The Mummy (1932)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Karl Freund

Writers:

Nina Wilcox Putnam (story) and
Richard Schayer (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

22 December 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

It comes to life!

Plot:

In 1921 a field expedition in Egypt discovers the mummy of ancient Egyptian prince Im-Ho-Tep, who was condemned and buried alive for sacrilege...

Plot Keywords:

Mummy | Reincarnation | Buried Alive | Virgin | Archeology

Cast

Boris Karloff	...	Im-ho-tep / Ardath Bey
Zita Johann	...	Helen Grosvenor / Princess Anck-es-en-Amon
David Manners	...	Frank Whemple
Arthur Byron	...	Sir Joseph Whemple
Edward Van Sloan	...	Dr. Muller
Bramwell Fletcher	...	Ralph Norton
Noble Johnson	...	The Nubian
Kathryn Byron	...	Frau Muller
Leonard Mudie	...	Prof. Pearson
James Crane	...	The Pharaoh
Henry Victor	...	The Saxon warrior (scenes deleted)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arnold Gray	...	Knight (scenes deleted)
Leyland Hodgson	...	Gentleman #2 (uncredited)
Eddie Kane	...	Dr. LeBarron (uncredited)
Tony Marlow	...	Police inspector (uncredited)
C. Montague Shaw	...	Gentleman #1 (uncredited)
Pat Somerset	...	Helen's dancing partner (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey	...	Bit part (Nubian) (uncredited)

Directed by
Karl Freund

Writing credits
Nina Wilcox Putnam		(story) and
Richard Schayer		(story)
John L. Balderston		(writer)

Produced by
Carl Laemmle Jr.	....	producer
Stanley Bergerman	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
James Dietrich		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Charles J. Stumar		(as Charles Stumar)

Film Editing by
Milton Carruth

Art Direction by
Willy Pogany		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Vera West		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Jack P. Pierce	....	makeup designer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John P. Fulton	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Fred Archer	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Ray Jones	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Michel Brusselmans	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
James Dietrich	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Carl Laemmle	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1932) (USA) (theatrical)
• Realart Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Screen Gems (1957) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (1934) (Austria) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Cagliostro
Im-Ho-Tep
King of the Dead

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Arabic | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1935) | Finland:K-11 (2004) | Spain:T | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:PG | Australia:PG | Germany:12 | UK:15 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Mojave Desert, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The ring Boris Karloff uses has been in the possession of Forrest J Ackerman for many decades (he wears it).

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the scene when he is informed of the death of the museum guard, we hear Sir Joseph Whemple say hello when he picks up the phone, but we don't see his mouth move.

Quotes:

Frank Whemple: You seem to think this thing has all the devils of hell in it. Why not burn it and be done with it?
Doctor Muller: An excellent sugggestion...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The House That Freddy Built (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Beautiful Love

Karloff Walks!

THE MUMMY awakened in Egypt by English archeologists goes on a rampage searching for its reincarnated lover.

Boris Karloff dominates this little fright fest, bringing new nightmares to the screen and proving that his Frankenstein's Monster was no mere quirk, but actually the beginning of a distinguished career in shocker films. Helped immensely by makeup master Jack Pierce, who gave the Mummy face & hands like weathered parchment, Karloff uses his own saturnine features and tall thin body to full effect, creating a horror portrait that has stood the test of time.

A sturdy supporting cast gives Karloff good support: exotic Zita Johann is lovely & slightly mysterious as the woman of Imhotep's deathless desires; valiant David Manners as the young hero gives another typically fine performance; Arthur Byron & Edward Van Sloan are enjoyable as the requisite old gentlemen (every horror film must have at least one) who study & stalk the Mummy. African-American silent film star Noble Johnson appears as a sinister Nubian.

The film's best scene, the resuscitation of the Mummy, demonstrates the potential of the medium. The only indication the viewer has that something horrible is about to happen is a flicker of Karloff's eye and a slight movement of his hand as he stands in his casket, bound in bandages. The rest of the scene unfolds in the hysterical reaction of young Bramwell Fletcher (excellent performance) as he watches the undead leave the scientists' tent. All the audience sees is Karloff's hand and the trailing bandages from his feet as they drag across the floor. It is enough.