The Mummy (1959) Limited Edition Review
In 1895 a team of British archaeologists discover the untouched tomb of Princess Ananka (Yvonne Furneaux) but accidentally bring the mummified body of her high priest back to life. Three years later back in England a follower of the same Egyptian religion unleashes ‘The Mummy’ to exact grisly revenge on the despoilers of the sacred past.
When it comes to the classic horror movie monsters – Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, Werewolves etc – The Mummy has always been the less thrilling of the bunch for me. Lumbering around at a snail’s pace, whilst never really seeming to pose much of a threat to those that are quick on their feet, the bandaged ghoulie has inexplicably never really lost its clout when it comes to the big screen.
In later years the Mummy has ditched that restricting wrapped cloth look for a sexier vibe, via Arnold Vosloo’s scrummy physique in Stephen Sommer’s 1999 remake of the 1932 flick, or Sofia Boutella’s super-powered Mummy in Tom Cruise’s ill-conceived 2017 blockbuster. However, back in 1959, when writer Jimmy Sangster and director Terence Fisher delivered their take on THE MUMMY, for Hammer Studios, it was still a time when some poor being was wrapped from head to toe in bandages and asked to stumble around as menacingly as one possibly could as the titular character.
That said, this version is without doubt my favourite of THE MUMMY movies, why is that I hear you ask? For starters it’s a very well-produced flick, handsomely mounted, with a terrific score, courtesy of Franz Reizenstein, and with fabulous camerawork from Jack Asher. Both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee – as the hero John Banning and the Mummy respectively – lend this familiar tale so much needed oomph. It helps as well that this is not a straightforward rehash of Universal’s 1932 original, with the storyline taking in elements from THE MUMMY’S HAND, THE MUMMY’S TOMB and THE MUMMY’S GHOST instead.
As for the extras and the disc’s packaging, this is yet another top draw effort from those good folk at Second Sight. It’s worth every penny, just check out the special features listed below.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Main feature presented in original UK theatrical aspect ratio 1.66:1 and alternative full frame1.37:1
New audio commentary by film academic Kelly Robinson
Archive audio commentary by Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby
An Appreciation of The Mummy by David Huckvale
The Music of The Mummy
Unwrapping The Mummy
The House of Horror: Memories of Bray
The Hammer Rep Company
Original Promo Reel
Still Gallery
Limited Edition Contents
Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Graham Humphreys
Soft cover book with new essays by Kat Ellinger, Lindsay Hallam and Kevin Lyons plus production stills
5 collectors’ art cards