The City of the Dead (1960)


The City of the Dead, also known by its more lurid U.S. title Horror Hotel, was the first production for the British Studio Vulcan Pictures.  That may not sound like much but Vulcan would soon become Amicus, a low-budget but successful competitor to Hammer, the studio that produced the most famous British horror films for nearly two decades.  While Hammer had all the big names from Universal, Amicus produced a number of popular anthology series as well as feature films based on two stories from the BBC series Doctor Who. 

Though made a bit over a decade earlier The City of the Dead shares some plot elements with The Wicker Man, with the main character leaving modern society to go to an isolated community ruled by ancient ways.  The two films are quite different in tone, but many of the elements are there, as is Christopher Lee.  This, however, doesn't contain the vague respect for paganism like the later film. 

Professor Allan Driscoll (Lee) teaches a class on witchcraft.  Wanting to do some field research for her upcoming term paper Nan Barlow (Venetia Stevenson) asks Driscoll for suggestions.  He recommends Whitewood, an isolated Massachusetts town where a number of famous witch burnings occurred.  It is recommended she stay at the Raven's Inn, an old lodging establishment owned by a Mrs. Nywles (Patricia Jessel) that stands where a local witch was executed in the 17th century.

Nan goes despite the objections of her brother, Prof. Richard Barlow (Dennis Lotis) and her boyfriend Bill (Tom Naylor).  Her investigations prove fruitful but, when she disappears, a local bookseller named Patricia (Betta St. John), who happens to be the granddaughter of the local reverend (Norman MacOwan), becomes concerned.  Having not heard from her in some time her brother and Bill become concerned as well and come to Whitewood looking for her, only to find the past is very much alive. 

The City of the Dead and Psycho came out in 1960, even though this movie didn't get a U.S. premier until 1962.  Though there is no similarity in plot there are similarities in a major aspect of the storytelling, one that was a coincidence as both movies were in production at the same time.  Nevertheless, it is interesting seeing two horror films come up with the same idea independently.  

Unfortunately, those seeing the version known as Horror Hotel would have thought it was a copy, as the action takes place in Massachusetts and, as a result, even Christopher Lee attempts an American, or at least Mid-Atlantic, accent.  It also would have been quite confusing because the opening, which takes place in 1692, omitted dialogue that explains what is happening in Whitewood.

What no amount of tinkering could do is change the fact that, despite being filmed entirely on a soundstage, this is a beautifully visual film.  Recent restorations have emphasized what black and white filming can do, the camera angles are often just off-kilter enough to create a sense of unease and the whole production is dripping with atmosphere.  John Llewellyn Moxey, who would do a few more feature films before going on to have a long career in television, does what he can to bring the scares despite the obviously miniscule budget.  With Lee joyfully along for the ride, Venetia Stevenson as eye candy and Dennis Lotis looking like he could be Sam Neill's grandfather, the whole thing comes together well even if the plot is pretty predictable in the end.

The City of the Dead (1960)
Time: 76 minutes
Starring: Venetia Stevenson, Dennis Lotis, Christopher Lee, Patricia Jessel, Betta St. John, Tom Naylor
Director: John Llewellyn Moxey

 

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