An exciting new batch of rare films from the storied career of the legendary Christopher Lee. The imposing Lee who was known from his work with Hammer films or Lord of the Rings or from the Star Wars franchise made over 260 films in his lifetime, and Severin has been offering box sets of impossible-to-find features that celebrate Lee’s impressive talent at playing a wide range of characters. Included in this box set is a beautiful 142-page book “Christopher Lee: Eight Decades of a Dark Horse” by film historian Jonathan Rigby.
The films collected here are Beat Girl (1960) aka Wild for Kicks, a British “Adults Only” juvenile delinquent classic starring the sexy, petulant Gillian Hills (Blow-Up) as Jennifer, the spoiled, rebellious 16-year-old daughter of an architect (David Farrar), who is furious that her dad has remarried a good-looking French woman (Noelle Adam). She hangs with her beatnik crew, who include the guitar-strumming, dream-boat Dave (Adam Faith), the pretty Dodo (Peeping Tom’s Shirley Anne Field) and cough medicine-swilling Tony (Peter McEnery/Entertaining Mr. Sloane) at coffee houses and basement raves (with The John Barry Seven performing). A criminally cute Oliver Reed is a stand-out extra in a plaid shirt with the collar up and a cigarette always dangling from his lip, spastically grooving to the music. Christopher Lee plays the sleazy owner of a strip club who Jennifer dangerously encounters. There are two versions of the film- the theatrical cut and the longer, racier extended cut. There is also a fantastic, revealing new interview with Gillian Hills, who candidly recounts the making of the film.
A high point of this set is the 4K UHD & Blu-ray of The Virgin of Nuremberg (1963) aka Horror Castle, a wildly atmospheric, color, gothic chiller by Antonio Margheriti (Castle of Blood) starring lovely Rossana Podesta as Mary, the new bride of Max (Georges Riviere). They arrive at his family castle in Germany which houses a medieval torture chamber, including a spike-driven Iron Maiden- which, during Mary’s first terrifying night, she finds a dead woman inside. There is also a cloaked and hooded figure stalking through the castle and bringing in new victims to torture. Is the killer her husband Max, the scar-faced servant Erich (Christopher Lee), or someone else? Gorgeous art direction and cinematography and a pretty outrageous back story at the end make this a ghoulish delight- and pretty gory for the time of its release. There are interviews with the director, who is personally pleased with this film. Also, great audio commentary with film historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson.
The Hands of Orlac (1960) was third film adaptation of the novel by Maurice Renard about a famed concert pianist Stephen Orlac (Mel Ferrer) who loses his hands in a plane crash and becomes convinced the surgeon grafted on the hands of a strangler who was executed the same evening as the operation. Lucille Saint-Simon plays Louise, his devoted fiancé who whisks him off to the Riviera to recuperate. There he meets the nefarious illusionist and blackmailer Nero the Magician (Christopher Lee) who uses his pretty assistant (Dany Carrel/Mill of the Stone Women) to ensnare Orlac into an extortion plot. This is a more psychological thriller than a horror film, and the cop-out ending is a bit of a drag. But Christopher Lee has a field day as the sleazy magician. Because Mel Ferrer and Christopher Lee both spoke fluent French there are two versions of the film- the longer French cut and UK cut which are both included. There is also a portrait of French writer Maurice Renard and audio commentary by Christopher Lee biographer Jonathan Rigby.
Arabian Adventure (1979) is a real treat- a rollicking Thief of Bagdad-like action film in which Christopher Lee plays the fiendish Alquazar, who rules his kingdom with an iron fist and is desperate to get his hands on a magic rose which he will use to plunge the world into darkness. A beggar boy Majid (Puneet Sira) and his monkey join the quest for the rose along with handsome Prince Hasan (Oliver Tobias/The Stud) and the untrustworthy Khasim (Milo O’Shea) on a flying magic carpet to a mysterious island. Shameless hambone Mickey Rooney shows up as a crackpot inventor, in-charge of the flame-spouting mechanical beasts that guard the “rose.” Directed by Kevin Connor, this is great fun and Lee is perfect as the diabolical ruler. Emma Samms plays the beautiful Princess Zuleira, who worriedly watches Prince Hasan’s adventures on a magic mirror. This was the first film for Samms, who was a model at the time, and she went on to do General Hospital and Dynasty afterwards. There is a heartwarming extra where she reunites with Puneet Sira in London and they discuss the making of the film with director Kevin Connor online.
A Feast at Midnight (1994) Genial British comedy by Justin Hardy about the new student- Magnus (Freddie Findlay)- at the Dryden Park Preparatory School for Boys (ages 7 to 12). It’s a rocky introduction dealing with bullies and a fearsome housemaster- the Major (Christopher Lee), who is so much of a dinosaur he is nicknamed “Raptor.” Magnus, not so hot with sports, gathers up some of the other misfits and they create a nighttime secret cooking club, sneaking into the “No Boys Allowed” kitchen to whip up some delicious treats. Lisa Faulkner is terrific as the Major’s unhappy, neglected daughter Charlotte, who also rebels against the school’s (and her dad’s) tyranny. Supposedly, Christopher Lee says he accepted no money to appear in the film and considers it one of his favorite films.
Finally included is a splendid documentary (and North American disc premiere) The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee (2024). Directed by John Spira it mixes archival footage, animation, puppetry, new interviews and many film clips to chart the career of this cinematic legend. There are extended interviews with other film luminaries like Peter Jackson, Joe Dante and John Landis.
