Blood from the Mummy's Tomb is out of Hammer Film Productions and is directed by Seth Holt. It's adapted for the screen by Christopher Wickling from the novel The Jewel of Seven Stars written by Bram Stoker. It stars Valerie Leon, Andrew Keir, Mark Edwards, James Villiers, Hugh Burden and Aubrey Morris. Music is by Tristram Cary and photography Arthur Grant. Plot sees Egyptologist's unearth the tomb of evil Queen Tera and quickly find themselves up to their necks in death and reincarnation nastiness.
Released as the support feature to Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde, Blood from the Mummy's Tomb became notable for its troubled production. Peter Cushing was cast as Julian Fuchs but after only one day's filming had to leave the production to be with his gravely ill wife. The part was filled by Andrew Keir. Tragedy struck the production with only one week of filming left, when director Seth Holt died on set of a heart attack, he was 48 years old. Michael Carreras (The Curse of Frankenstein/The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb) came in and took control for the last week of filming. Budgeted at just £200,000 the film was not made at the usual Hammer Studio in Bray, but at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire.
In spite of its production problems and wee budget, this fourth Mummy offering from Hammer is surprisingly good fun. It doesn't boast the great sets that the others had, and no star wattage in the cast to grab the attention of the passer by, but it's nicely polished, well acted and has a good source story to work from. The horror elements are a little tame, yet this is offset by tight atmospherics and a dream like sense of dread that pervades the unfolding story. Nothing wrong with the acting either. Leon is one of Hammer Horror's most sensual actress' and she holds her end up well in the drama stakes too. True, the guys around her are literally playing second fiddle to her flighty, smouldering performance, but all the cogs fit where they should to keep the film totally professional.
One of Hammer's better late efforts, where the familiarity of the "revenge from the grave" plot is given impetus by good writing and smart acting performances. 6.5/10
Released as the support feature to Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde, Blood from the Mummy's Tomb became notable for its troubled production. Peter Cushing was cast as Julian Fuchs but after only one day's filming had to leave the production to be with his gravely ill wife. The part was filled by Andrew Keir. Tragedy struck the production with only one week of filming left, when director Seth Holt died on set of a heart attack, he was 48 years old. Michael Carreras (The Curse of Frankenstein/The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb) came in and took control for the last week of filming. Budgeted at just £200,000 the film was not made at the usual Hammer Studio in Bray, but at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire.
In spite of its production problems and wee budget, this fourth Mummy offering from Hammer is surprisingly good fun. It doesn't boast the great sets that the others had, and no star wattage in the cast to grab the attention of the passer by, but it's nicely polished, well acted and has a good source story to work from. The horror elements are a little tame, yet this is offset by tight atmospherics and a dream like sense of dread that pervades the unfolding story. Nothing wrong with the acting either. Leon is one of Hammer Horror's most sensual actress' and she holds her end up well in the drama stakes too. True, the guys around her are literally playing second fiddle to her flighty, smouldering performance, but all the cogs fit where they should to keep the film totally professional.
One of Hammer's better late efforts, where the familiarity of the "revenge from the grave" plot is given impetus by good writing and smart acting performances. 6.5/10