#Zita johann

[atomic-chronoscaph]

Universal Horror - art by Brian Ewing (2013, 2014)

[weirdlookindog]

Zita Johann in The Mummy (1932)

[colorhollywood]

The Mummy (1932) directed by Karl Freund produced by Carl Laemmle Jr.

Cast: Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, etc.

[irina-irina-irina]

Zita Johann

[musicandoldmovies]

Boris Karloff and Zita Johann in The Mummy

[haveyouseenthismovie-poll]

[thatsbelievable]

Happy 136th Birthday, Boris!

Source: The Washington Times, Friday, December 30, 1932.

[marypickfords]

The Sin of Nora Moran (Phil Goldstone, 1933)

[karloff-the-uncanny]

A rare behind the scenes photo onset of “The Mummy” 1932.

If you look to the left of the photo, you can see Zita Johann and David Manners sitting together.

Source: Instagram.

[flypanegg88]

ancient egypt couple

[vintagegeekculture]

The original “Mummy” (1932) had a now-lost deleted scene, showing the Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon’s reincarnations through history, including one as a Christian fed to the lions in Rome and as a Princess during the Crusades. 

There is some debate over why the scenes were cut. It could have been due to time and pacing, but it is also known that “Mummy” director Karl Freund and actress Zita Johann did not like each other very much and frequently clashed.

[atomic-chronoscaph]

The Mummy - art by Oscar Calibos (2020)

[weirdlookindog]

The Mummy (1932) - Lobby display

[lifeinasmalltowninjapan]

BBC2 Dracula, Frankenstein and Friends (1977)

The Mummy (1932)

Zita Johann and Boris Karloff

[roskirambles]

Horror Movie of the day: The Mummy (1932)

An expedition lead by Sir Joseph Whemple makes a very important discovery: the mummy of the High priest Imhotep. Inspecting it, the team finds the man might have been buried alive for his viscera were not removed as it was custom. As one of the archaeologists reads an adjacent scroll against the warnings of his fellow men, the mummy comes back to life, takes said scroll, and leaves him behind as he laughs to death in madness.

10 years latter, the eccentric historian called Ardath Bey leads Sir Joseph's son Frank to the tomb of Ananksenamen. But soon enough, it's clear there's something fishy about Bey when he becomes infatuated with Helen Grosvenor, the same woman Frank is pursuing.

Specially when it's evident he has similar facial features as the mummy that disappeared all those years ago, and is now motivated to revive his former lover... through Helen.

Yep, as I've mentioned earlier, the Stephen Sommers' 1999 movie is actually a loose remake of this one by Karl Freund. It's also the first movie in this lineup that isn't based on any novel whatsoever, but rather built upon the popular superstitions born from the discovery of Pharaoh Tuntakhamun's royal tomb in 1922. The end result feels like an evolution of what prior films achieved, with even more ambitious cinematography, some instances of shocking violence for the time, masterful subtle make up and an engrossing antagonist of supernatural powers. Once again, Boris Karloff is at the center playing high priest Imhotep to prove he was there to stay, his overpowering stare still being shockingly effective over 90 years later.

A product of its time with colonialist overtones regarding archaeology and brown people, some values are… dated to say the least. But it hits the mark in many areas including a more accurate depiction of Egyptology than expected. And hey, even if on relative terms, the lead heroine actually has some agency this time! Props for that.

[erstwhile-punk-guerito]