VCI Entertainment announced this past week that director
John Moxey’s 1960 horror classic, starring the iconic Christopher Lee, The
City of the Dead, will be getting a Blu-ray push on Mar. 29.
Released domestically in 1961 as Horror Hotel, this tale
of witchcraft has a 17th Century witch by the name of Elizabeth
Selwyn (Patricia
Jessel) — who is burned at the stake during the opening prologue — who has
returned from the dead to exact her revenge.
She just needs a fresh sacrifice for the forthcoming Candlemas Eve
ceremony to continue her reign of terror.
Kindly
college professor Alan Driscoll (be suspicious, be very suspicious as he is
played by none other than Christopher Lee) sparks the interest of one of his
students, Nan Barlow (Venetia Stevenson), into investigating the legend of
Elizabeth Selwyn during the holiday break.
So
off poor Nan goes to the village of Whitewood — somewhere in New England (but
actually one of the last productions to be filmed at the famed Nettlefold
Studios in Walton-on-Thames, England … they closed up shop the following year)
— where she begins her research, which ultimately leads her to her fate.
VCI
Entertainment will be including both versions of the film with this restored
Blu-ray edition — the original British release, The City of the Dead, and
the domestic theatrical version of Horror Hotel; the former clocks in
with an additional two minutes worth of footage.
Other
bonus nuggets are three commentary tracks — the first is a vintage commentary
by the late Christopher Lee, the second features director John Moxey and the
third is a newly prepared one featuring actor, writer and author Bruce G.
Hallenbeck — two vintage video sessions with Christopher Lee are also included
here as is one with actress Venetia Stevenson.
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