Christopher Lee schools Jackson

A columnist recently pointed out a great contribution of Lee's to the film. In the commentary during the death of Sauruman, Lee recalls that Jackson wanted him to give a big scream and fall off the top of Isengard. Lee said no. Wormtongue stabs Saruman in the back, so Lee proposed to give a small groan, as air is pushed out of his punctured lungs.

Jackson balked - not cinematic enough. Lee, a former member of the Special Operations Executive, who had done commando missions in Occupied Europe during the war, had this conversation:

Lee: Peter, have you ever heard the sound a man makes when he's stabbed in the back?

Jackson: Umm, no.

Lee: Well I have, and I know what to do.

And so, a film of Middle-Earth was enhanced by the memories of an old SOE agent of the sound a Nazi makes when you plunge the knife in.