RIP Bela Lugosi (October 20, 1882 - August 16, 1956), aged 73 RIP Boris Karloff (November 23, 1887 - February 2, 1969), aged 81 RIP Sir Christopher Lee (May 27, 1922 - June 7, 2015), aged 93 You will be remembered as legends.
Christopher Lee, a gentleman through and through, a soldier, an assassin (if the reports are true), an aristocrat, a metalhead, a total badass, and a terrific actor. His tribute to Karloff is touching and inspiring. True respect shining through, and, yes, Targets is a masterpiece. Who cares if it was low-budget? It was well directed, and Karloff was outstanding.
@@jessfrankel5212 well, most of Karloff films were low budget. So it goes without saying 😁I just wish Targets was concentrated on the Karloff story only. But that's just my opinion
A Master of Horror speaking with genuine admiration for another Master of Horror. They don't make them like Christopher Lee anymore. RIP to the true Dark Knight.
If you haven't already seen it, there's a movie from 1973 - _"The Wicker Man"._ Lee doesn't have the most major role - Edward Woodward does - but gives a solid, creepy performance. As usual. Very interesting film. This is NOT to be confused with the 2006 remake.
I loved the old Hammer films where Lee was Dracula and Cushing was Van Helsing. Even when they weren't playing those roles, they always seemed to be adversaries, like in The Creeping Flesh. _Horror Express_ was the only movie I can remember off the top of my head where their characters were allies.
Lee was supposed to play Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars, but couldn't get out of another film, so Lucas brought Cushing in. Lucas always wanted Lee so he developed the character of Count Dooku specifically for him, based on him.
@@heatherporterfield7343 Watch him in the 1965 film Dr Who and the Daleks. He was outstanding in his performance of Winston Smith in the 1954 BBC adaptation of Nineteen Eighty-Four.
These guys were my childhood idols in a phase I went through for monsters. All the Monster magazines and make-up kits. Not to leave out the plastic monster model kits that were out, like model cars and boats. I had them all. These gentlemen had a grace and elegance that most actors do not possess anymore.
Me, too! They were my idols. I still have some of my "Famous Monster" magazines. Like many actors of their generation, they lived "real lives" before they became actors. That gave them a "gravitas" that most contemporary actors lack.
A very very underated movie in my opinion. Peter B a much underated director. As William Henry Pratt he is a rare one, a legend in his own time, just like Christopher Lee!
By all reports, the fastest movie ever made, completed in less than 2 days. Boris delivered one of the greatest film monologues, John O'Hara's "Appointment In Samarra".
His presence in any movie was foreboding , alluring, and he was what he wanted you to believe. A truly gifted and professional actor. And a big part of my childhood horror memories
I am so impressed by this video. I had no idea they were friends. Karloff and Lee and Cushing too were absolute gentlemen and fantastic actors. Will never see their like again. RIP. You gave us so much entertainment and we are so grateful
Boris owed Corman a day or two of shots from The Terror so Corman used him in the Peter Bogdanovich film "Targets". "Karloff was under contract and owed Corman those two days. Karloff was so impressed with the script that he refused pay for any shooting time over his contracted two days. He worked for a total of five days on the movie."
Christopher Lee was probably the Most Interesting Man in the World- soldier, world-class actor, champion fencer, singer of opera, heavy metal and show music (he was half-Italian), multi-lingual...a true Renaissance Man!
Had dinner with Christopher Lee and his charming wife at Cannes Film Festival in '95, a gentleman of the old school with numerous insides into his experiences over the decades, definitely more than Hammer Dracula by far.
Years ago I was in the classical dept of the old HMV in London's Oxford St and in front of me, being served, was a man who was not just tall but BIG - with a voice to match. I couldn't help but notice him - but I could never have imagined that, when he turned around, I would be looking at Christopher Lee. He was an unmistakable presence - especially from only 3 feet away! - something that doesn't really come across when you see him seated in a TV interview.
Loved The Raven. I’m 72, so I grew up watching these films and Thriller. No CGI, minimal blood and other spfx, just great dialogue, great timing, great acting.
@@markfergerson2145 I agree. The classics is the best. In which case by the way you'd probably be interested in reading my book of history of horror cinema www.wattpad.com/1095835587-horrorlogy-history-of-horror-cinema
Christopher Lee had an amazing voice to listen to all day! He should have voiced over a book or audio diary of his life. As for Boris Karlof...he did. A LOT of work besides the Frankenstein. He was basically a master of so many different faces!
I was born in 1945. I didn't realize it at the time that I was living in an era of some of the greatest film ever made. Sitting in a darkened theatre munching on buttered popcorn was an experience that today I miss. However, I now have my own home theatre setup and popcorn machine and melted butter. None of that butter flavored stuff for me.
I loved The Mask of Fu Manchu! @1:26 it looks like there is an opening in the collapsing room! Thanks for the clip about Karloff from Christopher Lee! BTW, Karloff owed Corman a couple of days from doing The Terror too quickly I guess and that's why he did Targets, although after working with Bogdanovic, I think Boris helped him out with more time.
One of Boris' best performances was on Wild, Wild West as a very likable villain, a Hindu master of assassins. He also played a very malevolent Seneca chief in Unconquered. Lee, of course, started playing good guys as Sherlock Holmes opposite Cushing's Sir Henry Baskerville.
Price, Karloff, Cushing, and Lee were all brilliant actors and even better Human Beings. Real gentlemen. And having their films made growing up a lot easier for a nonconformist rebel.
Botis Karloff was given a lot more to work with in his Frankenstein films than Christopher Lee was given to do in Curse Of Frankenstein. In the Hammer film the Monster is just a one note villain and not much else. But Boris Karloff's Frankenstein character was given dialogue, emotional range, sensitivity.
You might want to watch "Curse of Frankenstein" again and dig in more deeply. Lee's performance is very sympathetic. Pathetic, even. He gave a similarly affecting performance in "The Mummy", again with no dialog, acting only with his eyes and body language. Clearly, Karloff had the advantage of better scripts and directors...though I'm a huge fan of Terence Fisher...but Lee elevated those films with his sensitive performances.
I'm old enough to remember watching those Roger Corman monster movies with Vincent, and Boris and the others during the Saturday afternoon matinee double feature at the Playhouse; the only theatre in town when I was a kid. Two of my older brothers worked at the theatre so we didn't even have to pay the 25 cents.
Christopher Lee, Boris Karloff, Peter Cushing, Vincent Price, Lon Chancy Sr, and Jr- All made a living playing villains - all were gentlemen in real life
Boris Karloff in his last film, in a wheelchair between takes, (shortness of breath, emphysema) near the ens of his career and life, heard a young fan wanted to meet him. Karloff got up and as though he was in full health and entertained the young boy, had pictures taken with the boy etc. After the lad left he collapsed completely exhausted, as the person who witnessed and related this said, Boris was a “Santa Claus” of a man, and always appreciated his fans. Contact to many of today’s stars.
Yes, William Henry Pratt was a superb actor: one of my very favourites. I have -as a prized possession-one of his [UK] passports, signed both as WHP & BK, safe in a secure place of course. [ RIP Boris, Bela & Christopher].
@@ivans.191 yep I suppose so they are very similar films in style.Im a massive fan of all this horror, from hammer, amicus and tigon,to Pete walker and Norman j warren, argento, bava and fulci,and my favourite actors are,Cushing,Lee,price and karloff. It's a shame we will never see their like again, they were all absolute gentleman too,according to people who worked with them.
We were so lucky,my generation,to have these great actors. Giving us awesome scares,whereas today's youngsters have just gore for spooky movies. And they arent even scared by these newer movies. So sad.
I started working in Hollywood and 64 and I saw them filming these Roger Corman films well some of them I was an extra and I did set design one thing I noticed the liquor that they were drinking was real They would drink so much they would forget their lines
I am one of the few and fewer who had the privilege of growing up in the golden age of Boris. Going to the local theater as a small boy with older brothers to be frightend shitless by him.
I love Christopher Lee. He was a brilliant actor and a gentleman.
Such a Gentleman in every way. Kind, courageous, talented, funny.
His father was English, his mother was Countess Estelle Marie Carandini, from northern Italy.
Me Too. He was an impeccable actor with a spectacular voice.
The only celebrity I ever met that I was truly in awe of (and I've met quite a few!) What presence and charisma he had!
And very well dressed
I could listen to Christopher Lee for hours
Wonderful voice❤❤
Me too !!
Same here, and Vincent Price
Came here to say exactly that, Vincent was so eloquently spoken it's hard to imagine him in the roles he played.@@nicklengyel356
RIP Bela Lugosi (October 20, 1882 - August 16, 1956), aged 73
RIP Boris Karloff (November 23, 1887 - February 2, 1969), aged 81
RIP Sir Christopher Lee (May 27, 1922 - June 7, 2015), aged 93
You will be remembered as legends.
They were greats.
Irreplaceable.
All hail the masters of the Macabre!
Karloff was great in Mr. Wong. Detective. Better than chan. Also gangster in a dick tracy.movie. was good. Used him in crime shows.
The Trilogy of Terror? no? maybe?
You forgot Vincent Price (May 27, 1911 - October 25, 1993) Big omission.
Christopher Lee, a gentleman through and through, a soldier, an assassin (if the reports are true), an aristocrat, a metalhead, a total badass, and a terrific actor.
His tribute to Karloff is touching and inspiring. True respect shining through, and, yes, Targets is a masterpiece. Who cares if it was low-budget? It was well directed, and Karloff was outstanding.
@@jessfrankel5212 well, most of Karloff films were low budget. So it goes without saying 😁I just wish Targets was concentrated on the Karloff story only. But that's just my opinion
What an eloquent man. Something we could certainly do with more of these days. Legends. All of them.
David Frost asked Boris Karloff why he didn't use his real name. Boris replied, "I could never imagine Billy Pratt scaring anyone".
Legend
A Master of Horror speaking with genuine admiration for another Master of Horror. They don't make them like Christopher Lee anymore. RIP to the true Dark Knight.
If you haven't already seen it, there's a movie from 1973 - _"The Wicker Man"._
Lee doesn't have the most major role - Edward Woodward does - but gives a solid, creepy performance. As usual. Very interesting film.
This is NOT to be confused with the 2006 remake.
@@pawwalker3492 "NO, NOT THE BEES!!"
Just to imagine Karloff and Lee together in the same room. What an experience it would have been to witness two such supreme gentleman together.
@@Webhead123 at least you may see them both sharing the screen in two films
Woulda made one hell of a Halloween party, that's for sure!
He had the coolest voice. RIP.
Both lee and Karloff
Most of the classic horror actors had the coolest voices. Before IMDB I thought Vincent Price was British instead of American.
Colleagues & friends, two of the finest gentlemen of stage & screen. 🎭
I loved the old Hammer films where Lee was Dracula and Cushing was Van Helsing. Even when they weren't playing those roles, they always seemed to be adversaries, like in The Creeping Flesh. _Horror Express_ was the only movie I can remember off the top of my head where their characters were allies.
@@Driven2Beers The Hound of the Baskervilles as well
@ivans.191 Good call! 👍
@@Driven2Beers The Skull, as well.
@bufoferrata3205 Haven't seen that in ages. Time for me to ask Roku if there's free streaming.
Lee was supposed to play Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars, but couldn't get out of another film, so Lucas brought Cushing in. Lucas always wanted Lee so he developed the character of Count Dooku specifically for him, based on him.
What a wonderful little excerpt this is.
A real gentleman, along with Peter Cushing
Mr. Cushing was great in Star Wars.
@@heatherporterfield7343
Watch him in the 1965 film Dr Who and the Daleks.
He was outstanding in his performance of Winston Smith in the 1954 BBC adaptation of Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Indeed
I could listen to Lee's voice all day.
These guys were my childhood idols in a phase I went through for monsters. All the Monster magazines and make-up kits. Not to leave out the plastic monster model kits that were out, like model cars and boats. I had them all. These gentlemen had a grace and elegance that most actors do not possess anymore.
Me, too! They were my idols. I still have some of my "Famous Monster" magazines.
Like many actors of their generation, they lived "real lives" before they became actors. That gave them a "gravitas" that most contemporary actors lack.
Targets was a great movie for Karloff, essentially playing himself, and in a twist he was the hero of the movie.
A very very underated movie in my opinion. Peter B a much underated director. As William Henry Pratt he is a rare one, a legend in his own time, just like Christopher Lee!
By all reports, the fastest movie ever made, completed in less than 2 days.
Boris delivered one of the greatest film monologues, John O'Hara's "Appointment In Samarra".
@@kenchristie9214 I was also used in a horror album that Karloff narrated.
I could listen to Christopher Lee for hours!
His presence in any movie was foreboding , alluring, and he was what he wanted you to believe. A truly gifted and professional actor. And a big part of my childhood horror memories
It would have been a treat to sit down with both Boris Karloft and Christopher Lee and have both tell you about the early days of the movies.
I am so impressed by this video. I had no idea they were friends. Karloff and Lee and Cushing too were absolute gentlemen and fantastic actors. Will never see their like again. RIP. You gave us so much entertainment and we are so grateful
Boris loved the time between Halloween and Christmas, calling it “my busy season”
Boris Karloff was an underrated genius.
He was a total gentleman . RIP sir !!
I wouldnt say he is underrated, he gets his flowers.
Boris was born in London, England ... birth cerif name - William Henry Pratt ... changed to Boris K when on tour with a play in Canada ...
I love your videos. Boris was one of the greats as well as Christopher Lee
Dear Mr. Lee, Lovely tribute. ❤❤
Boris owed Corman a day or two of shots from The Terror so Corman used him in the Peter Bogdanovich film "Targets". "Karloff was under contract and owed Corman those two days. Karloff was so impressed with the script that he refused pay for any shooting time over his contracted two days. He worked for a total of five days on the movie."
I remember well seeing it in a drive-in theater back then. The scene shot at a drive-in made it a weirdly apt viewing.
Loved hearing Karloff in the cartoon version of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and in another of my childhood favorites, Mad Monster Party.
Not in the "cartoon version but "the" version.
@@theoldman2821 The definitive version.
What a lovely tribute from another great actor!
Christopher Lee was probably the Most Interesting Man in the World- soldier, world-class actor, champion fencer, singer of opera, heavy metal and show music (he was half-Italian), multi-lingual...a true Renaissance Man!
Thank you for this. I really enjoyed it. I love the old monsters and Christopher Lee.
Had dinner with Christopher Lee and his charming wife at Cannes Film Festival in '95, a gentleman of the old school with numerous insides into his experiences over the decades, definitely more than Hammer Dracula by far.
Splendid...Lucky Chap...
Karloff, Lee and Cushing were the great English actors of horror.
Christopher Lee
Three legends ❤❤❤
Years ago I was in the classical dept of the old HMV in London's Oxford St and in front of me, being served, was a man who was not just tall but BIG - with a voice to match. I couldn't help but notice him - but I could never have imagined that, when he turned around, I would be looking at Christopher Lee. He was an unmistakable presence - especially from only 3 feet away! - something that doesn't really come across when you see him seated in a TV interview.
R.I.P
Sir Christopher,Boris,and Bela.🎬👏👏👏👏👏👏
In addition to film and t.v., Karloff also appeared in many radio shows during the 1930s and 40s.
Mr Lee had the finest voice that I've ever heard ...it was perfection in tone and pitch ..just fabulous .
A fine tribute by a fine gentleman. Sadly, both are missed.
Very touching! Also I enjoyed his horror movies.
As Bugs Bunny once said: "He`s such an interesting monster". For me his best is, Frankenstein, The Body Snatchers and How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
I love him in Colonel March n Mr. Wong. Hollywood should have foreseen how popular they'd become AND MADE MORE!
Boris Karloff was magnificent in the flick "Targets" ,me personally I loved the movie especially cuz of Boris 👌
Loved The Raven.
I’m 72, so I grew up watching these films and Thriller.
No CGI, minimal blood and other spfx, just great dialogue, great timing, great acting.
@@markfergerson2145 I agree. The classics is the best.
In which case by the way you'd probably be interested in reading my book of history of horror cinema
www.wattpad.com/1095835587-horrorlogy-history-of-horror-cinema
RIP Darth Tyranus A.K.A Count Dooku
Christopher Lee had an amazing voice to listen to all day! He should have voiced over a book or audio diary of his life. As for Boris Karlof...he did. A LOT of work besides the Frankenstein. He was basically a master of so many different faces!
A legend talking about other legends..... legendary.
Comedy of Terrors is a giant of a film. A wonderfully dark comedic romp.
The more I look at these documentaries the more I see these films get remade over and over
Christopher Lee scared the sh*t outta me a little kid - just the thought of him makes me shiver
The actors who came into our viewing in the the 1930s were already seasoned professionals! No WONDER those films are still so great today!
Never better an epitaph for such a BRILLIANT soul!
I was born in 1945. I didn't realize it at the time that I was living in an era of some of the greatest film ever made. Sitting in a darkened theatre munching on buttered popcorn was an experience that today I miss. However, I now have my own home theatre setup and popcorn machine and melted butter. None of that butter flavored stuff for me.
" ... a new 'Man of a Thousand Faces'." Let's hear it for Lon Chaney (1883-1930).
Karloff also starred in a British TV series, "The Adventures of Col. March." It's available on the Tubi app.
Thank you! I'll be bingeing.
I loved The Mask of Fu Manchu! @1:26 it looks like there is an opening in the collapsing room! Thanks for the clip about Karloff from Christopher Lee! BTW, Karloff owed Corman a couple of days from doing The Terror too quickly I guess and that's why he did Targets, although after working with Bogdanovic, I think Boris helped him out with more time.
A true sophisticated gentleman and a really fine actor.
One of Boris' best performances was on Wild, Wild West as a very likable villain, a Hindu master of assassins. He also played a very malevolent Seneca chief in Unconquered. Lee, of course, started playing good guys as Sherlock Holmes opposite Cushing's Sir Henry Baskerville.
@@formwiz7096 it was Lee who played sir Henry actually. But yeah, he played Holmes as well later on
@@ivans.191 Long time since I've seen the movie. Like Rathbone, Lee was made for Sherlock.
Yes…..Christoper lee…was a legend also, but a true friend to Boris Karloff. Two men who were great on screen, and off.
An Actor portrays a role in a story, Boris Karloff made make up and expression come alive, a truly frightening dude.
Price, Karloff, Cushing, and Lee were all brilliant actors and even better Human Beings. Real gentlemen. And having their films made growing up a lot easier for a nonconformist rebel.
All these Actors had some kind of Shakespeare theater in them.they knew how to captivate the Audience.I also enjoyed Christofer Lee's Movies.
What did Sir Christopher think of Herman Munster?
I'm assuming, nothing.
Really nice closing line, by a friend to a friend.
I feel like these guy are my late uncles. Great actors, great characters.
Boris Karloff was the best actor to play the Frankenstein monster without a doubt.. Just as Christopher Lee was the best Dracula by far
Best Dracula, really?
@@mikeykine257 I have always thought Bela Lugosi the best.
I totally agree with you
There’s only Lugosi 😊
Mr. Lee was great but Lugosi will always be top dog when it comes to Dracula. 😎
Botis Karloff was given a lot more to work with in his Frankenstein films than Christopher Lee was given to do in Curse Of Frankenstein. In the Hammer film the Monster is just a one note villain and not much else. But Boris Karloff's Frankenstein character was given dialogue, emotional range, sensitivity.
You might want to watch "Curse of Frankenstein" again and dig in more deeply. Lee's performance is very sympathetic. Pathetic, even. He gave a similarly affecting performance in "The Mummy", again with no dialog, acting only with his eyes and body language. Clearly, Karloff had the advantage of better scripts and directors...though I'm a huge fan of Terence Fisher...but Lee elevated those films with his sensitive performances.
Much like the character in the original novel.
Rip the legend 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧.
They may have passed on but they left a legacy and will continue to entertain us
I'm old enough to remember watching those Roger Corman monster movies with Vincent, and Boris and the others during the Saturday afternoon matinee double feature at the Playhouse; the only theatre in town when I was a kid. Two of my older brothers worked at the theatre so we didn't even have to pay the 25 cents.
RIP Christopher Lee 😢😇🙏😰🖤
This is beautiful❤
Two men of genuine substance.
Karloff was a true legend of horror.
Lee was the most elegant villain in movie history. Whether it was a 007, Chuck Norris or Star Wars movie, Lee was the best.
Yes Boris Karloff. Wasn't he great and So were you. Thank you Christopher.
Christopher Lee, Boris Karloff, Peter Cushing, Vincent Price, Lon Chancy Sr, and Jr- All made a living playing villains - all were gentlemen in real life
Boris Karloff in his last film, in a wheelchair between takes, (shortness of breath, emphysema) near the ens of his career and life, heard a young fan wanted to meet him. Karloff got up and as though he was in full health and entertained the young boy, had pictures taken with the boy etc. After the lad left he collapsed completely exhausted, as the person who witnessed and related this said, Boris was a “Santa Claus” of a man, and always appreciated his fans. Contact to many of today’s stars.
“All the Who’s down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot. But the Grinch who lived just north of Whoville… Did not!”
Targets is brilliant and such an appropriate way for Boris Karloff to finish his career.
Also BORIS had a successful career as a comic book host of his own, "True Tales Of Terror".
You were the best Dracula. RIP Christopher Lee
The best was Lugosi. Then Christopher was the second best.
Boris narrating the original Grinch was epic
Bela Lugosi had the misfortune that always remembered the Transylvanian accent of Dracula.
I had many a nightmare watching Mr. Lee's Dracula on the late movies back in the 1960's and 1970's .
hey, what documentary is this cut out of?
100 years of horror
What a lovely man.
When Karloff lived in the Dakota, he'd meet with Basil Rathbone, who lived close by, for strolls in Central Park.
Boris Karloff is known as the baron of horror movie!!
Yes, William Henry Pratt was a superb actor: one of my very favourites. I have -as a prized possession-one of his [UK] passports, signed both as WHP & BK, safe in a secure place of course. [ RIP Boris, Bela & Christopher].
Corman didn't direct The Comedy Of Terrors, that was Jacques Tourneur.
Yes, I know. Lee was mistaking. It's just it was made in the style of Corman's Poe films, so probably that's why Lee confused them
@@ivans.191 yep I suppose so they are very similar films in style.Im a massive fan of all this horror, from hammer, amicus and tigon,to Pete walker and Norman j warren, argento, bava and fulci,and my favourite actors are,Cushing,Lee,price and karloff. It's a shame we will never see their like again, they were all absolute gentleman too,according to people who worked with them.
We were so lucky,my generation,to have these great actors. Giving us awesome scares,whereas today's youngsters have just gore for spooky movies. And they arent even scared by these newer movies.
So sad.
thanks for this, very nice.
Christopher was a good judge of character so if he says Boris was a Great person i believe him
Amazing actor
Gee, I sure loved Karloff -- he reminded me of my grandfather, whom I barely knew. A surrogate, if you will.
I never tire of watching WP as the Frankenstein creature.
WP? William Pratt?
@@Rickkennett143 duuhhh
Yeah!!!!
@@johnvoice815 When asked why he changed his name Karloff said, "Because Billy Pratt wouldn't scare anyone."
That's like saying why Reg Dwight changed his name to
Elton John because Reginald Dwight did'nt make him sound gay enough..
I started working in Hollywood and 64 and I saw them filming these Roger Corman films well some of them I was an extra and I did set design one thing I noticed the liquor that they were drinking was real They would drink so much they would forget their lines
I am one of the few and fewer who had the privilege of growing up in the golden age of Boris.
Going to the local theater as a small boy with older brothers to be frightend shitless by him.
"The Raven" is a fun movie, and it appears that everyone was having fun with the wacky script. Plus, Jack Nicholson is in it!