The City of the Dead

19601960
PG-13PG-13
1h 16m

Christopher Lee in The City of the Dead (1960)

Home Video Trailer from Troma

Play trailer1:39

Horror Mystery Thriller

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.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.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.

Director
- John Llewellyn Moxey
Writers
- George Baxt(screenplay)
- Milton Subotsky(story)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Videos1

Horror Hotel

Betta St. John in The City of the Dead (1960)

Christopher Lee, Valentine Dyall, and Venetia Stevenson in The City of the Dead (1960)

Christopher Lee and Patricia Jessel in The City of the Dead (1960)

Christopher Lee in The City of the Dead (1960)

Patricia Jessel in The City of the Dead (1960)

Betta St. John in The City of the Dead (1960)

The City of the Dead (1960)

Norman MacOwan and Venetia Stevenson in The City of the Dead (1960)

Patricia Jessel in The City of the Dead (1960)

Tom Naylor in The City of the Dead (1960)

Christopher Lee in The City of the Dead (1960)

Dennis Lotis and Norman MacOwan in The City of the Dead (1960)

Director
- John Llewellyn Moxey
Writers
- George Baxt(screenplay)
- Milton Subotsky(story)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

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." —John A Kostecki <jak@wbst207v.xerox.com>

inn sacrifice witch new england coven 279 more

Taglines
- This key will answer your questions to these screaming mysteries...(next to a skeleton hand holding a key)
Genres
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated PG-13 for some violence
Parents guide

Trivia
This movie's US release under the title of "Horror Hotel" omitted the following lines during Elizabeth Selwyn's burning at the stake in the first scene, which are critical to fully understanding the plot, but apparently offended American censors: Elizabeth Selwyn: "I have made my pact with thee O Lucifer! Hear me, hear me! I will do thy bidding for all eternity. For all eternity shall I practice the ritual of Black Mass. For all eternity shall I sacrifice unto thee. I give thee my soul, take me into thy service." Jethro Keane: "O Lucifer, listen to thy servant, grant her this pact for all eternity and I with her, and if we fail thee but once, you may do with our souls what you will." Elizabeth Selwyn: "Make this city an example of thy vengeance. Curse it, curse it for all eternity! Let me be the instrument of thy curse. Hear me O Lucifer, hear me!"

Goofs
Although it might be more cinematic, witches were never burned at the stake in New England. They were either hanged 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

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.

Connections
Featured in Creature Features: Horror Hotel/The Human Monster (1971)

Top review

7/10

Decent Atmospheric Sixties Horror Film

A young woman, studying under Christopher Lee (her first mistake) fearlessly heads for a remote town in Massachusetts to get help writing a term paper. Of course, she is clueless. The town is draped in fog and everyone around is sinister. It isn't long before she finds herself the object of a Satanic ritual. Another young woman has entered the town, looking after her grandfather, a minister in a church where no one worships. One might say this is not a good town to hang out in. It was the scene of the burning of a witch in the 1600's. Anyway, others pursue the trail of the young woman and find themselves in "grave" danger. This has some really good moments of terror and suspense. Good use of close-ups and black and white cinematic techniques.

helpful•12

0

Hitchcoc
Oct 11, 2018

Release date
- September 12, 1962 (United States)
Country of origin
- United Kingdom
Language
- English
Also known as
- City of the Dead
Filming locations
- Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK
Production company
- Vulcan Films
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Budget
- £45,000 (estimated)

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
1 hour 16 minutes
Color
- Black and White
Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1

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