Eager to capitalise on the success
of "Frankenstien" and "Dracula", Universal Pictures hastily commissioned another horror film
adaptatiom. But this time, rather than adapting an existing novel or play, the writers decided to come up with an
"original" idea (well, sort of) based on the legend of Tutankhamun.
Set in Egypt, a group of archaeologists from the British museum have unearthed a sarcophagus containing the extremely well preserved Mummy of Egyptian priest Im-Ho-Tep (Boris Karloff), along with a number of other artefacts. One of the group unwisely decides to ignore the warnings on the case and reads aloud from some ancient scroll within (you can see where this is leading) and the next thing we know, the Mummy has left it's box and gone walkies...
Sometime afterwards, the group are approached by an Egyptian scholar, Ardath Bey (Boris Karloff again), who informs them where they may find another tomb. However, it seems Ardath isn't really out to help them and has taken an unhealthy interest in young Helen Grosvener (Zita Johann), the daughter of a prominent English governor, who one of the archaeologists has befriended.
It seems she bares an uncanny resemblance to an ancient Egyptian princess, and Bey (who, if you hadn't figured it out by now, is actually the resurrected Im-Ho-Tep) wants her for his own nefarious ends, unless Dr Mueller (Edward Von Sloan) and fellow archaeologist Frank Whempole can stop him...
Released in 1932, the year after "Frankenstein", this is another one of Universal's "classic" B&W monster movies. However, don't expect to see much of Karloff walking around in bandages, as aside from the opening scene of him in the sarcophagus, he spends most of the film disguised as an Egyptian, wearing arab robes and a fez. If you enjoyed "Frankenstein" you should enjoy this, but if your idea of a good "Mummy" movie is that god-awful CGI-turdfest from 1999, then this won't be your thing.
