The Mummy's Shroud

"The Mummy's Shroud", set in 1920 tells the story of a team of archaeology experts who come across the lost tomb of the boy Pharaoh Kah-To-Bey and unfortunately fall foul of the tomb protector in the guise of Prem, a manservant of the boy once the sacred words are read aloud off the shroud found covering the boy king by the team. The story begins with a flash back sequence to Ancient Egypt and we see the story of how Prem spirited away the boy when his father was killed in a palace coup and taken into the desert for protection where unfortunately the boy dies and is then buried. Returning to 1920 "The Mummy's Shroud", shows the expedition to find this tomb lead by scientist Sir Basil Walden (Andre Morell, a Hammer regular) and bossy business man Stanley Preston (John Phillips) where they not only find the tomb and remove the bodies and the sacred shroud but ignore the dire warning issued to them by Hasmid, a local Bedouin about the consequences for those that violate the tombs of Ancient Egypt. Resulting from this warning Sir Basil is bitten by a snake just after finding the tomb and after a number of days dies of the snake bite poison. Once placed in the Cairo Museum the mummy of Prem is revived when Hasmid chants the sacred oath on the shroud and then proceeds to go on a murderous rampage to kill off the remaining members of the expedition. One by one those who assisted in removing the contents of the tomb to Cairo are eliminated by such grissly means as strangulation, being thrown out of windows and in one terrible scene having photographic acid thrown in his face. Greedy Stanley Preston the real villian of the piece, after repeated attempts to evade the murder investigations and flee for his own safely is murdered in a Cairo sidestreet by the avenging mummy. All ends happily of course thanks to the intervention of remaining members of the party Paul Preston, Stanley's son and Maggie Claire de Sangre who succeed in destroying the Mummy in a very dramatic and beautifuly staged finale.

While the storyline of "The Mummy's Shroud",is the often used one of revenge against the violators of an ancient tomb it is staged in an entertaining manner which although not the best Hammer Mummy film, still retains the interest. The beautiful location photography gives the film an overall authentic look and the Mummy himself played by tall actor Eddie Powell is genuinely a frightening vision in particular during his brutal murders of the digging party. The film boasts some beautiful narration by the great Peter Cushing during the flash back sequences and any participation by this always letter perfect actor aids tremendously in creating the feel of the time. Hammer veteran Michael Ripper, who appeared in more productions for this studio than anyone else also shines in one of the largest and best written characters of his career as Longbarrow, Stanley Preston's nervous and very put upon assistant during his time in Egypt who eventually falls victim to the Mummy's revenge. A very talented character actor all too often playing poachers, inn keepers or grave diggers, Ripper had a long theatrical background that equipped him for far more demanding roles than those usually assigned to him.

While certainly a lesser effort by Hammer Studios and having the distinction of being the last of their productions to be filmed at the historic Bray Studios, "The Mummy's Shroud", does hold the attention and have the creepy atmosphere expected of any Hammer production. It can't compare with the 1959 Christopher Lee effort but in it's own right is an enjoyable horror film for those that like old fashioned thrills with a scary looking lead monster and plenty of background atmosphere. Beware "the beat of the cloth wrapped feet" when the monster seeks revenge in "The Mummy's Shroud".