Screen Icon: Sir Christopher Lee

Sir Christopher is my favourite actor of all time, that’s why I’ve been putting off writing about him in the Screen Icon section – it would just be impossible to choose his finest performances. But today, I attempt the impossible. Here are a look at my fave of Sir Christopher Lee’s best performances.

Dracula AD 1972 (1972)

Of his nine performances as Dracula, Dracula AD 1972 will always be my favourite. Here Hammer films took Dracula into the present day (which was then the 1970s) and seeing the iconic character in swinging London was camp brilliance. Despite the film’s OTT nature, Lee still puts in a wonderful performance which does give the film a lot of credibility. As does Peter Cushing, it’s truly a joy two watch the two stars on screen together. It’s one of the most interesting and original takes on the character and a great fun watch.

The Wicker Man (1973)

In my opinion, this is one of the finest films of all time (and my personal favourite) and Lee’s finest role. Here he plays Lord Summerisle, the head of a Pagan isle who are planning their next human sacrifice to the Gods. Lee showcases all his talents in this from his magnificent acting, to his wonderful baratone singing. This is a must see for all horror fans, or fans of Sir Christopher.

The Man With The Golden Gun (1973)

Here Lee takes the title role as James Bond’s most equally matched ability. He brings a sophisticated charm and intellect to the character of Scaramanga, the worlds finest assassin. Unfortunately, Lee suffers from a lack of screentime but still manages to put his mark on the series as one of it’s strongest villains. 

The House of Long Shadows (1983)

This isn’t a masterpiece but it’s one of the few chances a classic horror fan will have the opportunity to see four horror icons in the same film – those being Sir Christopher, Peter Cushing, Vincent Price and John Carradine. THOLS is a good old fashioned haunted house movie, but far better than the script or set pieces is seeing these four friends working together, and clearly having a great time.

Triage (2009)

The most recent of my picks is Triage (which I’ve reviewed here) in which Sir Christopher plays a Spanish psychiatrist trying to help a shell shocked photographer (Colin Farrell) get his life back together. This is his biggest role in recent years and it’s a treat to see him showcasing his talents, even at the age of 89.