BLOOD WORK: HALLOWEEN HORROR DAYS ~ DAY 6: THE MUMMY (1959)

After the movie THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON the classic American horror films of old died out. Across the pond however another movie studio prepared to take up the reigns and ensure these classic stories and characters would live on for a new generation. HAMMER STUDIOS in London, England began an new era of horror that has since become legendary. Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and many more iconic monsters were revived and elevated to new heights of horror and onscreen violence.

THE MUMMY was among the many horror stories and monsters resurrected by Hammer Studios. Directed by the Hammer horror maestro Terence Fisher, screenplay by Jimmy Sangster, and starring screen legends Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, these men were Hammer's horror all-star team. Rather than remake the original 1932 Universal Mummy film that starred Boris Karloff as the Mummy Imhotep, Hammer decided to revisit the third Universal Mummy movie from 1942, THE MUMMY'S TOMB. The Mummy's Tomb was a separate story from Karloff's Mummy with a new cast of characters and original story following the murderous mummy Kharis.

A remake of my favorite Mummy movie and one of Hammer's best horror films.

THE PLOT

"Ananka. Lady of the two kingdoms. High priestess of the great God Karnak."

So read the hieroglyphics upon the sarcophagus in the hidden tomb. English archeologist Stephen Banning and his son John discovered the secret tomb. John remained outside, due to a broken leg, while his father stepped foot into the tomb. A blood-curdling scream rang out and John's father was found mad with fear. The excavation continued with John's father being hospitalized. Three years later Stephen Banning was murdered in an asylum in England. Then another man who helped excavate Ananka's tomb was found dead. Someone was killing everyone who desecrated the tomb. John witnessed the second murder, committed by a towering figure wrapped head to toe in bandages. John's days are numbered unless he can figure out who or what is stalking him and how to stop it.

Art by Rick Melton

THE GOOD

Classic Horror Revitalized. The films of the 1920's, 30's, and 40's are the foundation of horror cinema. Without them horror films wouldn't be what they are today. During the late 1940's and 50's these classic films lost their relevancy through some means or another. Hammer Studios injected new life into these classic tales, making them relevant again and frightening. With The Mummy Hammer didn't reinvent the wheel but what they did do was show this classic horror figure in full color and displayed the violence right in front of our eyes. Christopher Lee's striking visage as the Mummy is incredibly potent and evocative of what made audiences afraid of mummies in the first place.

The Actors. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee are film legends. The Mummy is a prime example of why. These two men carried with them so much persona and gravitas to their performances. Lee's shrouded Kharis is both frightening and powerful in this film, set against Cushing's very real unassuming heroic-type John Banning. And all the action is set against eerie locations like the asylum, Banning mansion, and the dead bog. In addition to Lee and Cushing, lead actress Yvonne Furneaux is gorgeous and enchanting as the reincarnated Princess Ananka.

THE BAD

Remade Not Reimagined. As I stated above this film is a remake of Universal Studios' The Mummy's Tomb and also story elements of the prequel THE MUMMY'S HAND (1940) and sequel THE MUMMY'S GHOST (1944). The film doesn't deviate much from the story laid out in these films. This isn't bad by any means. In fact I was delighted to see that this was the story Jimmy Sangster went with when writing the script. But when comparing this film to Hammer's two other major horror revivals, THE HORROR OF DRACULA and THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, Hammer took many more liberties with the story, making the story uniquely theirs. Here the movie is a fairly accurate remake. Again, this isn't necessarily a negative of the film but maybe a missed opportunity. It still doesn't take away from the fact this movie is solid all around.

THE VERDICT

The Mummy is a straight forward horror film done very well. The film is a solid presentation all the way through. Christopher Lee is creepy and menacing as Kharis, the reanimated homicidal mummy, and Peter Cushing delivers a convincing performance as a normal man caught in a supernatural world. The classic story of the Mummy is brought to life for the first time in full color and frightening detail. A wonderful and exciting monster movie from the golden era of Hammer Horror. If you like classic horror and mummies this is a film not be missed.

This is one of the best mummy movies ever made.

Overall Ranking: 9 out of 10

Really Good! One worth owning.

Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10