Before Christopher Lee starred in star wars, Lord of the RingsAnd Tim Burton’s movies, he was a British horror movie star. In 1957, Lee got his big break by starring in The Curse of FrankensteinOne of Hammer Film’s productions. A year later, he starred as Count Dracula in the Hammer film Dracula Movies, based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 epistolary novel, however His role in Dracula Is not the first time he played an iconic monster.
the curse of frankenstein The first movie in Hammer Film’s Frankenstein franchise, is loosely based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. The film follows a scientist awaiting execution for the murder of his servant, as He tells the story of the events that followed after creating a monster. The Curse of Frankenstein Helped Lee break into the world of horror with Hammer Film Productions and inspired other versions of Frankenstein, Such as Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein History and Lisa Frankenstein with the original characters.
Christopher Lee played Frankenstein’s monster before his first Dracula role
The Curse of Frankenstein was Lee’s first horror movie
Lee starred as Frankenstein’s monster in The Curse of FrankensteinAlong with Peter Cushing, who played Baron Victor Frankenstein. in The Curse of Frankenstein, Frankenstein’s monster had brain damage that caused him to act violently By killing an old blind man and Frankenstein’s servant Justin (Valerie Gaunt). Unlike any other Frankenstein Adaptations, including James Whale’s 1931 classic, Lee’s Frankenstein’s Monster was unsympathetic and far scarier than usual depictions of the creature.
Related
The Curse of Frankenstein was Lee’s first role with Hammer Film Productions and the company’s first horror movie filmed in color. The 1957 adaptation was also Lee and Peter Cushing’s first horror movie together before starring in the Dracula franchise, which featured Lee in the titular role and Cushing playing Doctor Van Helsing. Still starring in one of Hammer’s best Dracula movies, Lee and Cushing became an iconic horror duo.
In the US The Curse of Frankenstein was a commercial success, however British critics deemed the movie too graphic. The movie was also a huge success for Lee, as his role as Frankenstein’s monster garnered attention From the audience and critics, and impressed Hammer film. As a result, Lee’s work on Dracula began his long collaboration with Hammer, who produced many successful films after his first roles.
Why Christopher Lee was cast as Frankenstein’s monster and Dracula
Christopher Lee was cast as Count Dracula right after the release of The Curse of Frankenstein
Lee’s casting as Frankenstein’s monster in The Curse of Frankenstein was due to his height. As Lee was six foot five, Hammer felt he could perfectly paint Frankenstein’s monster as intimidating, as the monster’s appearance was meant to scare other characters. Since Hammer Film Productions intends to work with Lee still The Curse of Frankenstein, No one else was considered for the lead role in Dracula. According to the film’s producer, Anthony Hind, “It never occurred to any of us to use anyone but Chris Lee.”
While Lee’s performance as Frankenstein’s monster introduced him as a horror actor, his role in Dracula propelled him to fame.
While Lee’s performance as Frankenstein’s monster introduced him to the horror genre, his role in Dracula propelled him to fame. Dracula was a commercial success that received many accolades from criticsleading to seven sequels in the franchise. After the release of The Curse of FrankensteinThe film has been hailed as the film that revived the horror genre, partly thanks to the performance of Christopher Lee but mainly because of the film being filmed in color and its gory effects.
Key background facts
-
Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing both appeared in Hamlet (1948), Moulin Rouge (1952), and Alexander the Great (1956), but they met on the set of The Curse of Frankenstein For the first time.
-
Hammer Films considered a slightly taller Bernard Breslau for the role, who was six foot seven.
-
Christopher Lee’s niece Harriet Walter played Mary Wollstonecraft, Mary Shelley’s mother, in Frankenstein: Birth of a Monster (2003).