Directed by Karl Freund
The discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922 created a sensation around the world. Extensive press coverage of its excavation, exhibitions of the pharaoh’s artifacts, and rumors of an ancient and deadly curse kept public interest high throughout the decade. Such context made it a natural for Universal to continue its run of monster movie hits with The Mummy.
After the success of the previous year’s Dracula and Frankenstein, horror was firmly established as a viable and lucrative genre, and the public’s fascination with Egypt was matched by its interest in the recently discovered talents of Boris Karloff. Universal gratified demand for both with this chilling tale of a cursed mummy reanimated by an ancient spell. Karloff ’s portrayal of Imhotep, the ancient Egyptian priest driven to possess the modern-day incarnation of his long-lost love, is as unforgettable as his bandaged visage. Creating the iconic look of the moldering monster was no small feat; Karloff endured an arduous process in becoming Imhotep. Under the exacting eye of makeup wizard Jack Pierce, the full-body application of rags, clay, and spirit gum for the opening scene reportedly took eight hours. The mummy’s subsequent masquerade as Egyptian scholar Ardath Bey is played with understated menace, demonstrating the range of Karloff ’s talent.
The Mummy broke new ground in several ways, featuring an original story written expressly for the screen, rather than looking to established literary works for supernatural subject matter. The action is handled with restraint by acclaimed cinematographer Karl Freund, in his first directorial effort for Universal. Tantalizing shots of trailing bandages and shadowy misdeeds stoke the imagination, building up to the vivid scenes of Imhotep’s past demise and present fate. While Edward Van Sloan and David Manners reprise familiar roles as occult expert and callow suitor, Zita Johann’s leading lady departs from tradition by managing to save herself, albeit with the help of a vengeful Isis. In its ambitious mix of archeological adventure and supernatural thriller, The Mummy built upon the success of previous horror films while establishing the legitimacy of the genre in its own right and making its own enduring contribution to the pantheon of Universal monsters.
—Nina Rao
Universal Pictures Corp. Producer: Carl Laemmle Jr. Screenwriter: John L. Balderston. Cinematographer: Charles Stumar. Editor: Milton Carruth. Cast: Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Arthur Byron, Edward Van Sloan.
35mm, b/w, 78 min.
