Christopher Lee

Balrog_of_Morgoth · 04-28-2003, 08:07 PM

Could Christopher Lee have played Gandalf? I think he could have done very well, and I'd love to hear Lee's voice talking Gandalf's parts. I'm not sure who they could have cast that could convincingly play Saruman and seem greater than Lee would as Gandalf.

I'm not sure Lee could look kindly and caring. He is so fell looking. (to use a Tolkien adjective)

Bombadillo · 04-28-2003, 09:07 PM

Perhaps he could have played Gandalf, but in reality I don't think they could find a good replacement for Saruman. He has the perfect voice. I think as I read I may have unconciously pictured his voice as Saruman, before I even saw the movies.

Gwaimir Windgem · 04-28-2003, 10:08 PM

I'm sure they could have found someone else.

I must admit I'm quite torn. As Lee wanted to play Gandalf, and indeed had the blessing of Tolkien to play him if the opportunity should arise, I partially want him to have palyed Gandalf. Also, it would have been great to actually see him as a good guy. On the other hand, he was a spectacular Saruman, absolutely spectacular. Of course, he did appear to be rather evil even before he showed his true colours (pardon the pun), but still he was a great Saruman, overall.

Anglorfin · 04-28-2003, 10:42 PM

I can't imagine a better Saruman. I thought Lee was excellently cast. And in general he seems to fit into bad guy roles relatively easy because of his long expression and that voice, . . .it's so right for Saruman.

Gwaimir Windgem · 04-29-2003, 12:35 AM

Neither can I. Hence my turmoil.

WhackoJacko · 04-29-2003, 06:01 AM

nah, i would have loved to see Chris Lee as gandalf and Sean Connery as saruman. with that 007 voice lol

i think they blended Lee's voice when they first showed Gandalf and Aragorn in the TTT.

whatshisname was better in X-men than he was as Gandalf. Mckellen should have played whatshisname King of Rohan lol, mental block or what?

and Sean Bean as both Boromir and Faramir. His acting carried the FOTR and is wasted for the rest

Gwaimir Windgem · 04-29-2003, 09:15 AM

Somehow, I can't see Sean Connery as evil...

Though it would have been interesting, indeed.

Indeed they did.

I agree, I thought Ian McKellen gave a great performance there. I didn't especially like his Gandalf, though. I thought that Theoden was too young-looking. It seemed to me that he should have been older...

Yeah, now THAT would have been cool. Didn't Faramir and Boromir look a lot alike?

gimli7410 · 04-29-2003, 10:48 AM

i could only see sean connery evil if he was holding a gun or some bombs.. not a staff.

Lalaith · 04-29-2003, 12:38 PM

I think Christopher Lee was the best choice for the corrupt evil wizard. Just as Ian McKellen looks like an old, good wizard.

barrelrider110 · 04-29-2003, 03:57 PM

I've thought all along that Lee would have made a better Gandalf than McKellen. He did play a great Saruman. He was always typecast in the role of the villain. too bad.

Dreran the Green · 04-29-2003, 04:59 PM

I liked Christopher Lee as SARUMAUN. NOT Gandalf!
I agree that he makes a wonderful wizard, just not Gandalf. Whether or not he would have made a good 'good wizard', he's just not the Gandalf type.
However, had Rhadagast (probably spelled wrong, forgive me) been in the movies, I think HE could have been played by either Christopher Lee or Sean Connery

Bombadillo · 04-29-2003, 05:28 PM

Haha... you're probably right. I'm picturing Sean Conerry saying "I'm Radagast the Brown." That makes me laugh, but he probably would have made a great Radagast.

Dreran the Green · 04-29-2003, 05:32 PM

Hee hee, I just had this amusing image of Gandalf talking to James Bond with a long brown beard.

........Yeah, I think he would have been a good Rhadagast too, though. It really upset me that they didn't put him in the first movie. They had an excellent actor in Sean Connery.

Gwaimir Windgem · 04-29-2003, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barrelrider110
He did play a great Saruman. He was always typecast in the role of the villain.

Erm...typecast? Isn't that where they cast someone into a role which fits who they are in actual life?

Dreran the Green · 04-29-2003, 06:25 PM

Heh heh, this just goes along with my theory that Christopher Lee is secretly ruling the media (Have you ever noticed that the man is EVERYWHERE??? scary!

)

Elvengirl · 04-29-2003, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
Erm...typecast? Isn't that where they cast someone into a role which fits who they are in actual life?

from dictionary-
typecast- to cast an actor or actress in a part calling for the same characteristics as those possessed by the performer.

To me, McKellen was Gandalf and Lee was Saruman. I cannot picture anyone but them in the roles.
But, I feel the same, Gwamir, about Lee, as he wanted the role of Gandalf and had Tolkien's blessing. But as I said I cannot picture any other Gandalf.

WhackoJacko · 04-30-2003, 12:15 AM

where the heck does radagast come from?? he has absolutely no role in LOTR par the errand boy

Sean Connery: Grima my faith servant, witness the power of Orthanc

Grima: Shaken not stirred my Lord

Gwaimir Windgem · 04-30-2003, 12:18 AM

Direct role, perhaps...

Wayfarer · 04-30-2003, 12:38 AM

Christopher Lee was the one actor out of all these films who I have the most respect for. He was a true fan of tolkien who gave the best performance he could.

Given that, as well as Tolkien's desire that he play Gandalf, I would have cast Lee in that role and McKellan as Saruman. Has anyone forgotten that he performed quite well as a villain in his last previous role, as Magneto?

Entlover · 04-30-2003, 12:42 AM

Sean Connery reminds me too much of the dragon Smaug -- but that was that cowboy actor, wasn't it -- Paladin, I think.- Have Gun, Will Travel.

04-28-2003, 08:07 PM	#1
Balrog_of_Morgoth Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Parkersburg WV Posts: 110	Christopher Lee Could Christopher Lee have played Gandalf? I think he could have done very well, and I'd love to hear Lee's voice talking Gandalf's parts. I'm not sure who they could have cast that could convincingly play Saruman and seem greater than Lee would as Gandalf. I'm not sure Lee could look kindly and caring. He is so fell looking. (to use a Tolkien adjective) __________________ Fingolfin: The Mighty Elven Lord who challenged Morgoth to single combat!

04-28-2003, 09:07 PM	#2
Bombadillo "The Bomb" Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: all over the place Posts: 1,601	Perhaps he could have played Gandalf, but in reality I don't think they could find a good replacement for Saruman. He has the perfect voice. I think as I read I may have unconciously pictured his voice as Saruman, before I even saw the movies. __________________ Could it be that one path to enlightenment leads through insanity?

04-28-2003, 10:08 PM	#3
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	I'm sure they could have found someone else. I must admit I'm quite torn. As Lee wanted to play Gandalf, and indeed had the blessing of Tolkien to play him if the opportunity should arise, I partially want him to have palyed Gandalf. Also, it would have been great to actually see him as a good guy. On the other hand, he was a spectacular Saruman, absolutely spectacular. Of course, he did appear to be rather evil even before he showed his true colours (pardon the pun), but still he was a great Saruman, overall. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

04-28-2003, 10:42 PM	#4
Anglorfin Alasailon Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: college Posts: 861	I can't imagine a better Saruman. I thought Lee was excellently cast. And in general he seems to fit into bad guy roles relatively easy because of his long expression and that voice, . . .it's so right for Saruman. __________________ "and then this hobbit was walking, and then this elf jumped out of a bush and totally flipped out on him while wailing on his guitar." "Anglorfin was tall and straight; his hair was of shining gold, his face fair and young and fearless and full of anger; his eyes were bright and keen, and his voice like music; on his brow sat wisdom, and in his hand was great skill."

04-29-2003, 12:35 AM	#5
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	Neither can I. Hence my turmoil. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

04-29-2003, 06:01 AM	#6
WhackoJacko Hobbit Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 43	nah, i would have loved to see Chris Lee as gandalf and Sean Connery as saruman. with that 007 voice lol i think they blended Lee's voice when they first showed Gandalf and Aragorn in the TTT. whatshisname was better in X-men than he was as Gandalf. Mckellen should have played whatshisname King of Rohan lol, mental block or what? and Sean Bean as both Boromir and Faramir. His acting carried the FOTR and is wasted for the rest

04-29-2003, 09:15 AM	#7
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	Somehow, I can't see Sean Connery as evil... Though it would have been interesting, indeed. Indeed they did. I agree, I thought Ian McKellen gave a great performance there. I didn't especially like his Gandalf, though. I thought that Theoden was too young-looking. It seemed to me that he should have been older... Yeah, now THAT would have been cool. Didn't Faramir and Boromir look a lot alike? __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

04-29-2003, 10:48 AM	#8
gimli7410 the dumb stoner canuck Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: canada Posts: 2,542	i could only see sean connery evil if he was holding a gun or some bombs.. not a staff. __________________ -"Down with the system"-Serj tankian of system of a down -“Humans have been on the earth for millions of years, yet we don’t believe man began thinking until he started building walls. And what good have these walls ever done us?”-Serj tankian of soad -"stupid people do stupid things"-Serj tankian of soad "Trying is the first step to failure" Homer Simpson "It isn't going to be easy"-jerseydevil "only the good die young" I AM CANADIAN If the people lead, the leaders will follow.

04-29-2003, 12:38 PM	#9
Lalaith The Elvish Temptress Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 3,055	I think Christopher Lee was the best choice for the corrupt evil wizard. Just as Ian McKellen looks like an old, good wizard. __________________ What I am and what I would are as secret as maidenhead.

04-29-2003, 03:57 PM	#10
barrelrider110 Peer of the realm of Sanguine Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Hill, Marlton, NJ Posts: 798	I've thought all along that Lee would have made a better Gandalf than McKellen. He did play a great Saruman. He was always typecast in the role of the villain. too bad. __________________ “"I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am Ringwinner and Luckwearer; and I am Barrel-rider," Fear Complacency! ___________________ Something under the bed is drooling

04-29-2003, 04:59 PM	#11
Dreran the Green Lady of Legends Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Missing. Reward if found. Posts: 1,083	I liked Christopher Lee as SARUMAUN. NOT Gandalf! I agree that he makes a wonderful wizard, just not Gandalf. Whether or not he would have made a good 'good wizard', he's just not the Gandalf type. However, had Rhadagast (probably spelled wrong, forgive me) been in the movies, I think HE could have been played by either Christopher Lee or Sean Connery __________________ The end justifies the means, thought Aziraphale. And the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.* *This is not actually true. The road to Hell is paved with frozen door to door salesmen. On weekends many of the younger demons go ice-skating down it. ~Good Omens

04-29-2003, 05:28 PM	#12
Bombadillo "The Bomb" Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: all over the place Posts: 1,601	Haha... you're probably right. I'm picturing Sean Conerry saying "I'm Radagast the Brown." That makes me laugh, but he probably would have made a great Radagast. __________________ Could it be that one path to enlightenment leads through insanity?

04-29-2003, 05:32 PM	#13
Dreran the Green Lady of Legends Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Missing. Reward if found. Posts: 1,083	Hee hee, I just had this amusing image of Gandalf talking to James Bond with a long brown beard. ........Yeah, I think he would have been a good Rhadagast too, though. It really upset me that they didn't put him in the first movie. They had an excellent actor in Sean Connery. __________________ The end justifies the means, thought Aziraphale. And the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.* This is not actually true. The road to Hell is paved with frozen door to door salesmen. On weekends many of the younger demons go ice-skating down it. ~Good Omens Last edited by Dreran the Green : 04-29-2003 at 05:33 PM.*

04-29-2003, 06:25 PM	#15
Dreran the Green Lady of Legends Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Missing. Reward if found. Posts: 1,083	Heh heh, this just goes along with my theory that Christopher Lee is secretly ruling the media (Have you ever noticed that the man is EVERYWHERE??? scary! ) __________________ The end justifies the means, thought Aziraphale. And the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.* *This is not actually true. The road to Hell is paved with frozen door to door salesmen. On weekends many of the younger demons go ice-skating down it. ~Good Omens

04-30-2003, 12:15 AM	#17
WhackoJacko Hobbit Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 43	where the heck does radagast come from?? he has absolutely no role in LOTR par the errand boy Sean Connery: Grima my faith servant, witness the power of Orthanc Grima: Shaken not stirred my Lord

04-30-2003, 12:18 AM	#18
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	Direct role, perhaps... __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

04-30-2003, 12:38 AM	#19
Wayfarer The Insufferable Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,333	Christopher Lee was the one actor out of all these films who I have the most respect for. He was a true fan of tolkien who gave the best performance he could. Given that, as well as Tolkien's desire that he play Gandalf, I would have cast Lee in that role and McKellan as Saruman. Has anyone forgotten that he performed quite well as a villain in his last previous role, as Magneto? __________________ Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned

04-30-2003, 12:42 AM	#20
Entlover Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 463	Sean Connery reminds me too much of the dragon Smaug -- but that was that cowboy actor, wasn't it -- Paladin, I think.- Have Gun, Will Travel.

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