''The Mummy's Tomb'' is a 1942 American
horror film
Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes.
Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...
directed by
Harold Young and starring
Lon Chaney Jr.
Creighton Tull Chaney (February10, 1906 – July12, 1973), known by his stage name Lon Chaney Jr., was an American actor known for playing Larry Talbot in the film '' The Wolf Man'' (1941) and its various crossovers, Count Alucard (Dra ...
as Kharis the mummy. Taking place 30 years after the events of ''
The Mummy's Hand
''The Mummy's Hand'' is a 1940 American black-and-white horror film directed by Christy Cabanne and produced by Ben Pivar for Universal Studios. The film is about the ancient Egyptian mummy of Kharis (Tom Tyler), who is kept alive with a brew o ...
'', where Andoheb (
George Zucco
George Zucco (11 January 1886 – 27 May 1960) was a British character actor who appeared in plays and 96 films, mostly American-made, during a career spanning over two decades, from the 1920s to 1951. In his films, he often played a suave ...
) has survived and plans revenge on Stephen Banning (
Dick Foran
John Nicholas "Dick" Foran (June 18, 1910 – August 10, 1979) was an American actor, known for his performances in Western musicals and for playing supporting roles in dramatic pictures.
Early years
Foran was born in Flemington, New Jer ...
) and his entire family in Mapleton, Massachusetts. With the help of the high priest Mehemet Bey (
Turhan Bey
Turhan Bey (born Turhan Gilbert Selahattin Şahultavi, 30 March 192230 September 2012). was an Austrian-born actor of Turkish and Czech-Jewish origins. Active in Hollywood from 1941 to 1953, he was dubbed "The Turkish Delight" by his fans.. Aft ...
), Andoheb and the mummy Kharis (
Lon Chaney Jr.
Creighton Tull Chaney (February10, 1906 – July12, 1973), known by his stage name Lon Chaney Jr., was an American actor known for playing Larry Talbot in the film '' The Wolf Man'' (1941) and its various crossovers, Count Alucard (Dra ...
) Bey takes up a job as a caretaker of a graveyard. At the first full moon, the mummy is fed tanna leaves which allow him to break into the Banning residence and kill the now elderly Stephen. Banning's son then seeks assistance from Babe Hanson (
Wallace Ford
Wallace Ford (born Samuel Grundy Jones; 12 February 1898 – 11 June 1966) was an English-born naturalized American vaudevillian, stage performer and screen actor. Usually playing wise-cracking characters, he combined a tough but friendly-face ...
), one of the members of the original Banning expedition to Egypt to stop Andoheb and Kharis.
Lon Chaney Jr. had renewed his contract with Universal Pictures in 1942 and had his first role as the mummy Kharis in ''The Mummy's Tomb'', a role he would reprise in the film's sequels ''
The Mummy's Ghost
''The Mummy's Ghost'' is a 1944 American horror film directed by Reginald Le Borg. It is the second of three sequels to that company's ''The Mummy's Hand'' of 1940. The film is the sequel to ''The Mummy's Tomb'' (1942). Lon Chaney, Jr. again take ...
'' and ''
The Mummy's Curse
''The Mummy's Curse'' is a 1944 American Universal Pictures horror film, directed by Leslie Goodwins. It is the third and final sequel to that company's '' The Mummy's Hand'' of 1940. The film is the sequel to '' The Mummy's Ghost'' (1944) and th ...
''. The film was shot on June 1 and ended in mid-June 1942, not including footage taken from the previous film in the series ''The Mummy's Hand'' as well as ''
Frankenstein
''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific ex ...
''.
Plot
''The Mummy's Tomb'' picks up the story of Kharis thirty years after the conclusion of ''The Mummy's Hand''. One evening in the fictional town of Mapleton, Massachusetts, Steve Banning recounts the story of
Kharis
Kharis () is a character featured in Universal Studios's ''Mummy'' series in the 1940s following their original 1932 film ''The Mummy'', which starred Boris Karloff as a different mummy character, Imhotep, though their backstories are practicall ...
to his family and evening guests in his home. As he concludes his narrative of the successful destruction of the
creature, the scene switches back to the tombs of Egypt. Surviving their supposed demise, Andoheb explains the legend of Kharis to his follower, Mehemet Bey. After passing on the instructions for the use of the tana leaves, and assigning the task of terminating the remaining members of the Banning expedition and their descendants, Andoheb expires. Bey and Kharis leave Egypt for the journey to the United States.
Bey takes the caretaker's job at the Mapleton cemetery, sets up shop, and administers the tana brew to Kharis. The monster sets out to avenge the desecration of Ananka's tomb. His first victim is Stephen Banning, whom the creature kills as the aging archaeologist prepares for bed. As the sheriff and coroner can't come up with a lead to the killer, newspapermen converge on Mapleton to learn more about the story. Babe Hanson (
Wallace Ford
Wallace Ford (born Samuel Grundy Jones; 12 February 1898 – 11 June 1966) was an English-born naturalized American vaudevillian, stage performer and screen actor. Usually playing wise-cracking characters, he combined a tough but friendly-face ...
) arrives on the scene after learning of his friend's death. When Jane Banning (
Mary Gordon), Steve's sister, is killed, Hanson is convinced it is the work of a mummy. Meeting with the sheriff and coroner, Hanson is unable to convince them of the identity of the culprit. He tells his story to a newspaperman at the local bar, but, after a chase and struggle, is himself dispatched by Kharis almost immediately afterwards. Dr John Banning (
John Hubbard) enlists the help of Professor Norman to solve the puzzle of the "grayish mark" found on the victims' throats. Norman's test results prove that Hanson was right: the substance was indeed mold from a mummy.
Meanwhile, Bey has plans of his own. Knowing that Banning and his girlfriend, Isobel Evans are planning to marry, he sets out to disrupt their nuptials. Bey himself has become smitten with Isobel, and sends Kharis on a mission to bring her to him. Kharis initially balks, but finally adheres to Bey's command. In the dark of the night, the monster stealthily enters the Evans's home and abducts the fainting girl to the cemetery caretaker's hut. Bey unveils his plan to the reluctant Isobel, that she is to become his bride, as a "High Priest of Karnak", and bear him an heir to the royal line. Banning and the rest of the townspeople have become convinced that their recent Egyptian immigrant may be involved in the crimes. Arriving in force, they confront Bey outside the hut. Kharis slips away with Isobel unbeknownst to the horde, and Bey attempts to shoot Banning, but is himself gunned down by the sheriff. The creature is observed heading toward the Banning estate, and the group begins pursuit, many bearing torches. Inside the home, Banning has a fight with Kharis and holds him at bay with a torch while he rescues Isobel from the mummy's grasp, but inadvertently sets fire to some curtains. With the aid of the sheriff and coroner, John and Isobel escape via a trellis as Kharis pursues them out onto the upstairs balcony. The townspeople keep the mummy from similarly escaping by hurling additional torches at him, and the monster perishes in the flames of the thoroughly consumed house. Banning and Isobel wed in short order, as he has received his draft notice and is due to report for his tour of duty in World War II.
Cast
Cast adapted from the book ''Universal Horrors'':
Production
''The Mummy's Tomb'' director was former film editor who worked in the England in the 1930s working with people like
Alexander Korda
Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; hu, Korda Sándor; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)[The Scarlet Pimpernel
''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in London, having ...](_blank)
''. His subsequent work in Hollywood as a director predominantly consisted of b-films including ''The Mummy's Tomb''. The onscreen credits and contemporary reviews list
George Robinson as the director of photography, early ''Hollywood Reporter'' production charts credit Harry Neuman.
Lon Chaney, Jr.
Creighton Tull Chaney (February10, 1906 – July12, 1973), known by his stage name Lon Chaney Jr., was an American actor known for playing Larry Talbot in the film '' The Wolf Man'' (1941) and its various crossovers, Count Alucard (Dra ...
renewed his contract with
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
in February 1942 and made his first appearance as the Mummy in ''The Mummy's Tomb'', a role he would reprise in two Universal films: ''
The Mummy's Curse
''The Mummy's Curse'' is a 1944 American Universal Pictures horror film, directed by Leslie Goodwins. It is the third and final sequel to that company's '' The Mummy's Hand'' of 1940. The film is the sequel to '' The Mummy's Ghost'' (1944) and th ...
'' and ''
The Mummy's Ghost
''The Mummy's Ghost'' is a 1944 American horror film directed by Reginald Le Borg. It is the second of three sequels to that company's ''The Mummy's Hand'' of 1940. The film is the sequel to ''The Mummy's Tomb'' (1942). Lon Chaney, Jr. again take ...
''.
Production on the film began on June 1 and ended in mid-June 1942.
Parts of the film use elements from previous
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
. This includes footage from ''
The Mummy's Hand
''The Mummy's Hand'' is a 1940 American black-and-white horror film directed by Christy Cabanne and produced by Ben Pivar for Universal Studios. The film is about the ancient Egyptian mummy of Kharis (Tom Tyler), who is kept alive with a brew o ...
'', ''
Frankenstein
''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific ex ...
'' and ''
Bride of Frankenstein
''Bride of Frankenstein'' is a 1935 American science fiction horror film, and the first sequel to Universal Pictures' 1931 film ''Frankenstein''. As with the first film, ''Bride of Frankenstein'' was directed by James Whale starring Boris Karlo ...
'' with the film's music score containing portions of music written for ''
The Invisible Woman''. It also reuses the Shelby House on Universal's backlot originally for the film ''
Uncle Tom's Cabin
''Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly'' is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in two volumes in 1852, the novel had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U. ...
'' (1927) for the Banning residence.
Release
''The Mummy's Tomb'' was distributed by the Universal Pictures Company and released on October 23, 1942.
The film was a
double feature
The double feature is a motion picture industry phenomenon in which theatres would exhibit two films for the price of one, supplanting an earlier format in which one feature film and various short subject reels would be shown.
Opera use
Opera ho ...
with ''
Night Monster
''Night Monster'' is a 1942 American black-and-white horror film featuring Bela Lugosi and produced and distributed by Universal Pictures Company. The movie uses an original story and screenplay by Clarence Upson Young and was produced and direc ...
''.
Reception
From contemporary reviews, ''
Harrison's Reports
''Harrison's Reports'' was a New York City-based motion picture trade journal published weekly from 1919 to 1962. The typical issue was four letter-size pages sent to subscribers under a second-class mail permit. Its founder, editor and publisher ...
'' stated that "much happens, but nothing that will surprise the horror fans", while Theodore Strauss of ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' proclaimed "no wonder the Mummy lasted for 3,000 years. In that tandem fashion, he may go on for another 3,0000 - heaven forbid!"
From retrospective reviews, the authors of the book ''Universal Horrors'' stated that ''The Mummy's Tomb'' was a weaker film for Chaney, noting that "the care and talent that was lavished upon ''
The Wolf Man'' is sorely lacking in ''The Mummy's Tomb''" and that the film "gets by as entertainment for hardcore Universal enthusiasts by its cozy familiarity alone", concluding that ''The Mummy's Hand'' was superior proclaiming that the film is "so perfunctory, so small scale in ambition and execution, it seemed destined for the bottom-of-the-bill slot". Hans J. Wollstein of
AllMovie
AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne.
History
AllMovie was founded by popular-cult ...
awarded the film two stars out of five, stating that the film "is neither the best nor the worst in Universal's second wave of horror films", finding that "when all is said and done there is only so much that a monster swathed in bandages can do", concluding that the film "is fairly entertaining fare and it is fun to see the angry villagers from the original ''Frankenstein'' back in action via stock footage".
Actor
Turhan Bey
Turhan Bey (born Turhan Gilbert Selahattin Şahultavi, 30 March 192230 September 2012). was an Austrian-born actor of Turkish and Czech-Jewish origins. Active in Hollywood from 1941 to 1953, he was dubbed "The Turkish Delight" by his fans.. Aft ...
admitted that he had not seen ''The Mummy's Tomb''; he would later state it among his favorite screen roles: "I guess it's my favorite because it was a part closest to my own nationality - it was a young Egyptian who believed in something which we couldn't comprehend with our five senses.... If I could have picked my roles, I would have played these kinds of heavies, people who have a mental quirk or who for some reason or another, are acting against the positive side of the plot of the picture".
References
Sources
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mummys Tomb, The
1942 films
1942 horror films
American black-and-white films
American sequel films
Ancient Egypt in fiction
Films directed by Harold Young (director)
Films set in Egypt
Films set in Massachusetts
Mummy films
Universal Classic Monsters films
Universal Pictures films
1940s English-language films
1940s American films