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Featuring: Peter Serafinowicz, Peter Jackson, Joe Dante, John Landis, Caroline Munro, Paul Maslansky, Jonathan Rigby, Harriet Walter, Juan Rodriguez | Written and Directed by Jon Spira

The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee, written and directed by Jon Spira, is a look at one of the most iconic, versatile and conversely underrated actors in the genre.

Narrated by a marionette of the late actor, voiced quite convincingly by Peter Serafinowicz the film starts with a quick overview of Lee’s heritage and formative years that included he and his mother being abandoned by both his father and stepfather. Interviews with his niece, an award-winning actress in her own right, talk about how this influenced both his personality and the direction his life would take.

The part he played in World War II is covered as well. Although there are no new revelations of his still-classified work tracking down war criminals. Work...

Christopher Lee not attending The Lord of the Rings premiere? Talk about unexpected drama straight out of Middle-earth! The legendary actor, known for his menacing portrayal of Saruman, shocked everyone when he decided to boycott the film’s big night. Why? Well, an ugly behind-the-scenes spat with director Peter Jackson left Lee feeling like he’d been dealt a bad hand.

Saruman the White – Lord of the Rings played by Christopher Lee | Credits: New Line Cinema

Fans who expected to see him celebrating alongside the cast were in for a surprise when his absence spoke volumes. For an actor as iconic as Lee, skipping such a monumental event was no small deal, and it added an unexpected twist to the Lotr saga—both on and off-screen.

Christopher Lee Ditched The Return of the King Premiere After Saruman’s Scene Got Axed Peter Jackson. | Credit: Mike Walen/Cca-by-sa-3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Christopher...

Exclusive: The UK Asian Film Festival has set Bollywood stalwarts Poonam Dhillon and Rajkummar Rao as special guests for its Closing Gala, which takes places May 14 at the BFI Southbank in London.

Dhillon and Rao will be among the high-profile names in conversation at the closing night event. The UK Asian Film Festival runs at venues across the UK from May 4 — 14. This year marks the festival’s 25th anniversary.

Dhillon, one of the most recognizable names in Indian cinema, has over 100 credits across Hindi, Telegu, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, and Punjabi-language pics such as Noorie, Trishul, Yeh Vaada Raha, and Sohni Mahiwal. Dhillon also has extensive television credits, with work on shows such as Andaz and Kitty Party. She is also widely credited with introducing the concept of mobile makeup vans to the Indian film industry and remains the only film fraternity member of Fcat, an appellate tribunal for films facing censorship in India.

The youngest of Bollywood’s famous Kapoor brothers, he did not have their one defining and enduring cinematic image – Raj’s naive "tramp" identity in the Charlie Chaplin tradition or Shammi’s Elvis-like jiving, rebellious "playboy" persona, but went to surpass both in sheer diversity of his acting.

With his copybook good looks, rakish smile, infectious charm, toothy grin and languid drawl, or the air of earnestness, playing romantic roles, be they of businessmen, police inspectors, college students, et al came naturally to him, but Shashi Kapoor went on to play more ‘common man’ roles, decadent princes, aging poets and even angels with the same charm and intensity.

Born on March 18, 1938 in the then Calcutta to Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarn ‘Rama’ Devi, Balbir Raj ‘Shashi’ Kapoor was destined to walk in his family’s footsteps on the silver screen.

Though he first appeared on screen as a child artiste in...

Turner Classic Movies’ Star of the Month (Sotm) for October is Sir Christopher Lee. TCM will be screening 42 films this month, starting with his rarely-seen 1998 outing Jinnah, which has been licensed to TCM by his dear friend, film distributor and film authority Douglas Dunning. Jinnah will have its world television premiere on October …

The post TCM’s Star of the Month of October is Christopher Lee first appeared on Hnn | Horrornews.net - Official News Site...

In keeping with the last wishes of his dear friend Sir Christopher Lee, actor, producer, 70mm camera operator, film authority extraordinaire, adventurer, stunt man and now distributor Douglas Dunning is announcing that Jinnah, the film that he licensed to Turner Classic Movies (TCM), which stars his late friend Sir Christopher Lee, will have its world …

The post Rare Sir Christopher Lee Film, Jinnah, to be Aired October 3rd on TCM first appeared on Hnn | Horrornews.net - Official News Site...

Sir Christopher Lee Film Jinnah To Premiere on Turner Classic Movies

In keeping with the last wishes of his dear friend Sir Christopher Lee actor, producer, 70mm camera operator, film authority extraordinaire, adventurer, stunt man and now distributor Douglas Dunning, in association with Vision Films and director Jamil Dehlavi, has licensed Sir Christopher’s 1998 film Jinnah to Turner Classic Movies (TCM). The film will be presented ...

Hnn | Horrornews.net - Official News Site...

Sir Christopher Lee Film Jinnah Gets Distribution Deal

In keeping with the last wishes of his dear friend Sir Christopher Lee, actor, producer, 70mm camera operator, film authority extraordinaire, adventurer, stunt man and now distributor Douglas Dunning has signed with Vision Films & Jamil Dehlavi for the North American theatrical rights for one year to release Sir Christopher’s 1998 film Jinnah. The goal is ...

Hnn | Horrornews.net - Official News Site...

We bid a fond farewell to the wonderful Christopher Lee, and salute some of his best roles...

Christopher Lee crammed a dozen lives into one. His Special Forces work in the Second World War remains shrouded in mystery. We do know that, in 1944, he climbed Vesuvius three days before it erupted. A fine, operatic singer, he famously released a heavy metal album in his later 80s. A skilled fencer, he performed all his own sword fights and has been killed on screen more than any actor in cinematic history. As a child Lee briefly encountered Prince Felix Yusupov, murderer of Rasputin, a part Lee would later of course play. Ian Fleming was a cousin, Muhammed Ali a friend and once dedicated a victory to Lee. Fluent in five languages, passable in another four, people like Lee don’t really exist anymore. In truth they probably never did.

One could write a lengthy,...

As you've no doubt heard, acting legend Christopher Lee died on Sunday at the age of 93. With nearly 300 acting credits to his name and roles in some of the most famous franchises in movie history -- from "Dracula" to James Bond to "Star Wars" to "Lord of the Rings" -- he left an indelible footprint on cinema history and will sorely be missed for his elegance, charm, and formidable, multi-faceted talent. To commemorate the passing of the prolific British thespian, below are 11 things you may not have known about this brilliant performer of stage and screen, culled from various interviews he's given over the years. 1. He only appeared in the last few Hammer "Dracula" movies out of a sense of obligation. "This happened with the third film, and the fourth film, and the fifth film. I turned them all down. I said 'no.' And I got these terrible telephone calls from Hammer,...

The British Film Institute has paid tribute to the "unforgettable legacy" of movie icon Sir Christopher Lee.

The iconic Dracula star - who received a BFI Fellowship in 2013 - has passed away at the age of 93 in London after suffering heart failure.

Christopher Lee 1922-2015: 6 of the acting icon's greatest movie roles

Christopher Lee: 10 blistering tracks from his heavy metal career

The BFI is now joining Lee's fans, friends and co-stars the world over in paying tribute to the star, whose career stretched all the way back to the 1940s.

Amanda Nevill of the BFI said today (June 11): "Sir Christopher Lee, a BFI Fellow, was a distinctive and enduring presence in British and international cinema for almost 70 years. He leaves behind an unforgettable legacy of film and television performance.

"His contribution to cinema history spans such films as the definitive Dracula for Hammer Films through Billy Wilder...

Christopher Lee, the prolific British actor whose specialty for villainy earned him roles as far and wide as Frankenstein's monster, the Mummy, Bond foe Scaramanga, Sith Lord Count Dooku and Saruman in The Lord of the Rings franchise, died Sunday, in London, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 93.

Lee had been admitted to Westminster Hospital for respiratory problems and heart failure. His wife, former Danish model and painter Gitte Kroencke, withheld the news in order to inform family first.

Born in 1922, Lee served in the Royal Air Force and...

Christopher Lee, the actor who was perhaps best known for playing Dracula, as well as Saruman in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, died Sunday after being hospitalized for respiratory problems and heart failure. Lee was 93. News of his death only became public on Thursday, as his wife, Birgit Kroencke, informed family members of his death first. The two were married for more than 50 years. Lee's film career began in 1947, though mainstream success came decades later. He played Francisco Scaramanga in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun, and he also played Count Dooku in the second and third Star Wars prequels. In 2005, Lee told Total Film that his best performance was in the 1998 biopic Jinnah, were he...

Sir Christopher Lee, one of the world's most celebrated actors, has died at the age of 93.

In a career spanning seven decades, Sir Christopher had over 280 screen credits in film and TV, and brought some of cinema's most iconic characters to life - Dracula, Saruman, Mycroft Holmes, Count Dooku, Frankenstein's monster, The Wicker Man's Lord Summerisle and James Bond villain Scaramanga, to name just a few.

Take a look back at some of his most memorable career moments below:

1940s: Career beginnings with Rank

Sir Christopher Lee started his film career in the late 1940s following service in the Raf during World War II.

After the war ended, he turned down his old job at pharmaceutical company Beechams to train at the Rank Organisation's Company of Youth - nicknamed the 'Rank Charm School'.

1957: The Curse of Frankenstein

He made his debut with gothic horror producers Hammer Films in The Curse of Frankenstein.

Christopher Lee has died at age 93. The veteran actor died at 8.30am on Sunday, June 7 at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

Telegraph reports: “He had been treated there for respiratory problems and heart failure over the preceding three weeks and turned 93 in hospital. Lady Lee chose to delay the public announcement of Sir Christopher’s passing until she had informed close family members. The couple were married for more than 50 years.”

Sir Christopher Lee, 1922-2015. Here’s Sir Christopher in perhaps his most iconic Hammer role, as Count Dracula. pic.twitter.com/aut4FYBqqV

— Hammer (@hammerfilms) June 11, 2015

Lee appeared in more than 250 movies, but for many was forever known as the vampire Count Dracula in a slew of “Hammer Horror” movies — the gory, gothic thrillers churned out by the British studio in the 1950s and 1960s that became hugely popular.

Christopher Frank Carandini Lee was born on May 27, 1922. He...

The veteran actor died on Sunday after being hospitalised for respiratory problems and heart failure.

Sir Christopher Lee has died, according to sources close to his family. He was 93.

The veteran actor died on Sunday (June 7) at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London following respiratory problems and heart failure.

Lee had more than 280 film and television credits to his name but was best known for his role as Count Dracula in a string of popular Hammer Horror films, James Bond villain Scaramanga in The Man With The Golden Gun (1974) and more recently Saruman in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies. He also featured in the final two films of the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

The decision to release the news days after was based on his wife’s desire to inform family members first. The couple had been married for more than 50 years.

Lee still has one film yet to be released, fantasy...

Sikander Rizvi, grandson of the legendary singing sensation Madam Noor Jehan and brother of actress Sonya Jehan (who debuted in Karan Johar’s ‘My Name Is Khan’) will make his big screen debut opposite screen sensation Humaima Malick.

The film titled ‘Dekh Magar Pyaar Say’ being directed by the noted Pakistani ad film-maker Asad-ul Haq is under production in Lahore and is expected to release later this year in India & Pakistan simultaneously, among other global markets.

A successful television actress, Humaima shot to larger fame with Shoaib Mansoor’s critically acclaimed ‘Bol’ in which she was paired opposite Atif Aslam. She made her Bollywood debut opposite Emraan Hashmi in Utv-Disney and Kunal Deshmukh’s caper, ‘Raja Natwarlal’.

Sikander Rizvi is being tipped as a Fawad Khan-in-the-making, for his drop-dead good looks, and has been voted by the Pakistani media as the country’s most eligible bachelor.

The main protagonists...

Sikander Rizvi, grandson of the legendary singing sensation Madam Noor Jehan and brother of actress Sonya Jehan (who debuted in Karan Johar's My Name Is Khan) will make his big screen debut opposite Humaima Malick. The film titled Dekh Magar Pyaar Say being directed by the noted Pakistani ad film-maker Asad-ul Haq is under production in Lahore and is expected to release later this year in India & Pakistan simultaneously, among other global markets. This romantic comedy revolves around the main protagonists' journey of love which is humorously chartered through the romantic city of Lahore. Talking about the film, director Asad-ul-Haq said, "Dekh Magar Pyaar Say is based in the cultural capital of Pakistan and will be featuring a brand new outlook on the traditional romantic movie, one that is filled with twists, turns, surprises and everything in between, all the while debunking established cliches associated with the romance genre.

Cinema Epoch has recently acquired the rights to two films: Jinnah (1998), starring Sir Christopher Lee, in what some consider to be the finest and most important role of his illustrious career as Mohamaad Ali Jinnah, the little-known founder of Pakistan who, in 1947, achieved independence for the country peaceably from Colonial India; and Creeporia (2014), an epic live-action/animated horror-comedy that runs 270 minutes and was written, produced and directed by John Semper Jr.

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New Line Cinema

Whichever way you look at it, Sir Christopher Lee is one of cinema’s most iconic figures. In a career spanning 80 years from his debut in 1948, he has captivated audiences in a wide variety of roles. He has played vampires, judges, Frankenstein’s monster, priests, Bond villains, Nazi sea captains and wizards. This weekend he returns in this latter capacity, reprising his role as Saruman the White in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Obviously in a career so long and so wide-ranging, it is impossible to include all his most famous roles in any list summarising his career. Even narrowing down the films included in his BAFTA tribute video is really rather difficult. With great regret and some pain, I’ve had to leave out his many collaborations with Tim Burton, his supporting role in Richard Lester’s Musketeers films, and much of his finest work with Hammer,...

Johnny Depp has made a surprise appearance at the London Film Festival to give a career honour to horror icon Christopher Lee.

Depp called Lee "a national treasure" and "a genuine artist" as he presented the 91-year-old actor with a British Film Institute Fellowship on Saturday.

He said it had been "a childhood dream come true" to work with Lee. The two actors appeared together in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, Dark Shadows and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Lee returned the compliment, calling Depp one of the few younger actors "who is truly a star."

Lee's 250 movie roles include Dracula in a series of Hammer Films thrillers, Bond villain Scaramanga inThe Man With The Golden Gun, the founder of Pakistan in Jinnah and Saruman in The Lord of the Rings.

Keep reading to see the rest of the BFI London Film Festival.

Rashid Karapiet, who has died aged 84, was an actor, singer, playwright, broadcaster and teacher. He was not a star but a jobbing professional, one of the unsung heroes of the theatrical profession, a good companion with, as Tom Stoppard described it, a "vivid" personality. Rashid was also a much-loved and loyal friend.

The second of five children of Edward and Marie-Therese Carrapiett, he was born Reginald Carrapiett in India, and went to school at St Columba's, Delhi, and then St Joseph's and the Agricultural College in Allahabad. He travelled to Britain in the 1950s to train at the Bristol Old Vic theatre school, then took a teacher-training course at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London, and adopted Rashid Karapiet as his professional name. An accomplished linguist, he taught for many years in Germany and the Netherlands.

In 1960, Rashid appeared in Santha Rama Rau's dramatisation of A Passage to India...

• The King's Speech sweeps the board with seven Baftas – but David Fincher wins best director

• Natalie Portman takes best actress award

Read Xan Brooks's liveblog from London's Royal Opera House and find out how the 2011 British Academy Film Awards unfolded at the scene

. In pictures: The winners

6.33pm: It's the Orange British Academy Film Awards, live as you like from London's Royal Opera House. Outside the stage door, the rain is falling and the chauffers cup their hands to light their fags. Two starlets pick their way through the puddles while over on the corner, the busker is keening his way through the Eagles' back catalogue. "And in the master's chamber, they gather for the feast," he sings at the starlets. "They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast." I'm guessing this refrain will run like a loop through my brain until the last prize is dolled out.

So Christopher Lee, the 88 year old British actor, is to be honoured with an Academy Fellowship (read, Lifetime Achievement Award) at tonight’s BAFTAs ceremony in London, clearly the highlight of the night’s activites.

Lee has been a dominant figure in British, European (he’s fluent in Italian and German, proficient in French) and American cinema since 1948 and holds the Guinness World Record for the most acting credits: a staggering 268… and counting. Whilst I’m inclined to say that it’s about time he was bestowed with such an honour, I hope that it doesn’t encourage him to consider retiring.

With his roots well and truly within the low budget offerings of Hammer Studios, Lee has gone on to become the most enduring British actor of all time. Along with the fantastic Peter Cushing, Lee managed to bring a touch of class and superior acting ability to his Hammer adventures.

On February 13th at the 2011 Orange British Academy Film Awards, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) will be honouring Sir Christopher Lee, one of the horror genre's most beloved icons, with its Academy Fellowship. “It’s a very unexpected but very great honour to find myself in such distinguished company to receive the fellowship", said Lee of the award.

From the BAFTA website:

Awarded annually by the Academy, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film. Previously honoured Fellows include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor, Julie Christie, John Barry, Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Hopkins, Terry Gilliam and Judi Dench. Last year’s recipient was Vanessa Redgrave.

Tim Corrie, Chair of the Academy said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Academy is recognising Sir Christopher Lee. He has entertained me over many...

Sir Christopher Lee To Receive Academy Fellowship

At The Orange British Academy Film Awards

On this Sunday (February 13) the British Academy of Film and Television Arts will present Sir Christopher Lee with the Academy Fellowship at the Orange British Academy Film Awards ceremony at London.s Royal Opera House.

Awarded annually by the Academy, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film. Previously honoured Fellows include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor, Julie Christie, John Barry, Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Hopkins, Terry Gilliam and Judi Dench. Last year.s recipient was Vanessa Redgrave.

Tim Corrie, Chair of the Academy said: .I am absolutely delighted that the Academy is recognising Sir Christopher Lee. He has entertained me over many years and is a bastion of British filmmaking around the globe..

Sir Christopher Lee adds: .It.s...

On Sunday February 13th the British Academy of Film and Television Arts will present Sir Christopher Lee with the Academy Fellowship at the Orange British Academy Film Awards ceremony at London’s Royal Opera House. Awarded annually by the Academy, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film. Previously honoured Fellows include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor, Julie Christie, John Barry, Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Hopkins, Terry Gilliam and Judi Dench. Last year’s recipient was Vanessa Redgrave. Tim Corrie, Chair of the Academy said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Academy is recognising Sir Christopher Lee. He has entertained me over many years and is a bastion of British filmmaking around the globe”. Sir Christopher Lee adds: “It’s a very unexpected but very great honour to find myself in such distinguished company...

A judge in Spain has frozen Sir Christopher Lee's assets and ordered him to hand over $960,000 (£640,000) to an illustrator who accused the veteran actor of failing to pay him for work on a DVD.

Gerardo Moreno filed suit against the Lord of the Rings star alleging he was owed money for creating artwork for the home release of Lee's 1998 film Jinnah, which starred the actor as Muhammed Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan.

Moreno claimed he designed and illustrated the DVD cover ahead of its 2004 release, and was paid for a digital illustration but not for other work on interactive content used on the recording.

The judge overseeing the case, Jose Maria Tapia Lopez, ruled against Lee and his associates on Monday and ordered the 87 year old's assets to be frozen to the value of $960,000 (£640,000) until the money is paid, according to Spanish publication El Pais.

Christopher Lee has been ordered to pay 0,000 to an artist for the DVD cover art he did. A Spanish court ruled that “Lord of the Rings” star did not properly pay for Gerardo Moreno’s work on his 1998 film “Jinnah.”

Moreno sued the 87-year-old actor, his official website, and the production company The Quaid Project in Burgos, Spain. He claimed he designed and drew the cover for the film’s DVD, which was released in 2004, after being hired by Lee’s agent and son-in-law Juan Aneiros with Lee and the film producers’ consent.

He had received payment for the digital illustration of the DVD cover and was later asked to design more content, including interactive menus and an informative book. He alleged that he did not receive any further payments for the work.

The judge presiding over the case ordered Lee’s assets to be frozen until Moreno receives 710,000 euros...

Lionsgate Home Entertainment sent Fango the cover art (see it below) for its DVD of Train, which we initially reported on here. Starring Thora Birch (pictured) and written/directed by Gideon Raff, the movie, in which a college wrestling team is butchered while traveling on an Eastern European train, arrives November 17. See our Raff interview in Fango #288, on sale in October.

IFC Films and Mpi Home Video sent along info and covers for a quartet of genre titles they’re jointly releasing in October. Streeting Oct. 13 are The Objective, the paranormal thriller centering on a group of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, directed and co-written by The Blair Witch Project’s Daniel Myrick (see our review here), and Left Bank, an acclaimed occult chiller by Belgian director Pieter Van Hees about a young woman encountering frightening phenomena after moving into her boyfriend’s apartment. Coming Oct. 27 are Sauna, a Finnish...