessel

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dennis Lotis	...	Richard Barlow
Christopher Lee	...	Alan Driscoll
Patricia Jessel	...	Elizabeth Selwyn / Mrs. Newless
Tom Naylor	...	Bill Maitland
Betta St. John	...	Patricia Russell
Venetia Stevenson	...	Nan Barlow
Valentine Dyall	...	Jethrow Keane
Ann Beach	...	Lottie
Norman Macowan	...	Reverend Russell
Fred Johnson	...	The Elder
James Dyrenforth	...	Garage Attendant (as Jimmy Dyrenforth)
Maxine Holden	...	Sue
William Abney	...	Policeman

Storyline

A young coed (Nan Barlow) uses her winter vacation to research a paper on witchcraft in New England. Her professor recommends that she spend her time in a small village called Whitewood. He originally cam from that village so he also recommends she stay at the "Raven's Inn," run by a Mrs. Newlis. She gets to the village and notices some weird happenings, but things begin to happen in earnest when she finds herself "marked" for sacrifice by the undead coven of witches. It seems that the innkeeper is actually the undead spirit of Elizabeth Selwyn, and the "guests" at the inn are the other witches who have come to celebrate the sacrifice on Candalmas Eve. As one of them said when Nan walked away, "HE will be PLEASED."

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Plot Keywords:

inn | sacrifice | witch | new england | coven | 

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Taglines:

Alive forever!

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violence

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 September 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

City of the Dead

Filming Locations:

Nettlefold Studios, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vulcan

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min 78 min (uncut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Released in the U.S. on a double bill with the West German film The Head in June 1963.

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Goofs

When they are waiting in the cemetery for the clock to strike thirteen, the clock actually strikes 14 times.

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Quotes

Prof. Alan Driscoll: The basis of fairy tale is in reality. The basis of reality is fairy tales

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Connections

Referenced in The Blair Witch Project (1999)

User Reviews

Immensely Creepy and Terrifying Classic

"Psycho", "Black Sunday", "House Of Usher", "Peeping Tom",... 1960 truly was one of the greatest years ever for Horror cinema. In the same year in which Mario Bava brought us THE single greatest witchcraft film of all-time (and, in my personal opinion, one of the greatest films ever) with his masterpiece "La Maschera Del Demonio" (aka. "Black Sunday"), John Llewelin Moxey came along with this awesome and immensely creepy little Horror gem named "The City Of The Dead" (aka. "Horror Hotel"). While "Horror Hotel" may not quite be a milestone en par with "Black Sunday", this doubtlessly is a masterwork of creepy atmosphere. None other than the great Christopher Lee stars in this surprisingly obscure Gothic tale which is stunning from the first minute. This truly is a genuinely scary and terrifying cinematic experience that no Horror lover could possibly afford to miss.

"The City Of The Dead" ingeniously begins in 1692, when the accused Witch Elisabeth Sewlyn is dragged to the stake and burned by the people of Whitewood, Massachusets. Almost three centuries later Professor Alan Driscoll (Christopher Lee) is teaching history classes on the phenomenon of Witchcraft. He sends his best student, a girl named Nan Barlow (Venetia Stevenson) to the village of Whitewood, where she is to do research on the Sewlyn case... The first few minutes alone are actually creepier than the majority of films get at their climax, and a scary beginning certainly isn't the only thing this film has to offer. The village of Whitewood is the creepiest place imaginable, an obscure cemetery and a gathering of eerie old houses, surrounded by dark, menacing forest. The ingenious black and white photography intensifies the film's atmosphere, this could not have possibly been as intensely creepy if it had been shot in color. Equally great is the score, the main theme is easily one of the creepiest pieces of Horror soundtrack I ever heard. It do not suppose it is necessary to mention that Christopher Lee is one of the greatest Horror icons ever, and he is once again brilliant in his role. So is Patricia Jessel, who is ingenious in her double-role, and who sadly did not appear in many other films after this one. Great supporting performances include Valentine Dyall and Norman Macowan in the role of a blind old priest. In short: "Horror Hotel" is a film that is still terrifying after almost half a century, and a must-see for every Horror fan!