I logged onto Shudder and was looking for some background spooks while I was working. The Mummy? Perfect. Unfortunately for my deadlines, Boris Karloff and crew took my attention and I was now on a Universal adventure.
In 1920s Egypt, a British archeological expedition crew unearths the wrapped and dried-out remains of an ancient high priest, Imhotep, that was discovered to have been buried alive as opposed to the traditional mummification route — and a curse adorning the sarcophagus. Found inside is the fabled Scroll of Thoth, which when read aloud, gives life to Imhotep who then tries to reincarnate his ancient love, Princess Ankh-esen-amun. Terror ensues.
If I had to pick one Universal Monster movie that I had to watch for the rest of my life, it would be The Mummy for many reasons. Starting from the opening credits, we’re gifted an extraordinary miniature of a Sphynx spinning around to reveal the title card. Every scene from then on is a mixture of state-of-the-art makeup (by famed makeup artist Jack Pierce) to broad, expansive, and depth-defying sets of the Cairo Museum. Out of all Universal Monster movies, The Mummy is the most aesthetically pleasing by far.
I can say the same for the acting. While I certainly enjoy the bombastic Invisible Man and the suave Count Dracula, Karloff’s Imhotep — masquerading as historian Ardeth Bey — is just as grandiose as Dr. Griffin and just as sophisticatedly sexy as the Count… with the love and want of Frankenstein’s monster mixed in as well. The Mummy is special because it features something not usual in these early monster films: terror brought on by the search of love. Imhotep isn’t really trying to kill anyone for the sake of killing or gaining power, he’s trying to bring back his lost love through look-alike Helen. Yes, there are some of those themes in other movies, but this one is the main point of the film. It gives Imhotep/Ardeth Bey the sincerity and sympathy that few monsters have. Sure, we see blips from Frankenstein’s monster, but you don’t truly get the full scope of his story unless you read the books or look past the first movie.
I mentioned trying to have this as background fodder while working, but it was no use because The Mummy is just so entertaining and everything looks so good! Sure, Jack Pierce used cotton gauze and clay to create this famous wrapped corpse, but the intricacies of the wraps, every fine line and wrinkle on Bey’s face, is perfect. It’s a shame there weren’t that many close-ups; but when we do get them, they’re they cherry on top of a pyramid-shaped cake. Pair that with the winding hallways and palm-filled rooms of the museum, and you can almost feel the heat from the desert beating down on you.
I’m a Millennial, so I definitely wasn’t around to see its premiere, but The Mummy is one of the few movies that takes me back to childhood. There’s a comfort in watching black and white movies in general, but the Universal Monster films are really my first entry to horror. They’re the first movies I got to pick out myself and take home from the video rental store. The Mummy was always a first pick for me. The ease and simplicity of the film doesn’t distract from the horror, the love, and the adventure it’s showing me, and I’m so glad to see it revitalized years later for my generation (see why I love the 1999 classic here!). The Mummy is a cinematic masterpiece, and there’s no denying its impact on the hearts of its audience. I have no doubt that in 10 years when this movie has its 100th birthday, that it will be just as loved and admired as it was a century ago. It will be for me, at least.
What did you think of The Mummy? Let us know in the comments!
