Greedy archaeologists in Egypt unearth both a mummified corpse and an ancient scroll which foretells disaster; soon, the mummy has come back to life and wreaks havoc. Deliberately-paced mood piece from Universal hopes to attain the dreamy, surreal qualities attributed to "Dracula" and "Frankenstein", but the script doesn't have much weight to it. The narrative is thin and the pacing is drowsy for a thriller, though Boris Karloff's presence as the monster certainly gives the picture a boost. Directing debut for Karl Freund who, the year before, was the cinematographer on "Dracula"; he knows a great deal about atmosphere, but a livelier touch within the scenario--an offer of suspense for the audience--might have been even more successful. Followed by a slew of unofficial sequels; remade in 1959 and 1999. **1/2 from ****
Review of The Mummy
