The Many Faces of Christopher Lee

Recently saw this on the companion disc for Anchor Bay's "Scars of Dracula", and was pleased to see that it is not (as I expected) your basic star documentary. In fact, it is better than most of Chris Lee's films, providing a background to the actor's life, family, and work that is very personal. Lee spends a lot of time showing weapons and how to use them in movies, which I though quite curious. He also shows off Bela Lugosi's Dracula ring, a copy of which I assume he must have acquired from his neighbor Boris Karloff. This film is all Chris Lee, and fans of his work should absolutely not miss it: it is amusing and enlightening, even for those of us (like me) who are already fanatical enough to have read his autobiography ("Tall, Dark, and Gruesome").

Christopher Lee discusses some of his films and his approach to acting. He covers one of the Draculas ("Dracula, Prince of Darkness") and a few other horror films ("Devil Rides Out", "The Wicker Man"). But the most interesting parts are about films that aren't that well-known (like "I, Monster") or are from other genres other than horror--westerns ("Hannie Caulder"), historical ("Rasputin, the Mad Monk"), adventure (3 and 4 Muketeers), his visit to Saturday Night Live and even a music number from "The Return of Captain Invincible". I'm giving it a 10 but it's too short! One hour is hardly enough to cover Mr. Lee's career--more time should have been spent. Still this is, so far, the only filmed document of some of his career.

The DVD version of this contains two amusing music videos he did with someone named Gary Curtis--"It's Now Or Never" and "She'll Fall For Me". They're certainly interesting. Lee isn't much of a singer but he's obviously enjoying himself.

I'd already had Christopher Lee in high regard before watched it, nonetheless after this documentary l know the human being properly, he've starts explain through many movies which he describe each one in a very particular way, telling us a valuable information over those pictures, firstly he've introduces us on Dracula's movies, afterward others productions as Fu Manchu's, Hannie Caulder, and The Wicker Man which he states as the best movie he has done, each them he shows an specific artifact which has a little connection on those pictures, and he told to us interesting and funny stories and some jokes as well, at last in the end he made a homage to their best friends, Peter Cushing and Vincent Price, indeed a great heart of human being!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2016 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5

The Many Faces of Christopher Lee (1996)

** (out of 4)

This hour long feature is basically an interview with Christopher Lee who talks about various parts of his career. The "many" in the title is pretty misleading because there's so much of Lee's career that's not covered that you really walk away disappointed. Not only is there a lot of stuff that isn't talked about but the majority of the stuff we do get is rather uninteresting and at times boring. I think the biggest problem is that it seems like Lee is just given no direction as he just starts talking and goes until his story is done. The problem is that many of the stories are just downright dry and while they might have meant something to him, as the viewer there's really no connection. The stuff with his grandmother isn't interesting. There's talk about the film HANNIE CALDER and you ask yourself why this title was picked out of the hundreds he has done. He talks about how he sword fights and gives us a demonstration but this is just mildly amusing at best. Other topics include his confusion as to why the producer of I, MONSTER tried to hide the Jekyll and Hyde character from the title as well as the name in the film. One interesting story involved why he refused to speak in Dracula: PRINCE OF DARKNESS. Die hard fans of Lee might enjoy some of the stories but I think this was really a wasted opportunity. The man has done so much in his career that it's really a head-scratcher as to why these stories were selected.

I adore Christopher Lee. In this documentary, Lee, seemingly unscripted, talks about his films in an casual way, with various scenes from his many films highlighted. It gives a very intimate feeling, as though you are sitting in the same room and listening to the man speak to you personally. Lee tends to ramble a bit, and while I find his stories fascinating, unless you really are a fan, I can see where it might be considered a bit boring. It is wonderful to see him is this mode. One can really, physically, get a feel for how tall, how imposing he is. He has been acting for over 50 years, and it is amazing to me that the man is still going strong and working on films currently at age 78. If you wish to get a good feel for this wonderful actor, I highly recommend it.