UK, 1959
84m 9s (UK – video), 85m 36s (UK – theatrical)
35mm, Eastmancolour, 1.66:1
mono, English
A British horror film directed by Terence Fisher. This was the first of Hammer Film Productions' largely unrelated series of mummy films.
Plot Summary
In 1895, archaeologist Stephen Banning and his son John lead an expedition that uncovers the tomb of the Princess Ananka. Stephen is driven mad by something he encounters in the tomb and, three years later, is still recuperating in England and warning John that what he saw in the tomb, a living mummy, will come looking for him. And sure enough, thanks to the machinations of a high priest, the mummy is in England and is soon working its way through the survivors of the ill-fated expedition.
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Terence Fisher
© MCMLIX [1959] by Hammer Film Productions Limited
Hammer Film Productions present a Hammer Film production
Produced by: Michael Carreras
Associate Producer: Anthony Nelson-Keys
Screenplay by: Jimmy Sangster
Director of Photography: Jack Asher
Supervising Editor: James Needs
Editor: Alfred Cox
Music Composed by: Franz Reizenstein
Sound Recordist: Jock May
Wardrobe Mistress: Molly Arbuthnot
Egyptian Mask Maker: Margaret Robinson *
Make-up Artist: Roy Ashton
Hair Stylist: Henry Montsash
Special Effects: Bill Warrington
Production Designer: Bernard Robinson
Produced at Bray Studios, England
Cast
Peter Cushing (John Banning)
Christopher Lee (the mummy/Kharis)
Yvonne Furneaux (Isobel/Ananka)
Felix Aylmer (Stephen Banning)
Raymond Huntley (Joseph Whemple)
Eddie Byrne (Inspector Mulrooney)
George Pastell (Mehemet Bey)
Michael Ripper (poacher)
George Woodbridge (police constable)
Harold Goodwin (Pat)
Denis Shaw (Mike)
Gerald Lawson (Irish customer)
Willoughby Gray (Dr Reilly)
John Stuart (coroner)
David Browning (police sergeant)
Frank Sieman (Bill)
Stanley Meadows (attendant)
Frank Singuineau (head porter)
Alternative Titles
La Malédiction des pharaons – France
La momia – Spain
Mumia – Poland
A Múmia – Portugal
Mumiens hämnd – Sweden
La mummia – Italy
Die Rache der Pharaonen – Germany
Terror of the Mummy – working title
Links
Sequels
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964)
The Mummy's Shroud (1966)
Remake of
The Mummy's Hand (1940)
See also
Chicken Park (1994)
Gorgo (1961)
The Horror of Frankenstein (1970)
The Mummy (1932)
The Mummy Lives (1993)
The Tomb (1985)
Extracts included in
100 Years of Horror (1996)
The Many Faces of Christopher Lee (1995)
Peter Cushing: A One-Way Ticket to Hollywood (1989)
The World of Hammer: Hammer Stars: Christopher Lee (1984)
The World of Hammer: Hammer Stars: Peter Cushing (1984)
The World of Hammer: Mummies, Werewolves & the Living Dead (1984)
Press
1959
Variety 15 July 1959
Premise is fairly well developed while offering little of actual newness to plot, and via U's planned exploitation campaign pic should do okay in is particular market. Lavishly produced by Michael Carreras, film's subject benefits sharply by use of Technicolor, which gives tone and quality to unfoldment. Yarn carries the type of action expected, and while chiller aspects aren't too pronounced they're sufficient for those who want to find them. Acting fits the requirements of script by Jimmy Sangster and Terence Fisher's direction makes good use of characters. […] Technical departments are excellently executed.” – from a review by Whit
References
Periodicals
- Cinefantastique vol.31 no.6 (June 1999) pp.40-45 – illustrated article
- The Daily Cinema no.8188 (7 August 1959) p.7 – review
- Film Daily vol.116 no.2 (2 July 1959) p.10 – review
- Filmfax no.80 (August/September 2000) pp.30. 32 – illustrated article
- The Hollywood Reporter vol.155 no.43 (9 July 1959) p.3 – review
- The House That Hammer Built no.2 (April 1997) pp.101-106 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
- The House That Hammer Built no.10 (October 1998) p.98 – note
- The House That Hammer Built no.11 (February 1999) pp.137-176 – illustrated interview, article, filmography
- Kine Weekly 13 August 1959 p.24 – review
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.26 n.308 (September 1959) p.124 – credits, synopsis, review
- Motion Picture Herald vol.216 no.2 (11 July 1959) p.332 – review
- Variety 15 July 1959 – review
Books
- The Charm of Evil: The Life and Films of Terence Fisher by Wheeler Winston Dixon pp.xiii, 5, 344-347, 352; 520-521 – notes; credits
- English Gothic by Jonathan Rigby pp.18, 46, 62-64, 65, 106, 153 – illustrated notes, review
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.319 – credits
- Terence Fisher by Peter Hutchings pp.5, 10, 19, 52, 101, 103, 106-109, 110, 117, 128, 164 – notes
- Terence Fisher: Horror, Myth and Religion by Paul Leggett pp.102-110, 118, 120, 128, 170 – notes
Other sources
- BFI Southbank Guide August 2013 p.8 – illustrated listing
