The Hobbit

I am, as everyone, smittened with the LOTR-series, though not a die hard fan. To see SCL in a high-quality production like this makes me immensly happy! :-) He deserves every ounce of attention.

Sooo looking forward to see The Hobbit.

Yet another Pirate Captain

The other night I watched The Devil Ship Pirates, filmed in 1963. The year before, in 1962, Lee had already starred in The Pirates of Blood River. This film is actually better put toghether, the screen writing and the scenery is more solid and better performed, and less studio. And no studio sounds! That is soo much better, since echoes in a studio has a somewhat cheep ring to it. Sure, I spot some of the usual Hammer faces, but not as obvious as in The Devil Ship Pirates.

SCL:s performance in this much better as well. More brooding and downplayed, and less overacted as Captain Robeles tended to be. This is less of "Tiger-tank", more of his usual, sinister and collected self.

 I enjoy Oliver Reed as Brocaire, a pirate involved in a sub-plot with one of the other pirates, fighting over the same woman, and fighting eachother in general. Oliver Reed was to star with Christopher Lee again, approximately a decade later, in The Three Musketeers - and the sequel, The Four Musketeers. In that, he played Athos. Great films, both of them!

Of course, there's some proper fencing and fighting in this film. What else? Here you can hear SCL talk of how to fence properly. Highly recommended!

Lee comments: "The Pirates of Blood River was in the top ten of that year in Britain as far as money was concerned." And he recollects the crossing over the lake, an enormously straining task, since the water was polluted to the point that Oliver Reeds eyes turned red. As he had to do a fight in the water, he had to be treated in hospital afterwards. Lee refused to film the crossing more than two times.

The Devil Ship Pirates

In the beginning, SCL's dark features made many filmmakers scratch their heads. 'To dark and to foreign-looking' was their somewhat daft conclusion. As 'not enough Brittish' he got to play lots of exotic characters. Captain Robeles in the Devil Ship Pirates from 1963 is one of them.

"CLOSE THE GUN PORTS!!!!"

This pirateflick is a Hammer production. Mostly associated with horror, this seems to be a bit of an odd one in their wardrobe. Nevertheless it is quite neatly put togehter. Basic plot is: Spanish ship gets badly damaged in the great battle with the Armada in 1588. The crue manages to get the ship close to land to get it repaired. Pirates (as they now are) are terrorising the nearby village. Captain Robeles - a.k.a SCL - is the chief crook and a really bad apple.

"You will have to kill me first!" "-As you wish!"

I enjoy watching this for a couple of reasons (other than Lee of course): The plot is not bad at all. With today's eyes it is a bit difficult to tell how it looked in the 60's when those pirate-flicks was legio. But I find the scenery quite acceptable as well. True, Lee plays his character with the subtelty of a Russian Tiger-tank, but I actually don't mind. It is a film on pirates, not a Bergman drama.

The other reason is actually, that they have contracted lots of the classic Hammer Studio's actors in this film. Well known faces from DPoD, Rasputin, DHRFTG and so on is on this set. Nice!

Besides that, I really enjoy the clothes. Red becomes him.

The Devil Ship Pirates was made just after The whip and the Body, and the Hitchcock production Sign of Satan.

Additional note: Obviously, Hammer Studios built the full- seized galleon on a steel structure that was placed under water. But it was important not to overload one side or the other, or it would tip over. Which it apparently did.

"The cables leading to the lights went into the water, and when the cables went, the lights went into the water and the electricians went with them", Sir Lee comments in The Films of Christopher Lee. "By sheer chance I managed to hold on to the rail and stay on the ship. I considered this a very valid reason for the captain not to desert the sinking ship", he comments.

"I had a pretty tough fight on the deck (...) and was bleeding all over the place."

Poor Chris.

Gormenghast at last

This night I started to watch Gormenghast (2000). Never knew of the story before I ran into it through reading about SCL. Call me illiterate, but to my defense I might say I do not belong to the anglo-saxon world. Not in that sense, anyway. Had no expectations what so ever, not knowing anyhting of the main theme.

But very atmospheric! Mr Flay!

Additional note: It is not like anything I have seen. Incredibly well set, acted and filmed. Terrifying, cruel. There are lots of criticism on society, lots of dark observations on human nature here. NOT a story for kids. Not in any way. It is acutally very odd. Is this really a children's story to begin with? Would they understand it? I know I would just have thought it to be very either odd or scary, or probably both at once. I will for certain see both part 3 and 4, but everything is so twisted and that evil, evil kitchen boy. I really hope he will get his in the end.

Serial - a shift in gear

OK, Saturday evening I got a question on Twitter if I knew what a certain picture with SCL was from. He is sitting on a bed, holding a telephone. And he is dressed in a leather jacket. What is this? Was the question.

The answer: I think it is a scene from Serial (1980). SCL plays a mc-cult leader - and he plays gay.

I am qouting the synopsis from Films of Christopher Lee [which was published in 1983]: "Christopher Lee plays a self-proclaimed "barracuda" (i.e, man-eater) of an American busineess tycoon, who moonlights as the ringleader of a marauding gang of gay motorcyklists, in this satire of modern California mores."

It is the last entry in that book before appendixes. Notes of the authors in the book:

"Lee is brilliantly funny here (...) Serial (..) seems a highly appropriate place for us to pause, since it epitomizes the transformation of an English to an international performer."

"Startling as it undoubtedly is to see Lee playing so off-type a role as that of a gay American business executive, one hopes that this is not the start of a new trend for him, since he played a somewhat similar character later in a two-hour episode of Charlies Angels!"

Lee's own comments: "A satirical, completely outrageous comedy. In it, I play a head-hunter, an American. I play it as an American, with an American accent, which was totally acceptable to the studio and the audience, which I regard as a compliment. (...) I can assure any doubters amongst the public that this is my own voice and I was not dubbed (...). On weekends, I play the head of a gay motorcycle gang. What one would call a shift of gear, perhaps."

Eh, yup. :-)

I havn't seen this myself, but here is a trailer, and a very short snippet of eight (!) seconds with Lee as the gangleader, so don't blink!

Additional note: The plot thickens. The picture causing this blogpost might not be from Serial after all. But that doesn't really matter. It was a good reason to post these wonderful clips! I'll be back to update this if anything crops up.

 

SCL on Saruman

This is a great vid. It is obvious why they chose an actor of SCL:s caliber to play the role of Saruman. However, I would have loved to see him as Gandalf. The part he always figured himself in. 

I cant't wait for The Hobbit to hit the theatres!!

Hugo Cabret - Pure magic

This is waiting for me right now. Looking forward to it. Have heard all sorts of nice things about it.

Additional note: Have just finished the absolutely wonderful and magic film Hugo Cabret (2011) by Martin Scorsese. Not only is it a good film in all senses of the word, it is a friendly movie, without ever loosing distance to itself or being surgary.

It is enchanting to see Sir Christopher Lee in this delightful piece of art.

Originally it is built on the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret. "Not exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things. (Wikipedia)"

In short the book is on George Méliès and his works at the turn of the last century. The theme is fantastic to make a film on. Not only because it works for children to watch and learn who this first fantasy-filmmaker was, but because it puts a frame to the film that makes it full of layers, and layers upon layers.

Of course it really is a homage to everything that film and moviemaking stands for: The magic and the dreams. And to se Lee in this film, playing a keyrole in a sense, is really touching. He himself, a great part of film history, with a career stretching well over 60 years, has certainly contributed to that dream making in the fullest. I am sure Scorsese put him in that role for a very certain reason.

That is without a doubt a fantastic homage to Sir Lee as well.

I have heard criticism that Lee should have been used more. I can't agree. It is absolutely perfectly put together. I initially thought it was a children's movie. I found out that, as it always is with films about children, the best are those that everyone can enjoy and get something out of, regardless of age. I am so happy I finally saw it. I am happy to own it.

But why on earths name is SCL's name not on my DVD-cover?

Worth a special blogpost

Sweet Lord in heaven.
I seriously need some ice-cubes to cool off.

OD:ing

Okay, I am seriously risking OD:ing right now. A great Twitter friend hinted that Tumblr is a great source on SCL - and sure I've seen some of it. I wished this girl would update again, but it looks like she doesn't anymore.

Anyway, then @Sarah_Fleischer sent me this link, and now I am seriously considering starting a website on Tumblr as well. Seriously risking taking an overdose on SCL right now - mad, beautiful and wonderful pictures. THIS! Gaasssppp!!

Kind of underwhelmed

Bizarrly enough, I have watched the Dracula-series in the reverse order. Last of all DPoD - but I can't say I was overwhealmed by this hizzing character. On the contrary, I actually do think later films in the Dracula-series are a great deal better.

Can't help but thinking of the different versions on how this came about: According to SCL a bad dialogue which he just plainly refused to say. According tho Hammer that there never was any for him in the script in the first place. I must say find it difficult to believe that Hammer would be calling in one of its big stars - not offering him anything to say at all. Anyone whith the origial script on his or her hand, please stand up!

DhRftG and TtBoD are not at all bad when it comes to plot and dialoge. DPoD seems a bit simplyfied to be honest. The scenery outside the castle is however quite magnificent and the ice-scene holds some nice moments. Now I have to watch DhRftG again, just to watch the priest and the waterscene. Noooo, this never ends!!! :)

Here are some really nice footage - unique - from behind the scenes of Dracula Prince of Darkness! It it better than the film itself. Sorry, Terence Fischer.

Films so far

I just enjoyed myself by making a list of (most) productions I have seen with Sir CL. I probably missed some of them, but so far it is around 50. I feel like an freaking amateur, considering some of you fantastic friends out there. And considering the supply.
Hugo, Return ofh Captain Invincible and a couple of others stand in line at the moment.

Some classics I have yet to watch. Oh, so much joy to look forward to! :) Films within brackets I have seen parts of even though I could have watched all of it.

Anyway, a list, not sorted:

(They were not divided)
(One step beyond)
(Sherlock Holmes and the deadly necklace)
Beyond Mombasa
Curse of Frankenstein
The Dracula-series
Mummy
Rasputin
Whip and the body
Night of the big heat
Two faces of dr Jekyll
Sign of Satan
Hands of Orlac
I, Monster
The man who could cheat death
Face of Fu Manchu
The torture chamber of Dr sadism
The house that dripped blood
Count Dracula 1970
Dr terrors house of horrors
Poor Devil
Horror express
Wicker man
The devil rides out
TMWTGG
To the devil a daughter
3Musketeers
4Musketeers
1941
Airport '77
How the West was Won
House of Long shadows
Gremlins2
Shaka Zulu
Young Indiana Jones
Around the World in 80 days
The disputation
The Many faces of CL
Sleepy Hollow
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
LOTR
Star Wars
The Resident

To the Devil a Daughter

OK, first and foremost a confession. I never was into those "devil-posesses-child"-films. It's just disturbing. That's why I was a bit hesitant to even see this film. I was prepared to be nauseated.

When I saw The Wicker Man for the first time, the most scaring part was that it was all so ... reliable. The set of values of the islanders are not evil - just different. Just a nothingness, an amoral way of relating to life. There is no devil, blood or anything. Just a creeping and growing conviction that those people are probably prepared to do pretty nasty stuff. And no-one is there to speak up for more normal values.

To the Devil a Daughter (1976) meets the difficult problem of dealing with the subject of satanism in a direct way. That always means trouble, since there is little room for subtlety. There are some moments in the film that makes me just want to look away. But I'll cope.

 *spoiler alert*

-----------------------

Sir Christopher Lee writes:

"In their wisdom -- or lack of it --- Hammer chose, right at the last to put in two things that completely ruined the picture: the obscene baby scene, which was distasteful; and my death, by which I tamely dissapear -- how do you kill the Devil by hitting him on the head with a rock? A ludicrous ending."

I wouldn't say the film was ruined, that is to be a bit harsh. But I'd like to ask Sir Lee exactely what baby scene he referrs to. I think there are at least a couple which could be considered quite distasteful. And the ending is rather a bit like "whoopsy-daisy there he goes".

All in all definitely a descent film. Probably I'm just greatful it didn't scare the pants of me. There are acutally some scenes that makes me think of The Shining in its way they are directed. But those moments aren't taken care of properly.

By the way, I ought to mention I havn't read the origial novel. The film obviously made the author furious.

Man Who Could Cheat Death

Nice Hammer-film, this. Just what you'd expect. The actor playing Dr. Weiss, Arnorld Marle, is a gem. Good old-fashioned suspense and horror. And yayyy! Another "goodie"-role!

You can watch the film here - if you are not too disturbed by Spanish subs. 

Kurt Menliff!

Christopher Lee's character in The Whip and the Body.

"You always loved violence!"

"It's getting hot! I'm going in!"

Night of the Big Heat (1967) is one sweaty film. As it is to portray an unnatural heatwave on the Brittish island of Fara, the cast weares wet clothes and open shirts - though it was filmed in the midst of the winter. The scientist Goodfrey Hansen (Lee) has come to suspect there is something un-earthly going on on the island, and he is quite right.

"The entire cast wore the flimsiest of clothing, and we were covered in artificial sweat (...). This was physically very demanding on the cast..." Lee comments in Films of Christopher Lee.

As it is directed by Terence Fisher, it maintains high quality. Sweaty Lee is quite a distraction. Half of the time trough this film I just can't help thinking: Ok, so it's hot. Why don't you just take your shirt off?

It was released in US under the theatrical title of The island of the burning damned or The island of the burning doomed, which makes me think of those C-movies made in Hollywood in the mid 50's. Charming as they can be, that title is misleading. This is a well-made film with a great cast. And yayyyy! Cushing is in it. But they should have made better use of him.


---------

*Spoiler alerts:*
I had high hopes for SCL to survive this film.  He is after all a "goodie". He lives until 1:26 of 1:30. So - another death, incinerated by aliens. That must be one of the oddest ones - together with him being quartered in Torture chamber of Dr. Sadism, yuck!

So not even when he is a "goodie" he gets to survive. All heroes must survive, that is the unwritten law of pop-culture. Well, there is always one exception to the rule, and that exception in this case is Christopher Lee. *sigh*

"The idea is an excellent one and it's a good picture right until the very end, when they made the great mistake of introducing the ailiens. (...) To me, they looked like badly fried eggs."

Not an egg I would like to have on my plate, anyway. (I'd rathter have Lee there.)

An Invitation to remember

Brian Johnston interviews Christopher Lee. From 1989. Love that moustache! Lots of talk of his different parts - clips from Wicker man. Lee speaks of when he met Rasputins murderers, his part in the Three Musketeers etc.

And he talks of playing Mycroft Holmes. "I am the only actor in history who has played both Holmes brothers, both Sherlock and Mycroft."

Nice to watch!

On Sci-Fi, Horror and Fantasty

Two minutes of SCL from the program A Century of Science Fiction.
"What keeps theese stories interesting (...) is the human factor."

My preccciousssss!!!!

Two weeks ago, Little Film House (hey, #FF @Littlefilmhouse on Twitter!!) suddenly advertised that they had this poster signed by SCL.

I actually caught an RT, made by one of my followers. The tweet was like two minutes old. I jumped on it and could not believe my eyes. I once had that poster as a small postcard when I was teenager.

Now this wonderful poster,(in quad-size!) one of twenty like that in the world, signed in november 2008 by the man himself, stared me right in the face. That was almost to good to be true.

After a short but brief minute of agony it was just impossible not to buy. I was incredibly lucky. The following hour the Film House had a great deal of questions on this poster, the poster I had already bought! Can't believe I have been so lucky!

This afternoon when I came home, it was waiting for me! My wonderful poster! Do I need to say that my heart was pounding when I unpacked it?! 

It comes with a certificate that it is authentic. 

I'm sorry, but this is just insanely cool. 

The fangirl within is squeeling!!!

 

Oh, dear me! I used to have this as a small postcard as a teenager. Now it is mine as signed poster! Wooowww!!

 

This man is a living legend!


   
Can't believe I have it! My preccciouuuussssss!