The early sequence with the scientist alone as the mummy returns to life is one of the best done scenes of this type ever. Brilliant use of sound, lighting, and image framing. Should be studied by film students forever!
Bram Fletcher was a speaker at a high school assembly of mine, about 1975. He said it was he that suggested a script change so his character went crazy, rather than just being killed by the mummy. Not sure if I believed that, but it made for a good story. Surprisingly, he didn't mention either of his first two wives.
I gotta go with Sid Sheinberg, a remake happening in the thirties would've been a lot better than turning the material into a goofy action movie. I can't say this Mummy is scary, but I love it as a 'dark romance.'
I wish someone would do a gritty version of THE MUMMY that kept the emphasis on horror. Those Stephen Sommers Mummy films were too cartoony, and silly.
Stroheim333 No I mean in folklore they never ate flesh they are mindless slaves who act out the will of a witch doctor. Even back in the 1930's this was still the concept of a Zombie eg 'White Zombie' 1931. Flesh eating Zombies were invented by George A Romero in 1968. Although the creatures in that film were never referred to as Zombies either. Long story short saying to be a zombie involves flesh eating is like saying to be a vampire involves sparkling in the sunlight.
Steve Ward That's actually rather right, historical speaking. Not in Karl Freund's movie, but in early mummy-fiction like Arthur Conan Doyle's "Lot No. 249" where the mummy is manipulated wholly by a "witch doctor" (one of the stories that inspired Freund's movie; another story with bigger impact was Doyle's "The Ring of Thoth"). When Hammer made a remake of "The Mummy" 1959 they went very close to "Lot No. 249" by Doyle, otherwise known for his Sherlock Holmes-stories.
I guess that Freund had elaborate camera set ups and movement sketched out for DRACULA, but Browning didn't utilize any of it, for whatever reasons. George Robinson, who photographed the Spanish version, DID end up using many of Freund's set ups.
That's very ineresting. I think Tod Browning is overrated, with the exception of Freaks. He was before his time in many silent movies, but was mediocre in the 30's.
Why the ladies hair do, Joe Danty? Weird--only because you have gone out of your way to have this hair style. People with money don't get honest feedback from their so called friends.
A Joe Dante remake of The Mummy would've been lots pure than the Sommers 1999 film, I remember reading John Sayles's script of it, it was a really true remake, but very contemporary.
The early sequence with the scientist alone as the mummy returns to life is one of the best done scenes of this type ever. Brilliant use of sound, lighting, and image framing. Should be studied by film students forever!
Bram Fletcher was a speaker at a high school assembly of mine, about 1975. He said it was he that suggested a script change so his character went crazy, rather than just being killed by the mummy. Not sure if I believed that, but it made for a good story. Surprisingly, he didn't mention either of his first two wives.
One of the best performances Karloff ever gave after Frankenstein in 1931.
One of the true classic of golden age horror
I would So Love to see a Joe Dante and Spielberg Mummy Movie - How great would that have been ?
The resuscitation is the best scene. :-P
I gotta go with Sid Sheinberg, a remake happening in the thirties would've been a lot better than turning the material into a goofy action movie. I can't say this Mummy is scary, but I love it as a 'dark romance.'
Have always felt Karloff's performance in this should have gotten an Academy Award nomination. He's so dead....
I wish someone would do a gritty version of THE MUMMY that kept the emphasis on horror. Those Stephen Sommers Mummy films were too cartoony, and silly.
Wouldn't the Mummy actually qualify as a zombie?
Only a kind of living dead. The mummy isn't flesh-eating and the victims doesn't become living dead themselves.
Stroheim333 Zombie's shouldn't really eat flesh anyway.
No, they should be nice and harmless. Better for the humanity.
Stroheim333 No I mean in folklore they never ate flesh they are mindless slaves who act out the will of a witch doctor. Even back in the 1930's this was still the concept of a Zombie eg 'White Zombie' 1931. Flesh eating Zombies were invented by George A Romero in 1968. Although the creatures in that film were never referred to as Zombies either.
Long story short saying to be a zombie involves flesh eating is like saying to be a vampire involves sparkling in the sunlight.
Steve Ward That's actually rather right, historical speaking. Not in Karl Freund's movie, but in early mummy-fiction like Arthur Conan Doyle's "Lot No. 249" where the mummy is manipulated wholly by a "witch doctor" (one of the stories that inspired Freund's movie; another story with bigger impact was Doyle's "The Ring of Thoth"). When Hammer made a remake of "The Mummy" 1959 they went very close to "Lot No. 249" by Doyle, otherwise known for his Sherlock Holmes-stories.
Karl Freund should have direct Dracula instead of the old fashioned, silent movie director Tod Browning.
I guess that Freund had elaborate camera set ups and movement sketched out for DRACULA, but Browning didn't utilize any of it, for whatever reasons. George Robinson, who photographed the Spanish version, DID end up using many of Freund's set ups.
That's very ineresting. I think Tod Browning is overrated, with the exception of Freaks. He was before his time in many silent movies, but was mediocre in the 30's.
He did direct portions of Dracula, because Browning was too drunk at times to work. So goes the legend, anyway.
Why the ladies hair do, Joe Danty? Weird--only because you have gone out of your way to have this hair style. People with money don't get honest feedback from their so called friends.
Just checked the DVD out from our local library. Just need the popcorn.
A Joe Dante remake of The Mummy would've been lots pure than the Sommers 1999 film, I remember reading John Sayles's script of it, it was a really true remake, but very contemporary.
How old is this guy? He looks great for however age he is.
I still haven't seen this movie. So much film, so little time.