Hannibal Lecter Original Mask Couldn’t Be Used, See The Horrific Reason Why
By now, most audiences are familiar with Anthony Hopkins’ groundbreaking portrayal of the famed fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the hit 1991 crime thriller Silence of the Lambs. What many audiences may not know, however, is that the mask worn by the psychotic cannibal was originally intended to be completely different. In the original novel series upon which the film is based, Hannibal Lecter’s original mask was a straightforward hockey mask, which would have been far too similar to the iconic Jason Vorhees character on film.
The decision to change Hannibal Lecter’s original mask was made due to the massive success of the Friday The 13th film franchise, which depicted the supernatural serial killer Jason Vorhees slashing sexed-up teens while donning a now-iconic hockey mask, completely obfuscating his face.
…Hannibal Lecter’s original mask was a straightforward hockey mask…
While Hannibal Lecter and Vorhees share some traits, such as outsmarting, stalking, and ritualistically slaying their prey, the characters’ personalities and skills are miles apart, leaving filmmakers concerned about using the intended hockey mask from the books. Luckily, the mask delivered in the film became iconic, providing the film with its unique and visually distinct style.
The decision to change Hannibal Lecter’s original mask was made due to the massive success of the Friday The 13th film franchise, which depicted the supernatural serial killer Jason Vorhees…
Silence of the Lambs is based on the 1981 and 1988 novels Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs written by Thomas Harris, each featuring lengthy descriptions of Hannibal Lecter and his original hockey mask. Illustrations of the character based on the original text were provided by Tom Bagshaw and included in specific editions of the best-selling books to this day.
Though the illustrations are undoubtedly menacing and provide readers with some genuine insight into the terror that Lecter would strike into those who visit him in his cell, it does seem clear that utilizing the hockey mask would have been a mistake for the actual film.
While Hannibal Lecter’s original mask could have shrouded the character in more mystique in the 1991 film, only showing his cold, dead eyes to the audience and Jodie Foster‘s Agent Clarice Starling, the comparisons to Jason Vorhees would have been completely inescapable. Instead, prop masters developed a specially-made restraint mask that covers the lower half of Lecter’s face, providing a menacing and deranged prisoner with an intense scowl, perfectly encapsulating the needs of the film adaptation.
The illustrations of Hannibal Lecter in his original mask still pair marvelously with the Thomas Harris novels…
In the hands of a lesser talent, perhaps the mask would have failed to make the same statement as Hannibal Lecter’s originally planned mask, but Anthony Hopkins’ terrifying portrayal lent itself to the restraints perfectly. Furthermore, the movie mask was designed and developed by Ed Cubberly, who previously manufactured actual NHL hockey masks for league goalies, providing authenticity to the prop’s early roots. In the end, Hannibal Lecter’s movie mask became an iconic piece of American film history, with replicas still being sold at party stores every Halloween.
The illustrations of Hannibal Lecter in his original mask still pair marvelously with the Thomas Harris novels, making the prints a necessary inclusion to the leather-bound Lettered edition of both Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs.
Source: Suntup.Press
