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IMDbPro

City of the Living Dead

Original title: Paura nella città dei morti viventi
  • 19801980
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
18K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
10,115
1,459
City of the Living Dead (1980)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer3:02
1 Video
97 Photos
Horror
A reporter and a psychic race to close the Gates of Hell after the suicide of a clergyman caused them to open, allowing the dead to rise from their graves.A reporter and a psychic race to close the Gates of Hell after the suicide of a clergyman caused them to open, allowing the dead to rise from their graves.A reporter and a psychic race to close the Gates of Hell after the suicide of a clergyman caused them to open, allowing the dead to rise from their graves.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
18K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
10,115
1,459
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Lucio Fulci
    • Writers
      • Lucio Fulci(story)
      • Dardano Sacchetti(story)
      • H.P. Lovecraft(inspiration)
    • Stars
      • Christopher George
      • Catriona MacColl
      • Carlo De Mejo
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Lucio Fulci
    • Writers
      • Lucio Fulci(story)
      • Dardano Sacchetti(story)
      • H.P. Lovecraft(inspiration)
    • Stars
      • Christopher George
      • Catriona MacColl
      • Carlo De Mejo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 246User reviews
    • 139Critic reviews

    Videos1

    City of the Living Dead
    Trailer 3:02
    City of the Living Dead

    Photos97

    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    Antonella Interlenghi in City of the Living Dead (1980)
    Virginia Logan in City of the Living Dead (1980)
    Antonella Interlenghi in City of the Living Dead (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christopher George
    Christopher George
    • Peter Bell
    Catriona MacColl
    Catriona MacColl
    • Mary Woodhouse
    • (as Katriona Mac Coll)
    Carlo De Mejo
    Carlo De Mejo
    • Gerry
    Antonella Interlenghi
    • Emily Robbins
    Giovanni Lombardo Radice
    Giovanni Lombardo Radice
    • Bob
    Daniela Doria
    Daniela Doria
    • Rosie Kelvin
    Fabrizio Jovine
    Fabrizio Jovine
    • Father William Thomas
    Luca Venantini
    Luca Venantini
    • John-John Robbins
    • (as Luca Paisner)
    Michele Soavi
    Michele Soavi
    • Tommy Fisher
    Venantino Venantini
    Venantino Venantini
    • Mr. Ross
    Enzo D'Ausilio
    • Deputy Sheriff
    Adelaide Aste
    • Theresa
    Luciano Rossi
    Luciano Rossi
    • Policeman in Apartment
    Robert Sampson
    Robert Sampson
    • Sheriff Russell
    Janet Agren
    Janet Agren
    • Sandra
    Nat Bush
    • Sgt. Clay
    • (uncredited)
    Omero Capanna
    Omero Capanna
    • Burning Zombie
    • (uncredited)
    Lucio Fulci
    Lucio Fulci
    • Dr. Joe Thompson
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lucio Fulci
    • Writers
      • Lucio Fulci(story) (screenplay)
      • Dardano Sacchetti(story) (screenplay)
      • H.P. Lovecraft(inspiration) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Lucio Fulci always carried around a bag with his trademark pipe and tobacco. One day on set, he reached into his bag and found a handful of maggots (which had been used earlier to film the scene in which maggots blow in through a window). The perpetrator of this prank is rumored to be Christopher George, the film's lead actor, who did not get along well with Fulci.
    • Goofs
      The people of Dunwich are said to be descended from "Salem witch burners", although no accused "witches" were ever burned in Salem (most were hanged).
    • Quotes

      [examining the dead body of Emily Robbins]

      Dr. Joe Thompson: Well, she certainly wasn't strangled. There doesn't seem to be any kind of physical abuse.

      Sheriff Russell: Well, what was the cause of her death then?

      Dr. Joe Thompson: Some kind of cardiac arrest. Only that expression on her face is like pure fear, like something scared her to death.

      Sheriff Russell: Scared her?

      Dr. Joe Thompson: [to Emily's father] Excuse me, Mr. Robbins, do you know if your daughter had a heart condition?

      Mr. Robbins: No... no...

      Sheriff Russell: Well, what's our procedure?

      Dr. Joe Thompson: Sit tight. Everything depends on the autopsy.

      Sheriff Russell: All right, I'll sit tight. But what am I supposed to do in the meantime?

      Dr. Joe Thompson: You'll get your orders after that from the D.A.

      [exits]

      Sheriff Russell: All right, but let me hear from you first, Joe.

    • Alternate versions
      The British Cinema version was cut by around 1 minute to remove the drill sequence. This version was released on video in the UK before 1984, after which all videos were required to be submitted to the British Board of Film Classification. When it was finally given a video certificate by the BBFC, further cuts were made to remove the intestinal vomit scene, and the brain squashing scenes. The UK video has a total of 2m 21s of cuts.
    • Connections
      Edited into Cent une tueries de zombies (2012)

    User reviews246

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    One of the Best Horror Movies by Lucio Fulci
    In New York, the medium Mary Woodhouse (Katriona MacColl) sees Father William Thomas (Fabrizio Jovine) committing suicide by hanging himself in a cemetery in Dunwich. His death opens the gates of Hell permitting the rise of the dead. Mary is so frightened with what she sees that she dies in a séance.

    The snoopy reporter Peter Bell (Christopher George) covers the death of Mary and goes to the cemetery. Out of the blue, Mary awakes locked in the coffin and Peter hears her screams and saves her. She tells what happened and Peter invites her to go to Dunwich with him. Meanwhile in Dunwich there are weird deaths and Peter and Mary meet the psychiatrist Gerry (Carlo De Mejo) and his friend Sandra (Janet Agren) to find out the grave of Father Thomas to close the gates of Hell before All Saints Day; otherwise the dead will raise and destroy the living. Will they succeed in their intent?

    "Paura nella città dei morti viventi" is one of the best horror movies by Lucio Fulci. The story is simple and does not have explanations why the death of the priest will open the gates of Hell, but the special effects are gore and gruesome. My vote is seven.

    Title (Brazil): "Pavor na Cidade dos Zumbis" ("Horror in the Zombie City")

    Note: On 14 May 2013, I saw this movie again on Blu-Ray. The quality is excellent, but unfortunately the original audio in Italian is not available.

    On 26 January 2017, I saw this movie again on a Brazilian DVD (Versátil), but unfortunately the original audio in Italian is not available.
    helpful•16
    10
    • claudio_carvalho
    • May 2, 2013

    FAQ3

    • How did they do the special effects for the scene where the woman vomits up her intestines?
    • How did they do the zombies teleporting?
    • What are the differences between the old BBFC 18 Version and the Uncut Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 8, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Italy
    • Language
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • The Gates of Hell
    • Filming locations
      • Nyack, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Dania Film
      • Medusa Distribuzione
      • National Cinematografica
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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