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:

Sacrifice | Inn | Witchcraft | Professor | 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)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (????) (USA) (VHS)
• United Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Vidimax Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Vulcan

Trivia:

"City of the Dead" aka "Horror Hotel" was the first film made by Amicus Productions, one of Hammer's most successful rivals in the 60s and 70s. At the time of this film, however, the company was known as Vulcan Productions.

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:

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

Movie Connections:

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

An Incredible Piece of Studio Bound Horror!

A true masterpiece and a perfect example of how imagination and desire can overcome a small budget in film making! "Horror Hotel", aka, "City Of The Dead" is one of my all-time favorite horror classics. Beautiful black and white photography, a stock pile of atmosphere, a literate script, terrific acting and chills galore! I have seen this gem many times, first when I was very young and caught it on the Late Show. It has had an effect on me everytime I see it. The plot seems familiar I am sure, a witches cult is operating in a small New England town but there is much more then that! From Christopher Lee to the chilling witch hunt and stake burning of the opening to the climatic battle with the coven in the graveyard. Outstanding! Mist and fog drown this small town and what strikes me most is that this entire production was studio bound!!! no location shooting, all done in a studio and it comes off without a hitch! I happen to have a copy of this film on video that I cherish. It's not a newly remastered, pristine copy. It's a copy that seems to have been copied from a television broadcast and I love it! It looks grainy, old, had pieces of hair and dirt on it and I wouldn't trade it for the world. It brings back great memories of films shown when I was young in the 60's and 70's and adds an extra dose of charm and atmosphere to the film. A true classic and one I highly recommend!