Christopher-Lee Movie Reviews

"Corridors of Blood" takes us back to the early 19th-Century, when operations were performed without anesthesia. Boris Karloff plays Dr. Bolton, a surgeon who wants to eliminate the pain and suffering patients endure during surgery. However, while experimenting on himself, Bolton becomes addicted to the drugs. Then, during a demonstration of his anesthetic gas, Bolton's patient revives and goes beserk. In disgrace, Bolton ends up in partnership with Black Ben (Francis De Wolff), the owner of the Seven Dials, a disreputable tavern. Black Ben and his hulking assistant Resurrection Joe (Christopher Lee), want to make money selling cadavers to hospitals, so they trade Bolton the drugs he wants in exchange for faked death certificates. This 1963 film was originally entitled "Doctor from Seven Dials" and was shot back-to-back with "The Haunted Stranger," both films directed by Robert Day. This is one of several films in which Karloff tries to do good things for the benefit of mankind but evil ends up as a sort of inevitable result. However, "Corridors of Blood" is one of the few films in which the actor's character does not end up going off on a killing spree. The film starts off well, showing the barbaric surgeries of the day, but once Karloff ends up at the Seven Dials it is just a question of waiting for the final killing spree to begin. A below average film despite Karloff's best efforts, today "Corridors of Blood" is remembered only because it has both Karloff and Christopher Lee.

Poor Dr. Thomas Bolton (Karloff). He's a compassionate, elderly British surgeon in the days before anesthesia. Tired of seeing his patients undergo excruciating agonies on the operating table, Bolton is working doggedly to concoct a drug which will banish pain and allow his patients to feel nothing during surgery. A failed and humiliating demonstration of his new drug before his professional peers makes Bolton even more determined to prove them wrong when they insist, "Pain and the knife are one."

Alas, as Bolton conducts experiments upon himself in pursuit of his dream, he becomes addicted to his own formula. His hands - once known for their speed with a knife in the surgical theatre - shake and betray him. His memory fails him; he can't remember what happens to him while under the sway of his formula. He begins to deteriorate.

The hospital's executive committee denies Bolton another chance to prove his work's validity and puts him, more or less, on "informal leave", suspending his privileges at the hospital's dispensary - the only place he can get the drugs necessary for both his research and his addiction.

Bolton falls in with a reprehensible crowd of no-gooders, including the elegant but menacing Resurrection Joe (Christopher Lee), a soulless killer with a penchant for smothering his victims with pillows. In return for getting Dr. Bolton the drugs he now craves both for his experiments and for himself, these body snatchers, who have been murdering drunken alehouse customers and passing them off as natural deaths, manipulate Bolton into a Faustian bargain to sign the death certificates of their hapless victims so they might sell the bodies to the hospitals for teaching purposes and collect the money.

The reason I gave this DVD only 4 stars, rather than 5, had nothing whatsoever to do with my total enjoyment of this film. Indeed, the print is excellent and the sound quality clear and distinctive. The one complaint I have is that there is only one "extra" on the DVD - the film's original theatrical trailer. I would have liked to have seen at least an interactive cast listing and additional information on the film itself.

Other than that, it's great to see Karloff and Lee in the same production. They just ... belong together in a movie frame, I think. The violence is more implied than shown, making poor Bolton's situation even more tragic, and Karloff plays him sympathetically yet strongly.

I think anyone who is a fan of Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee or horror films in general will delight in seeing "Corridors of Blood".

this film is excellent from a Historical point of view, Times of events, ect are changed, but for detail, correct in everyway. I only have one complaint at the end of the film it says 1840 instead of 1846, but that is a personel fault of mine, !I'm too picky for Medical Historical correctness" Definately based On Horance Wells, (His attempt at painless surgery failed in 1844, too litle gas). there are not enougth Medical History films and this one I watch a lot, Never mind who is in it if you like History films, especially Medical ones add this to your collection.

I watched this the week before Mother's Day and couldn't help thinking what a good gift it would make for a strong, passionate sort of mother. There is one scene with a savage dog that I will remember for a long time because of what it says about a mother's love. It's an interesting, offbeat film about love, families, and mothers. I will also continue to think some about the scene where the mother reacts to the son's smoking dope and he let's her know she can't knock something she hasn't tried. Again, the depth of her passionate mothering is inspirational.

I thought that Susan Sarndon's character was incerdibly moving as well as Sam Shepard,Sean Aston and of course the young actor that always has my respect, Nick Stahl.A movie about family closeness and not missing a thing.

Watching this movie was like visiting old friends that one sees on the holidays or goes on vacations with. I simply loved this movie and all of the little quirks in each of the characters: Mag's classical music stress relievers, Patrick's blindness, Alfred's compulsive neatness, Izzy's annoying observations, Percival's rebelliousness, Gideon's guilt, Merle's and Darren's twinness, and finally, Simon's hair. The fact that each character has something different about him or herself shows that this "dysfunctional" American family is just about as normal a family as I've ever met. One of the best qualities of this movie is that the issues and the family roles that are portrayed by and between each character are very realistic. My mother and I, as we watched the film, could relate to many of the scenes. My mother continually nodded her head as Mag went from scene to scene with a motherly presence so dominating it simply defined her as the representation of every mothers' unconditional love. My favorite moments in the movie occurred between Mag and her youngest son, Simon. Right from the get-go, there is just some unexplainable bond between the two of them that permeates the screen when only the two are involved, even when they scream at each other. Their relationship is a very special one that I can relate to. Izzy's devoted relationship to his father is one that I can relate to as well. Considering this family as "dysfunctional" is like considering the Pope a Hindu, which brings me to my next best quality about the movie. I love the relationships in the film and the honesty that each character shares with one another. For example, the scene near the beginning of the movie where Izzy is greeted by Alfred and the two go on to joke about Mag and her "Mussorgsky-mode" stress relief is pure magic. A scene between two brothers such as this one shows how much the two brothers love and respect one another. It also shows how in-tune to the family they are because they know the goings-on that occur with their mother, the sporatic blindness that occurs with their father, and just about everything that occurs with their other brothers. The relationships in the film are what holds the film together so well. Each character is forced to reevaluate how he or she feels about every other family member and how those relationships will either improve or grow stronger from the hardships placed before them. Susan Sarandon's portrayal of Margaret Singer was absolutely golden, Nick Stahl's portrayal of Simon was both poignant and hilarious at the same time. Over the course of an hour and thirty-eight minutes, I absolutely fell in love with this family, I felt like I've known them for years. Wonderful feel-good film.

This somewhat uneven history of vampire films takes you from the 20's through about 1990, through a selection of movie trailers and some film clips. Of varying sound and picture quality, rough editing and lack of rights to show clips for a good number of films, is fairly narrow in its presentation. Showing trailers from the Universal series and Hammer series, in addition to a few other films here and there, doesn't give you any real background or much research, and no interviews. From after 1975 all the films are represented only with VHS box covers. Buy instead Flesh and Blood about Hammer Films which is much better, but don't expect anything new here, except some nice shots and narration by Veronica Carlson, who hosts the program. 60 minutes.

This is a fairly standard but quite entertaining collection of clip catalouging but a small fraction of al the Dracula/Vampire movies that have been spawned by Hollywood in the last hundred years. There is no attempt to get into deep meaning or to really differentiate between the variant styles employed in such films, but you will recognize all of your favorites and probably come up with a few new flicks to track down at your local video store.

The best documentary of the vampire film genre ever made

But he's not in it enough. Over all this isn't bad for a Gidget show, and the little Pete's in it he's wonderful.

Sally Field plays Gidget in one of two sitcoms based around Fred Kohner's real life daughter and her adventures.

Here's something you probably don't know-When Sally Field was doing her sitcom,'The Flying Nun',they occasionally used footage from her 'Gidget' days when exploring the background of her character on several episodes.

Anyways,Sally is adorable,and fans of both the 'Gidget' movies and the 'Flying Nun' TV Show should all buy the two videos in this set.

GIDGET is one of my all-time favorite shows, even though it only ran for 1 season. What a shame. The show combined humor with drama and discovered the talent today known as Sally Field. Never has a sitcom been able to make me laugh and cry so hard.

There are 3 episodes on this video. The first episode is the pilot where Gidget's sister Anne reads her diary to discover that her little sister may not be so innocnet after all. Tear-jerking ending.

In the second episode, Gidget is reluctantly being sent to Paris for school because her sister and broher-in-law think that her dad is too dependent on her. Hilarious episode. Another tear-jerker.

In the third episode on this video, GIdget falls in love with a surfer...again.

I love Gidget and you will too!

The talented Christopher Lee only occasionally involved himself in a long running character in his movie roles and of course his brilliant portrayal of Dracula in a series of films for Hammer Studios has gone into movie folklore. Another character that he portrayed in a series of films and made his own was the evil oriental mastermind Dr. Fu Manchu.

Made famous in the 30's by Boris Karloff and by a long running series in the 40's here Christopher Lee puts his own original stamp on the evil doctor who was always bent on taking over the world by some fiendish method involving torture, deadly weapons and mind games. "The Face Of Fu Manchu" was the first of the films in this new series and was by far the best. It not only offers a wonderfully sinister character for Lee to sink his teeth into (no pun intended) but offers a lavish production with wonderfully recreated 1920's atmosphere, excellent costumes and a fine supporting cast of veteran performers like Nigel Green in the role of Sir Nayland Smith from Scotland Yard who would be Fu Manchu's main nemesis in many an adventure in the future. Equally effective is asian actress Tsai Chin who portrays Lin Tang, Fu Manchu's evil daughter and one of his main cohorts in his evil schemes.

The plot of "The Face Of Fu Manchu" is a straightforward one whereby London experiences a series of grisly deaths and then the kidnapping of famed scientist Prof. Fuchsberger who has discovered a lethal product that if used by those in the know is capable of wiping out huge numbers of people in a short time. It is up to Nayland Smith to try and find the source of these murders and also find the missing scientist before he reveals the secret formula to the evil Fu Manchu who faked his own death in order to throw Scotland Yard off his scent.What develops is a terrific adventure drama involving Fu Manchu wiping out a whole English Village as a "demonstration" of his power, drowning a female traitor for trying to warm Scotland Yard of his insane scheme and the final closing in on the evil doctor in a monastery in Tibet where he finally meets his much deserved end in an explosion, .......or does he? . I wont go into the tired argument about it being racist for caucasian actors to play asian characters. Christopher Lee brings an excellent majestic quality to the role of Fu Manchu which could not be bettered with its equal portions of intelligence, wordly polish and insanity. He repeated the role in 4 more entries in the series but this film was the one that is most memorable and stylish in its delivery.

I personally love the stories of the mad doctor Fu Manchu bent on taking over the world by foul means and for an exciting and atmospheric adventure story not based in any reality that we would know they can't be beaten. Being a big Christopher Lee fan it is always a pleasure to see him in his other famous role after Dracula and "The Face Of Fu Manchu' is an ideal vechicle to see his great talent for creating evil characters on screen. Enjoy!

Who else but the great Christopher Lee could play the nefarious oriental villian Fu Manchu. Perfect casting, great costumnes and atmosphere. Strongly recommend this film to thos ethat like a little old fashioned mystery

Based upon M. M. Kaye's best selling novel of the same name, this film is well acted and absorbing. It is a story set during the time of the British Raj in India. The two characters central to the film are Ash (Ben Cross), an Englishman who spent the formative years of his life believing that he was Indian, and Anjuli (Amy Irving), a half-caste Indian princess. Ash and Anjuli spent a portion of their childhood growing up together, until palace intrigues forced Ash and his Indian foster mother to flee. As a prepubescent youth, he is informed of his English heritage and sent to England for his education and Anglicization.

Returning to India many years later as a young man, Ash becomes a part of a British regiment called the Guides. He has some difficulties adjusting, as he is not an Englishman comfortable in his own skin, as he also feels Indian in many ways, a view that brings him conflict due to the way the native Indian population is viewed by the British. Meanwhile, Anjuli has continued living as a half-caste Indian princess. She and Ash have not seen each other since he and his foster Indian mother fled, and she has no idea that Ash is not Indian, but British.

The film is an amazing cornucopia of adventure and romance. It provides a tantalizing glimpse into British colonial India. All of this, however, merely serves to propel the story towards the uniting of Ash and Anjuli, as the film is, first and foremost, a love story set against the romantic and lush backdrop of colonial India. When the paths of these star crossed lovers intersect, it is under a most unusual set of circumstances. It is a story that will keep the viewer riveted to the screen. I, myself, was unable to tear myself away from the screen and was riveted for the full five hours that it took for this mesmerizing tale of adventure, love, and treachery to unfold.

With a star studded cast that includes the likes of Omar Shariff, Christopher Lee, Sir John Gielgud, and Rossano Brazzi, this is a film what will capture the viewer's imagination. I read and loved the novel upon which this film was based, and while it is not a faithful adaptation of that wonderful book, the film stands on its own considerable merits. It is meant to entertain and that it most certainly does. This is a film worth having in one's collection, as it is such a gripping tale.

I loved 'Far pavillions' the book. I got myself the video after I read the book from end to end. The good thing about the movie is that the picturization is perfect. Like all other Ishmail Merchant movies, Far Pavillions is finely done with lots of attention paid to the details. My only complaint is that the director did not spend much time on Ash's (the hero's)childhood and just showed bits of it during the titles. Ash's grown up life has a lot to do with the childhood that he spent at Gulkote. None of that is shown. There are times when it feels as though the film maker is trying to fast forward things. I know that this is a 5 hour film, but then it is based on a book that is at leat 1000 pages long and took 14 years to complete. Why not give the author some credit for her work. I like the way india has been depicted and both the lead actors (Ben cross) and the lady who plays Anjuli did a great job. The cast also includes some famous Indian and Holywood actors like Saeed Jaffery, Omar Sharief, Rossano Brazi etc. If you love the book, you will probably love the film. The only problem is that you will feel it is all on fast forward.

Phileas Fogg is more real, more human in this version than in the 1956 version played by David Niven. I found the action, coupled with the constantly changing pieces of the plot kept my attention better as well. It's still a long epic, but worth the viewing.

I enjoyed the developing humanity and tenderness of Phileas Fogg as he struggles to break with his stiff, English background and allow himself to love and express that love to Aouda, the Indian princess.

Excellent for the incurable romantic.

Being a hammer fan from the first films I ever saw,Curse of Frankenstein, Horror of Dracula, this video is a pleasent surprise it shows what professionalism Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee gave the horror film. The minus side of it is didn't show as much background on the making of the films. I would have loved to see more behind the scenes stuff or even a blooper or two.

Unbalanced left-to-right audio mix (not the fault of the producer, btw) makes listening to Cushing & Lee's last teaming difficult. Can the goofs that sent this out please master the sound the way I heard it at a convention two years ago? It's worth it.

For many of us, like myself, who grew up watching Hammer Films, it is a real treat to finally see an in depth documentary on one of the the great film studios. Flesh and Blood is a must for any one who calls himself a Hammer fan. Ted Newson did a wonderful job compiling behind the scenes information from Hammer's beginning to its down fall. The video does have some sound problems (background music tends to be a bit over riding of the narration at times) but don't let that stop you. Hammer made films with a certain style and quality that is, unfortuantely, not found in films of today. Flesh and Blood, if you don't have it get it. You won't be disappointed.

regardless of what that other guy says, I loved this movie, it was well made and has a wonderful cast. the character work in "Fin Moxa" is superb, and dennis hopper was fantastic, a must watch clasic...

I originally saw this film on HBO, and was instantly riveted to it. It kind of reminds me of an offbeat version of L A Confidential, with all the elements of the 40's and such. I love L A Movies and the scenes here in this film depict much of the unusual architecture, and ambience, that encompass and make up this little "boulubaise" of cultures, and personalities. Besides starring Dennis Hopper, it also features Sheryl Lee Ralph, of dream girls fame, and the superb cameo, but nonetheless great acting of Lypsinka, as the the mysterious Madame, of the bordello. (Looking fabulous, I might add, in vintage Charles James Couture.............) I recommend buying it , and viewing it with friends, over some , sour apple martini's and appetizing shrimp hor'dourve. /the movie is a little offbeat, but that in itself is the appeal of this wonderful film.

The first time I saw this movie was as a made for HBO movie, which is probably why most of my friends have not seen it as well as why it's so hard to find in video stores. As far as I can tell it borrows heavily from Robert Heinlein's "Magic, Inc.", but doesn't follow the plot just some of the plot elements. Would that someone would recreate "Magic, Inc." or "Waldo", or at least burn all copies of "Starship Troopers" and attempt to do tribute to the original. Why Hollywood believes that they are capable of improving on time worn classics is beyond me.

Set as a 50's type of Raymond Chandler detective story, it's richly told and tremendously riveting.

I recommend it highly to Dennis Hopper or Robert Heinlein fans that are familiar with some of Heinlein's early works (pre "Stranger in a Strange Land").

Why someone panned this film so harshly I can't possibly fathom.

SHOT IN THE HEART is based on the true story of murderer Gary Gilmore (well played buy Elias Koteas) who was the first prisoner to be sentenced to death in a decade. Set in the year 1977, the film revolves around the efforts of his younger brother Mikal (Giovanni Ribisi) to stop the execution, even against his brothers wishes; because Gilmore sees himself gaining permanent notoriety, he even has t-shirts with GILMORE printed on them. While well acted, the film's pace is rather stodgy and interesting only occasionally. That same year a punk song by The Adverts called GARY GILMORE'S EYES was released. The song is only a couple of minutes long. This movie is over 90 minutes. Download the song and try and find it in your heart to forgive screenwriter Frank Pugliese for making such a snoozer out of potentially interesting material. The film is based on the book by Mikal Gilmore.

I watched this movie over and over and over again. It is amazing - especially because it's true. The allusions and foreshadowing are so well done, and the references to blood atonement made my jaw drop. I had no clue this even happened until I watched this movie, but I'm glad I have an idea now. I know what "Looking Through Gary Gilmore's Eyes" is about now! But besides that, Elias Kotes is amazing as Gary, especially during the shoelace scene. And Giovanni Ribisi - I won't even begin to describe how wonderful he was. His character portrayed that of a man still growing up, and it was really cool to watch.
I seriously would have given this movie 5 stars, except that I'm a really weird person and not many people have the ability to sit and watch movies like this - it's a slow drama, and I can understand why others might click it off before giving it a chance. I'm going to buy the book soon. ;-)

I can't say enough about this film. It is a very touching film with some great acting from the two leads. Giovanni Ribisi is one of the best young actors around now and Elias Koteas should really get more leading parts cause he's a wonderful actor, he reminds me of Robert Deniro a bit. After seeing this film I am dying to read the book that the film was based on. You have to feel sorry for Gary Gilmore when you see what kind of environment he grew up in. I'm glad his brother didn't end up going down the same road. A MUST SEE!