Scavenger Hunt 67 (October)
Film 16/31 - Task 24 - A Horror Film from before 1950

Hooptober 7.0
46/39 - Bonus Watch 12/6 decades - 30s
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Ohhhh Boris Karloff...wow.   This one really rises and falls on his esteemed shoulders.   I’ve been working my way through the Universal Classic Monsters and was glad to finally see this one.  Apparently it was the first to explore the monster as romantic lead trope, and even without makeup, it’s hard to imagine Karloff in such a role.

As it is, the makeup is terrific and the close up s of karloff’s face staring into the camera are beyond iconic.  His face really is as though it was genetically engineered for this sort of role (not to mention Frankenstein).   It’s a very “talky” movie, but still quite good.  Zita Johann as the female lead is captivating in a challenging dual role.  

I found it interesting that the Mummy doesn’t actually walk in this one.  We see Karloff in full mummy makeup at the very beginning laying in the sarcophagus, and we see him open his eyes and move his arms, but despite my memory and expectation he never walks.  Later entries have the mummy shambling through the frame, but not here.  I think that restraint born of limitations on the makeup works rather well, suggesting rather than showing always leads to more horror.

Despite my praise, there is something so distant and remote when I watch movies from the 30s that keeps me from getting fully engaged.  I can appreciate the artistry - particularly for the time - but I stop short of any kind of emotional connection.