Tonight, on MeTV- Christopher Lee steps into the role of yet another classic creature- and Peter Cushing again is the man who must try to stop him! It’s Hammer Studios take on the familiar story of the search for the lost tomb of Princess Ananka- which leads to the resurrection of “The Mummy”!

This 1959 color version of the story borrows plot points from not only Universal’s original “The Mummy”- but also its sequels “Mummy’s Hand”, “Mummy’s Tomb” and “Mummy’s Ghost”. As this origin story begins, we see archeologists Stephen Banning and Joseph Whemple, as well as Banning’s son John at a dig site in Egypt in 1895. Despite having broken his leg, John delays getting it taken care of, due to the possibility of finding the tomb of Princess Ananka. Fate proves that they have indeed found it- but as the elder Banning and Whemple are about to enter it, one irate Egyptian, Mehemet Bey, approaches and warns them not to desecrate the holy burial place.

The two men ignore him, enter the tomb, and unseal the burial chamber, where they find the sarcophagus of Ananka and various riches. When Whemple goes to inform John of the successful find, leaving Stephen alone, the archeologist stumbles upon the legendary Scroll of Life- and begins to read it out loud ( bad move)!

Before long, Whemple and John hear him cry out- and, rushing to his aid, find him a gibbering noncommunicative mess! With his father in such a state, John oversees the removal of all the Egyptian artifacts, and the expedition heads back to England. Stephen, in a catatonic state, is sadly placed in a home for the mentally disturbed.

Three years afterwards, Stephen surprisingly has suddenly regained some mental awareness, and requests that his son be brought to see him! John is shocked but happy that his father has a degree of his faculties back. However, when Stephen begins to relate the incredible story of what actually happened to him- adding the warning that a living mummy is certain to search them out and kill them- John is skeptical. Stephen sadly dismisses his unbelieving son- knowing he has spoken the truth.

Before long, a couple of boozy fellows depart from a pub to make a delivery they have been hired for by a strange foreign fellow. Their lack of sobriety on the rough roads leads to their delivery-a huge box- tumbling off their wagon, and into a marsh! When police come to investigate, and decide the box cannot be recovered, its owner shows up- it’s Mehemet Bey, in England now, who calmly takes the news, and states that the box merely held “Egyptian artifacts”.

Once the police depart, the Egyptian returns, and uses the Scroll of Life to revive the Mummy Kharis- who emerges from the marsh at his command. Bey is a follower of the god Karnak (no, not Johnny Carson in a turban)- and sets the revived mummy on his mission to destroy all who desecrated Ananka’s tomb! With those members of the original expedition now in danger, as well as John’s wife Isobel-will the local police inspector actually believe that their lives are at stake?

This is another impressive horror film in the Hammer style, and a more than worthy addition to the roster of Mummy films. We’ll introduce you to the cast, led by Lee and Cushing, and bring you some new mummy TV offerings as well as a song, a vintage interview with Ken Kirsinger, some sarcophagal stand-up comedy, and more.

“The Mummy” lives again on MeTV at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central time. You can join the many viewers who post on Twitter and Bluesky during the show-please use the hashtag #svengoolie in your posts on both. In Chicago, our main local station, WCIU the U presents an encore of “Ghost of Frankenstein” at 11 am.

It’s a great time to check out the MeTV Mall for ideas for Father’s Day giving- and items that are perfect for the upcoming summer months- so you can summer in Sven style! If you order the below comic book and bobblehead bundle, it ships quickly!

Enjoy the holiday weekend- and take time on Monday to honor the memory of those who have fallen defending our nation- and tonight, join us for Hammer icons Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing as we unwrap a tale of terror from an Egyptian tomb!