Lee Comedy - Let's discuss the comic roles, appearances ...

**Maria Silbermann** · 18th February 2001, 01:21 AM

I really enjoyed Mr. Lee in Gremlins 2 as Dr. Catheter (the name alone!), the somewhat absentminded Professor and Scientist. The Saturday Night Live guest host gig was also a treat! I have only an audio-tape of the show complete with a teenage me, squealing, so embarassing! Lee gets to play it straight, but still has such a sense of humor. 1944 was a noble showing (although Spielberg must have been stoned for a few weeks, to mess it up with such a cast!):o

We'd like to see more! [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] What do you think?

Anthony · 21st February 2001, 10:25 AM

I've always wanted to see that SNL/Lee episode. That sure is hard to find on tape. I did record a rare Christopher Lee appearance (from the 80's) on AN EVENING AT THE IMPROV. He tells jokes & sings! Has anyone else seen this? P.S.I believe there are some video clips from that SNL episode on the documentary hosted by Mr. Lee called THE MANY FACES OF CHRISTOPHER LEE which has been around on VHS. Still can't seem to get the complete show.:spiny:

Anthony · 25th February 2001, 12:31 PM

On the topic of comedies, maybe the Lee/Cushing appearance unknown the most to fans is ONE MORE TIME(1970) starring Sammy Davis Jr. & Peter Lawford. Davis was a big Hammer fan, and it was his idea for a Lee/Cushing cameo. With Jerry Lewis as director, I feel he could have gotten more out of Lee & Cushing than just having them stand around in the dungeon. I always have this vision of Lee & Cushing spinning Davis around on an operating table, and then the three of them breaking into a song. NOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FUNNY!:lol:

Monica · 25th February 2001, 01:20 PM

I had the chance to view Christopher Lee's performance in DRACULA AND SON. Real funny film . There is a scene in the movie when Dracula, "Christopher Lee", is walking on the street and a couple passes him and says to one another "hey that looks like Christopher Lee'" The couple turns out to be film producers and want him to star as Dracula in a film they are making. Him and his son end up fighting over who's the better Dracula. Really funny film, worth watching, even though it's not Mr. Lee's real voice. Happy watching, Monica

Juan Aneiros · 25th February 2001, 07:02 PM

Quote:

There is a scene in the movie when Dracula, "Christopher Lee", is walking on the street and a couple passes him and says to one another "hey that looks like Christopher Lee'"

Thank you for bringing back some memories of that funny movie.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] Yes.....I saw this movie only twice (many years ago)but it belongs really to my favourite comedies.
One of the funniest scene in my opinion is ...where father and son throw each others coffin out of the window. .....or even in the beginning of he movie when a film-company confiscated their castle for making a movie. Therefore they offered him/them to be a part of the movie and/or to make commercial spots.
Definite worth watching !!!!!

And Monica, I think they were not fighting about ´who is the best Dracula´....I remember back that his son declined to be a vampire at all (what was of course a disappointment for his Dad)....I think in the end the main fight between them was about a woman, because both were falling in love with her.:smlove2: (Hmmm..I hope I remember that all correct.)

Steffi

**Joe Skinnell** · 27th March 2001, 10:21 AM

One of CL's biggest assets to any comedy film is his ability to be the heavy or the butt of the joke. There are exceptions to this of course, Serial being high on that list. One of my favorite roles is Mr. King in the 1984 film Rosebud Beach Motel aka NoTell Motel. In one scene he turns to an underling and purrs the line"Ahhh, you know me well. You toad." Has me rolling on the floor every time.

Greg Harris · 27th March 2001, 06:55 PM

Well I sore 'The Stupids' the other day. And I thought it was HILARIOUS!

Mr. Lee was not in it for that long but his part was funny too!!!

You all have to watch this film! Dont listen to the people that say its rubbish! Its fantastic! [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Funniest thing I've seen in ages!

**Sylvain Descoteaux** · 27th March 2001, 08:23 PM

I was fortunate to see the Saturday night live wich mr. Lee hosted, (thanks to a friend in texas), and it is quite a treat!.Many memorable moments in there!
Like joe mentionned , there are also some very funny moments in "Serial", the funniest probably the scene when Luckman helps Martin mull rescue his daughter from the Silly full of love and eternally smiling members of the sect.(hope it's a good description LOL).
Another film that i think has one of the funniest delivery from mr. Lee is in "The four musketeers".
It's the scene when Rochefort is standing in front of a "So called" firing squad, and they are so clumsy that at one point (after trying to kill him without succes) Rochefort declares, "i might as well die of old age".
The way mr. Lee delivers that line is unique and makes it hilarious!.talk about versatility!!!
Sylvain :laughing:

**Joe Skinnell** · 28th March 2001, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Quote: from Greg Harris on 9:55 am on Mar. 27, 2001
Mr. Lee was not in it for that long but his part was funny too!!!
You all have to watch this film! Dont listen to the people that say its rubbish! Its fantastic! [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

I think one reason alot of people did not like this film as a whole is that the humor is distinctly British.
:ninja1: Now before any of you load a gun and head my way let me clarify.
Humor in just about any country is not always international, I am under the belief this movie is from a British book or series of books that most people in the US may not have read.
I have found most British humor delightfull and very funny, but there is some that I just don't get.:lookaround: The plot to this movie being high on that list.
My main problem with the movie is Tom Arnold whom I think is one of the least talented people to ever get paid for acting. :hmph: Mr. Lee's segment as Mr. Sender is not only brilliantly played but brilliantly written as well. The Line "Well, Bob. Yellow ribbons won't be the only thing hanging from the old oak tree ." is without a doubt one of the funniest things I've ever heard.:laughing:

**Sylvain Descoteaux** · 28th March 2001, 08:10 PM

i also like the line when he is talking about some poor little girl who won't have any guests to her wedding!!!!
and that Suit!!!!!!!

Sylvain:bounce:

Greg Harris · 29th March 2001, 02:56 AM

I love that bit to Sylvain!

My favourite bit is when the mother is worrying about her kids and gets in the car. then she makes sure her hair is allright for a bit. and then she continues to worry!

I think Joes right, they say that shows like Absolutely Fabulous wont do very well in the states because its British humour! But there are loads of American fans that love the show!

And they (Who ever THEY are) say that Americans will never laugh unless they get a joke! But in Britain we laugh because it doesnt make sense or because we know its suppose to be funny! I have no idea why I laugh at these things, I just do [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] The Americans have to understand the joke in order to laugh! (Not ALL Americans!)

BUT I thik the SIMPSONS fits the BRITISH humour category because of these same reasons! We are obsessed with the Simpsons!

I'm still laughing about CL saying that the girl wont get any guests to her wedding! LOL

**Joe Skinnell** · 29th March 2001, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Quote: from Greg Harris on 5:56 pm on Mar. 28, 2001

I think Joes right, they say that shows like Absolutely Fabulous wont do very well in the states because its British humour! But there are loads of American fans that love the show!

And they (Who ever THEY are) say that Americans will never laugh unless they get a joke! But in Britain we laugh because it doesnt make sense or because we know its suppose to be funny! I have no idea why I laugh at these things, I just do [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] The Americans have to understand the joke in order to laugh! (Not ALL Americans!)

Well Greg, actually we Americans do usually get the joke. Just read up on our politics over the last few decades.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]:lol: [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]ROTFLMBO!!:lol: [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]

29th March 2001, 07:27 AM

Greg said:

Quote:

Well I sore 'The Stupids' the other day. And I thought it was HILARIOUS!

Mr. Lee was not in it for that long but his part was funny too!!!

You all have to watch this film! Dont listen to the people that say its rubbish! Its fantastic!

Yes! I've seen two Christopher Lee comedies in the past two days that were hilarious -- and I had been braced to fast forward through everything but Mr. Lee's scenes, thinking the rest would be as rancid as the non-Lee scenes in "Jocks."

"The Stupids" was fresh and funny throughout -- kept me just off balance -- and I genuinely wanted the Stupids to do well, because they became endearing. Christopher Lee was great, but I genuinely enjoyed the whole film. It even made me think how nice it would be to have so little understanding of the world that I could set off on such a great adventure -- and such an "important" mission *giggle* -- just from misunderstanding so many basic things. What a joy!

But I have to admire the writing (thinking) that pulled all the wrong bits in Mr. Stupid's head into such a fantastic scheme of reality. I won't give away the details -- but "The Stupids" is a not-to-be-missed family film that is cute without being nauseating. (Joe, you must've liked those monster .45 shells, at least!)

The other comedy was "Honeymoon Academy." Yes, it's built on a tired plot about a man who unknowingly marries a govt. courier who's sent reluctantly on a last exchange on their honeymoon. But this is neither a "deadly serious" incarnation of the plot, a la "La Femme Nikita," nor an overly silly "madcap" version -- it was just funny and most of the characters were pretty endearing, save a trio of overly oafish, bumbling thugs.

Mr. Lee's unfortunately short-lived character is a precious eccentric who uses his nefarious talents more for the art and skill of them -- and for getting attention from the blonde courier -- than to do any real harm. This is also a very different face for the master of so many a countenance. Charming film.

And Maria -- I thought Dr. Catheter would make an outstanding romantic lead with just a little tweaking, but he was perfect in the comedy exactly as Mr. Lee played him. Gremlins II was especially wonderful for being such a good parody of the first one.