Film academics at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) have paid tribute to Sir Christopher Lee whose death was announced today.
LEGEND: Sir Christopher Lee, in a shot taken by DMU photography graduate Dr Andy Gotts
Sir Christopher, who passed away in hospital on Sunday, was a consummate actor whose name is synonymous with Hammer Horror films.
DMU’s Cinema and Television History research centre (CATH), is home to the Hammer Script Archive. The archive holds 240 scripts, film posters, books and memorabilia from the horror studios.
Professor Steve Chibnall, Professor of British Cinema and Director of CATH, said: “As custodians of Hammer's Script Archives we were sad to learn of the death of the last of the company's most iconic stars.
“Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing were the most recognised faces of Hammer films and now we have lost both of these great actors.
“Three CATH academics were at The Hammer Films Conference in Paris when we heard the news, and a tribute will be part of the conference meal this evening.
“Lee was the most disturbingly believable embodiment of Count Dracula with a chilling screen presence that has never been rivalled.
“Vampires live beyond death and the collective memory of Lee's portrayal of Dracula will be immortal.”
Sir Christopher was with Hammer studios from 1957 to 1976, and went on to play Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun and Saruman in the Lord of the Rings film series.
He said: “I've always acknowledged my debt to Hammer. I've always said I'm very grateful to them. They gave me this great opportunity, made me a well-known face all over the world for which I am profoundly grateful.”
Posted on Thursday 11 June 2015