Sympathy for the Devil: Sir Christopher Lee (1922-2015)

 

Of all the actors to play the coveted role of Count Dracula, Sir Christopher Lee was by far my favorite. Born in 1922, he was the same age my Grandfather would have been and came from that generation who know what an honest day's work.

 

Something my generation and every generation after me sadly lacks. As well as sorely lacking a respect for our elders as the internet and social media have made us more opinionated, arrogant and with the way people can readily create as many anonymous profile to attack people with no fear of any recourse...

 

...cowardly.

 

They weren't called The Greatest Generation for nothing, kids.

 

But he was more than just Dracula. Sir Christopher is in fact mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records for most movies acted in. Like I said, from a generation which was a head and should above the rest.

 

And in his case, at over 6'5", that phrase rings more true for him.

 

He was a Bond villain. He was Sherlock Holmes. He was Lord Summerisle in The Wicker Man. He was in two Star Wars films. And age had not dimmed his ability to be a force to be reckoned with when he appeared in the Lord of the Rings films.

 

Although he could be called on to be a hero in films. Much like his contemporaries Vincent Price and best friend Peter Cushing. He seemed to relish playing the quintessential baddie.

 

He was in a class of actors who played both Dracula and Sherlock Holmes.

 

They don't make them like Sir Christopher Lee anymore. And I think I may have felt the Earth tremble slightly at his passing. Rest in Peace Sir Christopher Lee! You will be missed!

Count Dracula (1970)

Count Dracula released in 1970 was a notable film. It was the first and only time veteran actor Sir Christopher Lee would portray the Count outside Hammer Films.

Sir Christopher had become tired of the Hammer series in which he felt the scripts were getting more and more repetetive. A year after this film was made, his feelings towards the series would sour further when Hammer made the decision to bring Dracula into contemporary settings. Despite bringing back old onscreen nemesis Peter Cushing as Professor van Helsing, Lee felt that Dracula didn't fit a modern setting and would ultimately leave the role for good after the second modern Dracula film.

This film was a welcomed break from the Hammer cycle for Lee. It meant starring in a Dracula film that remained true to Bram Stokers original story...

...for the most part.

There are really three reasons to watch this film. Some really great peformances from Lee in the title role, Herbert Lom as Professor Van Helsing and future Dracula actor Klaus Kinski as Renfield.

Given Kinski's volitile personality in real life, this might have possibly been the best casting of all time.

However, Jess Franco's vision of Dracula is EXTREMELY low budget. And the performance given by the rest of the cast is mediocre at best.

FYI, the actresses who played Mina and Lucy had both acted in soft-core porn.

Despite the costumes and sets, you never get the feeling that this film is taking place in the 1890's when the story was supposed to take place. And the special-effects, although clever in spots, hardly exist.

This is a film where you REALLY need to suspend your disbelief to enjoy. But despite all that it is worth seeing for Christopher Lee. Despite all the shortcomings of this film, he seems to put his all into the film. True, he doesn't make (and never has) made an effort to put on an accent as the Count. You forgive that just to hear his marvelous speaking voice.

Which shines its brightest as he speaks the immortal "Children of the night" speech.

I would definitely recommend renting this film on Netflix or Amazon.com if you're just wishing to see this film in passing. Unless you are a fan of Sir Christopher Lee and wish to have a complete collection of his work. It was released on DVD a couple years ago. Not a lot of special features. However, the interview with Jess Franco is very interesting.

Its worth checking out for those who wish to see Sir Christopher Lee's non-Hammer Dracula effort.