The Mummy

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This is another of the those universal films that I remember so little about, that it feels like I'm getting to re-watch it for the first time. The Mummy from 1932 stars the legendary Boris Karloff, as the titular Mummy. I always remember Karloff best from Frankenstein and often forget that he was also The Mummy, Imhotep. Unlike in Frankenstein Karloff actually gets to talk and he really shines. This is helped due to the relatively small amount of time that Karloff spends in the Mummy make-up, which to eight hours a day to put on. Most of the film he's a slightly rejuvenated form of himself and goes by the name Ardath Bey. After watching this film, I was surprised how faithful the 1999 remake was. Sure it was a lot more action adventure, but …show more content…
Sir Whemple invites his friend Dr. Muller (Edward Van Sloan) to come and assist with the find. While inspecting the mummy Dr. Muller notices that his viscera hasn't been removed, leading the discovery that the mummy was punished by being buried alive, given a nameless funeral and most of all is cursed. Along with the sarcophagus, they also found a gold chest that contains a sealed box warning against opening it. Dr. Muller unable to go on with this heresy leaves. Sir Whemple follows him and while the the two talk outside about said heresy Norton opens the box finding a scroll. As he reads from the scroll the mummy returns to life and takes the scroll from Norton, who is driven insane by the occurrence. When Sir Whemple returns he discovers Norton mad and the mummy missing. Years later Sir Whemple son Frank (David Manners) and his friend Professor Pearson (Leonard Mudie) are on packing up their lack luster findings from the latest expedition when …show more content…
Boris Karloff delivers what I currently feel is best performance, the fact he joined by veteran Edward Van Sloan only pushes the film further into extraordinary. There's something to be said for Zita Johann, who delivers a decent if slightly less than memorable performance, given the level of animosity she and director