Die Mumie

Everyone is familiar with the story of the Mummy. He wants to revive his long lost love. Not nearly as graphic as the modern version, we can enjoy the story with the always interesting Boris Karloff.

The mummy appears only briefly, and Karloff assumes the character Ardath Bey. But , we know he is Imhotep. His goal is to get Helen Grosvenor (Zita Johann), who he believes is the reincarnation of Anck-es-en-Amon.

Now, one may yearn for the beauty of Rachel Weisz in skimpy Egyptian outfits, but this classic is superior overall because of the skill of the actors.

This is probably not the last version we shall see.

With one of Boris Karloff's numerous acting successes and a production done the way that a horror feature should be made, this is a well-crafted classic of the genre. From the first scene, the right atmosphere is established, and the story is told at an implacable pace that slowly builds up the tension and possibilities.

As he does with his characters in so many of his horror features, Karloff makes "The Mummy" a menacing monster, yet one with enough human motivations to keep him from becoming cartoonish. Karloff's approach, as does the movie as a whole, stimulates the imagination rather than the senses, giving this classic version a depth and permanence that cannot be matched by those more recent adaptations that rely on boring "special" effects and contrived "action" sequences instead of a well-told story with solid characters.

Edward Van Sloan, David Manners, and the rest of the supporting cast also help out. The atmosphere and settings are kept relatively simple, but effective. Naturally, the story is far-fetched, but it has a consistency that makes it relatively easy to suspend disbelief. The picture fits together well, and it remains a solid entry in the list of classic horror films.

Karl Freund, who photographed some of the most memorable silent films made both in this country and Germany, turned director only twice in his career. He directed Peter Lorre in MAD LOVE (1935) and Boris Karloff in this film I am about to discuss. Following FRANKENSTEIN and THE OLD DARK HOUSE the public knew it liked Boris Karloff but he had been silent in his two biggest roles. When this movie was released they flocked to the cinema to hear him speak (evidently they had missed THE MIRACLE MAN, NIGHT WORLD, BUSINESS AND PLEASURE and the other minor roles he appeared in while FRANKENSTEIN was becoming a hit). His voice was no disappointment and neither was his performance in this picture. Director Freund handles many important scenes as if he were directing a silent film . . .and it WORKS! The scene of Im-Ho-Tep returning to life is masterful, as is the flashback sequence where he shows his reincarnated princess just what became of him. David Manners is a far more practical hero in this film than he was in DRACULA (and he is not hampered by having to wear those ridiculous knickerbockers) and Edward van Sloan is fabulous yet again. Watch for Noble Johnson showing off his muscular frame as the Nubian servant. Jack Pierce's makeup is nothing short of fantastic; what he did with gum cotton and collodion was truly masterful. The photography is very well done also. One scene where the camera flashpans away from Im-Ho-Tep and over the rooftops of Cairo coming to rest on Helen Grosvenor is truly Germanic. A similar scene appears in FAUST (1926), and also in SVENGALI (1931). Red Rock Canyon substitutes for ancient Egypt but we always believe we are seeing just what we are supposed to be seeing. This is a very subtle film, and all the more scary because if its subtlety. Now shall we discuss MAD LOVE?

Another film that puts the basic storyline of Dracula to better use. This time, it's the undead Egyptian priest, I'm-ho-tep (Boris Karloff), who puts the beautiful Helen under his spell. David Manners and Edward Van Sloan both reprise their Dracula roles as the young hero, and the wise old mentor respectively. Van Sloan, who is the only actor to appear in Frankenstein, Dracula and The Mummy, gives his best performance here. Karloff is also quite good as the evil villain, I'm-ho-tep. This remains the only mummy movie that can really be called a suspense film or thriller rather than a monster movie. It's not quite as good as Frankenstein, but it's still one of the better classic horror flicks.

This Universal classic (1933)¨The mummy¨ that ahead many follow-ups was finely directed by Karl Freund with Boris Karloff, Edward Van Sloan , David Manners and it results to be the first and classic rendition of the ¨Mummy¨. As a group of archeologists seeking lost tomb of Egyptian kings at an archeological dig , 1921 , examine a sarcophagus from an unmarked grave , then a macabre mummy is revived after thousands of years . An ancient Egyptian mummy is awakened from his centuries-old sleep when a royal tomb is desecrated . Those suffer consequences their acts , to everyone's regret . So Imhotep (Boris Karloff bearing a heavy and masterly made makeup , as we can almost smell the dust and must) , a 4000-year-old who was disgraced and buried alive is now revived . The very deadly mummy takes avenge on some archaeologist and descendants who desecrated the tomb . Then the scary , sinister mummy revenges himself on those who have defiled his tomb and he attempts to get his aim , heroine Helen (Zita Johann) whom the wrapped one believes is the reincarnation of his long-love Anc-kes-en-Amon , his beloved princess . However , the macabre mummy attacks anyways and suddenly stops when meets the reincarnation of ancient sweet heart .

Horror classic based on the novel by John Balderston with effective atmosphere , sense of awe and wonder along with fine performances . Entertaining blend of thrills , chills , drama , terror and visual are most impressive . Remarkable makeup and eerie scenes make it chilling and frightening . Superb atmosphere , flavorful music , make this one of the best terror movies from Universal , using intelligence and interesting dialogue rather than guts and blood to horrify its audience . In spite of its age this all time classic has lost none of its qualities. Boris is terrific as the terrifying mummy and David Manners is good as an obstinate archaeologist , one of the men he frightens , being attacked by the mummy, as well as Zita Johann as the damsel in distress . The Mummy is masterfully incarnated by Boris Karloff , giving one of his best movie portrayals along with Frankenstein . Boris is almost irrecognisable beneath layers of skillful make-up, undergoing 8 hours of top-notch make-up to transform him into the creepy mummy , being layered on his face filament by filament , and actually giving the impression of having been hidden away for centuries . The motion picture excellently photographed by Charles Stumar in tenebrist cinematography plenty of lights and shades , being very well made under the perfect direction of an expert cinematographer : Karl Freund who made too few appearances in the fimmaker's chair . It marked the direction debut of this famed German cameraman and master of expressionist photography . Rating : Better than average , it's high-power entertaining .

Other pictures about Mummy character are the following ones : the main is this one ¨The mummy (1932) ¨ being the initial appearance of the mummy re-awakened after thousands of years and sequels rapidly ran out the ideas as what to do with him once he was on loose , such as : ¨Mummy's hand (1940) by Christy Cabanne with Dick Foran , Wallace Ford and Cecil Kallaway . ¨The mummy's ghost¨ 1944 by Reginald LeBorg with Lon Chaney Jr , John Carradine , Robert Lowery . ¨The mummy's curse¨ 1944 by Leslie Goodwins with Lon Chaney Jr. , Peter Coe . ¨The mummy¨directed by legend from Hammer Productions Terence Fisher with Peter Cushing , Christopher Lee , Felix Aylmer , Eddie Byrne . It's followed by ¨Mummy's shroud¨(1967) also produced by Hammer Films, directed by John Gilling with Andre Morell and Elizabeth Sellars. The Spanish ¨The mummy's revenge¨ 1973 by Carlos Aured with Paul Naschy or Jacinto Molina , Jack Taylor , Helga Line . And modern updating full of computer generator FX as ¨The mummy¨(1999) by Stephen Sommers with Brendan Fraser , Rachel Weisz , John Hanna , Arnold Vosloo and ¨Mummy returns¨ (2001) with similar players and The Rock . And recent ¨The mummy¨ (2017) with Tom Cruise and Sophie Boutella .