The Mummy is the third entry in Universal’s classic horror movies. It gives horror fans, the first look of Boris Karloff in a speaking role. He was not credited at the end of Frankenstein. His role as Imhotep, establishes him as a good actor. It also gave Karloff, his reputation as a screen villain. This movie also establishes a sleeker look, than previous Universal horror films. This is because of first time director, Karl Freund’s cinematography experience. He pans the pyramids of Egypt, and shows Cairo at night. His camera tricks, give the illusion of being there. Freund also shows a brilliant flashback sequence, that shows how Imhotep’s sarcophagus, was in the middle of the desert. Freund was more successful at cinematography than directing. Although he was known in Hollywood, he became famous through television. He became the cinematographer on I Love Lucy. He created a three camera technique, that revolutionized the medium. He later received an award from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for the design of a direct reading light meter.
The film shows one of the basics of most horror films. The person who should know better, doing something stupid. In this case, it is Ralph Norton, (Bramwell Fletcher). It is while the other members of the expedition are out, that he reads the scroll. He heard the other members say that it was not to be opened. He reads it aloud. This brings Imhotep to life. You only see the mummy’s hand, and trailing bandages. The next thing is Norton screaming and ranting hysterically. He has been driven insane, by what he has witnessed. This opening scene, is one of the many reasons, that Universal Studios shows why horror doesn’t have to be graphic, to be effective
The film jumps from 1921 to 1932. It is here that a mysterious man named Ardeth Bay, (Karloff), approaches the expedition. It consists of Sir Joseph Whemple, (Arthur Byron), his son, Frank, (David Manners) and Doctor Muller, (Edward Van Sloan). Bay tells the group, that he knows where the princess Anckesenamun, is buried. He takes them to the location. It is a well shot scene. It is shot from a distance, and helps to give the film its look. The body is taken to the Cairo museum, along with other artifacts. It is here where Helen Grosvenor, (Zita Johann), appears. She is the fiancee of Frank Whemple. She is also the spitting image of the dead princess. Ardeth Bay sees this, and uses the scroll, that he stole, to place Helen under his power. The movie then becomes a race between the good guys and Imhotep, to stop him from claiming Helen as his eternal bride.
The Mummy’s storyline, is a complicated one. The story is original, and not based on a book like Dracula or Frankenstein. It is similar to Dracula. A dead person wanting to make a living person his bride. David Manners is basically recreating his role in Dracula. He is the distraught lover. He relies on Doctor Muller to help rescue Helen. Edward Van Sloan, is merely playing Van Helsing as Dr. Muller. His character figures out that Imhotep and Ardeth Bay are one and the same. Dr. Muller, like Van Helsing, pledges to stop Ardeth Bay’s evil plan.
The Mummy establishes the studio as the horror film empire. This type of domination of a genre, didn’t happen for another generation. Hammer studios took up the mantle. This was mainly by remaking the black and white Universal films in color. They updated The Mummy, after successful remakes of Frankenstein and Dracula. It says a great deal about Carl Laemmle, the founder of Universal Studios. He made the horror genre his own. It was considered second rate. He made it as immortal as Dracula, Frankenstein and The Mummy.