Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1973: Christopher Lee in The Wicker Man

Christopher Lee did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Lord Summerisle in The Wicker Man.

The supporting performances of the Wicker Man all have this eerie consistency as they portray this strangely sinister happiness within all the pagan denizens of the island, which stands in stark contrast to Edward Woodward's portrayal of the devote Christian and police officer Howie there to find a missing little girl. All of the supporting performances share that same consistency except for Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle. Lord Summerisle being the the lord of the island in more than just a title. Now on the surface Lee seems to fulfill a similar style to the Lord as was found in his subjects. When he greets Howie, he does it with a friendly smile that it subverted with a powerful undercurrent of disdain in his eyes and in his words. When he speaks of the local rituals, that disgust Howie, Lee delivers his lines like that of a proud father to his children, overjoyed to see them performing the rites he "holds dear" and then offers quite the undercurrent of venom in his words whenever he responds to Howie's objections.

Lee's performance though goes deeper than the others because Lord Summerisle isn't quite a typical islander. In one of his early scenes the Lord takes a walk with Howie where he reveals his family's history which involved setting up a fruit plantation in the island, and encouraging the islanders to return to the pagan religion of their ancestors.  Lee speaks these words differently than when defending or praising the rituals. There's more of a distance in the words of Summerisle, and in that distance Lee suggests a certain separation. There is not quite the passion within the description, Lee speaks not as a preacher but rather as a manipulator. Although it is not directly stated Lee alludes to a certain falsehood in Summerisle's own belief by revealing this intelligence around it of a man who is uses the religion rather giving himself to it. Lee nuance in this regards adds greatly to the film as he's not simple another worshiper adding another layer by realizing that the Lord uses the religion to control the populace as his father and grandfather had done.

The focal point of Lee's performance comes in the finale where the islanders have their mayday celebration to which Howie believes will result in a sacrifice, he's right but unfortunately for him he's the sacrifice. In the turn towards the truly sinister nature of the islanders coming out they are all just as jovial as before. Lee is incredibly menacing in revealing Summerisle as this terrible ringmaster for his people as he leads them to go about sacrificing Howie in giant wooden statue. Lee shows the full extent of the manipulation through his powerful voice that now is that of the preacher leading his flock in this chilling joyous celebration about ending a man's life supposedly to bring back a good harvest. Lee though again uses this scene though to bring more than perhaps what is even demanded of him. Lee again separates Summerisle from of the islanders as in between the margins, when the islanders are not focused on him, he suggests the ritual is based on manipulation of the masses rather a true belief from himself. My favorite moment in his entire performance is when Howie attempts to get some sort of revenge by telling the islanders they must sacrifice Summerisle next if the harvest fails again, which it likely will. Lee's reaction is perfection as he shows all the confidence fade from the Lord, and reveals a real fear showing that the Lord realizes his life will be on the line if his plan does not work. Lee portrays an effort in Summerisle as he attempt to return to his form as the grand preacher though struggles delivering his statement now with a raw anger towards Howie. Lee throughout the rest of the scene conveys this desperation in the Lord as they finish the sacrifice, and only returns to his earlier conviction when he sees the islanders have clearly become satiated. Lee gives a very strong performance as his work offers further depth to the character of Lord Summerisle but also the film itself.