Christopher Lee Movies
After several years in secondary film roles, the skeletal, menacing Christopher Lee achieved horror-flick stardom as the Monster in 1958's The Curse of Frankenstein, the second of his 21 Hammer Studios films. Contrary to popular belief, Lee and Peter Cushing did not first appear together in The Curse of Frankenstein. In Laurence Olivier's Hamlet (1948), in which Cushing plays the minor role of Osric, Lee appears as the cadaverous candle-bearer in the "frighted with false fires" scene, one of his first film roles. In 1958, Lee made his inaugural appearance as "the Count" in The Horror of Dracula, with Cushing as Van Helsing. It would remain the favorite of Lee's Dracula films; the actor later noted that he was grateful to be allowed to convey "the sadness of the character. The terrible sentence, the doom of immortality...."Three years after Curse, Lee added another legendary figure to his gallery of characters: Sherlock Holmes, the protagonist of Sherlock Holmes und das Halsband des Todes. With the release eight years later of The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, Lee became the first actor ever to portray both Holmes and Holmes' brother, Mycroft, onscreen. Other Lee roles of note include the title characters in 1959's The Mummy and the Fu Manchu series of the '60s, and the villainous Scaramanga in the 1974 James Bond effort The Man With the Golden Gun. In one brilliant casting coup, the actor was co-starred with fellow movie bogeymen Cushing, Vincent Price, and John Carradine in the otherwise unmemorable House of Long Shadows (1982). Established as a legend in his own right, Lee continued working steadily throughout the '80s and '90s, appearing in films ranging from Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) to Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow (1999).
In 2001, after appearing in nearly 300 film and television productions and being listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the international star with the most screen credits to his name, the 79-year-old actor undertook the role of Saruman, chief of all wizards, in director Peter Jackson's eagerly anticipated screen adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Thought by many to be the millennial predecessor to George Lucas' Star Wars franchise, audiences thrilled to the wondrous battle between Saruman and Gandalf (Ian McKellen) atop the wizard's ominous tower, though Lee didn't play favorites between the franchises when Lucas shot back with the continuing saga of Anakin Skywalker's journey to the dark side in mid-2002. Wielding a lightsaber against one of the most powerful adversaries in the Star Wars canon, Lee proved that even at 80 he still had what it takes to be a compelling and demanding screen presence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Best known for his Highlander series, Russell Mulcahy pays homage to the Hammer films of the 1960s with this all-star recreation of the Mummy story. Centuries ago, a sadistic prince named Talos was buried and his tomb was infinitely cursed so that no man would ever again suffer from his evil ways. But hundreds of years later, a group of archeologists break the seal of the tomb and are brutally massacred. The bandages of Talos are discovered years later by the head archeologist's daughter and brought back to London to be displayed in a museum. But the bandages go on a violent rampage. His evil threatens to spread around the world when the approaching alignment of the planets will raise the legendary Talos to a level of immortal power. The American detective in charge of the affair and the daughter of the archeologist race against time to defeat the malicious mummy. Russell Mulcahy has modern computer graphics techniques on his side in this remake of the classic Mummy monster story. At the same time, he has invited the legendary Christopher Lee to appear in the role of the ill-fated archeologist who discovers Talos. Shelley Duvall and Jason Scott Lee round out the main cast. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Scott Lee, Louise Lombard, (more)
- 1998
Those familiar with Pakistan's history will be most likely to appreciate this elaborate tribute to Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the man who created the Muslim nation in the wake of Great Britain's relinquishment of control over India. The story begins on a fantastical note, as an ailing Jinnah (Christopher Lee) expires and then finds himself in a heavenly place awaiting final judgment on his deeds. That could take some time, for the celestial bureaucrats in charge have misplaced Jinnah's file and the whole heavenly computer network is down. With nothing but time on his hands, Jinnah answers the many questions of his guide (Shashi Kapoor). His responses comprise the main story. Jinnah's tale begins in 1947 as England prepares to grant India its freedom. Muslims have always been a minority in the diverse country and Jinnah wants to create a country especially for them. The Muslim leader's nemesis, Viceroy Mountbatten (James Fox) finds Jinnah's proposal disturbing and so attempts to convince Ghandi (Sam Dastor) and Nehru (Robert Ashby) to dissuade Jinnah from starting more trouble, but it is to no avail. The story then jumps backward to 1916 when Jinnah (played as a young man by Richard Lintern) served as a prominent member of the India Congress Party. It was during this time that he married a beautiful Parsee (Indira Varma). As the guide continues his questions, a deeper understanding of Jinnah and the bloody events surrounding the genesis of Pakistan emerges. Jinnah played at the 1998 Montreal Festival of New Cinema & New Media. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lee, James Fox, (more)
A century after the Normans conquer England, evil Prince John (Ralph Brown) seizes control of the realm in the absence of the rightful ruler, his brother Richard the Lion-Hearted (Rory Edwards), who has been crusading in the Holy Land. John means to replace Richard as king. John, a Norman, governs with cruelty and force of arms, and the Saxon natives despise him. Siding with John are fearsome warrior priests known as Templars. All seems lost for the Saxons. Then the Saxon hero Ivanhoe returns from the Crusades in disguise. Not far behind is Richard. Meanwhile, Ivanhoe's father, Cedric (James Cosmo), a Saxon lord who has disowned his son in the mistaken belief that he has betrayed Richard, betroths his beautiful ward, Rowena (Victoria Smurfit), Ivanhoe's beloved, to Saxon lord Athelstane (Chris Walker). If right is to prevail, the Saxons must unseat John, and Ivanhoe must restore his good name and win Rowena. John decides to sponsor a tournament between his Templar champions and Saxon knights. On the first day of the tournament, the disguised Ivanhoe heartens the Saxons by defeating the best of the Templars in a jousting match. On the second day, during sword-to-sword combat, he turns apparent defeat into victory with the help of a mysterious Black Knight (Rory Edwards). Ivanhoe suffers a wound, however, and Rebecca (Susan Lynch), a Jew, nurses him back to health. Ivanhoe had saved the life of her father, Isaac. The Templars capture Ivanhoe and other Saxons, as well as Rebecca and her father, and hold them in a castle. Then, Saxon men-at-arms led by Robin Hood (Aden Gillett) and the Black Knight storm the castle and free the prisoners. However, a Templar knight rides off with Rebecca, and his superior condemns her as a witch and sentences her to be burned at the stake. The film builds to its climax as Ivanhoe rides to save Rebecca, and viewers wonder about the ultimate fate of John, the identity of the Black Knight, and the future course of English history. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Waddington, Victoria Smurfit, (more)
- 1997
Based on the Discworld novels by Terry Pritchett, the British animated series Wyrd Sisters was set on a faraway planet, supported in space by four elephants standing on a turtle. The titular "sisters" were three witches -- Margrat Garlick, Nanny Ogg, and Granny Weatherwax -- who dwelt in the country of Lance. Much against their will, the witches found themselves babysitting the infant heir to Lance's throne. Produced by Cosgrove-Hall, whose other cartoon credits included the delightful Dangermouse and Count Duckula, the six-episode Wyrd Sisters was broadcast by Britain's Channel 4 in 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jane Horrocks, Christopher Lee, (more)
- 1996
In the 19th century, malformed or deformed people were the object of morbid curiosity in traveling sideshows and circuses. In the 20th century they became fodder for Hollywood horror movies. Part of the 13-episode 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror: Mutants and Freaks reviews the many "mutant" and "freak" characters that have suffered on the silver screen from the earliest days of moviemaking. The program features clips from many films, among them The Creature From the Black Lagoon (Amazonian Gill-Man); The Little Shop of Horrors (man-eating flower); Freaks (the aforementioned sideshow denizens); and The Day the Earth Stood Still (Gort, the Robot). The program includes interviews with some of the filmmakers, behind-the-scenes stories, still photos, and rare film footage. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1996
The old newspaper dictum "If it bleeds, it leads" could also apply to the marketing of modern horror movies. Part of the 13-episode 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror: Madmen & Gory Gimmicks reviews how Hollywood has packaged and sold its horror movies over the past 100 years. Highlights include rare color footage from the original 1925 version of The Phantom of the Opera, which starred the great Lon Chaney as the phantom. The actor reputedly created the character's hideous visage using springs and clamps in his nostrils and mouth. Madmen & Gory Gimmicks also relates the true story that inspired The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). Host Lee appeared in many horror movies himself, including Corridors of Blood (1958). ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Part of the 13-episode 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror: Giants and Dinosaurs takes a loving look at movie monsters. Films starring monsters in the form of dinosaurs have been thrilling audiences since the 1925 filming of The Lost World, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's adventure tale about scientists who discover prehistoric giant beasts in a remote land. That silent film featured surprisingly well-rendered special effects. Since then a horde of other "creature features" have been spawned, including The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, the 1933 groundbreaking spectacular King Kong, Japan's atomic mutant Godzilla, and Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park. Included here are interviews with some of the filmmakers, along with clips, rare production stills, and previously unreleased footage. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1996
"Can a Pharaoh's evil prophecy reach out across 4,000 years to enslave...to kill...to menace YOU?" Part of the 13-episode 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror: The Walking Dead unravels the history of mummies, zombies, and a host of other walking dead from Hollywood's golden age. Highlights include film clips from The Mummy (1932), I Walked With a Zombie (1943), White Zombie (1932), and others. The video includes a special featuring the series of Mummy movies starring the great Lon Chaney Jr., produced by Universal Pictures 1942-1944. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1996
What's a ghoul to do? Part of the 13-episode 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror: Scream Queens & Girl Ghouls takes a look at the tremendous appeal and genre influence of damsels in horrific distress. Included are Fay Wray (King Kong, 1933) and Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween, 1978). The program also examines the fright appeal of scary women and includes interviews with "girl ghouls" Linnea Quigley (Rat Woman in the television movie Burial of the Rats, 1995) and Brinke Stevens (Marci in Nightmare Sisters, aka Sorority Succubus Sisters, 1987). Highlights include film clips from King Kong, The Phantom of the Opera, The Most Dangerous Game, and others. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1996
The Devil has been appearing in movies since the first version of Faust was filmed in 1900. Part of the 13-episode 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror: Witches & Demons examines the spell that the subject of the occult casts over movie audiences. Movies about witches and devil worship often conjure box-office magic, as interviews and production sidelights in this program show. Witches & Demons also features film clips from various occult movies. Host Lee starred in a number of occult movies himself, including City of the Dead (aka Horror Hotel) (1960), about an inn run by a 17th century witch who was burned at the stake and now lures victims for Satan. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1996
From the 13-part 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, this second tape, 100 Years of Horror: Mad Scientists and Mad Monsters, examines the villainous "Mad Scientist," who has been a stock character of the horror genre from the earliest days of cinema. This program features clips from some of the classic mad scientist movies. The highlights of this program are the interviews and home movies with actor Boris Karloff, the actor who with his makeup artist created the most widely known version of "the Monster" in the James Whale-directed Frankenstein. Also included is the only color film footage known to exist of Karloff as the Monster, dating from approximately 1938. ~ Anthony Graham Ristow, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Spirits of the dead have long haunted people's imaginations, and never more morbidly than in Hollywood horror movies. Part of the 13-episode 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror: Ghosts and Phantoms reviews many of Hollywood's filmic escapades that feature spectral or otherwise unseen characters of horror. These creatures can be found in movies such as The Phantom of the Opera, starring Lon Chaney in the 1925 version, and Claude Rains in the first talkie version (1943); The Invisible Man, an earlier Claude Rains vehicle (1933), adapted from the H.G. Wells story; and the Robert Wise-directed The Haunting (1963). Included are production background information and interviews with some of the filmmakers. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Part of the 13-part 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror: Dracula and the Vampires delves into the pervasive influence in Hollywood of the historically based character Dracula. Brought to literary life in the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, the Transylvanian, bloodsucking count has been immortalized in dozens of movies since the silent era, both good and bad, serious and comic. The program highlights rare film clips featuring the most famous bloodsucker, Bela Lugosi, as well as John Carradine, Lon Chaney Jr., and host Christopher Lee. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Part of the 13-part 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror: Double Demons looks at the way Hollywood has portrayed bizarre transformative and psychological tales featured in movies such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, based on Robert Louis Stevenson's thriller about schizophrenia, which has been filmed well over a dozen times since the first film version in 1908; The Wolf Man also reworked in numerous versions; I Was A Teenage Werewolf, starring young Michael Landon; and numerous other pictures. Highlights include rare archival footage from Hollywood's "Golden Age of Horror," as well as interviews with the filmmakers, who provide details about the filming of these stories. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Part of the 13-part 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror -- Aliens & Sorcerers looks at horror movies that include sorcery and magic, and at those that cross into the realm of science fiction. This installment of the series features clips from movies including The Magic Sword, Necromancy, the seminal classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Thing (with Gunsmoke's James Arness in the alien monster suit), It Came From Outer Space, The Blob (starring a very young Steve McQueen), and others. The 100 Years of Horror series chronicles the history of movie horror from the earliest experimental chillers through the "golden age of movie monsters" and on through the gory shock-horror films of the late 20th century. Host Lee starred in The Curse of Frankenstein (1956) and The Mummy (1959). ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1996
For many classic horror movie fans, Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff are inseparable from the iconic characters they portrayed. Part of the 13-episode 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror: The Gruesome Twosome celebrates the careers of Dracula and Frankenstein. Sometimes appearing in the same movie, Lugosi and Karloff appeared in some of the best (and worst) monster movies ever made. The Gruesome Twosome includes film clips from Lugosi-Karloff vehicles Son of Frankenstein (1939), with Karloff as the Monster and Lugosi as Ygor (not I-gor); The Invisible Ray (1936); Black Friday (1940), and others. Highlights include interviews with Karloff and Lugosi, as well as behind-the-scenes stories from friends, relatives, and co-workers. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Part of the 13-part 100 Years of Horror series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror -- Frankenstein looks at how Mary Shelley's 19th century novel Frankenstein almost single-handedly established a new genre: horror. Since Hollywood produced its first movie version of the tale in 1908 (with actor Charles Ogle, over 80 motion pictures and a dozen television shows have been made that feature some variation of the original story. The highlights of this program are the interviews and home movies with actor Boris Karloff, the actor who, with his makeup artist, created the most widely known version of "the Monster" in the James Whale-directed Frankenstein (1931). Also included is the only color film footage known to exist of Karloff as the Monster, dating from approximately 1938. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
Condensed from the 13-episode series directed by Ted Newsom and hosted by horror movie star Christopher Lee, 100 Years of Horror, the two-hour version, is a celebratory overview of the Hollywood horror genre, rich with film clips from horror movies throughout most of the 20th century. Stars getting screen time here include old masters Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Claude Rains, as well as The Omega Man himself, Charlton Heston, Halloween babysitter Jamie Lee Curtis, and horror dabblers Robert De Niro and Kenneth Branagh. The program includes interviews with directors Roger Corman, Joe Dante, John Carpenter, and Herschell G. Lewis, and with actors (host) Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and Claude Rains. Highlights include outtakes from the surprisingly effective Abbot & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) and from the 1960 version of The Lost World. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
The life of the reluctant Old Testament prophet is told in this made-for-television biblical drama. When the Pharaoh Ramses calls for the death of all Hebrew children, a mother puts her son Moses in a basket and sends him down the Nile to save his life. The baby is found by a princess and raised as the heir to the family throne. Called upon by God, the hesitant Moses (Ben Kingsley) accepts the challenge to lead his enslaved people out of Egypt for what becomes a 40-year journey into the promised land. This extravagant production was nominated for the "Outstanding Mini-Series" Emmy. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
A Century Of Science Fiction pays tribute to the history of SF on screen, from the silent epics of Georges Melies to the latest high-tech space epics such as Independence Day. Narrated by Christopher Lee. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
This film is based on The Stupids series of children's books by Harry Allard and James Marshall, which are about a family that takes things very, very literally. In this film, the Stupids attempt to discover what happens to the garbage that disappears from their lawn every week (they think it has been stolen) and accidentally save the world. The father, Stanley (Tom Arnold), goes undercover posing as a tree and unknowingly stumbles into an international arms-smuggling scheme. He believes that the garbage theft is perpetrated by his old enemy from the Post Office, "Sender" (Christopher Lee). His absence worries his equally befuddled children, who go looking for him. Meanwhile he is chased by both the weapons smugglers and beings from outer space. Directed by John Landis, known for his hit films Trading Places and The Blues Brothers. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Arnold, Jessica Lundy, (more)
- 1996
This video is part of a fascinating series on investigations of the supernatural world. This episode focuses on the seance. The word conjures up images of people huddled around a crystal ball in a darkened room. In the film, the viewer goes to an actual seance, which is perhaps quite different from preconceived notions of such an event. Participants are interviewed for their reactions. The music and visual effects add to the otherworldly quality of the experience. The film takes a serious look at the age- old question of whether life exists on the other side of the veil, and if we can cross that divide and communicate with those who have already gone on. Are there really ghosts? This film has some interesting answers. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
