The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee review: "A revealing exploration of a big screen icon"
Oct. 7, 2024A revealing and cheering exploration of the life and accomplishments of one of cinema’s most fascinating figures.
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Former Nazi hunter, Charlemagne descendant, definitive Dracula, and all-around screen legend Christopher Lee is lovingly profiled in this biographical doc.
Employing an innovative blend of traditional and experimental animation styles alongside the expected talking heads and archive interviews, director Jon Spira (Star Wars doc Elstree 1976) recounts Lee’s journey in what he imagines to be the late actor’s own words. With actor Peter Serafinowicz delivering a booming vocal impression of Lee, the mighty thespian is brought back to life in marionette form to narrate a whistle-stop tour of his life… and many cinematic deaths.
The star would probably appreciate how much the film glosses over his Hammer Horror work (1958’s Dracula, et al), capturing the sense of frustration he felt at being typecast. In one of the most striking moments, an old interview reveals Lee’s offence at being described as “the King of Horror” by an unwitting reporter.
Elsewhere the tone is light-hearted, irreverent even; it all adds up to a celebration of a bona-fide big-screen icon. Just don’t call him the King of Horror…
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee debuts on Sky Arts on October 24.
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