City Of The Dead!

Jrcasey · 19th November 2001, 10:38 PM

Just got in VCI's new DVD release, CITY OF THE DEAD. Wow, is this a packed DVD!!

The print used is simply the best I've seen this feature look! Just a few blemishes here and there around reel changes, but these are very minor! It has been given a 1.66:1 anamorphic transfer.

The extras are impressive: separate audio commentaries by Mr. Lee and director John Moxey, separate interview segments with Mr. Lee (45 minutes!), Moxey, and actress Venetia Stevenson, US trailer, stills, etc. etc.etc.!

And....it's Region 0 (NTSC)!

VCI obviously put a lot of work into this and it's all very well done. My only gripe (and it's minor) is that the motion menus get irritating very quickly!

Anyone who is a fan of this film must pick this one up!

**Frederick Bergstrom** · 22nd November 2001, 06:14 PM

in the interviews and audio commentary with Christopher Lee does it talk mostly on city of the dead/horror hotel ..or other things. I already have horror hotel on dvd but would buy this version if the interviews concentrate mostly on that particular film and not other subjects

Jrcasey · 22nd November 2001, 10:57 PM

Fred:

The 45 minute interview is about mostly other things, Mr. Lee's career and his views on the current state of the British film industry. It is quite good and entertaining!

His commentary track is mostly about CITY OF THE DEAD and is somewhat scene specific. He occasionally goes off on other tangents (as well all do!). A moderator is present on the commentary track.

MARIO · 25th November 2001, 09:29 PM

I have just watched VCI

**Frederick Bergstrom** · 27th November 2001, 04:06 AM

sounds like I ill but the city of dead dvd... thanks for the input Its one of my favorite films i probally will just sell the one i have now and but the new one. I wish Mr. Lee had more to say about the movie but it only makes sense he wouldnt remeber much it was over 40 years ago and he was busy at that time. How is anyone gonna remember so much from so long ago.Im sure at the time it was just another job to him. If anyone hasnt seen this movie either City of the dead or horror hotel its a great movie

JeffS · 6th December 2001, 04:33 PM

Argh!! Mine has yet to be shipped to me :(. Cant wait!!! In a bit of fleeting fame, my name appears in a special thanks section on the DVD credits. Cheers.

NITESHO · 12th December 2001, 07:42 PM

HI! This is my first posting on the boards, and I am so pleased to see so many fans of the wonderful Mr Lee.

I just had the pleasure of reviewing the disc of CITY OF THE DEAD for SCARLET STREET . As a bonus, i just interviewed the director, who is an incredibly nice man, and spoke very highly of Christopher Lee.

The DVD from VCI is a MUST HAVE. People often rave about how CRITERION restores films, but VCI has REINSTATED missing footage from the opening that explains the whole plot...
add to that the commentary tracks and the interviews,plus the sharpest print ever of HORROR HOTEL , and you have got the perfect stocking stuffer for any horror fan .....

...by the way, Mr Lee has interviews in the current STRAND MAGAZINE, and also the upcoming January issue of SCARLET STREET....

I hope all are well, and happy holidays TO EVERYONE...

wickedwolf · 13th December 2001, 04:07 AM

I own a DVD copy of this movie under the moniker Horror Hotel. It is a nice print but it lacks any special features.

When you say City of the Dead it unfortunately makes me think of a terrible Lucio Fulci movie that sometimes goes by that name.

**Charles Prepolec** · 13th December 2001, 04:34 AM

Kevin,
Welcome to The Official Christopher Lee Web Forums! A pleasure to have you aboard. I've enjoyed your posts at Scarlet Street. Looking forward to reading your review of VCI's new City of the Dead DVD in Scarlet Street, not to mention the interview with Mr. Lee.

For anyone not familiar with Scarlet Street magazine, do yourself a favour and go out an hunt up a copy. It is simply one of the best mags for genre films, mystery and horror, out there today. From the Universal horror classics to Hammer films to Sherlock Holmes to the latest from the Hollywood grapevine, you'll find a wealth of fascinating info between their covers.

It has been a good long time since Mr. Lee was last interviewed in their pages, round about the time of his Harmony Gold Sherlock Holmes films if memory serves, so members here now have even more reason to look out for the January issue. Further info on Scarlet Street Magazine can be found at the Scarlet Street site.

Cheers!

NITESHO · 13th December 2001, 02:16 PM

Well, WICKEDWOLF, if it makes you feel better, I personally own several variants of HORROR HOTEL on video to DVD ,including a few public domain versions, plus the ELITE
and ROAN GROUP prints, which until now were the definitive versions.

I say WERE because the CITY OF THE DEAD print is light years better, and then with the extras.. I ordered my copy yesterday, as I have to add it to my collection after i watched the review copy...

By the way,VCI's first pressing was recalled ,as it wasnt up to the standards they wanted, so you know that the print is wonderful if a company goes to that much money and expense..

Nothing to do with Fulci, though it does sound like a sequel
to HOUSE BY THE CEMETARY or that style of film ...

Charles, your high praise for SCARLET ST is very humbling.... your check is in the mail....(lol)

thank you for the warm welcome aboard...

**Frederick Bergstrom** · 16th December 2001, 06:57 PM

the Fulci film you are thinking of is also called City of the Dead AKA Gates of Hell not a bad movie in itself but more a hardcore gore movie than a gothic moody film like Christopher Lees City of the Dead the superior of the two films in my opinion

NITESHO · 16th December 2001, 07:35 PM

I have to admit to liking both films for different reasons.

GATES OF HELL is one of the few Fulci films that I really enjoy .

HORROR HOTEL is a long time favorite movie .

wickedwolf · 16th December 2001, 09:07 PM

I mean no offence to anybody. I like several films that many would consider rather bad, but I can't say I like anything I've seen from Fulci. The same goes for the much praised Argento. The films that I have seen have had ridiculous or no plot and I find them boring. I have only seen a handful of these films, so I'm not saying all films by the above mentioned directors are bad, I can't make that judgement.

If I remeber Gates of Hell correctly it had an ending that makes you want to slam your head in a door to get over the state of numbness your brain is feeling.

But to each his own. As I said, I like my share of rather lesser cinema.

I do agee that Horror Hotel is a nicely made film and an enjoyable watch. My DVD which was released by Elite Entertainment is of good quality, but it lacks the extras. I enjoy listening to Christopher Lee's insight on his films. He is such an intelligent and fascinating person. For those who do not have the special addition of Scars of Dracula which includes The Many Faces of Christopher Lee, I highly recommend it.

NITESHO · 17th December 2001, 07:18 AM

No offense taken. I personally prefer the older films , though GATES OF HELL is, as Ive stated, one of the better Fulcis..

though his films due tend to have a sadistic streak to them--

Argento, if you experienced BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, SUSPIRIA, CAT O NINE TAILS, 4 FLIES ON GRAY VELVET in the theatre, you would appreciate his full power as a filmmaker. Unfortunately, none of his later films approached this power, though many had strong set pieces..

I am hoping for SLEEPLESS to be a return to form for him..

As for myself though, I have more of a fondness for the UNIVERSAL and classic horrors, and the product turned out by HAMMER ,TIGON, AMICUS, AIP before we reached the more vicious era of LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT type of filmmaking..

none of these films seem to have acting of the calibre of Lee and Cushing, and were more the traditional good vs evil stories..