A Tribute to Sir Christopher Lee (1922-2015)

It's always a great shame to hear of the passing of such an incredible talent. For me, Christopher Lee was one of those actors that could captivate audiences just from them hearing the sound of his incredible voice. Today we heard the news that he has passed away at the age of 93. Starring in too many films to count, Christopher Lee holds the distinct merit of entertaining audiences from several generations, and his legacy has been firmly cemented throughout his incredible career. 

What I most admired about Lee was his ability to make a role completely his own. The biggest testament to this is his performance as Dracula, a character famously portrayed by Bela Lugosi in 1931. Lugosi's Dracula set the tone for how Dracula would be perceived in pop-culture, with his thick Hungarian accent and piercing eyes. When Christopher Lee first took on the role in Hammer Studio's 1958 remake, he deviated his performance entirely from Lugosi's. Lee's Dracula was a monster for the then modern audience, with a more demented stare and emphasis on Dracula's physicality, performing various stunts and having many variations on how Dracula was defeated in each film. The fact that Lee was able to escape the shadow of Lugosi's iconic portrayal of the character shows just how good a performer he was, with him considered just as good, if not a better Dracula by audiences today.

As a kid, I grew up loving both the Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings series of films. In both franchises, Lee played a primary antagonist: the devious Count Dooku and powerful wizard Saruman the White respectively. Lee's voice alone makes him the perfect choice for both characters. His soft, yet powerful delivery ensured the audience's focus was always held, and added well to both character's display of power. Many people criticise the Star Wars prequel trilogy, but there can be no denying that Lee's portrayal of Count Dooku adds a certain class to the films. Dooku isn't a loud, bombastic villain, and so Lee's calmness allows Dooku's aura to be menacing, but with a sense of serenity. As Saruman in The Lord of the Rings and subsequent prequel trilogy The Hobbit, we again see how Lee completely makes the character his own. It is in these films that his delivery and voice is at its most effective, with Saruman commanding armies and consulting with primary anatgonist Sauron to bring doom to Middle Earth. His scenes with Gandalf (Ian McKellen) are the best, particularly in The Fellowship of the Ring, with Saruman's presence, to Gandalf, being one of hope and aid to defeat Sauron. As the scene progresses, however, we slowly learn that Saruman has joined Sauron's forces, and Lee's performance appropriately slowly builds an atmosphere of uncertainty and dread, making Lee one of the standout performers in such a massive cast.

Outside of film, Christopher Lee was the oldest artist to perform in the genre of Heavy Metal music. Not only lending his vocal talents to bands such as Rhapsody of Fire, but also recording his own albums. In an interview with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, it was revealed that Lee was an early influence for the band. They were fans of his horror films, and so they incorporated some of the themes and imagery into their lyrics. Black Sabbath are often cited as the first Heavy Metal band, so the fact that Lee was an influence for their music shows how he affected a vast amount of people, further indicating his importance to the world of not only film, but music.

In short, Lee was a one-of-a-kind talent. The kind of performer that doesn't come around so often. One of the most distinctive and recognisable entertainers to have ever lived, his influence on the entertainment industry will long be around, even now after his saddening departure. Christopher Lee, I salute you. Rest in peace.