Christopher Lee: A Reflection

Christopher Lee; an actor of truly legendary proportions passed away on June 7^th 2015 at 93 years of age. While his acting career was vast, expansive and varied spanning over 200 films, it’s also important not to forget his contributions to other areas, particularly his service in World War Two and his contributions to the metal genre in music. He truly was a person who lived life to the full and I’m looking back on some of his greatest moments in film.

His greatest moments

1. The Hammer horror films (1957-1976)

After beginning his acting career following the end of the Second World War, Lee rose to prominence with his involvement with Hammer Film Productions. Hammer remade numerous horror classics for nineteen years and Christopher Lee was a key anchor-point of their success. Starring alongside the likes of Peter Cushing and Boris Karloff, Lee played both the Frankenstein monster and Count Dracula, bringing a far more visceral and bloody take on the famous monsters which made their debuts in the 1930s. Interestingly, Lee grew less inclined to star in the films as the series went on, stating that the studio often used emotional blackmail to get him to appear in subsequent releases. Controversial casting aside, Lee’s portrayal of Dracula in particular has stood the test of time, arguably becoming almost as iconic as Bela Lugosi’s original performance.

2. The Wicker Man (1973)

Earning him his first Saturn Award nomination for best actor, Christopher Lee’s performance in The Wicker Man helped propel the film to the heights of horror masterpieces. Lee himself considered the film to be his best. His performance as the unassuming, yet calculating Lord Summerisle added a tremendous amount of character to the film while assisting in allowing the film to gain a strong cult following in British cinema.

3. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Lee was initially contacted by Ian Fleming (who was also a step-cousin of the actor) to the antagonist of the original 007 film, Dr No; but after the role went to Joseph Wiseman, Lee had to wait twelve years until he finally got his chance in 1974 with The Man with the Golden Gun. Lee said that he played the character of Francisco Scaramanga like “the dark side of Bond” and it really showed. Some argue that Scaramanaga was the best villain of the Roger Moore Bond films and despite only playing in one film, Lee undoubtedly left his mark on the series.

4. Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)

Christopher Lee was so interested in being in Peter Jackson’s fantasy epic that he read the books several times over; he also happened to be the only member of the entire Lord of the Rings cast to meet the original author JRR Tolkien personally. When he was finally cast as the wizard Saruman the White in all three LOTR films (Plus two of the Hobbit movies in 2012 and 2014) the result was something to behold. Lee’s powerful voice and varied facial expressions brought Saruman to life beautifully, portraying the character both as a wise leader and a man consumed by darkness. He was just one of many actors who made Lord of the Rings such a stand-out series; aside from Sauron, Lee really was the most impactful villain in the series in terms of acting prowess.

5. Star Wars (2002-2008)

Inspired by Lee’s appearances in the aforementioned Hammer Dracula series, director George Lucas casted him in his epic science-fiction franchise; cross a vampire with a dark lord of the Sith and what do you get? Count Dooku. Lee did a brilliant job of conveying the sinister side of the prequel villain, but the most surprising thing of all was that he also managed to back it up with a deft contribution to lightsaber combat in the way he did most of the fight scenes himself, despite being seventy-nine years old at the time. Starring in both Star Wars: Episode 2 and Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in the same year, Lee didn’t let his age slow him down and delivered two strong performances that captivated millions.

What I’ll remember him for

The most striking thing I saw in Christopher Lee was the imposing characteristics he brought to every villain he played, particularly in modern epics. Saruman the White and Count Dooku were both strong-willed villains who didn’t need to be physically imposing to make their impact. Instead Lee’s powerful voice and collected mannerisms brought a far more sinister presence to the screen; villains who asserted their dominance through authority and manipulation rather than brute force. Truly there will never again be an actor who can portray villains the way Lee did on the silver screen.