MovieChat Forums > The Mummy (1959) Discussion > The Best Mummy?

The Best Mummy?

posted 20 years ago by elionwy18
28 replies | jump to latest

Personally, I think this is the best Mummy, better than Mr. Boris Karloff's and certainly better than the recent ones. If you want scary, the way Christopher Lee's mummy just smashes through glass and cold-bloodedly murders the old archaelogist in the sound-proof room is completely terrifying. And yet, like Frankenstein's monster, Mr. Lee's Mummy is so very sympathetic, especially during the flashback when you see him alive. The way he says those lines, with such deep feeling in them "for she is more beautiful...", and the pain in his eyes every time he looks at the dead princess are truly moving. And, of course, when he sees the wife of the archaelogist Peter Cushing plays, his eyes immediately soften and he gets that longing look back in them. He's brilliant, absolutely brilliant, as is this film, a true gem of horror movies.

[–] Colkitto 16 years ago

Absolutely the best.

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"An inglorious peace is better than a dishonourable war" ~ John Adams

[–] Slainmonkey 15 years ago

I would also like to make a note of the brilliant make-up work on the Mummy itself. It still looks awesome to this day and has lost none of it's power all these years later. By far the best creature effects of the 50's and the best looking Mummy in any film to date.

[–] mlevans 15 years ago

I am very fond of both this version and the Karloff version. I, too, believe I would have to go with this one as my No. 1 Mummy film. While Karloff, in Jack Pierce's makeup, gives the mummy a more sinister appearance, that version lacked a Cushing. A huge Cushing fan, I consider this among his best roles.

This version also captures the late Victorian era and the disparity of attitdes so well. Weatern archaeologistsa and scholars (not to mention a handful of less scrupulous graverobbers) still felt justified in raiding any newly discovered ancient tomb and taking the sacred artifacts to London, Paris or New York, where people with the proper appreciation and understanding of the objects (that is to say, western-educated whites) could enjoy and study them. By this time some strong resentment and resistance was building among Egyptians and other cultures to these actions. While this is hinted at in the 1932 Mummy (and the pampllet in the great universal plastic model!), it is most thoroughly hashed out here. in a wonderful scene, the archaeologist (Cushing) and the Egyptian who controls the mummy debate the clash of cultures and religious beliefs. Then the safe respectability of Banning's ornate Victorian home (no doubt in a well-policed, safe upperclass neighborhood) is shattered as the spector of a defiled culture comes crashing through doors and windows in the form of the murderous Kharis.

It doesn't force you to take sides on the issue, as a PC film made today would try to do. It merely points out that treading on another's sacred traditions can have consequences.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] jinx_malone 15 years ago

no doubt at all; hammer's mummy is the very best telling. cushing and lee turn in amazing performances (as usual) and the strain of doomed romance that runs through the movie is just fabulous. a wonderful film and one of my favorites from hammer.

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"It's better not to know so much about what things mean." David Lynch

[–] filmklassik 14 years ago

-- Cushing and Lee, working together in the House of Hammer during the Bray years made for an all-but-unbeatable combination, and this movie along with THE HORROR OF DRACULA represents their greatest work for the studio.

This MUMMY rocks! Lean, literate, and loads of fun.

[–] redspear 14 years ago

couldnt agree more, wonder if its ever on tv, never seen it since i was 14 in 1960 .

[–] MrsC2007 12 years ago

This is my favorite Hammer film. The kills are chilling and well done. I love the original Karloff Mummy as well but I think this one is a bit better.

[–] hachmom-1 9 years ago

1932 v 1959

I don't know which I prefer. It's probably my favorite Cushing performance, other than his van Helsing, and Chris Lee makes a fabulous high priest in the flashback. But there is something about the mood if the Karloff film. It's much more moody and mysterious. The cinematography is great for 32, as one would expect from a film directed by Karl Freund. And Karloff is brilliant as Im-Ho-tep. One of his best performances as well. So I set them side by side on my cinematic trophy shelf.

[–] dreamfactory-534-814309 8 years ago

Best Mummy's film
Best Hammer film
Best horror film soundtrack prior to the 1970's