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Ten years later another expedition is mounted. A mysterious
Egyptian appears who takes a great interest in Helen Grosvenor
(Zita Johann). He believes she is the incarnation of the woman
he loved 3,000 years before.
Once one has got over the dated overhang from the silent
movies; the hammy acting of the first victim, the juvenile
archaelogist, a rattling good yarn follows.
Boris Karloff is superb as the uscrupulous driven monster.
Zita Johann portrays, with conviction and sex appeal, a modern
woman caught up in a nightmare of ancient times.
Apart from the junior archaeologist the rest of the supporting
cast are excellent and the film is a tribute to the crafts.
Make up; the mummy's wrinkled skin that took eight hours
to put on. Lighting, photography, sets and costumes create
an authentic atmosphere.
The Mummy is also the result of a director's art. Karl Freund
resists the temptation to show horror literally; he does it
by implicaton.
After the mummy is revitalised, it is our imagination that
provides the terror by seeing the effect he has on others
and the selection of key shots.
Life stealing into dead eyes, loosening of the bandages that
pinion the mummies arms, and the close-up of its wrinkled
hand as it steals the Scroll of the Dead is what we see, but
our minds tell us far more.
Considering it was made almost 70 years before the latest
incarnation, this feature compares very favourably to the
modern version.
True, it has none of the technological features of the late
20th Century; computer graphics, surround sound etc. But…
the story is as good, and the acting better.
Conclusion: Movie 85% Extras 85%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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