Horror Hotel

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Horror Hotel, 1960.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Horror Hotel , 1960.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Horror Hotel, 1960.

Much of the short performance here of Christopher Lee as modern day professor Driscoll, after his dramatic lecture about a 1692 Massachusetts witch burning, supporting student Nan (Venetia Stevenson) planning some research, and tangling with her scientist brother (Dennis Lotis), in the British-made City Of The Dead, 1960, a.k.a. Horror Hotel.

Arriving at the spot named in the American-release title (Horror Hotel), student Nan (Venetia Stevenson) with hitcher Jethrow (whom we know to be 17th century witchcraft cultist), then the innkeeper (Elizabeth Selwyn), whom we saw burned in the opening, in the British-made City Of The Dead, 1960.

Straight to historical business, British independent Vulcan Films (which would soon become the better-known Amicus) begins in 17th century Massachusetts, with Elizabeth Selwyn being burned, Fred Smith leading the mob, and Valentine Dyall, as agonized Puritan Jethrow, praying, opening City Of The Dead, 1960, a.k.a. Horror Hotel.