Movie Review – The Mummy (1932)

The ancient history of Egypt and the pyramids of Giza have always been an area of mystery and fascination.

It’s also been an area involving the curse of the pharaohs and death to those who would dare rob the tombs or disturb the mummified remains.

That’s the basis for 1932′s horror film, The Mummy.  Primarily set in 1932, The Mummy tells a tale of archaeologists discovering the mummified remains of an Egyptian priest.  One of the archaeologists reads from a forbidden scroll and the mummy comes back to life.  The mummy takes a human form and seeks the reincarnation of his love from thousands of years ago.  When he finds this person, he intends on killing her and then resurrecting her from the dead so the two of them can live forever.

Directed by legendary Hollywood director and cinematographer Karl Freund, and produced by Carl Laemmle, Jr., The Mummy stars Boris Karloff in the roles of Imhotep and Ardath Bey.  Co-starring in the film are Zita Johann as Helen Grosvenor and Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon and David Manners as her boyfriend Frank Whemple.

Supporting them are Arthur Byron as Sir Joseph Whemple, Edward Van Sloan as Dr. Muller, Bramwell Fletcher as Ralph Norton, and Leonard Mudie as Professor Pearson.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

The Mummy begins with informing us about the Scroll of Thoth, an ancient ritual used to restore life to the recently deceased.

The film then jumps to 1921 and a field expedition by the British Museum.

Three archaeologists, Sir Joseph Whemple (Arthur Byron), Dr. Muller (Edward Van Sloan), and Ralph Norton (Bramwell Fletcher), have recently discovered an Egyptian mummy along with a mysterious box.  What’s odd is that this mummy doesn’t look like the other mummies that have been discovered, almost as if he died a horrible death.  Evidence suggests that whomever was mummified was actually buried alive.

An inscription on the interior of the sarcophagus mentions that the mummy is a high priest named Imhotep.  The men also notice that the sacred spells that normally protect the deceased people in the land of the dead have been removed.  Imhotep was not only sentenced to death in this world but also the next one.  Perhaps Imhotep was a little too friendly with a princess of a reigning pharaoh.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Ralph Norton suspects that the answer behind Imhotep’s remains is found in the mysterious box that was discovered with the mummy.  The outside of the box warns that death will come to anybody who opens the casket.  It’s a curse!  Sir Joseph Whemple still wants to open the casket, but Dr. Muller says otherwise.  He takes Whemple outside to explain why it’s such a bad idea to disregard Amon-Ra’s warning.

Outside the tomb, Sir Joseph explains that he believes that the casket might contain the Scroll of Thoth, one of the holiest documents from ancient Egypt.  Dr. Muller warns him that the spells from ancient times may still be potent today.  He advises Sir Joseph to return the casket to its spot in the tomb and re-bury it, forgetting that they discovered the casket.  Sir Joseph insists on opening the casket in the name of science and for the British Museum, even if the curse exists.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Ralph returns to his cataloging, but the temptation to open the casket is just too great.  He opens the casket and, sure enough, there lies the Scroll of Thoth.  He translates and reads aloud from the scroll.  Doing so brings Imhotep (Boris Karloff) back to life.  The mummy slowly opens his eyes and lowers his bandaged arms.  We then see his hand reach out and take the Scroll of Thoth.

Ralph Norton is startled by the mummy.  He lets out a scream when he sees the creature.  Ralph then loses his mind and becomes hysterical as the mummy slowly shuffles out of the tomb.  By the time that Sir Joseph comes to Ralph’s aid it’s too late.  The mummy has disappeared.  Ralph laughs while saying, “He went for a little walk!  You should have seen his face!”

Fast forward to 1932.

Once again the British Museum has a field expedition in the Egyptian desert.  Frank Whemple (David Manners), the son of Sir Joseph Whemple, is now an archaeologist and is joined by Professor Pearson (Leonard Mudie).

This year the expedition has not found anything of value.  Apart from a few beads and some rather insignificant items, they have yet to find any tombs, mummies, or anything of large value.  It looks like this year’s digging is going to be a financial loss for the British Museum.

When they talk about the ill-fated field expedition of 1921, Pearson reveals that Ralph Norton later died while still being insane.  He must have seen something truly terrifying.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

There’s a knock on the door and in enters an Egyptian named Ardath Bey (Boris Karloff).  He knows that the expedition has not been a success.  Out of the blue he gives Pearson the location of a buried tomb.  When asked why he’s doing such a favor, Ardath Bey simply replies that as Egyptians, they are not permitted to dig up the dead.  If his information is correct, then they will be able to find the tomb of Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Ardath Bey leads the men about 100 yards into the desert.  After much digging the crew discovers the entrance to a tomb.  Sure enough, it’s for Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon.  The tomb is still sealed since the princess was laid to rest by the priest, some 3,700 years ago.

It’s an incredible discovery for the field expedition.

All of the artifacts are removed from the tomb and laid out in the Cairo Museum.  When Ardath Bey visits the museum, he stares fondly at the mummified body of the princess.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Meanwhile, at a lavish party, Helen Grosvenor (Zita Johann) stares out a window and gazes at the pyramids not too far away.  She’s joined at the window by Dr. Muller.  She tells the doctor how fond she is of the ancient Egypt and her contempt for the modern world.  Apparently Helen has Egyptian blood in her dating for many generations.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Inside the Cairo Museum, Ardath Bey lights a candle and chants a spell from the Scroll of Thoth.  Over at the party, we see Helen suddenly shift into a trance.  She gets her fur coat and hails a cab.  Inside the cab we see Helen chanting along with Ardath Bey over at the Cairo Museum.  She arrives and tries to gain access to the museum, but it’s closed and lock.  Helen then collapses and Frank Whemple returns her to his residence.

At his place, Frank and his father listen to an unconscious Helen continue to call for Imhotep, an ancient Egyptian priest that has been dead for thousands of years.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

By the time that Dr. Muller arrives at the Whemple residence, Helen has regained conscious.  She has no idea how she arrived there or what happened earlier that evening.  Frank informs her that he and his father brought her there after she fainted.

Frank then tells Helen about how his team discovered Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon’s tomb and how they found all of the artifacts untouched after all of these years.  He then mentions that after unwrapping the dead princess’s bandages, that he began falling in love with her face.  Frank then discovers that the reason he fell in love with Ankh-es-en-Amon’s face was because of its striking similarity to Helen.

Meanwhile, Sir Joseph takes Dr. Muller into his study and tells him that when Helen was unconscious after visiting the Cairo Museum, she continually mentioned the name Imhotep.  He also tells Dr. Muller that Ardath Bey was discovered inside of the museum just before closing time.  He was looking at the mummy.  Their meeting comes to a halt when Sir Joseph receives a phone call.  One of the museum’s guards has been found dead.

When Sir Joseph and Dr. Muller arrive at the Cairo Museum, they’re told that the murdered guard was probably in the act of catching a thief.  Nothing of value was noted as being missing, but on the dead man’s body is the Scroll of Thoth.

The two men return to Whemple’s residence with the Scroll of Thoth.  When they enter the room they discover Helen and Frank embracing each other on the couch.  Sir Joseph becomes concerned that Helen is also being affected by the curse, and through her the curse will also strike his son.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Frank is asked to join his father and Dr. Muller in Sir Joseph’s study.

Dr. Muller believes that Imhotep was alive when the mummy in the museum was allegedly murdered in the temple some 3,700 years ago.  Ralph Norton went insane after transcribing part of the Scroll of Thoth.  It’s also noted that the mummy of Imhotep is still missing.  Could it be possible that Imhotep is still searching for something, perhaps something related to Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon?

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Meanwhile, Ardath Bey visits Whemple’s residence.  He hypnotizes and places the house’s servant (Noble Johnson) under his command.  He then approaches the sleeping Helen and looks down at her in amazement.  It’s like he recognizes her from some point in his past.

When Helen awakens, she’s not terrified of the man.  She stands and the two of them introduce each other, though it’s hinted that they already have some sort of a connection.  Ardath asks Helen if they have met before, but Helen does not believe so.  He does get her to admit that she has Egyptian blood.

In the study, Dr. Muller is firm in his decision that Sir Joseph must burn the Scroll of Thoth.  Sir Joseph counters by telling him that the scroll is the Cairo Museum’s property, not his.  When Frank discovers that Ardath Bey is inside of their residence, Sir Joseph quickly hides the scroll.

The men enter the living room and greet Ardath Bey.  It’s clear that Ardath is focusing his powers on Helen.  He knows that there’s more to her history than she knows.  Sir Joseph mentions there was a tragedy at the museum, and Helen asks if it happened when she was there.  Ardath Bey takes interest in her statement of being at the museum.

Dr. Muller breaks the conversation and insists that Helen return to her hotel to rest.  Helen refuses and states that she has never felt more alive.  Dr. Muller finally convinces her to leave.  Before departing, Helen, still gazing upwards to Ardath Bey, says that she needs to see him again.

After Frank and Helen leave, Dr. Muller confronts Ardath Bey with a partial transcription of the Scroll of Thoth.  Ardath claims that he doesn’t understand the writing as it predated the time period from which Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon lived.  Muller then states that the scroll and mummified body of Imhotep were both stolen ten years ago.

Dr. Muller shows Ardath Bey a photograph of Imhotep’s mummified remains.  He then asks Ardath if it’s possible for the mummy to have been restored to life by the powers of the scroll.  Ardath proclaims that he purchased the Scroll of Thoth from a dealer, and the scroll is there in the house, probably inside of the study.  He tries to cast a spell on Sir Joseph, but Dr. Muller interrupts him and tells Ardath that the scroll will be destroyed to make sure that no harm comes to it.

By now Dr. Muller knows that Ardath Bey is the re-incarnated form of Imhotep.  He’s surprised though when Ardath mentions that the house servant, the Nubian, is his personal slave.  Muller sees the ancient connection between the Egyptians and the Nubians, and their enslavement.  He wants to attack Ardath but the Egyptian’s power is too strong.  Ardath then leaves the residence after informing Sir Joseph to give the scroll to the Nubian.

After Ardath Bey leaves, Dr. Muller requests that Sir Joseph burns the scroll.  That’s all the proof that he needs that the scroll controls evil and Ardath Bey is really Imhotep brought back to life.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Later that evening, Sir Joseph tries to burn the Scroll of Thoth.  However, at the Cairo Museum, Ardath Bey watches Sir Joseph through a magical pond.  He then uses his power to give Sir Joseph a massive heart attack.  The old man quickly dies before he can burn the scroll.  The hypnotized Nubian then enters the study and swaps a stack of paper for the Scroll of Thoth.  Those papers are then burned in the fireplace, making it look like the scroll itself has been destroyed.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

After the death of Sir Joseph, Dr. Muller presents Frank Whemple with a pendant shaped like the goddess Isis, the Egyptian symbol of life.  Frank is still upset with his father’s death and doesn’t want to hear about Isis or Muller’s theories.  He believes that it was a simple case of heart failure that killed his father.  As far as the Nubian, the only reason he’s missing is that he was frightened of Sir Joseph’s death and simply ran away.  Frank is sure that he’ll return soon.  He doesn’t want to believe that Ardath Bey is the resurrected form of Imhotep, either.

While en-route to Helen’s hotel, Dr. Muller analyzes a sample of the burned parchment from the fireplace.  He discovers that Sir Joseph did NOT burn the Scroll of Thoth.  The ashes in the fireplace were that of a newspaper and not papyrus.  Now Frank is convinced that his father’s death was a murder, and the culprit must be the Nubian.  Mueller gives Frank the Isis pendant and explains that he needs to wear it as Ardath Bey will try to harm him next, and not Helen.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Meanwhile, Helen is out walking through a marketplace when Ardath Bey uses his mental powers to hypnotize her again.  She goes into a trance and makes her way to Ardath Bey’s residence.  He allows her to enter and she remarks about how all of the decorations are from ancient Egypt.  There’s nothing modern.

When Ardath Bey asks Helen if anything looks familiar, she tells him no.  He tells her that everything in the room dates back to their forefathers.  He’s going to show here some visions that will help unlock ancient memories that are still trapped within her body.

The pool of water comes to life and Helen is able to view scenes from 3,700 years ago.

The scenes show the high priest Imhotep (Boris Karloff) as he stays by the bedside of Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon (Zita Johann).  The two of them love each other, but the princess is dying.  There’s nothing that can be done to save her life.

Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon dies and her casket is carried into a tomb. The pharaoh bids his daughter farewell.  Some time later, Imhotep sneaks into the tomb and steals the Scroll of Thoth.  The statue of Isis is not pleased with his actions, but he still does it anyway.  Imhotep goes to Ankh-es-en-Amon’s tomb and tries to use the scroll to resurrect the woman.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Before he can complete the process, Imhotep is caught by the guards.  The pharaoh condemns Imhotep to suffer “the Nameless Death.”  It’s a rather horrific process where Imhotep is wrapped in bandages and buried alive.  The spells that help protect the soul in the next world are chiseled off of his sarcophagus.

After the sarcophagus and the Scroll of Thoth are buried together in a secret location, all of the slaves who helped buried him are killed.  Then the guards who killed the slaves are also killed, ensuring that nobody alive knows about Imhotep’s secret grave.

Once the scenes from ancient Egypt are finished, Ardath Bey proclaims his love to Helen, the woman he believes is the reincarnated version of Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon.  Before he can kill her and then resurrect her spirit so that she can live forever with Imhotep, Ardath Bey tells her that he needs to kill Frank Whemple.  He knows that Frank loves the woman, and as long as she loves him back, then Ardath Bey cannot capture her full spirit.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

When Helen returns to her hotel room, Frank Whemple is there waiting for the woman.  She acts rather cold to him and tells him that she was out getting some fresh air.  She also doesn’t like always being watched.  When Frank asks about the dog that Helen took with her, she claims that the dog was killed.  How or where that happened, she doesn’t remember.

Helen becomes frightened and begs for Frank not to let her leave and be with Ardath Bey again.  She knows that somehow she’ll try to be with the man, but with him there is evil, suffering and death.  Helen is afraid of what will happen next with Ardath Bey.

Helen’s fear is correct.

Suddenly the woman has grown weak and must remain in her bed.  A nurse and Dr. Muller’s wife help watch over the woman.  Helen also has fits where she demands to get dressed and go visit Ardath Bey, but the nurse prevents her from leaving the room.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Helen finally leaves the room and is visited by Frank and Dr. Muller.  Muller knows that Helen is weak and the temptations by Ardath Bey are just too strong.  As soon as she stops fighting his spells, then Ardath will return Helen’s strength so that she can go visit him again.  Dr. Muller tells Helen to do just that.

Frank confronts Dr. Muller in the hallway to have him explain himself.  Muller admits that Ardath Bey is too strong and he cannot fight him.  Their best option is to allow Helen to see the man, and he and Frank will follow Helen.  Once they learn of Ardath Bey’s secret hiding spot they’ll be able to fight him.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

That night, after the nurse puts Helen to bed, Frank takes off the Isis pendant and hangs it on Helen’s doorknob.  As soon as he removes it from himself, Ardath Bey uses his powers to try to kill Frank.  He collapses to the floor in front of Helen’s door.  Ardath Bey then uses his powers to command Helen to leave the hotel and join him at the museum.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Inside the Cairo Museum, Helen discovers that she’s now dressed as Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon.  She recognizes furniture from her past life, and she’s also aware that she is no longer in her father’s (the pharaoh) temple.  She looks at Ardath Bey and recognizes him as Imhotep.  She is in awe of how much he has suffered over the past 3,700 years, all in the name of love for herself.

Imhotep informs Ankh-es-en-Amon that her soul is in a mortal body.  It’s part of a process that has continued for thousands of years.  Ankh-es-en-Amon doesn’t believe this until Imhotep shows her the sarcophagus on display in the museum.  The body resting in the casket is merely an empty shell.  Her spirit still lives today in the body of a mortal.

Imhotep then breaks the glass display and removes the mummified body that was lying in the casket.  It’s placed inside of a fireplace and burned.  Ankh-es-en-Amon is then taken to an embalming room and an altar by a statue of the god Anubis.  Suddenly Ankh-es-en-Amon realizes that Imhotep intends on killing her so that she’ll be able to live forever.  She knows that she is still “alive” and Imhotep is dead.  He belongs in the underworld.  Their love cannot continue to last.

Ankh-es-en-Amon tries to flee the room but the Nubian stops her.  She begs for the Nubian to save her life.  He reconsiders it until Imhotep raises his ring and the Nubian cowers away in fear.  That same ring places Ankh-es-en-Amon into a trance and she no longer fears Imhotep.  She lies down on the altar and allows for Imhotep to proceed with his ceremony to give her eternal life.

Back at the hotel, Dr. Muller discovers Frank lying on the floor by Helen’s room.  Thankfully he’s still alive.  Frank wakes and listens as Dr. Muller tells him that Helen is missing and Ardath Bey is going to kill the woman and make her immortal like himself.  They race off to the Cairo Museum to try to save Helen’s life.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Back at the museum, Imhotep takes the stone dagger and prepares to kill the body carrying Ankh-es-en-Amon’s spirit.  Frank and Dr. Muller enter the museum.  Just as Imhotep is about to cut into Helen’s body, he hears the men calling her name.  Helen hears them as well and she begins to stir, awakening from Imhotep’s trance.

The Mummy (1932) – (c) Universal Studios

Still retaining her memories, Helen quickly gets off the altar and prays to the statue of Isis, begging the goddess for forgiveness.  Frank and Dr. Muller enter the room, but Imhotep stops them with the magical power from his ring.  He then turns and prepares to kill Helen when Isis answers Helen’s calls for help.

The stone goddess raises its arm and shoots a powerful beam of light at the Scroll of Thoth.  The scroll quickly catches fire and burns.  The destruction of the scroll turns Imhotep to dust, and he crumbles away, forever destroyed.

The Mummy ends as Frank calls Helen back to this world, saving her soul from that of ancient Egypt.  She opens her eyes and recognizes the man that she loves.

So is 1932′s classic horror film The Mummy a good movie?

The Mummy is fantastic when it comes to the classic Universal Studios monster films of the 1930′s.  However, this film dives quite a bit into Egyptology, and those looking for the classic mummy character wrapped in bandages may be disappointed.

The majority of this film involves Imhotep in the human form of Ardath Bey, a rather mysterious and sinister Egyptian.  We only see what most people consider as the true version of the mummy, the version that is wrapped in bandages, briefly in the beginning of the film.  Once the film transitions to the current time (remember that this is 1932), we only see Imhotep in his original form (during a flashback sequence) and that of Ardath Bey.

Don’t get me wrong.  Ardath Bey is still a fantastic and creepy villain for this movie.  It’s just that the mummified version of Imhotep is simply one of the best costumes for a villain that you’ll ever see, and we only see this briefly in this film.  Other mummy movies show more of the mummified creature killing people.

You’ll probably have to watch this film at least twice to catch all of the dialogue and the details.  There’s a lot that happens in this movie, and it’s not as straightforward as, say. Frankenstein.

The Mummy (1932) – movie trailer

I give The Mummy a slight edge because of my fascination with ancient Egypt and its mythology.  The film could use some adjustments to provide for a better tale or perhaps even a more believable love story between Frank and Helen.  This is still a classic monster movie, and fans of that ghoulish era of films will feel right at home.

Ralph Norton – “He went for a little walk! You should have seen his face!”

——————-

Imhotep – “Anck-es-en-Amon, my love has lasted longer than the temples of our gods. No man ever suffered as I did for you.”

——————-

Helen Grosvenor – “I loved you once, but now you belong with the dead. I am Anck-es-en-Amon, but I… I’m somebody else, too. I want to live, even in this strange new world.”