THE MUMMY'S SHROUD

UK, 1967, 90 minutes, Colour.
Andre Morell, Eddie Powell, Elizabeth Sellars, Catherine Lacey.
Directed by John Gilling.

The Mummy's Shroud deals with familiar material. Popularised by Boris Karloff in the 30s at Universal Studios, the mummy received a new lease of life (as did Frankenstein and Dracula) at Hammer Studios in the 50s and 60s.

The film was written and directed by John Gilling, a veteran of a number of these films. Its cast includes a number of veterans of these films, including Andre Morell. However, John Phillips steals the show as an arrogant businessman. Catherine Lacey appears as an exotic Egyptian fortune-teller.

The film offers the basic mummy plot with few variations. It is colourfully done - quite seriously by the cast giving it more dignity than it merits - but is an enjoyable variation on the mummy films.

1. The popularity of the mummy stories? Audience familiarity with the basic plot? Expectations of developments?

2. Colour photography, the atmosphere of Egypt in the past, in the 1920s? The desert, excavations, the city? Eerie musical score?

3. The title and the focus on the mummy, the long opening with the voice-over explaining the legend of the clash between the Pharaoh and his brother, the battle, the death of his wife, the young boy going into the desert, his death and burial, the servant becoming the Pharaoh and becoming the mummy? Preparation for what was to follow?

4. The popularity in England of archaeological expeditions? Journeys to Egypt? The discoveries of tombs? The stories of the past? The inevitable curse? The learned professor, the eager youngsters? The businessman financing the expedition? Media? How well used were these conventions?

5. The professor and his leading the group, their being lost, the decision to go on, Clare and her clairvoyance, the finding of the tomb, the reading of the inscriptions, his being bitten by the snake, his illness, Preston's arrival, the possibility of the curse? The return, his collapse, being confined by Preston to the asylum, his escape, being seen in the crystal ball, the mummy killing him?

6. Preston and his finance, loudmouth, self-concern? Bringing his wife with him? Concern about his son? His pressurising of Longbarrow? Press conference, his having to go into the desert, his taking all the credit, the photography, press conferences, getting rid of the professor? The clash with his son? His fear of the curse, the deaths, wanting to get out, the police keeping him there? His clashes with everyone, going to the boat, his death?

7. His wife and her disdain, her taunting him? His son, presence on the expedition, clash with his father, not going on the boat? With Clare? Getting back the shroud and saving himself and Clare, destroying the mummy?

8. Harry and his photographs, on the expedition, the violent death?

9. The Arab guard, his confrontation of the excavators, his mother and the crystal bowl (ball?), his worship of the gods, bringing the mummy to life, the victims? The mother and her talk to the professor, to Clare, her visions in the bowl?

10. The police and their concern, interrogations?

11. Longbarrow and his being henpecked by Preston, his wanting to go back to England, comic touches, his death?

12. Popular themes of mystery of Egypt, superstitions and rationalism in the 20th century? Curses? Greed, vengeance?