May 27 1922 - June 7 2014
Growing up watching horror movies as a child I can still remember vividly the first time I watched Christopher Lee in Hammer's 1958 version of DRACULA. Although I was weened (as many "monster kids" were) on the Lugosi version (and not to dismiss that), but upon first seeing Lee's interpretation of Bram Stoker's literary creation it was almost a revelation. Here was an athletically powerful & sadistic force of evil that not for the work of his co-star and close friend Peter Cushing would have enveloped the entire movie. He is the Dracula of my childhood.
My first Dracula memories are of Langella. But once I saw the '58 version in the 90s, Lee grew to be my favorite Dracula.
ReplyDeleteI can never let go of Lugosi - even if the movie he's in looks a little more ragged and creaky with each passing year. But I first saw Christopher Lee as Dracula when the CBS Late Movie showed Dracula: Prince of Darkness. It took a while to see more of him in the role - I'm thinking it was a Cinemax run of a few of the movies in the late 80's or early 90's - but he is amazing in the role - even if he never even attempts a Romanian accent. Of course Lee went on to incredible roles in so many fun movies - Bond villain, Star Wars villain, Lord of the Rings villain, and Airport hero - no one has EVER had a career like his - and no one else ever will. RIP Sir Christopher Lee.
ReplyDeleteHi Craig One of the more amusing things in Hammer movies is the bunches of English accents lurking around in eastern Europe. He did have an amazing career (I had forgotten about Airport 77 !)
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