Celebrated for his iconic roles in Star Wars, James Bond, and Lord of the Rings trilogy, Christopher Lee has been attached to an impressive collection of projects that turned out to be some of the best movies ever made. However, apart from his acting prowess, it was his remarkable life experiences that brought a sense of authenticity to his work, especially his role as Saruman the White in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Portraying the character of a malevolent spirit in J.R.R Tolkien’s masterpiece, Lee perfectly captured the menace and intelligence of Saruman, leading to a performance that is revered by fans across the world. But it was not just his acting talent that helped him during the process of delivering a compelling Saruman.
Christopher Lee convinced director to add a gruesome detail in LOTR
During one of the pivotal scenes in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, a treacherous Wormtongue can be seen rising, in an attempt to stab Saruman in the back. As one might expect, it was director Peter Jackson who was guiding Christopher Lee through the scene. However, during the process, Jackson stumbled upon a chilling revelation.
“When Wormtongue rises up and comes up behind Saruman to stab him it was my job as director to talk to Christopher Lee and to explain to him what I wanted. So I started to go into this long explanation about what sort of sound he should make when he got stabbed.”
As Jackson explained during a Behind the Scenes extra DVD, he was busy explaining to Lee the nuances of his reaction when stabbed. But to his surprise, Lee responded with an unexpected and chilling revelation. Explaining what he said, Christopher Lee added,
“I seem to recall that I did say to Peter, ‘Have you any idea what kind of noise happens when somebody’s stabbed in the back?’ I said, ‘Because I do.’ It’s a [gasping sound] because the breath’s driven out of your body.”
This particular incident surprised Jackson who was taken aback by Lee’s expert knowledge of such a gruesome detail.
How did Christopher Lee derive this gruesome detail from his life experiences?
As explained by Jackson in the DVD, Lee’s firsthand experience as a World War II veteran provided him with deep knowledge of the gruesome concept of violence and death by stabbing. Hence, deriving from his experience, Lee suggested Jackson include the details in the movie, providing it with the brilliant authenticity that it deserved.
However, unfortunately, this memorable scene of Saruman’s death was omitted in the theatrical edition of the movie. But interested fans can find the incident in the extended version of the film. Interestingly, Lee had initially expressed a desire to play the role of Gandalf in hopes of breaking his streak of portraying villainous characters. But eventually, Gandalf’s character went to Ian McKellen while Christopher Lee took up the challenge to play Saruman.
Christopher Lee’s remarkable work as Saruman the White showcased his dedication to his craft and how he derives inspiration from his real-life experiences to imbibe a sense of authenticity.
Viewers can watch The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on Prime Video.
Source: The Digital Fix
