City of the Dead: DVD Update

**Charles Prepolec** · 8th October 2001, 11:37 PM

"It really was a very good picture in many ways, insofar as it did combine ancient superstition and ritual with modern American university life. It had very much the witch-haunted flavour of Lovecraft's stories."
- Christopher Lee in The Films of Christopher Lee

Although not currently indicated at the http://www.vcihomevideo.com/800.html" target="blank">VCI Entertainment web site, their October 23 DVD release of the newly restored version of the atmospheric 1960 British horror classic City of the Dead (US:Horror Hotel) will feature not only an audio commentary track with star Christopher Lee, but also an all-new video interview. The roughly hour-length interview, conducted by Brad Stevens, was filmed in London on September 4. Stevens, in a recent posting at Mobius' Home Theatre Forum, indicated that Christopher Lee commented on a variety of topics including Terence Fisher, Sherlock Holmes, Mario Bava and Orson Welles.

For this latest DVD incarnation of City of the Dead (released to DVD 3 times previously under the US title of Horror Hotel), VCI Entertainment have put together a fantastic package that is sure to please fans. This release marks the first complete and uncut version of the film to be released in North America, with 2 minutes of previously cut footage now painstakingly restored by VCI (with the cooperation of the British Film Institute). This DVD also features interviews with director John Moxey and debuting star Venetia Stevenson. An audio commentary track with John Moxey is also included. The DVD packaging features a reversible cover design to showcase alternate art.

DVD packaging copyright © VCI Entertainment 2001. Used here for review and publicity purposes only.

Special thanks to site member Domenick Fraumeni for the tip!

**Maria Silbermann** · 9th October 2001, 01:55 PM

I know it as the Horror Hotel, and it's one of my favorites! Also one of the first "horrors" that I saw with Mr. Lee. I became a fan after either The Man With the Golden Gun or the Musketeers films. Ah, the '70s!

**John Farrell** · 9th October 2001, 07:57 PM

Charles,

Any idea about the film quality in the DVD? Reason I ask is two different VHS versions I've gotten hold off look like 16mm transfers. The atmosphere is still there--but the graininess and choppiness are annoying.

Hopefully the DVD came right from a 35mm print...

Best,

John F

**Charles Prepolec** · 10th October 2001, 03:01 AM

John,
That is a great question, but I'm afraid that at the moment I haven't got an answer. Considering the restoration by VCI, in cooperation with the British Film Institute, I'm hoping for a decent print. I've got a query in to VCI and will let you know their response.

Cheers!

**Charles Prepolec** · 10th October 2001, 04:04 PM

John,
Heard back from VCI. The following is from VCI's press release of September 20th, and indicates that the transfer is indeed from a 35mm print:

"For those who are wondering how it differs from any HORROR HOTEL release, THE CITY OF THE DEAD is the original version with over two minutes of footage not found in its U.S. release. Most importantly, the transfer is gorgeous. This British horror classic has been transferred from a 35MM fine grain print discovered with the collaboration of the British Film Institute. The transfer was completed in anamorphic (enhanced for 16 X 9 monitors) widescreen in its original 1.66:1 aspect ratio. It marks the first time ever this uncut version will be seen on video with its original title and in this superior quality."

Cheers!

**John Farrell** · 10th October 2001, 04:21 PM

Charles,

Thanks for the great news! 35mm makes such an enormous difference in presentation. Those scenes, for example, when the young girl picks up the warlock on the side of the road and they proceed to the witching town--you may remember that excellent actor from Robert Wise's original production of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting--he played the groundskeeper Mr. Dudley.

I can't wait to get the DVD!

Best,

John F

**Charles Prepolec** · 11th October 2001, 02:39 AM

That warlock at the side of the road was none other than The Man in Black...Valentine Dyall. The voice of radio suspense and horror for a generation of UK radio listeners.

Sadly, my last memory of Valentine Dyall has him wearing what looks like a black chicken on his head as the Black Guardian in a 1983 series of Doctor Who. Okay, so it was suppossed to be a raven, but it still looked like a chicken to me! Whatever the case, as absurd as he may have looked, age had not withered that ominous voice! A marvelous actor who, incidentally, also provided the voice of Count Karnstein in Hammer's Lust for a Vampire as well as the voice of the computer Deep Thought on the television version of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

Cheers!

Gena · 11th October 2001, 03:10 AM

I also remember this one as Horror Hotel, and if memory serves me I am fond of this film.
Gena

Carmen and Greg · 20th October 2001, 11:13 PM

Some of you may or may not know that Hitchcock's PSYCHO took its idea of having a lead character (Janet Leigh) disappear early on from HORROR HOTEL. We all know what happened to Prof. Driscoll's young female student after he "kindly" recommends her to his old home town...like Janet, we never see her again.

At least that's what I read once. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm mistaken.

I also had the video version which was unwatchable. Then I found the remade version which was much better, but I can't wait to see the DVD. Has to be the best yet, of course.

One of CL's finest hours.

Carmen

PS. Hope all my friends here are well. I haven't posted in a long time.

dr. mid-nite · 24th October 2001, 08:55 AM

Hi all-

I have the Roan Group's recent release of Horror Hotel on DVD, and to be truthful, the print is not very good. However, there is an interview with Mr. Lee in the supplements that almost makes it worth owning.

Thank you so much for letting us know about this release !!

JeffS · 26th October 2001, 05:21 PM

The DVD now has been moved to 11/6/01 and Mr. Lee's special edition features have been confirmed (via VCI's website) :
Special Features: Original British Version with over 2 minutes of footage not found in the American HORROR HOTEL version. Commentary with actor Christopher Lee (The Curse of Frankenstein, The Horror of Dracula, The Wicker Man). Brand new 45-minute Interview with horror icon Christopher Lee. Interview with Venetia Stevenson (Darby

brian · 4th November 2001, 10:17 PM

Is this special DVD of City Of the Dead going to be avaliable everywhere? or only avaliable from VCI. places like Amazon.com and other dvd sites dont even have it listed. Dvd are relly a game you buy one copy thinking its the best and you find that there releasing another better a year later. can we ever win?

JeffS · 5th November 2001, 11:36 PM

Brian,
City of the Dead (aka Horror Hotel) will be available at other retailers besides the VCI site. Go to www.dvdpricesearch.com and search for City of the Dead. I see it listed on 5 vendor's sites. www.dvdplanet.com has the lowest price @ $17.49.

Actually, this release is less of a game than other studio releases since several different companies have released versions of Horror Hotel (Elite and Troma). The less fair game involves one studio releasing several different versions of a title (how many versions of Patch Adams are needed? ;) ) or releasing a bare bones edition knowing a SE is in the works (MGM with Princess Bride and Escape from NY).

The VCI version sounds like the winner of this game with its loads of supplements and restored footage ;).

Cheers.

**Charles Prepolec** · 6th November 2001, 04:30 AM

Quote:

The VCI version sounds like the winner of this game with its loads of supplements and restored footage ;).

Couldn't agree more. No other version has been as complete or had a restoration of any kind given to it. What only remains to be seen is the quality of the print and just how much extra Mr. Lee we will get.

Personally, I'm looking forward to this one, as the film ranks as one of my favorites for atmosphere and distinctive feel! Can't wait...

Cheers!

JeffS · 8th November 2001, 03:40 AM

Release date was supposed to be 11/6. Did anybody get theirs yet? I hope it hasnt been pushed back again. Cheers.