BLOOD WORK: HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 10: THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB (1964)

The Mummy was one of the 1950's Hammer horror films that helped establish Hammer as a major studio, along with The Curse of Frankenstein and The Horror of Dracula. These filmmakers and actors breathed new life into these classic stories and characters, resurrecting them for a new era and a new generation. They reinvented many classics such as Dr. Jekyll (THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL), THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, a werewolf film, a film about one of the Gorgons, and many more.

Hammer Studios were in full swing by 1964. Their horror film output was still going strong and they were also producing a wide variety of other genre films as well including such classics like ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. and SHE. Their bread and butter was still Frankenstein and Dracula though. The Curse of Frankenstein and The Horror of Dracula both spawned major franchises for the studio. There were very few franchises beside Frankenstein and Dracula. THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB marks the second film in the Mummy franchise, five years after the original, two sequels behind Frankenstein, and one sequel behind Dracula.

Directed by Michael Carreras, son of Hammer Films founder James Carreras, the second Mummy film took a different approach than its predecessor but still maintained the same esthetics that made the original so potent.

THE PLOT

The year is1900. A group of archeologists led by Professor Eugene Dubois uncover the lost tomb of the Egyptian Prince Ra-Antef. Professor Dubois is brutally murdered by brigands forcing the rest of the team to pack up the findings and return to Cairo. The financier of the dig, a showman by the name of Alexander King, decides to turn the findings of the tomb into a traveling sideshow, the mummified body of Prince Ra-Antef on display for all to see. King's rampant disrespect of Prince Ra-Antef unleashes a curse upon all of those responsible. A 2,000 year old mummy rises from the sarcophagus, his sole purpose: to kill all those who have desecrated his tomb.

WHAT I LIKED

A New Mummy For A New Film. First off, I love Mummy movies. I especially enjoy the old Mummy movies where a bandaged wrapped reanimated corpse is shambling about wreaking havoc. So really I am an easy sell on these classic films. With this second Mummy film, rather than resurrect Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing's characters for a third franchise, Hammer showed audiences another Mummy, Ra-Antef. It makes sense given many Egyptian tombs were being discovered at the time, not just one. Ra-Antef, played by Dickie Owen, looms larger than Christopher Lee and more imposing in stature. This Mummy is just as coldblooded and has a frightening "Darth Vader" like respiration. The set dressing and staging of Ra-Antef when he first appears to kill Alexander King is one of the best shots in the whole film, eerie and powerful. Ra-Antef is a well done menacing monster.

Exhibition and Desecration. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this film is its story angle. When King Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered the contents, including the mummy, were put on display. In effect, a person's final resting place became a sideshow for people to come gawk at. Now, while it does supply modern man with a view into the past and tells us much about history, it's also a person and their grave. How would you like it if a deceased loved one was dug up and paraded about for all to see? There are two opposing views to what was done to King Tut, the latter being that respecting and honoring the dead is paramount and an exhibition of the deceased is sacrilege. Very few Mummy films have broached this subject. It's a seldom seen story based on what really happened to many discoveries, becoming sideshows for people's curiosity. Horror films have always been fertile grounds for social and political commentary and Director Michael Carreras makes use of it here.

And the Gore. Movies from this era don't typically contain blood or gore. One of the aspects of Hammer's films that was so potent at the time was that they showed blood, body parts, and violence. This film is no exception. The film opens with Professor Dubois being stabbed in the gut and having his hand chopped off. It's a potent beginning that sets a strong tone for the film.

NITPICKS

Curse of the Shambling Movie. While I do love this movie it does have a big section where it drags. Between when the characters leave Egypt to when the Mummy finally appears the movie slows to a crawl. When the movie gets going again it's fine but there's about a half hour section where one has to tough it out. This pacing issue really hurts the film as it takes a long time to get going again. And then, at certain angles, it appears like the Mummy has a beer gut! It's strange to see and kinda funny. You can only notice it a shot or two but still. I guess during the mummification process the Egyptian priests forgot to disembowel Ra-Antef and place the organs in jars. Oh well.

THE VERDICT

The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb showcases a brand new cast of characters, albeit with a familiar face in actor George Pastell playing a similar role as he did in the original 1959 Hammer Mummy film. And a new and frightening mummy in Prince Ra-Antef. The film takes a different approach to the story slipping in a little social commentary at the same time. Unfortunately the film takes a turn in the middle and slows to a crawl. Once it gets moving again everything evens out but the slow section is so bloody long. In my opinion this is the low point of the Hammer Mummy films but by no means a bad film. If you love the classic Mummy movies like I do this is a good one, just remember to have some caffine or snacks for that midsection.

Overall Ranking: 5 out of 10

(Good. Average)

Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10