Starring: Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Arthur Byron, Edward Van Sloan, Bramwell Fletcher, Kathryn Byron.
Director: Karl Freund.
I was originally gonna wait on The Mummy when doing this run through. I was planning on sticking with the big three but...well, what the hell, right? I never did see this one, either, so this is another first time for yours truly. I'm getting a real education on the Universal stable, and it's a wonderful one. I've been enjoying myself immensely. These really are amazing flicks that still actually hold up well.
After some textual prayers to Amon-Ra, we're off to Egypt to see, once again, some science guys pouring over technical stuff and having a philosophical discussion on the nature of archaeology and discussing some Mummy stuff. The young guy is super excited to go over the Mummy and all the sensational stuff, while his stuffy boss (rightly) suggests that more information gets found going over broken pottery. His younger counterpart is undeniable, though, and they pour through the Mummy's stuff to find out more about the poor sacrilegious dead dolt. Dr.Muller-again, Edward Van Sloan plays a Professor-is insistent that they not open the box because curses and such. Young guy decides to open it anyway because, well, youth.
Pro trip: Never read from ancient scrolls or books. You'll bring Boris Karloff back to life and go insane. Like, hysterical laughter insane. Like, finding Big Bang Theory actually funny kind of insane. That's a terrible show.
Karloff's makeup looks really, really uncomfortable. Imhotep (Karloff) brings our new characters to the location of another tomb-because Imhotep would know where it was considering he's magic and ancient and stuff-and then we have a cut to a bunch of workers digging the whole thing up. There's some more great set design, but also some good prop work. The museum with Egyptian artifacts and the like is actually really good looking.
Man, Karloff is great here. His performance as Imhotep is truly otherworldly, very gruff and sorrowful. There's again a sense of menace to all of it, of course, but in the end this really is just a dude who wants his Girlfriend back. Actress Zita Johann looks like a silent film actress, so I'm rather smitten with her. Big eyes, dark hair, plush lips, pronounced cheekbones, chin and nose...love that look. Apparently, she didn't do much work according to Imdb. She certainly looks exotic (maybe even a little odd looking), though, so she's very well cast.
Whemple seems like a good name for this geek. Of course, he and Helen are probably going to fall in love but...he's not the atypical heroic figure. But, hey, if a guy opens conversation with "Hey, you're part Egyptian, aren't you?" he's definitely a keeper.
My first riff of the movie: Frank says "You'll think me strange, but...when I saw her face..." I yelled "Now I'm a believer!" He goes on to say he thinks he fell in love with the Princess he unearthed...Zita gives a charming line read of "Do you often need to dig up graves to find Women to fall in love with?" Zing!
Ugh. Frank is hitting on this girl with his face inches from hers. It works, too, because that's the kind of thing that happens in these movies. She plays coy and is charming, but he's weird. Then they make out and Whemple the senior is convinced that the curse has afflicted Helen and now will kill his Son. I'm hoping for the latter but not the former. I'm shipping Imhotep and Helen hard, you guys.
Y'know, Universal Pictures seems to have a thing about Voyeurism. Dracula creeps into Women's rooms while they're sleeping, Frankenstein's Monster attacks Elizabeth in her bridle suite, Frank Talbot sees his ladyfriend across the street with a telescope and Imhotep stares at Helen as she sleeps. Monsters dig the ladies and, apparently, prefer them when they're alone and sleeping in their rooms.
Helen actually has short hair, too. Not much of that in these early Universal pictures. I just realized she looked a little bit like Betty Boop. Helen is also totally digging Imhotep. She protests when her Doctor orders her to go home-"I'm not a child!"-but she goes anyway. Interesting that the scene that follows is almost just like the confrontation between Dracula and Van Helsing: Edward Van Sloan plays coy and gets Imhotep to basically show his plan, and the pair threaten one another, and depart as enemies. Sloan definitely has a strong presence, but he was more of a match for Lugosi. Karloff towers over him with menace. He just exudes power in a way Lugosi didn't as the Count. That isn't to say Lugosi didn't exude power-far from it-it was just a far sneakier kind of power. More subversive. Karloff presents, as The Mummy at any rate, a sense of grandeur and confidence to his presence. Lugosi was like a Wizard, Karloff a warrior.
Please stop calling the guy "The Nubian." Please. I know it was probably acceptable back then but it kind of hurts today. Oh, well, can't blame it for being a product of it's time. Those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it and all.
Imhotep's robe/smoking jacket this is pretty damn suave. Helen goes to meet him...shipping these two hard. Imhotep/Helen forever. Hemhotep 4 life. Or after life. Whatever. Some cool flashbacks follow as Imhotep tells Helen his backstory. Sinned against the Gods by casting a spell to bring his Dead Girlfriend back, which is kinda romantic, really. He loved her enough to fight Gods. 'Course, he was caught and turned into a Mummy because that's how they rolled back then. It's actually pretty well done, with lavish costumes and set design that I've come to expect from these old Universal pics at this point. There's definitely craftsmanship and pageantry to spare in every frame. Karloff's ability to act with just his eyes is really something to behold. Much as he did in the closing moments of Frankenstein, Karloff shows a lot of pain and fear in his eyes as he's wrapped in bandages and sealed in a sarcophagus. Without sound, dialogue, or even a frown, Karloff can project extraordinary emotions to an audience. How can Helen resist? He went through hell for her. Well, okay, her ancestor but still. Romantic!
I really don't like Frank. At all. Leave Helen alone. Frank says he loves her after knowing her for, like, five minutes. Weirdo. Of course, now all of a sudden Helen decides she's afraid of Imhotep...damn it, Frank, you weird me out. "Now that you've asked for help, I'll never leave you again! You can come to my house!" Don't deliver those lines with that creepy smile, dude. These guys are friggin' weird. They want to keep Helen locked up "under our specific supervision." Damn. "I know I can make you love me." God damn it, Frank. I hate you so much.
Oh, please, let this be Frank's death. Please please please please...damn it, I think that amulet may have saved his life. At least Helen steps right over the creep's unconscious body. Wish she'd stepped on him. On his throat. And stood there.
Imhotep has put his Princess in Helen's body, and she looks great. Not sure why her hair grew longer but, hey, magic. "I did not love this body, it was your soul I loved." Imhotep is way better than Frank. They're a good looking couple. Can this be the end of the movie? I want them to be together. I know it's not gonna happen, though. Doctor Muller and Frank are going to save her, unfortunately...aww, Anuksunam is rejecting him. Bummer. Well, I guess it makes sense that she doesn't want to die again...but it's still kinda crummy that she doesn't like him anymore because he's dead.
Damn it, Frank is alive.
Y'know, if villains didn't get so wrapped up in theatrics, they could probably get a lot more done. Well, Helen/Anuksunam actually defeats The Mummy instead of Frank, so that's actually kinda cool. We don't see that too often in these older flicks. "Come back, it's Frank" Frank begs Helen...I riffed "Oh, Frank? No. No, I don't think I'm coming back." That turned out to be the end of the film. So, at least, Helen and Frank don't end up together.
Final Thoughts: This was all Karloff's show, and it was a wonderful show at that. Creepy hero and flimsy plot aside, it's a fun movie. It's not quite up to par with Universal's other outings, but it's worth it for Karloff's performance alone.
Final Rating: Three and a Half stars.
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