Christopher Lee discusses Dracula and Hammer Studios...
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- Sir Christopher Lee at University College Dublin, discusses portraying Dracula and working with Hammer Studios
www.ucd.ie/news....
Legendary British horror actor, Sir Christopher Lee who portrayed the blood-sucking vampire Dracula in the 1958 Hammer Horror Film was awarded Honorary Life Membership by the UCD Law Society.
"We are honoured to present Sir Christopher Lee with Honorary Life Membership of the UCD Law Society. His corpus of work is truly legendary," says Francis McNamara, Auditor of the UCD Law Society.
"His dedication to his craft for more than half a century should serve as an inspiration to each and every one of us."
"His portrayal of the blood-sucking vampire Dracula in the 1958 Hammer Horror production terrified audiences throughout the world, and as a result Christopher Lee, who stands at 6 foot 5 inches tall, became one of the most recognisable faces and figures of cinema."
Previous recipients of Honorary Life Membership of the UCD Law Society include: Jessie Jackson, Bill Clinton, Jeremy Irons, and Seamus Heaney.
But it was not until the early 2000s that his career reached even higher heights from his appearances in two blockbuster film franchises: as Saruman the White in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003), and as Count Dooku in Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones (2002).
Born in 1922 in London, England, Christopher Lee is of noble Italian ancestry on his mother's side (Carandini). His mother, Contessa Estelle Marie Carandini di Sarzano, was a noted Edwardian beauty and was painted by John Lavery, Oswald Birley and Olive Snell and sculpted by Clare Sheridan, a cousin of Winston Churchill.
The Carandini family is one of the oldest in Europe and traces itself back to the first century AD. It is believed to have been connected with the Emperor Charlemagne, and as such was granted the right to bear the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
In 2009, Lee (89) was knighted by Prince Charles in recognition of his lifetime contribution to the film and television industries. And this year (2011), he received a BAFTA Fellowship.
Not only a great actor, but a cultured, classy gentleman; a dying breed, sadly.
Let us make more of them !
Yes, let's have more sex!
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And make the kids more stereotypical old school british..?
I agree . Dying breed . Sad sad life .
learn from them
@@MarkFilipAnthony Whats wrong with that?
He is like a gentle grandfather you would listen all the day near a warm fire.
jonathan hudon But Lee never was a Grandfather.He would have made a darn good one!!
His voice is heavenly. I could listen to him talk nonsense it sounds so good. What makes his voice even better is everything that he says is always super intelligent and interesting!
He sounds like John Laws.
He´s got a great voice. Could listen all day to him.
hes also a badass who fought in ww2 and then hunted nazis afterwards
Even though Christopher Lee didn't get to protray Count Dracula as Bram Stoker had written in his novel I still say that Christopher Lee was and forever will be the best Dracula actor in the history of films
110%
Oh absolutely. I do adore Bela Lugosi as well. But Sir Christopher Lee really created the noble, feral and animalistic character that Dracula is.
Well, he did that in the 1970 Jess Franco's adaptation of the novel. Chris admitted that he had a lot of fun in that film than in the Hammer Dracula films according to a description by Lee about Mr. Franco.
Absolutely. I've seen plenty other actors do Dracula over the years and did a very good job but none of them did it quite so brilliantly in my opinion or quite so sexy. Lol
Absolutely.. The best Dracula in history of cinema... No one can beat him! ❤
Am I the only one that could just listen to Christopher Lee talk all day?
Nope!
No! Who's up for looking up some of his longest interviews and snuggling in our favorite blankets and pillows with our favorite drinks? 🤩
Absolutely not
I find it very sad that Christopher didn't appear to enjoy the Dracula sequels, because he is so good in them and they still make so many people happy.
Not the last 2 though
I only enjoyed Horror of Dracula nowadays but he was the only reason I kept coming back to the sequels
I think he enjoyed the joy he brought the audience & film fans. He was just upset with the quality of the scripts & films.
Mr. Lee is the role model for revering our elders. Rest in glorious peace, Christopher. You live in our hearts forever.
He has such a compelling and spellbinding way of talking
mortimer1976 much like Saruman
I think it helped too that his voice didn't age too badly. It sometimes does in people -- I watched a fairly recent clip with an interview with Sean Connery, and he sounds TERRIBLE now; his voice is a bit higher, but it also scratchy and reedy, and it just sounds awful now. Leonard Nimoy's voice underwent a bit of the same change, though not to the same extent, while William Shatner's does not seem to have. Carrie Fisher's voice aged terribly as well, before she died, and she wasn't even all that old. But Christopher Lee's voice, while it had perhaps aged slightly, was still that deep, rich, sonorous baritone he was famous for.
@@Hibernicus1968 It's what we call a smoker's voice.
Yeah he's a damn vampire that's who they are that's what they do!!!!!lol :)
His readings of Edgar Allan Poe is great stuff to fall asleep to.
It's an honor to have been alive during this great man's life time.
Christopher Lee is an absolute legend. My all time fave actor, next to Cushing and Karloff.
I agree me too.
That is the horror trifecta! So many would want to throw Vincent Price in there, whose work I enjoy, but who was never on the level of the other 3
@@mantislake4141why not? the movies of price are better than karloff movies
@@lesleyrussell8200 - I've seen countless films starring Price and he always seems like the same guy to me: a tall weirdo, usually hosting some odd party. Karloff's had plenty of similar roles but will occasionally disappear into them.
Christopher Lee was a great man and a wonderful actor. May he rest in peace.
we do not have actors like him any more R.I.P.
Sadly we do not seem to have that many gentleman like him.
Benedict Cumberbatch kinda comes to mind
He actually read the book
And we'll have actors in the future like nobody we have today.
We will never, ever have another one like Christopher Lee, my friends
The most touching part of this part of the interview is Christopher Lee's explanation why He did 3, 4, & 5. He didn't do those films for himself, but did it for "the crew" -- His Friends (Family)! That Speaks Volumes about the character of this Man! GOD Bless Christopher Lee!!!!
Sir Christopher had the most wicked and wonderful sense of humour. His films and characters will live forever in the hearts of millions of fans around the World.
RIP Dear Sir....🙏📽❤✌
"He was dressed entirely in black from head to foot without a speck of color." I don't remember reading that part, but I love that quote.
I remember reading that part; I was 14 at the time! -- Cheryl B. Montoya
"Within, stood a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck of colour about him anywhere".
Mr. Lee's portrayal of Count Dracula scared me for years as a kid! It got me hooked on Dracula films (at least the classic ones). Had no idea he was emotionally "blackmailed" into playing that role in those Hammer films. Nonetheless,his portrayal of Count Dracula (imo) cannot be surpassed!!! His Saruman wasn't bad either!
I love Christopher Lee forever. His Dracula films mean everything to. Actually I love all if his various character portrayals, but Hammer's Dracula films were my favorites!! I have watched them hundreds of times!!!
Incredible performer, special forces veteran and a british gentleman who STILL enjoys a good metal tune. Not to mention a foremost scholar of Tolkien's fiction. Nevermind favorite actor, just one of my favorite human beings.
Back in 2007 I had the immense privilege of sitting down with Sir Christopher Lee & speaking to him about his career; specifically his career with Hammer Horror & also The Wicker Man.
Lee meeting or knowing Tolkien has been spoken about a lot in recent years. The truth of it is, as Sir Christopher told me:
“I did meet him, very briefly, in the Fifties. It was in a pub that he used to go to in Oxford, called the Eagle and Child. I was there having a beer and I was completely overcome when he walked in. I had already started reading the books and thought, "This man has created a unique form of literature - one of the great works of all time."
There was a short encounter where they spoke, but nothing more than just introducing themselves to each other. So, the whole thing about them knowing each other is a little bit of an urban legend.
Sir Christopher Lee was; & he’d hate this term being used, a legend of cinema. He was as imposing off screen as he was on it; a true gentleman, with a great sense of humour.
He did movies that he knew from the start were gonna suck... But he did it so that the people that worked on them could provide for their families... Class act.
The Dracula sequels didn't even suck though. They were all enjoyable, up to Scars.
Rest in peace you were truly a national treasure.
i keep tearing up watching these, i knew he'd go soon but i so didn't want him to
To the uploader of this video:
I watch this clip often. It conjures up so many memories of watching Hammer and Amicus as a kid. Peter, Vincent and Christopher were the end of an era. With the passing of Sir Christopher, it has become painfully obvious that there will never again be three actors (let alone one) who will emit the level of class that these 3 men did. I'm not okay with that. It makes me sad. But, this alarming realization does make Vincent, Peter and Chris all the more special. With that said, it makes people like YOU all the more special for making content like this available to the public. It honestly brings tears to my eyes.
For over two years this era has been over. I feel the void more and more each day. I'm glad I have access to their interviews and films. It creates a warnesss in my heart that not much else can.
I'm only 36, but I grew up on these films. Pre-internet...I had accumulated all of their films on VHS by the mid nineties (paying upwards to 200.00 for one out of print video tape). I was a teenage detective hunting down these films without the use of any internet. Lots of reading, researching and long distance calls were involved. One time I even dialled up the telephone directory in London and got every number that was listed under "Christopher Lee". I must say...there was A LOT of Christopher Lee's in London in the 90's. And no...I never did get a hold of THE Christopher Lee (but I did get a hold of many other annoyed and misc Christopher Lee's). When my parents received the phone bill...they were NOT happy. At all. But all I wished to do was to thank Mr. Lee for simply being Christopher Lee. I never had the opportunity to do that, but I'm quite sure he knew how special he was. But, I'm not gonna lie...I was also going to ask if he had any prints of "The Satanic Rites of Dracula" just lying around (it was really hard to find in the 90's)! On account of him despising that film, I doubt he did. But, I was holding out hope that he knew someone who did. I was quite tenacious and ballzy (just ask my parents...they had to pay the phone bill on account of my "tenacity").
Collecting their films (at such a young age) gave me incentive to work and save as much as I could. What kept me going as I worked for 4.25 per hour was envisioning the box art on that elusive vhs copy of Dracula A.D 1972, Legend of the Werewolf, Twins of Evil and SO VERY MANY OTHERS. So many good memories.
I have since owned all of their films on DVD...and now bluray. I will continue to purchase them in whatever form they come out on.
God bless these men and their families and may God bless YOU for making such things available on this channel.
Life is pretty complicated nowadays...but seeing clips such as this sends me back to simpler times. Thank you for that. You just can't put a price tag on that. It always seems the "good ole days" are gone. But when "the good ole days" were in full swing, we didn't know that they would one day be fondly remembered as "the good ole days". Cushing, Lee and Price have always been a major player in my "good ole day's. I hope perhaps in 20 years time I can look back on this very instant and fondly reminisce of how those days were the good ole days. Call me philosophically-melodramatic, but thinking like this has helped me not to disregard the present as insignificant and take it for granted. Seeing this clip has served as a time capsule to my childhood. It has helped me to appreciate the now by seeing the profundity of the past.
God bless you.
Einer der Besten ! Schauspieler dieser Klasse gibt es heute nicht mehr ! Ruhe in Frieden !
RioDeLaNorte My german is not that good but from what I understand. Yes, I agree he was the best at what he did, a remarkable actor, there wont be anyone like him... may he rest in peace.
Christopher Lee's "The Mummy" was a great and scary film.
His attack on Peter Cushing had me on the edge of my chair!
The greatest actor ever...,to play the role of the famous count - Dracula! I have always loved Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing in Hammer films!!!
Max Schrek, Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee and Gary Oldman. We've been blessed with so many great Draculas throughout the years.
That he was totally pissed off with playing the same character again and again was obvious. Any actor who feels strongly that he has in him the ability to portray diverse characters will feel so.
My respects to the legend!
He may not have enjoyed making them, but I enjoyed watching them. Thank you mr. Lee.
The Devil Rides Out is the best Hammer film Lee ever made in my opinion.
RIP Sir Christopher
johnnyM809 Oh, I wholeheartedly agree!
Yes it's the best Hammer film of all 🕊🙏😇✝️💕
Such a class act. My God, the world is worse without such gems. He lived a full life - something few of us can actually say - and was a true gentleman through-and-through. Just listening to him talk makes me feel good, and that says a lot. I miss him so...
What a wonderful human being Christopher Lee was. Eloquent, kind, thoughtful and a fantastic actor to boot. Underrated too. RIP.
Alway's admired The great Christopher Lee!....The finest Dracula that will ever be!.Loved all his films...so realistic..the sign of a great actor!...Thanks Mr Lee even though you scared me (pardon me)..shitless!!..ha ha ha!
One of the most incredible amazing actors or all time !! Boris and Vincent and Lon Chaney are right up there with him !!
What about Lugosi?
And Peter Cushing :)
Nicholas Dickens Peter Cushing,
He was the first Doctor Who I knew !! Then again there is Lon Chaney and Vincent Price !! Those were Horror movie the ones now days are just blood and guts..
Nicholas Dickens
Yes we must never forget Peter...one of the sweetest kindest and most gentile human beings that ever graced our planet not to mention the fact that he was an incredible actor
Azrael Astrum Oh I always think Horror actors are the greatest. I adore Donald Pleasance, Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Robet Englund, Lon Chaney Jr and his father, John Caradine, Peter Cushing and Sir Christopher Lee. They are gentleman all.
What an interesting and intelligent man! I could listen to him all day long. And, yes, he scared the pants off me as a kid in those Hammer horror movies.
Refused 2, 3 and 4 for bad scripts. Changed his mind because of the crew "they were my friends"
LEGEND
I wish I had a friend like Sir Christopher Lee
"WHO?"....Jesus how much I love this man! :))
Imagine reinventing Dracula after Lugosi! Christopher Lee gave us, imo, Dracula's most unnerving yet captivating spin. He was an amazing actor and deserving of every single accolade he received. Legend of legends.
Even though he was "coerced" into doing them, I (and many others) sure are glad things happened as they did because they were terrific films. Dracula Has Risen From The Grave, Taste The Blood Of Dracula and Scars Of Dracula - may not have been the most critically acclaimed, but they were beautiful Gothic films, fun and frightening, sophisticated and strange, and I think as time goes on, they are appreciated more and more. And I sure can't imagine having had anyone but Christopher Lee as Dracula in them!
My favourite actor of all time..
The Devil rides out is my favourite hammer film..Lee was brilliant in it
One of my favourite actors when I was a kid. Absolutely loved the Hammer Horror films growing up of which Horror of Dracula was my favourite.
Rest in peace, Christopher! Although he did the DRACULA series rather for other people than for himself, he has made this character world famous. Bram Stoker's book was not well known until Lee appeared in his first Dracula movie 1958. This is really his biggest merit, I would say! And I really love, how he played the Count. However, it's a huge pity that no director has ever tried to picturise the real contents of Stoker's book one to one with Lee in the main role. Francis Ford Coppola once tried to do it with Gary Oldman, but the final result again has been far away from Bram Stoker's book. I think there are more than a hundred Dracula movies published by now and there is not a single movie exactly telling Stoker's story. This still needs to be done, dear movie makers!
Oliver Hansert Frank Langella did a pretty good job in 1979.
Oliver Hansert I have to say Louis Jordan was excellent in the B.B.C production.
I'll chime in and add that Jack Palance made a surprisingly effective Dracula in Dan Curtis' adaptation in 1973. The 70s really were flooded with Dracula and vampire films, which probably diluted their appeal, which is why so few were done in the 80s. Though "Fright Night" did well in 1985.
"Bram Stoker's book was not well known until Lee appeared in his first Dracula movie" How about Lugosi and all the Universal franchise? It was very popular. Not to mention that the book itself actually was very popular when it came out
Jess Franco did it with Lee in his 1970 film. The first half of that film is the most faithful so far. Lee even has a white moustache.
Christopher Lee was one of those very few Englishmen I liked listening to, he always had something interesting to say he had a lot of class and seemed a true gentleman.
Englishmen make the best raconteurs. Go listen to Robert Shaw from Jaws, or Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin.
He was the Top of all Dracula's and a fantastic actor, thank you for all Sir Lee.
LEE and PALANCE the 2 best draculas
Lee's voice turns all other men into tiny schoolgirls.
They both commanded great voices but I believe Lee's voice packed more stateliness @Heny W
They both commanded great voices but I strongly believe Lee's voice packed way more stateliness.@Heny W
Maria Retali fax
Yes!
speak for yourself, mate. you getting a hj from old men while giggling will have to speak for you. ain't my thing exactly
Lee is a legend one of the best actors of all time
Absolutely.
I read somewhere that Mr. Lee , was a long time MI - 6 agent ; an accomplished fellow for sure .
what an amazing man
I grew up watching Hammer films and it is so sad that all these great old horror movie actors have all since passed. Lee, Price and Cushing were my favorites. All great actors and incredible gentlemen but Lee really went out in style, playing iconic roles in Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, even making some Heavy Metal music! A true legend! 🤘🏻
Ingrid Pitt also
Despite Mr. lee not wanting to make the Dracula films, he did a great job in each and became one of my all time film heroes because of it.
loved all the dracula movies and other vampire movies hammer made
What a wonderfully cultured English gentleman. He is a pleasure to listen to and single handedly re-created Dracula as the terrifying monster true to Stokers original Novel. Thanks for posting this great interview.
Christopher Lee is at least, 90 years old now!!! He is an elegant man. Very tall. Six-foot-six, I believe. A legend who still lives!
I have correct u he was 93 when passing and stood 6.4.
Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, 2 of the best actors period!!
Great Actor, Great Voice, Great Everything about Christopher Lee, RIP.
When he passed? I remember him the war lord in the twin towers. I really does not like those movies, only Dracula I have the dvd 📀 and stars ⭐️ wars.
I love that Christopher Lee wasn't just an actor going through the motions, he had a real passion for and expertise in the fantasy and horror literature he specialized in. If he hadn't been an actor, I think he would have been an English literature professor, and the very first cosplayer in history, and would have showed up to the premiere of every possible Dracula/vampire film in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and 10s in lavish costume just waiting to be interviewed by the local news to spit some wisdom at the youth.
His first Dracula film is astounding for his portrayal.
Great story, and what a decent and generous man!
I never liked Christopher Lee - the characters he played - but I did like Peter Cushing. Cushing was the good guy - Lee was the bad guy. Lee is the definition of a, "heavy.'
Then, RUclips came along - and I started seeing videos about Christopher Lee being a war hero, highly intelligent, greatly talented. All I'd seen of him were dark, menacing characters - even in, "Charlie And the Chicolate Factory." He couldn't escape the type casting - but he was so good at being a bad guy!
Today, I have a tremendous amount of respect for the late, great actor. I wish we could have seen more of his range: he probably could have played Gregory Peck-type characters (Atticus Finch - "To Kill a Mockingbird"). I'm glad we've gotten a glimpse of the man behind the forbidding characters. Thank you for sharing this.
To me Mr Lagosi's portrayal of dracula was almost a spiritual version of dracula who seems to exist in the minds of the characters on screen (which is super cool no doubt) but Sir Lee's portrayal came off as a physical manifestation of pure evil that was truly terrifying.
What a class act to have given in and to have made those additional Dracula films after being begged each time. So many of today's me me me stars only think of THEMSELVES and their money and never would have agreed to make the films. Lee knew deep down scores of people ( costume designers, set designers, etc) were counting on having those films made to make a living......
The greatest horror icon ever in film history. I really miss you.
After hearing that, how can one not have immense respect for Mr. Lee.
What a legend and a great man ❤️❤️
I love the Hammer Flims all of them. I always look forward to Halloween and sending all.
People often ignore his role as Scaramanga in "The Man With The Golden Gun", but I think he was superb in that part. He was possibly the best Bond villain ever.
He was great in that and had the best villain's lair in cinematic history. Plus Mr. Roarke would never have hired Tattoo without Scaramanga's reference.
He is the best Bond villain ever.
I found his movie Count Dracula to be one of the best of his Dracula entries. I don't know why he puts the film down so much.
LOVE MR. LEE.1 OF THE TRUE GREATS.They don't play his movies enough in the states.The Wicker man,Dracula,The man with the golden gun.He makes everything he does better.
When I first saw PRINCE OF DARKNESS upon its theatrical release, Mr. Lee scared the living shit out of me...I was an 11-year-old horror/sci-fi buff and could not get enough of either genre. No man in the history of film has embodied the character of Dracula like Christopher, and you can tell from this clip that he put his heart and soul into it, in spite of the dreadful scripts. Oldman was good. Robert Quarry (as Count "Yorga") was chilling. But there will always be only 1 #1 Dracula.
What a wonderful man...
whenever i think of. dracula i think if christopher lee
Because Sir Christopher was THE definitive Dracula
One of the few that deserves the title "Living legend".
😭😭😭😭😭😭
He had the most incredible voice
A man with a great heart..
An absolute legend.
i miss this legend!
Dracula, the novel, really is great. I read it as a kid in 1967 and it scared the bejesus out of me. Of course, so did horror of Dracula! By the way, I guess there was a sexual underpinning in the novel but I thought it was more about DISEASE, contagion, death, sickness etc.
zyxquark Well then Lee was " sex on a stick " Sigh.So was Langella.
We will miss you Christopher.
My favourite actor
Sneaking down the stairs every friday night to watch his films
Maybe funniest Christopher Lee's interview ever, oh my god, what nature man he was and greatest Dracula in color films ever! I going to buy his all Dracula films, i like them all.
I actually teared up when I heard he had passed away. 😢
In the 60s and 70s being put out of work was not a joking matter. Lee was held hostage over these films due to his genuine caring nature, it all makes so much more sense now. What an incredible man
*''We must join with Him, Gandalf. We must join with Sauron''*
Christopher Lee. The Last of the Great Hammer Horror Stars!
Man, I had no idea that he was such a treasure.
I'm writing a book series right now about vampires, and am largely sticking to the oldest vampire lore as well as Stoker's Dracula. I told my uncle a little while ago that I wish I could write it in collaboration with Christopher Lee, I hope he would enjoy that, too. ☺️
So many roles. Also vey convincing playing Sherlock Holmes
I recently became a fan of the 1931 Dracula, and Bela Lugosi. I've bought the 7 Hammer Dracula's and can't wait to see them. I'm aware they're probably very different, but I've really gotten into Dracula (and classic vampires).
I hope you're enjoying the Sir Christopher Lee Dracula films from Hammer.
Actually, I watched the first one last night and I liked it. :) I still love Bela Lugosi's characterisation, but Sir Christopher Lee really makes Dracula scary.
Who doesn't love the vampires in classic movies? hahha :)
Can't believe how crappy modern horror has gotten.
In the end he made a lot of people happy that he did return for 3-5. Sometimes you gotta give the people what you want. I’m glad he made them all because they’re a lot of fun to watch
my god! hes amazing ! i enjoy listening to him :)
He was so sharp for 89!
Good man for not wanting to put the crew out of work. Happy to have his performance in “The Man With The Golden Gun” in my blu-ray collection.
I could sit and listen to him talk forever.
Man, for someone who comes off as cold and stoic he really had a heart of gold
He was willing to do the Dracula films because (the lie that Hammer told him) he wanted the other crew members to have jobs
We need more Sir Christopher Lee's in this world
I love Mr. Lee.
i can see why Sir Christopher Lee and Boris Karloff were friends. Their sense of humor is fairly similar. That "Who?" at the beginning is precisely the kind of response Karloff would've given. It's a bit wry but genial at the same time.
Such a cheeky fellow!
Christopher lee in Draculas' movies shows a kind of Latin like origin in persona quality. I would like to encourage Mr. Lee to search further about the real origin of Vampires if not already, and then try to lead a new movie based in the logic at large concerning what really makes vampires, the psychological, and para-psychological levels.
LoTR was made about 5-10 years too late. If they had made it 10 years earlier, this great actor would probably have been Gandalf. I think I saw at one point that he said, "I couldn't play Gandalf because I couldn't ride a horse anymore."
Got to love this man.
Working on movies he didn't like to keep his friends employed. Stuff like that is why he is SIR Christopher Lee.