in all honesty, I love those people so much. And the dude in the beginning running with he camera filming the horse. These minor seeming tasks are part of what makes the film as amazing as it is. Everything now is CGI. They couldn't let him get wet bc of the makeup etc. If lotr taught me anything, it's that the smallest of people can make the biggest difference at times
Apparently Lee was the only one to actually meet Tolkien, and Tolkien had said he would play Gandalf perfectly... Now I believe he was made for Saruman. It takes a great actor to play a convincing, evil, necessary character.
I think saruman is low-key underrated even. In the books I kinda saw him as a more vigilante who simply wanted to learn about knowledge of sauron instead of working for him. I think the movies kinda reflected him differently, he is one of the most interesting villians ever imo
@@SquirrelTheSquirrel No, Lee volunteered first, but PJ thought Gandalf would be challenging for him, and Saruman he was just made for. Then you had to consider that he would likely have lacked the stamina to film Gandalf, it isn't even just the action scenes for he had never any problems working with doubles but Gandalf's got too many scenes.
I love this kind of behind the scenes featurettes, it really makes me feel a lot more involved with the action. And I love how starting at 1:51 you get to see Ian McKellen and Christopher Lee working off of each other and seeming to help each other through the scenes, they looked like they really got along and found a lot of things in common, I like that kind of camaraderie. :)
You are right. As an admirer of Mr. Lee's work in film, I wanted to have validation of his character, that his role as supreme wizard was not traitourus or selfish, even tho this was the way it worked out. And this was accomplished by the writers in the line by Saruman 'you didn't seriously think that a hobbit could resist the will of Sauron? There are none who can...' Thus making clear that on Saruman's estimation, resistance is futile, another path must be chosen. The will of Sauron is unstoppable. And in the end, Saruman was correct, Frodo gave in. He lost. But by a strange fate ultimately the cause was saved, by a reasonable but unexpected turn of events.
@@tardigrade9343 they fell out famously because Sauromans death at the start of the return of the King was cut from the theatrical release, so lee boycotted the premiere and they didn't speak for a while
@@skinnaayydrum95 Thanks, man! I haven't heard about it. This really stings, thinking that there was bad blood... I'm not sure how to judge this and who's in the wrong, and if that can truly be called "mistreatment" but I believe playing Saruman in LOTR was a genuine passion project for Lee and his reaction shows that. I hope they could resolve this eventually, and thankfully people got the extended versions which are probably wider known by now than the theatrical release :)
@@tardigrade9343 He wasn't treated badly, the execs just wanted to cut the movie wherever they could and they felt it was weird at the start of the return of the king to wrap up two towers. They should have kept the scene right before the very last of two towers imo A director cutting an actors scene isn't 'treating him badly'. They obviously made up again for Lee to reprise his role in the hobbit (also directed by Jackson).
@@skinnaayydrum95 They cut way more than that.. They cut the "Scouring of the Shire" in which Saruman has a major role - but the part was filmed as there exists remnants from it. I'm saying Jackson cut a 10 minute or so part of the movie with Saruman taking vengeance on the Hobbits by burning the shire.
Love how Christopher Lee imitated Ian's distinctive "oh"
That was a great impression
I thought it was hilarious when Christopher Lee said, "I'm sorry, I cannot get up these goddamn steps, smoothly."
I know, I love how he is completely in character and then he just essentially snaps. It's hilarious!
I know, it's the best! It shows he had a real great sense of humor. LOL
never has a man sounded so well spoken and/or elegant when spouting blasphemy😂
"Well you did it this morning." -Peter Jackson
“because every time I try... I step on the “thing”
0:39 got to admire that lady holding the umbrella as high as she could for Christopher lol
in all honesty, I love those people so much. And the dude in the beginning running with he camera filming the horse. These minor seeming tasks are part of what makes the film as amazing as it is. Everything now is CGI. They couldn't let him get wet bc of the makeup etc. If lotr taught me anything, it's that the smallest of people can make the biggest difference at times
To see Ian and Christopher plot out their lines together is *too* *cool.*
Weird. At times I think Christopher Lee played a better Saruman than Tolkien's written character.
Christopher Lee Was The perfect Saruman but I think the book Saruman has better lines and he's more clever and cunning
@Miles Doyle what? What has this to do with this video??
Yeah and it’s weird to think the Tolkien wanted lee to play Gandalf if there was ever a movie
@@aarondeyoung6315 even though he did auditioned and nearly got the part if he hadn’t had problems with his back when mounting a horse
Very probably true!
Apparently Lee was the only one to actually meet Tolkien, and Tolkien had said he would play Gandalf perfectly... Now I believe he was made for Saruman. It takes a great actor to play a convincing, evil, necessary character.
@Gex who is Exulted thank you.
I think saruman is low-key underrated even. In the books I kinda saw him as a more vigilante who simply wanted to learn about knowledge of sauron instead of working for him. I think the movies kinda reflected him differently, he is one of the most interesting villians ever imo
I've also heard originally gandalf wad the role sir Lee wanted, but by that point Jackson had already offered it to sir ian
@@SquirrelTheSquirrel No, Lee volunteered first, but PJ thought Gandalf would be challenging for him, and Saruman he was just made for. Then you had to consider that he would likely have lacked the stamina to film Gandalf, it isn't even just the action scenes for he had never any problems working with doubles but Gandalf's got too many scenes.
I love this kind of behind the scenes featurettes, it really makes me feel a lot more involved with the action. And I love how starting at 1:51 you get to see Ian McKellen and Christopher Lee working off of each other and seeming to help each other through the scenes, they looked like they really got along and found a lot of things in common, I like that kind of camaraderie. :)
Lee knew great art when he saw it; always praising the effects and stunt teams for their performances
I loved his reaction when the guy said, "Well you did it this morning". Good motivation!
You are right. As an admirer of Mr. Lee's work in film, I wanted to have validation of his character, that his role as supreme wizard was not traitourus or selfish, even tho this was the way it worked out. And this was accomplished by the writers in the line by Saruman 'you didn't seriously think that a hobbit could resist the will of Sauron? There are none who can...' Thus making clear that on Saruman's estimation, resistance is futile, another path must be chosen. The will of Sauron is unstoppable. And in the end, Saruman was correct, Frodo gave in. He lost. But by a strange fate ultimately the cause was saved, by a reasonable but unexpected turn of events.
2:04 Nice transition!
Also, Sir Christopher was just the gift that keeps on giving!
"I can't do it, Peter!"
Christopher Lee is the only one that can make “no problem” sound like a really big problem
Christopher Lee wanted to play Gandalf 😂
Yeah apparently he was the only one out of the cast who had actually met Tolkien. Tolkien said he would play the perfect Gandalf.
“Well, you did it this morning...”
4:13 Whose shadow is that at the end on the screen?!!! SAURON?!!!
Sir Christopher Lee was born to play Saruman.
Can anyone find the clip of Christopher saying “These clothes are a menace!”
Peter Jackson was so young here. :O
I hate how Peter Jackson treated Christopher Lee
Did he treat him badly?
@@tardigrade9343 they fell out famously because Sauromans death at the start of the return of the King was cut from the theatrical release, so lee boycotted the premiere and they didn't speak for a while
@@skinnaayydrum95 Thanks, man! I haven't heard about it. This really stings, thinking that there was bad blood... I'm not sure how to judge this and who's in the wrong, and if that can truly be called "mistreatment" but I believe playing Saruman in LOTR was a genuine passion project for Lee and his reaction shows that. I hope they could resolve this eventually, and thankfully people got the extended versions which are probably wider known by now than the theatrical release :)
@@tardigrade9343 He wasn't treated badly, the execs just wanted to cut the movie wherever they could and they felt it was weird at the start of the return of the king to wrap up two towers. They should have kept the scene right before the very last of two towers imo
A director cutting an actors scene isn't 'treating him badly'. They obviously made up again for Lee to reprise his role in the hobbit (also directed by Jackson).
@@skinnaayydrum95 They cut way more than that.. They cut the "Scouring of the Shire" in which Saruman has a major role - but the part was filmed as there exists remnants from it. I'm saying Jackson cut a 10 minute or so part of the movie with Saruman taking vengeance on the Hobbits by burning the shire.