Classic Karloff Unwrapped Tonight with “The Mummy”!

Certainly among the top 4 of Universal's classic monsters is the reanimated relic of ancient Egypt that seemed to constantly be searching for his lost love reborn- and we're happy to bring back the original film that established the bandaged big bad as a key part of Universal horror lore- it's 1932's "The Mummy"!

The story begins with an amazing discovery in the Egyptian desert- a mummy and a sacred scroll which is believed to be the Scroll of Thoth-rumored to have the power to restore life! Though Dr. Muller warns archeologist Sir Joseph that such things should not be tampered with- a young assistant unknowingly reads the scroll aloud- reviving the  mummy of one Imhotep! The expedition soon ends- sadly.

Ten years later, Sir Joseph's son returns to the area, on a new expedition- and is visited by an elderly Egyptian named Ardith Bey (guess who he really is!), who shows his crew the way to the Tomb of the Princess Anks-en-amon ( the lost love of Imhotep !)  Everything in the tomb is destined for the Cairo Museum- but Ardith Bey has his own agenda- which is set into further motion when he meets a lovely young woman of  Egyptian heritage , whom he believes is Anks-en-amon reincarnated- and soon, her life is in danger as the revived Imhotep plans to bring back his beloved!

Boris Karloff is mesmerizing in this film, which includes a few other familiar faces from the Universal horror films, and we'll talk about them in the show, along with other background information. Jack Pierce's original Mummy make-up is outstanding- and the look of Ardith Bay is equally chilling! One of my favorite parts of the movie is the flashback sequence, revealing how  and why Imhotep received his ultimate punishment. From the moment we see the model pyramid swing towards the camera in the opening title sequence- you know you're in for a frightening and fascinating story! Of course, there's a framework of Sven shtick surrounding the nefarious Nile action!

"The Mummy" starts tonight at 10 pm eastern/pacific, 9 central, (or, check local listings where you live) on MeTV. In Chicago, viewers get another look at Karloff in "Black Friday" at 11 am on our sister station, WCIU, the U!

After a month and a half of the Sven Halloween appearance tour, I'm happy to have this weekend to relax and enjoy "the Uncanny Karloff" along with you! And, next weekend...it's the big one! (pardon my Fred Sanford- you big dummy- I mean, Mummy!)