Before Dracula, Christopher Lee Played A Different Iconic Monster In This 1957 Horror Movie

Before Christopher Lee starred in Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Tim Burton’s movies, he was a British horror movie star. In 1957, Lee got his big break by starring in The Curse of Frankenstein, one of Hammer Film's productions. A year later, he starred as Count Dracula in the Hammer Film's Dracula movies, based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 epistolary novel, but his role in Dracula was not the first time he played an iconic monster.

The Curse of Frankenstein, the first movie in Hammer Film’s Frankenstein franchise, is loosely based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. The movie follows a scientist who is awaiting execution for his maid’s murder, as he tells the story of the events that followed after creating a monster. The Curse of Frankenstein helped Lee break into the world of horror with Hammer Film Productions and inspired other versions of Frankenstein, such as Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein story and Lisa Frankenstein with the original characters.

Christopher Lee Played Frankenstein’s Monster Before His First Dracula Role

The Curse of Frankenstein Was Lee's First Horror Movie

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Lee starred as Frankenstein’s Monster in The Curse of Frankenstein, alongside Peter Cushing, who played Baron Victor Frankenstein. In The Curse of Frankenstein, Frankenstein’s Monster had brain damage, which caused him to act violently by killing an old blind man and Frankenstein’s maid Justine (Valerie Gaunt). Unlike any other Frankenstein adaptation, including James Whale’s 1931 classic, Lee's Frankenstein’s Monster was unsympathetic and much scarier than usual depictions of the creature.

The Curse of Frankenstein was Lee’s first role with Hammer Film Productions and the company’s first horror movie filmed in color. The 1957 adaptation was also Lee and Peter Cushing’s first horror movie together before starring in the Dracula franchise, which featured Lee in the titular role and Cushing playing Doctor Van Helsing. After starring in one of Hammer's best Dracula movies, Lee and Cushing became an iconic horror duo.

Lee and Cushing starred in a total of 24 movies together, including The Curse of Frankenstein and Hammer Film's Dracula movies.

In the US, The Curse of Frankenstein was a commercial success, but British critics deemed the movie too graphic. The movie was also a huge success for Lee, as his role as Frankenstein’s Monster garnered attention from the audience and critics, and impressed Hammer Film. As a result, Lee's work on Dracula began his long collaboration with Hammer, one that produced many successful films after his initial roles.

Why Christopher Lee Was Cast As Frankenstein’s Monster & Dracula

Christopher Lee Was Cast As Count Dracula Right After The Release Of The Curse of Frankenstein

Lee’s casting as Frankenstein’s Monster in The Curse of Frankenstein was due to his height. As Lee was six foot five, Hammer felt he could perfectly portray Frankenstein's Monster as intimidating, given that the monster's appearance was meant to scare other characters. Since Hammer Film Productions intended to work with Lee after The Curse of Frankenstein, no one else was considered for the lead role in Dracula. According to the movie’s producer, Anthony Hind, “It never occurred to any of us to use anyone but Chris Lee.”

While Lee’s performance as Frankenstein’s Monster introduced him as a horror actor, his role in Dracula propelled him to fame.

While Lee’s performance as Frankenstein’s Monster introduced him to the horror genre, his role in Dracula propelled him to fame. Dracula was a commercial success that received many accolades from critics, leading to seven sequels in the franchise. Following the release of The Curse of Frankenstein, the movie was hailed as the movie that resurrected the horror genre, partially thanks to Christopher Lee's performance but mainly due to the movie being filmed in color and its gory effects.

Key Background Facts

Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing both appeared in Hamlet (1948), Moulin Rouge (1952), and Alexander the Great (1956), but they met on the set of The Curse of Frankenstein for the first time.

Hammer Films did consider a slightly taller Bernard Bresslaw for the role, who was six foot seven.

Christopher Lee’s niece Harriet Walter played Mary Wollstonecraft, Mary Shelley’s mother, in Frankenstein: Birth of a Monster (2003).