Christopher Lee, Who Worked with Welles, Has a Birthday.

[Glenn Anders]

Happy Birthday, Christopher Lee! The imposing Mr. Lee had one of his early hands-up from Orson Welles in Moby Dick Rehearsed, the typically ill-fated Welles' film (TV) version of same. [Thank you, Todd Baesen, for the correction.]

Just turned 87, Lee is hard at work on COWBOYS FOR CHRIST, Writer/Director Robin Hardy's re-imagining of THE WICKER MAN. [Two young Evangelists from Texas wander into Tressock, the Scottish border fiefdom of Sir Lachlan Morrison (Lee), and learn much more than they might have wished for about the origins of their faith.]

And it is said that Lee narrowly beat out Todd Baesen for the part of Jabberwock in a new re-make of ALICE IN WONDERLAND.

Glenn

[ToddBaesen]

Glenn:

I told you not to mention I was up for the Jabberwock in ALICE IN WONDERLAND! Tim Burton said he even felt I was better than Christopher Lee would be, but he felt he had to give the role to Lee after he had cut him out of SWEENEY TODD.

By the way, Lee did not appear in Welles' production of MOBY DICK on the stage. He was only cast in the TV production, which of course, was never completed.

[Glenn Anders]

Toddy: it would have been interesting had Burton double cast the production, in the case of you and Lee.

Thank you for correcting me about the Stage and TV versions of Moby Dick Rehearsed. My desire was to make Welles' influence on Lee's career more than the facts warranted. I wish that I could find that playbill from the Duke of York's Theater, so I might nail down for certain the odd man out in the cast that memorable evening.

Glenn

[ToddBaesen]

In the play, Peter Sallis was featured in the role of the Stage Manager and Mr. Flask. Christopher Lee was still a few years away from his big success in Hammer films and was moonlighting as Welles driver, taking him at all hours around London.

Lee apparently got the part for the movie/TV version of MOBY DICK when Peter Sallis proved to be unavailable. Then, 15 years later, both Mr. Flask's met when Lee and Sallis played in the Hammer film, TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA.

[Glenn Anders]

Thank you, Todd, for your remarkably clear and precise information.

I still wish that I could find that playbill. I have a feeling that we might both learn something.

I trust that you and Mr. French have been over at the new "TCM Turner Classic Film Union," imparting some of your wisdom to them.

Glenn

[ToddBaesen]

Glenn:

Mr. French tells me he just added a cast listing and a few notes of info about the film version of MOBY DICK to the news that Christopher Lee has been knighted.

Maybe you should try to find that old 1955 playbill of yours before the mice eat it up!

[Glenn Anders]

The work Mr. French does is seldom remarked upon enough. His interview with Christopher Lee, and his research of MOBY DICK REHEARSED, have my admiration.

Meanwhile, Todd, as I continue my poor efforts. Who knows what lurks in my closet? I ask that you would you remember words familiar to you from your intense study of 17th Century Spanish texts:

""EL QUESO LARGO ES LA CASA DE LOS RATONCITOS DE AMOR."

Glenn