Karloff Wraps Up for “the Mummy”-Tonight!
Tonight on our Me-TV network- after all the sequels have aired-we finally bring back the original Boris Karloff classic that added another cornerstone to the Universal monster roster-“The Mummy”! You’ll see the story as it was told originally in this 1932 film- an archeological dig for the tomb of Egyptian princess Anksenahmen unearths a different mummy-a high priest, amazingly preserved, with some of the usual burial blessings curiously missing, along with a forbidden scroll. When an over-anxious young archeologist translates and reads the scroll, the high priest- Im Ho Tep (not Kharis-thanks for the correction!)- is revived! He shambles away, as the poor guy collapses in hysterics.
Years later, a related party comes back to try to find the tomb- and is greeted by the gaunt figure of one Ardath Bey-who says he can show them where the princess’ tomb is located! Upon its discovery-and against the mysterious Egyptian’s wishes-her mummy and all her artifacts are donated to the British museum…but Ardath Bey has his own agenda- retrieve the scroll with the revival spell on it, and bring back his beloved- whom, it turns out, was the reason he was mummified alive! When he discovers a beautiful young woman whom he thinks is the reincarnation of his love, he sets out to make her “remember” who she is- and he’ll destroy anyone who tries to stop him!
Karloff is amazing in this film- his Ardath Bey is so eerie and threatening, he truly seems like he is not quite human. I have always enjoyed the flashback scenes that depict his ancient history and his “crime” committed to save his beloved. This is probably the only movie where we see the bandage-covered shambling Mummy persona for such a short amount of time- in most of the “sequels”, all we see is the wrapped monster, and no human-like incarnation such as the one Karloff treats us to here. Watch for some familiar actors we’ve seen before in the Bela Lugosi “Dracula”- in fact, many have pointed out the similar structure of this movie and the vampire film.
Among the Sven segments in this show you will find an interview, from a few years back, with our good friend, actor Kevin J. O’Connor- who played the part of the scheming weasel Beni in the Brendan Fraser 1999 re-boot of “The Mummy”. I just talked to Kevin recently, and he is playing a part in the “Mob Doctor” series that is currently shooting in Chicago. In our interview, he talks about his role as Beni, as well as getting to play the classic Universal horror character Ygor in “Van Helsing”.
“The Mummy” runs tonight on the Me-TV network, all across America, at 10 pm eastern, 9 pm central, 1 am on KOFY in San Francisco, or- please check your local listings. One further note- for those of you who will be crying “…not another Mummy movie!”: folks- this is THE Mummy movie- the original classic, with horror icon Karloff- and it’s the origin of that stock footage that seemed to show up in every Mummy sequel. Plus-and I promise you this- it will be the LAST Mummy movie we will show this year! In my opinion- it’s also the best.
For our Chicago fans, coinciding with the air and WATER show- you get a final look at “The Creature Walks Among Us” on WCIU, the U, at 11 am…and on the U Too at 3 pm, the ever –popular “Monster from a Prehistoric Planet”.
With the summer drought, the dry sands of Egypt will seem very familiar to a lot of us! See you tonight for the incomparable Karloff!
45 Responses to Karloff Wraps Up for “the Mummy”-Tonight!
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“The Mummy” is definitely one of Karloff’s greatest roles, and the film’s ominous atmosphere is very effective. Its similar structure to 1931′s “Dracula,” along with Karloff’s performance, makes me wish Boris had gotten the opportunity to play the Count at least once. Sorry, Bela!
Sven/Rich, A little bit of trivia..Boris Karloff is actually the stage name of William Henry Pratt. He was born in England in 1887 and died in 1969. He took the name of Boris Karloff, per Wikipedia, because it sounded “foreign and exotic”. His (5) five marriages ended in (4) four divorces and the last with his passing. To All: Enjoy this phenomenal movie this late evening!
Dear Sven/ Rich, I love your show and especially the old monster flicks. The Mummy is right up there. I have it on Dvd as well as with the other old classics. Anyhow, I hate to correct you, but oh what the heck, the high priest tonight in The Mummy is not Kharis, but Imhotep. I love your show Sven. I’m 55 years young and I’m a kid at heart especially when it comes to old horror flicks, and The Three Stooges. My boyfriend stays up with me sometimes to watch. Keep up the good work. Your show makes this gal feel like a kid again
So cool I found this website two weeks ago after discovering MeTV on my OTA guide in Atlanta. I grew up in the Tampa bay area and in the 60s and 70s there were a couple of horror hosts. One being Shock Armstrong of Shock Theater on the then CBS affiliate Channel 13 and the other, the longest running horror host on TV, Dr Paul Bearer was on the then independent Channel 44. Growing up on them, I was glad to find a horror host to remind me of my childhood. Thanks for keeping this lost tradition of American TV alive! I watched part of the show last week with my 9 year old daughter before she nodded off and will try and get her to watch some tonight. The new Mummy movies are her favorites so she needs to see where it all started.
Geez, when is this Universal contract gonna be up? The same old-school monster movies again and again. Love you Sven, but miss the variety.
Sven/Rich: I agree with you: This is the best of the Mummy films. As Leonard Maltin put it in his TVMOVIES/VIDEO GUIDE, this is a classic horror film “chills ahead of many sequels”–including the ’40s Kharis follow-ups. This 1932 chiller is much different–grim, eerie, and genuinely chilling, with one of Karloff’s best performances. Thanks for showing it!
It’s Mummy time, and one of the best movies from the 30′s! Gary, a really interesting thought about Boris as Count Dracula! Not sure if he was ever offered the role, and he would’ve been great, but it’s a cool notion that I’ve never considered! Sven brings up the brilliance of Karloff in the monsterous talking mummy form of tonight’s film…quite a different formidable menace than the Tom Tyler and Chaney sequels(or are they really sequels it’s Kharis later on?). Two other thoughts…Be sure to have the popcorn ready early….don’t want to miss to scariest scene (for my mummy….I mean, for my MONEY!
) in Universal Monster history: when the mummy steps out of the case and takes a little walk! Also, although we DO get lots of wrapped up Mummy stalking chills in the rest of the Mummy flicks, I always somewhat lament that Karloff doesn’t get some more screen time moving around in full-bandage-osity! How cool and creepy THAT would have been! This movie is so classic…What a cast! COUNT on Svengoolie to “dish the dirt” (make with the mold?) About these great stars tonight! Enjoy the night, everyone, and keep those ghosts and posts coming! 
I personally like the older type movies that Svengoolie shows. I hate the slash and gash movies. Disgusting. Who wants to see blood and gore. Not this chicken. My boyfriend Dwayne teases me about me not liking blood and gore. If it’s between nasty, disgusting movies or me reading a book, guess what ? The book wins hands down. Love ya Sven!!!!! You are the best when it comes to horror film hosts. I love the trivia, that you give about each movie that is shown.The man who plays Dr. Mueller in tonight’s movie played Dr. Van Helsing in the original Dracula, and he also played the doctor who was going to try to put down the Frankenstein Monster in the very first Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff and Colin Clive. But the monster killed him. I believe the actor’s name was either Edward Van Sloan or Edward Sloan. He also made a brief comment before the Frankenstein movie started. Anyway hats off to you Sven!!!!!!!!
Will the musical number return to Svengoolie tonight? My son and I have missed it the last 2-3 weeks! Maybe it’s only getting cut down here in Indianapolis?
Jodie- thanks for the correction- I fixed it! I must have been brainwashed by all the other Mummy movies we’ve shown!
Dear Sven / Rich, hey thank you for writing back to me. that was so nice of you.. Keep up those good movies. You are great at what you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sven any word on what you have in store for the up coming season?
Jode: Yes, the actor who plays Dr. Muller in this movie is Edward Van Sloan. He also played Dr. Van Helsing in “Dracula” and Dr. Waldman in “Frankenstein.”
And Matt, I’m hoping, too, that the song parody is back this week!
I pulled a copy of Tonight’s move aired sometime ago. The song parady was to the “montego Bay song and before that Doug Graves makes a joke about “Rap”. I hope it still in tonight’s airing.
No better genre of films than Universal Horror, so many classics going back to the films of Lon Chaney Sr., I wish someone would find a copy of London After Midnight, but sadly I’m afraid that along with many other classics have been lost due age or other circumstances.
However, that being said, i’m thrilled to have Svengoolie present these classics again.I hope there is some surprises for the Halloween season.
Just to add a little info to an earlier subject.I believe Lon Chaney, Sr. was offered the role of Dracula, but he became ill and passed away before and the role went to Bela Lugosi and as they say, the rest is history.
This being the 100 year anniversary of Universal they are putting out many gems, like Jaws last week, from their vast catalog after being remastered including a huge Blu-ray set of monster movies. Pretty pricey though, over $100 for 8 movies. That being said, even the latest edition DVDs of the Universal horror films were pretty pricey.
http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Classic-Monsters-Essential-Collection/dp/B008FL8OTK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345321046&sr=8-1&keywords=universal+monsters+blu+ray
That is funny though, the comment about when will the Universal movies be over. The local horror host in Tampa when I was growing up, Dr Paul Bearer, remarked at how bad a catalog of movies the radio station had leased. He would remark during his shows, “This movie is really horrible or my name isn’t Dr Paul Bearer”. They would never have anything as good as the Universal classics. The Universal films were in the Shock 1 and Shock 2 movie catalog packages another station locally had outbid his channel to use. Interesting stuff about the workings of TV. The interview is here,
http://crazedfanboy.com/spotlight/drpaulbearer.html
I enjoy all of the movies you show, Sven, but I confess that these older ones have a special place in my heart. Thank you for all of your hard work to make each of these shows so special – your care always comes through.
This is one of my all-time favorites. It scared the jeepers out of me as a kid, and now I can almost supress my smile when they show the “scary” parts. Thanks for pulling out these fantastic horror movies. I’m a fan in Texas!
We wait all week for your show- and thanks for keeping some of the old favorites alive! We love you here in florida!
Finally Me-TV is broadcasting in HD here in Milwaukee. Now I can actually SEE the opening of your show! Very nice! Keep the classics coming Sven!
I’m another fan in Texas — love the show, love the movies. Keep up the great work!
Thank goodness, Edward Van Sloan was around to fight all these monsters for us. It must have been a tough job but he did it so well.
Sorry guys. Missing this one tonight. Even though I’m in Chicago this weekend, I have to miss this showing since I’m at my cousin’s wedding right now. See ya next weekend!
I miss the songs!!!!!
Ready for the picture show….popcorn. tasty beverage. check.
Hello from miami, I loved the interview with mr. O.connor from the new film of the mummy. Thanks for having him there. First time I saw the clasic shown tonight with Boris n loved it!
I agree with Jodie that the older movies are the best. I don’t really care for scary movies that are actually scary. But I have to ask, what is up with the songs? I imagine there must be some kind of copyright issue at work
Last week the Sven Cafe served “Blackened lagoon Creature”,this week it’s “Egyptian Gause Wrapped Goofball” How about some Japanese fair sometime? Say like “the Mysterions” or “Matango, Attack of the Mushroom People”? Even Gamera or Godzilla. Don’t take this the wrong way, I love the classic Universal movies, but we have seen them, what, six times each? Your show is great, but “Wolfman Mac” is showing different stuff.
Sven I enjoyed the “Gauzefather” character, but after his second appearance I expected him to be a running gag througout the show. It would’ve been cool to see him one more time, if only in keeping with the familiar comedy formula of “3.”
Noble Johnson (Ardath Bey’s Nubian slave) is also memorable as a very scary zombie in Bob Hope’s “The Ghost Breakers.”
Karl Freund went from directing films like “The Mummy” and Peter Lorre’s “Mad Love” to being the cinematographer for “I Love Lucy.” I guess he was just a sucker for love stories.
All in all, another Svensational show!
I just bought myself a glow in the dark Sven Tshirt and I can’t wait to wear it to, well, anywhere. It will rank up top with all of my favorite tavern tees. I’m watching The Mummy right now and it’s actually pretty good. Love the ‘Sonny and Cher’ comment. Thanks and keep ‘em coming Mr. Goolie!.. P.S. I get you and METV for free with my Dutch cable(digital antenna) up here in Bellingham WA.
Oh, and it says something about your audience that your tee shirt sizes range from medium to double X. We are pretty buffed.
Hey Sven/Rich
Really enjoyed the original Mummy last night.
Any idea if you will be having the original Dracula
And Frakenstein on . NEVER miss Sven on Saturday night
Keep up the great work
Thanks for bringing back the memorys of growing up.
Gary….Your post about Noble Johnson was oh-so-timely because “The Ghost Breakers” is this coming Saturday’s Sven feature! So, we have our own late summer mini “Noblepalooza”! Oh, and to Serge…missed you for the Mummy…it’ll be good to have you back to help track the ghosts with Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard.
thanks for the movies, we watch every sat night here. Did you take your music out for good? also we agree the slash and gore one are not that great but we are getting a little tired of all the mummy movies also. The one last night is probably the best of the set. We were just wondering about the song sessions. Thanks for the movies though!!!
We very much enjoyed “The Mummy” last night! I realize now how good it was, especially after recently seeing the entire “Kharis” series. There is nothing like these older movies, and there was certainly only one Karloff.
Also, thank you Sven for explaining the mystery in the end credits. When we saw “The Saxon Warrior” listed, we both thought “What??? Did we miss something?”
Jack, thanks for alerting me to next Saturday’s showing of “The Ghost Breakers,” since it’s one of my two favorite classic horror-comedies, along with “A & C Meet Frankenstein.” I guess I should subscribe to Sven’s newsletter.
The Universal library is key to the Svengoolie national movement. I enjoy the mix of comedy (Bob Hope, A&C, Don Knotts) mixed in with the occasional Hammer flick, all under the Universal umbrella. On Saturday nights, my children and all of the neighborhood kids swing by and watch Svengoolie. I feel like they are entertained and educated at the same time!
Enjoyed seeing the Mummy Saturday. Actually I hadn’t seen it in at least four years. It’s slow at times, but classic.
It is good to see the Mummy on Saturday, Such a fantastic movie.
Jim: You mean to say this was a show that had aired earlier? How much earlier? We here in northeast Ohio have only been getting Me TV and “Svengoolie” since April of 2011. I didn’t come across the show until September of 2011, when I was channel surfing one Saturday night, so it’s highly possible the Karloff “Mummy” had indeed aired earlier, and I had just not been aware of it.
Svengolie your the best host.
sorry i meant to say Svengoolie is the best host.