The City of the Dead (film)

The City of the Dead
Directed by	John Llewellyn Moxey (as John Moxey)
Produced by	Seymour S. Dorner Max Rosenberg (uncredited) Milton Subotsky Donald Taylor
Screenplay by	George Baxt
Story by	Milton Subotsky
Starring	Christopher Lee Venetia Stevenson Dennis Lotis Betta St. John Valentine Dyall Patricia Jessel
Music by	Douglas Gamley Ken Jones (jazz)
Cinematography	Desmond Dickinson
Edited by	John Pomeroy
Production company	Vulcan
Distributed by	British Lion
Release date	September 1960 (UK) 1963 (US)
Running time	76 min.
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	₤45,000

The City of the Dead (U.S. title: Horror Hotel) is a 1960 horror film directed by John Llewellyn Moxey and starring Christopher Lee, Venetia Stevenson, Patricia Jessel and Valentine Dyall. Produced in England but set in America, the British actors were required to speak with American accents throughout.

On the recommendation of her professor (Christopher Lee), a young female student (Venetia 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 (Patricia Jessel) who was burned at the stake in the 17th century. To sustain her immortality, virgins must be sacrificed to the witch every year – and this year, the student is the chosen victim.

The script was originally written by George Baxt as a pilot for a TV series starring Boris Karloff. The producer Milton Subotsky rewrote it to be longer, including a romantic subplot about the boyfriend who goes looking for Nan after she goes missing. Finance was obtained from TV producer Hannah Weinstein along with money from the NFFC.

Production began on 12 October 1959 at Shepperton Studios with a budget of £45,000. Milton Subotsky was credited as the film's executive producer. The film was produced by Vulcan Productions, although because it was made by Subotsky and producing partner Max Rosenberg it has been considered the first of their Amicus Productions.