The Mummy (1932)

The American pre-Code supernatural horror film, The Mummy (1932), directed by Karl Freund, depicts an archaeological expedition led by Sir Joseph Whemple in 1921. During this expedition, the mummy of Imhotep, an ancient Egyptian high priest, is discovered. Upon inspection by Dr. Muller, it is revealed that the mummy’s viscera were untouched and there were signs of a struggle indicating that Imhotep had been buried alive. Alongside the mummy lies a cursed casket containing the ‘Scroll of Thoth’. Despite Muller’s warning, Ralph Norton opens the casket and reads aloud from the scroll, causing Imhotep to come back to life. This incident causes Norton to lose his sanity as Imhotep takes the scroll with him. Norton is said to have died laughing while wearing a straitjacket afterwards.

A decade later, Imhotep has integrated into present-day society under the guise of Ardath Bey, a peculiar Egyptian scholar. He enlists the help of Sir Joseph’s son Frank and Professor Pearson to uncover the location of Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon’s tomb. Once it is uncovered, the artifacts are donated to the Cairo Museum before Bey mysteriously disappears. It isn’t long before he crosses paths with Helen Grosvenor, a woman with an uncanny resemblance to the princess, who takes shelter with Muller. Despite falling for her, Bey faces competition from Frank for her affection. When his true identity as Imhotep is revealed, Muller advises Joseph to destroy the dangerous Scroll of Thoth, but Bey uses his mystical abilities to eliminate him and commands a Nubian servant to retrieve the Scroll for him.