This was the first of the 4 Universal Mummy follow-ups to the original in 1932 with Karloff. Of a 65 minute film the first 10 are taken up with flashback recaps of this and a long winded transfer of High Priest power ceremony to Zucco. The next 10 are mainly comedy bordering on slapstick from Foran, Ford & Kellaway, and the introduction of the damsel to be in distress Moran. Pretty short film, eh?
But the various components including the set design and music hold together very well to result in an enjoyable film that you can applaud and ridicule at the same time. The first time you ever see the Mummy turning and "staring" at you it can be unsettling but after the fourth time the shot was used you shouldn't flinch an inch. I wonder if Foran would have cut the mustard in the 1999 remake: he's very chunky and pedestrian in comparison with Fraser, but I do prefer my heroines less like Weisz. Not to mention my films without brutal senseless violence! To me that's a plus - you can't imagine anything horrible really happening to our fearless four, but maybe any atmosphere would have been ruined if Foran had gone too far being pleasant and burst into song trekking to the Tomb They Never Found!
Along with The cat and the canary, one of George Zucco's finest performances, beautifully slimy and sinister throughout.
But the various components including the set design and music hold together very well to result in an enjoyable film that you can applaud and ridicule at the same time. The first time you ever see the Mummy turning and "staring" at you it can be unsettling but after the fourth time the shot was used you shouldn't flinch an inch. I wonder if Foran would have cut the mustard in the 1999 remake: he's very chunky and pedestrian in comparison with Fraser, but I do prefer my heroines less like Weisz. Not to mention my films without brutal senseless violence! To me that's a plus - you can't imagine anything horrible really happening to our fearless four, but maybe any atmosphere would have been ruined if Foran had gone too far being pleasant and burst into song trekking to the Tomb They Never Found!
Along with The cat and the canary, one of George Zucco's finest performances, beautifully slimy and sinister throughout.