The City of the Dead (1960)

Director:

John Llewellyn Moxey

Writers:

George Baxt (screenplay)
Milton Subotsky (story)

Release Date:

12 September 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

300 years old! Human blood keeps them alive forever!

Plot:

A young coed (Nan Barlow) uses her winter vacation to research a paper on witchcraft in New England...

Plot Keywords:

Inn | Sacrifice | Witch | New England | Coven

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nickolas Grace	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
John Llewellyn Moxey		(as John Moxey)

Writing credits
George Baxt		(screenplay)
Milton Subotsky		(story)

Produced by
Seymour S. Dorner	....	executive producer
Milton Subotsky	....	executive producer
Donald Taylor	....	producer
Max Rosenberg	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Douglas Gamley

Cinematography by
Desmond Dickinson

Film Editing by
John Pomeroy

Art Direction by
John Blezard

Makeup Department
Barbara Barnard	....	hairdresser
George Claff	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Ben Arbeid	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Pevsner	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Richard Bird	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Cliff Richardson	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Jack Atcheler	....	camera operator
Ronnie Fox Rogers	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Frede Gibson	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Freda Gibson)

Music Department
Douglas Gamley	....	conductor
Ken Jones	....	composer: jazz music

Other crew
Splinters Deason	....	set continuity

Production Companies

• Vulcan

Distributors

• Britannia Films (1960) (UK) (theatrical)
• Trans Lux (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Scream Gems (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Walterscheid Productions (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Victory Multimedia (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Castle Communications (1995) (Finland) (VHS)
• Elite Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• E-Realbiz.com (1996) (USA) (DVD)
• E-Realbiz.com (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Elite Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• VCI Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Englewood Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• First Look International (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Roan Group, The (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• SlingShot Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Front Row Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• VCI Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Navarre Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Diamond Entertainment Group (DEG) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2005) (Finland) (TV)
• Columbia Pictures of Canada (1963) (Canada) (theatrical)
• 905 Entertainment
• Amvest Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• BijouFlix Releasing (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Maritim Pictures (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Synergy Entertainment (2007) (worldwide) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• United Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Vidimax Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• ZYX Music (2004) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Al Taylor Company, The  artwork (1990 Scream Gems release)

Also Known As:

"Horror Hotel" - USA

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence (re-rating)

Runtime:

Norway:75 min | USA:76 min | USA:78 min (uncut version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1961) | Norway:16 (1971) | Australia:M | USA:PG-13 (re-rating) | USA:Not Rated (original rating) | Finland:K-16 (1990) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Vulcan

Trivia:

Released in the U.S. on a double bill with the West German film The Head (1959) in June 1963.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Although it might be more cinematic, witches were never burned at the stake in New England. They were either hung or pressed (by large rocks being placed upon them by villagers). Burnings of witches happened in England.

Quotes:

Elizabeth Selwyn:I am Elizabeth Selwyn.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of Horror: Witches (1996) (V)

Surprisingly good! Atmospheric and imaginative witchcraft chiller.

'Horror Hotel' (sadly the copy I bought has this tacky title, which is the only thing I can fault about it) really surprised me at just how creepy and atmospheric it was. I was expecting some camp fun, but it is actually a very effective and inventive movie for such a cheap effort. The story sucks you in, and the acting for the most part is above average. Christopher Lee is billed as the star, which isn't exactly true, but he is excellent in his scenes, and Patricia Jessel is even better in a very enjoyable duel role. I also admire how director John Moxey (his movie debut. He also went on to make 'Circus Of Fear') was able to conjure up a spooky New England town with basically just a few sets and some fog. A great example of imaginative low budget horror movie making at its best! Highly recommended to fans of 'Carnival Of Souls', and 'Black Sunday'. 'Horror Hotel' isn't a great an achievement as either, but it shares some similarities in style and feel. This is one extremely underrated movie!