Karloff Classic!
Added 4/30/2009
For good old-fashioned Universal horror, get yourself wrapped up in Karl Freund's directoral debut with The Mummy (1932). Filmed in delicious black & white, ever so proper British archeologists are complaining all they found was this mummy (Imhotep) who reclined relaxedly (and dead) in the background.
When the inevitable assistant opens the little box with a curse on it, all sand breaks loose!
Ten years later, we learn that Imhotep has acclimated to Cairo society and is still searching for his timeless love, Princess Anck-es-en-Amon of the 18th Dynasty (there's a quiz after this review, OK??).
Lots of similarities to Dracula, Universal's earlier horror film, mainly because the scriptwriter who collaborated on Dracula also did the same with The Mummy: talismans (cross & amulets), hypnotic power (vampires and mummies can do both) and other such supernatural thrillers. And the actor who played Van Helsing in Dracula also appears as an Egyptian occult expert, Dr. Muller, in this film (Edward Van Sloan).
This rented disc is part of the incredible Universal collection and I highly recommend you pick this up. The disc I had included "Mummy Dearest", an excellent portrayal of the Mummy pictures over the years, the incredibly poor sequels and the inevitable fate of all Universal monsters: a meeting with Abbott & Costello!
The flashback sequence was very well-made: the mists of time part as we stare into the pool that transcends time and space. It played like a silent film, haunting music and suspense. Incredible music!
We learn that the film originally had many other scenes of our leading lady being reincarnated at different historical periods: Vikings, Crusades, and so on. But they cut all that out to make the picture go at a quicker pace: smart move in my opinion.
I pray to Osiris that you pick this DVD up soon!
Others to Pick Up Today!
Boris Karloff: A Gentleman's Life
The Boris Karloff Collection (Tower of London / The Black Castle / The Climax / The Strange Door / Night Key)
The Bela Lugosi Collection (Murders in the Rue Morgue / The Black Cat / The Raven / The Invisible Ray / Black Friday)
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Uncanny?....Hell yes!!!
Added 4/3/2009
Karloff the Uncanny lives up to his name with this bone chilling portrayal. He is absolutely superb, and the wonderful supporting cast makes this gem a must-see. The modern remake can't compare. Buy it!!!!
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"No man ever suffered as I did for you"--Imhotep to Princess Ankh-es-en-amon
Added 3/18/2009
I liked the Universal Legacy edition of "Dracula" so much, I got the same issue of "The Mummy" as well. The packaging on my copy is slightly improved with the DVD content info printed on the back cover rather than on a sheet glued to the cover. Although I am still impressed by all the extras on this edition, the extras are not as good as the ones on "Dracula," so I am dropping a star. The two films are actually quite similar. From the identical opening music to the almost parallel storyline. Edward Van Sloan and David Manners are in both films and play the same type of roles (Manners playing the romantic love interest who falls for the woman who is under the spell of the "monster" and Van Sloan as the professor who observes and understands what is going on and confronts the "monster"). One difference in "The Mummy" is that, though Dracula is evil on all accounts, Imhotep is a rather sentimental figure. He is a murderer, but his brutality is a means to reuniting with the woman for whom he sacrificed his life 1,000s of years earlier. He was just a mummy in love (Karloff, in his scenes with Zita Johann, definitely plays the role as such).
I will focus on the extras offered on this 2-DVD set, as most people who are interested in this release have already seen the film. Like with the "Dracula" issue, You can watch "The Mummy" with two different commentaries. The first commentary includes Rick Baker (makeup man), Scott Essman (horror film researcher), Steve Haberman (screenwriter, film historian), Bob Burns (film buff), and Brent Armstrong (sculptor). Baker speaks by himself in a separate commentary during the famous mummy awakening scene. He finds a lot of inconsistencies in the film and admits to not liking it much, although he is a fan of the makeup techniques used. The others talk together in a more conversational style. This group does not always follow the scenes. They talk about other films and heap praise on the players. I find it the most interesting when they discuss scenes and the film itself. Armstrong points out Imhotep's wrinkled face and theorizes that the intent was to show that the bandages had replaced his skin. Another thing I would not have noticed was the rear projection used in the cab scene. I thought the Universal horror films as a metaphor for the Great Depression idea was a bit stretching it, though. At the end of the commentary, they go off praising this and that. I found this commentary interesting but, with all the people involved, it could have been better.
The second commentary is by film historian Paul M. Jensen. Like Steve Haberman's commentary for "Dracula," Jensen reads through prepared notes. Sometimes he's describing scenes and other times he is giving backgrounds of the players and crew. At one point, he describes Putnam's Cagliostro. He gives intriguing information on the discarded scenes. While I liked this commentary, neither ones on this set are as good as David Skal's on "Dracula."
Also on the first disc are a collection of lobby cards and stills (including some from discarded scenes) and a trailer gallery of the many Mummy sequels. "Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed" is a documentary on the making of the film. I like the photos of Karloff having his makeup applied. There is a lot of info on Zita Johann, who clashed with director Karl Freund, and her occultist beliefs. It compares the film to "Dracula" and talks about the other mummy films. It runs 30 minutes.
On the second disc are three documentaries. The first is "He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce." This documentary discusses Pierce's work on the films "Frakenstein," "The Mummy," "The Black Cat," "Bride of Frakenstein," "Son of Frakenstein," and "The Wolf Man." I found it very interesting how Frakenstein evolved through the films and the revelation on how one side of his face caved in. I wished they discussed Pierce's techniques for "The Man Who Laughs." I've wondered how they kept Conrad Veidt's mouth curled up. It looks very painful. The documentary concludes with the sad way Pierce was let go from Universal, how he lived the rest of his life in relative obscurity, and his legacy. It is 25 minutes long. "Unraveling the Legacy of the Mummy" is a bunch of action scenes from the Brendan Fraser films with interview clips from the cast and crew (8 minutes). "Universal Horror" is the same documentary that was on the "Dracula" DVD set (probably on "Frakenstein," too). It is excellent, though. The rather lengthy documentary covers many of the scary films put out by Universal in the 1920s and 1930s and includes freaky scenes from such films as "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Man Who Laughs," "The Black Cat," etc. I liked the inclusion of scenes from early silents. It also reveals secrets to special effects found in "King Kong," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," and "The Invisible Man." Film historians who were kids back in the day talk about what these films meant to them and the reactions of audiences at the time. Bela Lugosi Jr. talks about his famous father in several clips in this documentary. I've seen it three times and will probably watch it again.
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Long Live the Walking Dead
Added 2/3/2009
The Mummy is one hour and thirteen minutes long and was released on December 22, 1932. The Boris Karloff's mummy is seen only on screen for about eight minutes and only about a minute of him coming alive and stealing the sacred scroll. The rest of the movie he is Ardath Bey; Imhotep brought back to life. Imhotep\Ardath Bey helps some archaeologists find the burial site of Princess Ankh-es-en-amon. His real intentions are to bring the Princess Ankh-es-en-amon back to life so they can be together forever. Princess Ankh-es-en-amon has taken the soul of Helen Grosvenor. So throughout the movie he is trying to bring Helen Grosvenor to the museum and change her into his Princess Ankh-es-en-amon. The movie flows along well into you get to about five minutes to the end and turns almost south. They could have done a better ending. The Mummy relies on suspense since the horror is minimal at best. Still this deserves an A-.
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A rousing good tale told in creepy style
Added 11/25/2008
Ah, "The Mummy" on Halloween night! What could be better? My brother and I, now aging boomers, were allowed as children the special treat to stay up on Friday nights to watch Horror Theater (or whatever it was called) and scare ourselves silly. This was in the late '50's. "The Mummy" was a favorite, so when I found this VHS tape in the library, I took it home for Halloween.
After a couple of hours of Trick or Treating, the three children were ready to go home. We put on the movie, expecting magic to revisit. Their grandfather (my brother) and I expected to pass on a tradition. We really thought the nine-year-old boy would delight in the movie. He loves things like this. However, it was too slow for him--he fell asleep soon into the movie, as did the other two children.
That left my brother and me to stroll down Memory Lane with the Mummmy! It wasn't the same story we both remembered. We had the notion of lots of wrappings with the mummy walking all over the place with arms outstretched and killing people. Another reviewer said this wasn't "The Mummy" he saw either. Probably a sequel.
Let's return to the reality of the story. We discovered how faulty our memories are. However, the film did surprise us with what was there.
In the 1920's when the discovery of the Tutankhamun tomb was the rage, three other English archaeologists were certain to make a find. Indeed, they did--an ancient sarcophagus with a box attached: Do not open this coffin upon threat of death. Two are wise enough to discuss it. The third cannot control his eagerness and opens it. In a few minutes the mummy is mysteriously wrought to life, and sidles out the door. The archaeologist witnesses this and goes stark raving insane. A chilling scene. The viewer sees only a piece of wrapping sliding out of sight--the only view we get of a newly awakened corpse. Then the hysterical laughing. Everything is always just out of sight. A suggestion of evil. A suggestion of terror. A scream.
The mummy comes back as an Egyptian attached somehow to the museum. It's Boris Karlof in a dark role. Why no one was not creeped out by his persona is beyond me. Bring in the the son of one of the original three archaeologists and the daughter of the museum director and you have a triangle about to happen. Karlof's mummy/man believes she is the reincarnation of his beloved temple virgin from back in the day. He is determined to take her back and almost succeeds.
Today's filming shows all and then some. Old films like this tell the story with suggestion, little nuances, creating creepy atmosphere and mood. As I watched, I slipped in and out of sleep. In one dream sequence I was in the movie, going down one of the underground passages. Only in my dream I rounded the bend to see what veiwers could hear. Black-clad, wispy creatures were stirring around a walking, stalking mummy. I fell on the rocks, they turned toward me. Of course, I awoke, further creeped out.
A successful movie-- "The Mummy"--even now!
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