Landlord!!!

Ahhhhaaa!!! Just one day ago, someone posted the entire film Rasputin the Mad Monk (1966) on You Tube. That is a fab film. Has a great feeling to it, and as I have written before, Lee was complemented on his performance by no one else than Maria Rasputina. The daughter of the starets himself. (No, Rasputin was no monk.)

I just rewatched Dracula Prince of Darkness. The sets of the films are very similar - they were made neck to neck at Hammer Studios in 1966. Even the actors are the same. (However, there is no doubt what character Lee prefers to play...)

I have, a couple of times, been to the palace in St. Petersburg  - in the cellar - where the murder took place. The room has a cold feeling to, it is daunting, and I assure you it has nothing to do with the waxfigures placed there.

Enjoy that voice like thunder, the dancing, the sex and and the very violent death scene.

"Landlord!!!!"

Watch it here!

Additional note: you can see a promotional clip on the release of Rasputin togehter with The Devil Rides Out. Lovely footage from the films and comments from co-actors!!! Recommended!!!

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!

Rasputin the Mad Monk

Lee had me believing for a long time that Rasputin (ext. link) was tall and handsome. Many people seem to think, still, that Rasputin was indeed tall. That was not the case at all. He was short and quite ugly. Above all, the real Grigory Yefimovich had pale blue eyes, and not at all those warm brown ones.

Nevertheless, however totally unhistoric this tale is, the film Rasputin the Mad Monk (1966) has a very nice atmosphere to it. I have travelled to Russia many times, since Russia interests me greatly, and while many Western films do not comprehend any of what it portrays (Dr Zhivago, yuck!), this film it is different. (Go to this blogpost to watch it.)

It is a bit ironic, that it would be low-budget Hammer of all companies, to capture such a thing. In parts it is a bit silly, but just a bit. The costumes and scenes are quite remarkable, and suspense is there. It contains all the forbidden subjects of that time, mutilation, fights, alcohol and SEX.

Lee is mezmerising in the role of Rasputin. He makes the starets (Rasputin was no monk, mind you) very believable. Voice like a thunder and a portrayal of a man who is rapidly giving in to his own vices. And that is actually what happened. One of Lee's best performances, and for me, I love it for nostalgic reasons! The death scene is harrowing!  

An additional note is worth mentioning. Sir Lee met with the killers in his childhood. And he met Maria Rasputina, Grigory Yefimovichs daughter. She commented that he he captured his expression. I dared not ask her what she ment by that, Lee comments in Films of Christopher Lee. One of these clips shows stills throughout the film, with the dramatic film music. Wonderful!!

Under that, an excerpt from The Many Faces of Christopher Lee, where he shows a picture of him and Maria Rasputina.