Paura nella città dei morti viventi (1980)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Lucio Fulci

Writers:

Lucio Fulci (screenplay)
Lucio Fulci (story)
(more)

Release Date:

May 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

And the dead shall rise and walk the earth!

Plot:

A reporter and a psychic race to close the Gates of Hell after the suicide of a clergyman caused them to open, allowing the dead to rise from the grave.

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Suicide | Reporter | Psychic | Death

Cast

Christopher George	...	Peter Bell
Catriona MacColl	...	Mary Woodhouse (as Katherine MacColl)
Carlo De Mejo	...	Gerry
Antonella Interlenghi	...	Emily Robbins
Giovanni Lombardo Radice	...	Bob
Daniela Doria	...	Rosie Kelvin
Fabrizio Jovine	...	Father William Thomas
Luca Venantini	...	John-John Robbins (as Luca Paisner)
Michele Soavi	...	Tommy Fisher
Venantino Venantini	...	Mr. Ross
Enzo D'Ausilio	...	Sheriff Russell's deputy
Adelaide Aste	...	Theresa
Luciano Rossi	...	Policeman in apartment
Janet Agren	...	Sandra
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lucio Fulci	...	Dr. Joe Thompson (pathologist) (uncredited)
Michael Gaunt	...	Gravedigger (uncredited)
Aldo Massasso	...	Mr. Robbins (uncredited)
Perry Pirkanen	...	Blonde gravedigger (uncredited)
James Sampson	...	James McLuhan - séance member (uncredited)
Martin Sorrentino	...	Sgt. Clay (uncredited)
Robert Spafford	...	Junie the bartender (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Susan Spafford	...	Sandra (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Pat Starke	...	Emily Robbins (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Frank von Kuegelgen	...	Gerry (voice: English version) (uncredited)

Directed by
Lucio Fulci

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lucio Fulci		screenplay
Lucio Fulci		story
H.P. Lovecraft		inspiration
Dardano Sacchetti		screenplay
Dardano Sacchetti		story

Produced by
Lucio Fulci	....	producer
Giovanni Masini	....	producer
Robert E. Warner	....	executive producer
Robert E. Warner	....	producer: USA

Original Music by
Fabio Frizzi

Cinematography by
Sergio Salvati

Film Editing by
Vincenzo Tomassi

Production Design by
Massimo Antonello Geleng

Costume Design by
Massimo Antonello Geleng

Makeup Department
Rosario Prestopino	....	assistant makeup artist
Franco Rufini	....	makeup artist
Franco Rufini	....	special makeup effects artist
Luciano Vito	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Franco Coduti	....	unit manager (as Giannfranco Coduti)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roberto Giandalia	....	assistant director

Art Department
Giacomo Caló Carducci	....	set dresser
Rodolfo Ruzza	....	props
Ovidio Taito	....	assistant set designer

Sound Department
Ugo Celani	....	sound engineer
Eros Giustini	....	boom operator
Bruno Moreal	....	sound mixer
Marco Streccioni	....	sound engineer

Special Effects by
Gino De Rossi	....	special effects
Franco Rufini	....	special effects

Stunts
Nazzareno Cardinali	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Roberto Belli	....	chief electrician
Roberto Forges Davanzati	....	camera operator
Giorgio Garibaldi Schwarze	....	still photographer
Maurizio Lucchini	....	first assistant camera
Giancarlo Serravalli	....	key grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Luciana Morosetti	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Armando Pace	....	assistant editor
Pietro Tomassi	....	assistant editor
Luciano Vittori	....	color consultant

Music Department
Fabio Frizzi	....	conductor
Maurizio Guarini	....	musician

Other crew
Rita Agostini	....	continuity
Donatella Botti	....	continuity
Cimino	....	furniture
Alfredo Fornacini	....	assistant production secretary
Franco Galizi	....	production secretary
E. Rancati	....	furniture (as Rancati)

Production Companies

• Dania Film
• Medusa Distribuzione
• National Cinematografica

Distributors

• Motion Picture Marketing (MPM) (1983) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Paragon Video Productions (1983) (USA) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Video (1988) (Japan) (video) (laserdisc)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Astro Distribution (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• VCI Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Instant Picture Company (VIPCO) (2001) (UK) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Siren Visual Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Alemannia/Arabella Filmverleih GmbH (1980) (Germany) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Medusa Distribuzione (1980) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Another World Entertainment (2006) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Avo Film Edizioni (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• Blue Underground (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Carrere Video Distribution (????) (France) (VHS)
• Dado Group (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• EC Entertainment (1998) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• EuroVideo (????) (West Germany) (VHS)
• European Video Corporation (EVC) (1984) (Belgium) (video)
• Firebox (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Infinity Video Sales (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Inter-Light Video (????) (UK) (VHS)
• K & C Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• New Vision (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Number One Video (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• Pacesetter Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• René Chateau Video (????) (France) (VHS)
• Threat Theatre (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Action (????) (Denmark) (VHS)
• Video Invest AB (????) (Sweden) (VHS)

Also Known As:

City of the Living Dead (International: English title)
Fear in the City of the Living Dead (Italy) (literal English title)
Pater Thomas (Europe) (bootleg title)
The Gates of Hell (USA)

Runtime:

93 min | Australia:90 min (cut)

Country:

Italy

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Denmark:16 | Germany:16 (cut) | Germany:18 (SPIO/JK) (uncut version) | UK:18 (re-rating: 1986) (cut) (re-rating: 2001) (uncut) | UK:X (original rating: 1981) (cut) | Finland:(Banned) (1985) | Finland:K-18 (2001) | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Norway:18 (re-rating) (uncut) (2007) | West Germany:18 (heavily cut) | Italy:VM14 (DVD rating) | Sweden:18 (video rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | France:-16 (cut) | Italy:VM18 | USA:Unrated | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Dania Film

Trivia:

Future director Michele Soavi was originally up for the role of "Bob". However, Fulci changed his mind and decided to cast Giovanni Lombardo Radice instead, and Soavi was given a smaller role.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Mary could not have been buried alive as she would not have survived the embalming.

Quotes:

[reading a porno magazine]
Blonde gravedigger: Will you check her out?
Gravedigger: You'll end up a dirty old man reading that stuff. A pervert. A peeping tom. I saw a porno flick once. This fellow in the audience got so carried away, he humped himself to death.
Blonde gravedigger: Yeah, but what a way to go.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hide and Creep (2004)

First class gorefest from the notorious Lucio Fulci.

Like most of Fulci's horror movies and Italian horror in general, plot and logic take a back seat to gore and stunning visual set pieces. I don't think that 'City Of The Living Dead' quite reaches the heights of Fulci's best ('The Beyond') but apart from a few dull patches it comes closer than you would expect. The simplistic story, which tips it's hat to H.P. Lovecraft, is really just an excuse for another zombie move, and regardless of his shortcomings, Fulci certainly came up with some of the most repulsive and horrible zombies ever, so this is essential viewing to fans of the genre. The movie includes two unforgettable gore sequences ( the drill and vomit scenes), a chilling scene in a graveyard, and an odd, unexpected ending. Recommended to fans of Italian horror. Others might be puzzled if they haven't experienced the style/period before, it's quite a trip!