A young college student arrives in a sleepy Massachusetts town to research witchcraft; during her stay at an eerie inn, she discovers a startling secret about the town and its inhabitants.
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Title: The City of the Dead (1960)
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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 |
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Norman MacOwan | ... | Reverend Russell (as Norman Macowan) |
| Fred Johnson | ... | The Elder | |
| James Dyrenforth | ... | Garage Attendant (as Jimmy Dyrenforth) | |
|
|
Maxine Holden | ... | Sue |
|
|
William Abney | ... | Policeman |
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
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 time in a small village named Whitewood. He originally came from the village , he also recommends she stay at the "Raven's Inn," run by a Mrs. Newlis. When she arrives at Whitewood, she notices macabre happenings, Soon, things begin to happen in earnest, and 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." Written by John A Kostecki <jak@wbst207v.xerox.com>
Taglines:
This key will answer your questions to these screaming mysteries...(next to a skeleton hand holding a key) See more »Parents Guide:
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Did You Know?
Trivia
A part of a line spoken by Sir Christopher Lee, "fear superstition and jealousy", is used in the beginning of Rob Zombie's song "Dragula". See more »Alternate Versions
The original U.S print (titled "Horror Hotel") is around 2 minutes shorter than the "City Of The Dead" version, and is missing most of the cursing made by Elizabeth Selwyn to the villagers during the opening burning and some of the conversation between Driscoll and Barlow as they discuss belief in the supernatural. See more »
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Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
12 September 1962 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
City of the Dead See more »Filming Locations:
Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UKEdit
Box Office
Budget:
GBP45,000 (estimated)Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
Strangers rarely come to Whitewood...and for good reason. For it's inhabited with witches and warlocks...and Christopher Lee! He's absolutely menacing in his role of Professor Driscoll. Horror Hotel (aka: The City of the Dead) is a just an old fashioned horror story, it's even kind of creepy. I think this one is all about the atmosphere; a dark and rickety hotel located in an aging New England town that boasts an excellent use of fog that would make John Carpenter envious. It's something to be seen. Horror Hotel is slightly dated, but not too shabby. After all, "the basis of reality is fairy tales, and the basis of fairy tales is reality"