The Mummy (1932)

In 1921 a team of British archaeologists led by Sir Joseph Whemple uncovers the 3700 year old mummy of Imhotep (Boris Karloff) who was condemned and buried alive for sacrilege. When one young archaeologist opens the scroll of Thoth, he goes insane and the Mummy comes to life. 10 years later Sir Joseph returns with his son Frank. Unknown to them, the Mummy now exists as the mysterious Egyptian, Ardath Bay, who helps the expedition uncover the tomb of his ancient love. He then uses his mystic powers to mesmerize Helen Grosvenor, the reincarnation of his lost love. When Sir Joseph interferes he mysteriously dies. Frank Whemple, with the help of Dr. Muller, attempts to discover the key to Ardath Bay's powers and get Helen back. Hilarity ensues.

Trivia: 'Ardath Bey' (the name Imhotep assumes after his exhumation) is an anagram of 'Death by Ra' (Ra is the Egyptian sun-god). Boris Karloff based his mummy on that of Ramses III and spent eight hours putting on his makeup. The film's poster holds the record for the most money paid for a movie poster at auction: more than $453,500. Boris Karloff was virtually unknown when he appeared as the creature in Frankenstein (1931). He created such a sensation that when this was made, only a year later, Universal only had to advertise "KARLOFF....'The Mummy'." The flashback scenes in ancient Egypt were designed to resemble a silent film, with no dialog, exaggerated make-up and gestures, and a faster camera speed, to suggest the great antiquity of the events portrayed. This is the only Universal monster of the time without a fictional antecedent. Large segments of the movie are scene-by-scene parallels of the movie Dracula (1931).

Another day, another classic. And one that defies the stereotypes of today. Today when you think of mummy movies you think of a tall mute man wrapped in bandages from head to toe, walking really slowly, dragging a foot behind with a deformed arm. In this movie you only see Karloff wrapped in the bandages for less then a minute, and you only see a close up of his head and arm down to his chest. After that he appears as an articulate, if wrinkled, old Egyptian man. The story becomes a twisted love story with Imhotep trying to revive his lost love, and the reason he was buried alive and condemned. She has been reincarnated as a British woman, who just happens to be living in Egypt. Good movie and good story, even if it parallels the twisted love story in Dracula where the Count falls in love with a young woman. I feel really sorry for David Manners though. Why you ask? Well, David Manners (as Johnathon Harker) is in love with Mina, who is coveted by Dracula, then one year later he (as Frank Whemple) falls in love with Helen Grosvenor, who is coveted by Imhotep. Talk about unlucky in love!