THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF CHRISTOPHER LEE On Blu-ray From Severin

 

Included in Severin's THE EUROCRYPT OF CHRISTOPHER LEE COLLECTION 3 box set is the 2023 documentary THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF CHRISTOPHER LEE, written and directed by Jon Spira. 

Jon Spira also wrote and directed ELSTREE 1976, a film that I enjoyed. With ELSTREE 1976, Spira looked at the making of STAR WARS from a unique angle--the memories of various background and supporting players who were involved in the production. The unique angle Spira uses in THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF CHRISTOPHER LEE is having the main story told by a marionette made up to look like Lee, voiced by Peter Serafinowicz (who does a decent representation of Lee's tone and speaking pattern). 

The result is....unusual, to say the least. It takes a while to get used to this approach, especially when it is combined with different forms of animation that attempt to recreate certain events in Lee's life. There are times when the use of the marionette and the animation gets a bit too cute. It's not the approach I would have chosen, but what do I know??

I've read plenty of interviews, books, and articles about Lee, and I own a copy of one of the versions of his autobiography (yes, there are multiple ones). I can say that the narration presented in this film from this representation of Lee is a good approximation of the real man's statements and opinions--but while watching this documentary one must remember that it is an interpretation of Lee--you can't assume that what is shown and said here is 100% what Lee really felt. 

The documentary gives a good overview of Lee's long and varied life, and fans of the actor will be familiar with most of the details, such as his descending from Italian nobility, the mystery over his military career during World War II, his attempts at breaking away from his horror movie image, and his reputation for being distant and even pompous at times, a reputation that nearly all of the guests on this film go out of their way to refute. 

Among those guests who talk about their relationships with Lee are directors Joe Dante, John Landis, and Peter Jackson, along with Lee's son-in-law Juan Aneiros and niece, the actress Harriet Walter. Lee biographer and English Gothic expert Jonathan Rigby also appears, and his insights, along with those of Walter, make the most impact. 

Due to the fact that Lee "appears" in this documentary as a marionette and we "hear" his voice, there isn't very much actual footage of Lee as his real self. There is plenty of footage from his films. The major highlights of Lee's acting career are presented, but there are a few moments that I thought should have been mentioned. Considering that Lee lived to be 93 years old, appeared in hundreds and hundreds of films, and this documentary is 102 minutes long, one can understand that the filmmakers behind this had to pick and choose what could be discussed. (On the extras included on this disc, the filmmakers mention that rights issues hindered them from showing certain things.) 

The main thesis of THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF CHRISTOPHER LEE is that the actor, despite his commanding presence, was a sensitive man who was concerned about his reputation in the film industry. Christopher Lee fans won't see this as a major revelation--I remember years ago a quote I read from Peter Cushing where he said that Lee was basically a shy person, an assessment that makes a lot of sense. Just about any performer or creative individual is sensitive in some way--they couldn't do what they do if they weren't. This documentary does show that Lee was much more human and relatable than most would think. 

Severin presents THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF CHRISTOPHER LEE on a region free disc, and as would be expected from a recently made film, the picture and sound quality is exemplary. The extras include a new audio commentary with director Jon Spira and producer Hank Starrs. The two veer wildly from one unconnected subject to another, and they really don't give much insight into how the film was made. 

Another extra is a Q & A with Jon Spira, Hank Starrs, and Jonathan Rigby, held at a screening of the documentary by the BFI. In this short session Spira and Starrs do give some details about their decisions in shaping the film. 

There's also extended interview footage of most of the guests that appear in the feature, and I have to say that some of the stories and anecdotes they tell are more interesting than what appears in the finished film. A trailer is included as well. The artwork for the disc cover (see above) was created by Graham Humphreys. 

Christopher Lee is one of my favorite actors of all time, and my appreciation for his life and career has only grown over the years. THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF CHRISTOPHER LEE is a well-done tribute to the man, but it wouldn't call it the definitive examination of his life. Lee's life was so varied and extraordinary that I don't think there can be a definitive summation of it. This documentary works best when it shows Lee's human side as presented by those who knew and worked with him.