‘300 years old! Human blood keeps them alive forever!’

The City of the Dead - US title: Horror Hotel - is a 1960 horror film directed by John Llewellyn Moxey (Circus of Fear; The House That Would Not Die; Desire, the Vampire) from a screenplay by George Baxt (Night of the Eagle), based on a story by Milton Subotsky (prior to him setting up Amicus). Produced in England by Vulcan Film Productions but set in the US, the British actors were required to speak with American accents throughout.

Main cast:

Dennis Lotis
Christopher Lee
Betta St. John - Corridors of Blood
Valentine Dyall - The Horror of It All; The Haunting; Secrets of Sex
Patricia Jessel
Venetia Stevenson

Plot:

On the recommendation of her professor (Lee), a young female student (Stevenson) travels to the fictional Massachusetts town of Whitewood to do some research into witchcraft. She finds the town occupied by the reincarnation of an infamous witch (Jessel) burned at the stake in the 17th century; in order to sustain her immortality, virgins must be sacrificed to her every year – and this year, the student has been the chosen victim…

Influence:

Heavy metal band Iron Maiden used scenes from the film in the music video for their song ‘Bring Your Daughter… to the Slaughter’. King Diamond also uses clips in their ‘Sleepless Nights’ video, while Rob Zombie used Christopher Lee’s opening words to similarly preface his track ‘Dragula’ from Hellbilly Deluxe. In addition, the punk band Misfits wrote a song called ‘Horror Hotel’.

Reviews:

“Atmospheric low-budget chiller that benefits from a sparse script, some impressive studio-bound sets, and a genuinely horrific performance from Patricia Jessel.” Alan Frank, The Horror Film Handbook

“Although cheaply made, studio-bound and short on complexity, the film has a beautifully eerie Lovecraftian atmosphere.” Phil Hardy (editor), The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror

“A superbly creepy horror film with a good storyline and acting, and some amazing direction, City of the Dead proved to Rosenberg and Subotsky that there was money in horror films … It comes recommended to all horror fans, and highly recommended to fans of classic and British horror films.” Mondo Esoterica

Buy DVD: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Release:

In 2001, US-company VCI Entertainment released a widescreen DVD version that included:

Extra two minutes of footage not found in the American Horror Hotel version
Commentary with actor Christopher Lee
45-minute interview with Christopher Lee
Interview with Venetia Stevenson
Interview and commentary by director John Moxey,
Theatrical Trailer
Photo Gallery

Buy: Amazon.com

On March 29, 2016, VCI Entertainment release a 1080 HD Blu-ray which includes longer UK version, plus:

• Horror Hotel, the American Version of City of the Dead
• Feature length Commentary by Bruce Hallenbeck
• 2nd Feature length Commentary with actor Christopher Lee
• 3rd Commentary by Director John Moxey
• Interview with Christopher Lee
• Interview with Venetia Stevenson
• Interview with Director John Moxey
• Theatrical Trailer
• Photo Gallery
• Liner Notes by Mike Kenny, Film Reviewer
• English Subtitles

Venetia Stevenson in a cheesecake publicity shot

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

• Dennis Lotis …. Richard Barlow
• Christopher Lee …. Professor Alan Driscoll
• Patricia Jessel …. Elizabeth Selwyn/Mrs. Newless
• Tom Naylor …. Bill Maitland (Tom in credits)
• 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
• Director: John Llewellyn Moxey (as John Moxey)
• Producers: Seymour S. Dorner, Max Rosenberg [uncredited], Milton Subotsky, Donald Taylor
• Screenplay: George Baxt
• Story by: Milton Subotsky
• Cinematographer: Desmond Dickinson
• Editor: John Pomeroy
• Music: Douglas Gamley

Filming Locations:

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

HD trailer:

Wikipedia | IMDb

Categories: 1960s, British, supernatural

Tags: american accents, Betta St. John, Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter, Christopher Lee, Dennis Lotis, Dragula, Hidden Horror: A Celebration of 101 Underrated and Overlooked Fright Flicks, Horror Hotel, Iron Maiden, John Llewellyn Moxey, King Diamond, Misfits, Patricia Jessel, Rob Zombie, Stadt der Toten, The City of the Dead, Trans-Lux, Valentine Dyall, Venetia Stevenson, Witchcraft, X-Cert: The British Independent Horror Film 1951 - 1970