Plot
Ostensibly taking place twenty-five years after the events of The Mummy's Ghost, this sequel marks the last of Universal's series featuring the evil mummy "Kharis," played by Lon Chaney, Jr.. A rather gruff-looking Chaney plays the loosely wrapped Egyptian high priest, who is extricated from his resting place in the bayous of Louisiana (relocated from New England after the previous film) by a team of archaeologists. Thanks to the procurement of some tanna leaves by sinister Egyptologist Izor Zandaab (Peter Coe) and his creepy-looking henchman Ragheb (Martin Kosleck), Kharis is up and around once again, seeking the reincarnation of his lost love Ananka (Virginia Christine, who would later portray Folgers coffee pitchwoman Mrs. Olsen). Though most installments of the Chaney mummy series tended to rehash story elements from Universal's Boris Karloff classic, this is one of the more original plotlines. ~ Cavett Binion, RoviReview
The most tightly wrapped of Universal's classic monsters dons the bandages once again in this fifth and final installment in the studio's Mummy series (not including Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy). Following closely on the heels of The Mummy's Ghost, which was also released in 1944, this film was a vast improvement featuring virtually nonstop action from start to finish with a minimum of padding to explain the previous pictures. This time, Kharis the mummy (Lon Chaney Jr.) is unearthed from a Louisana swamp -- along with his beloved Princess Ananka (Virginia Christine) -- and proceeds to go on his usual bloody rampage. Christine is excellent in the role and looks stunning for a 3,000-year-old woman who just crawled out of the sand. The same can't be said for Chaney's Kharis whose slow, limping stride is as nasty as his murderous disposition. In fact, of Chaney's three films as the creature, Curse marks his best and scariest performance particularly in the slam-bang finale. Technical achievements, including the sets and special effects, are very good and help to create a necessarily spooky atmosphere. ~ Patrick Legare, RoviCast
- Lon Chaney, Jr. - Kharis, the Mummy
- Peter Coe - Dr. Ilzor Zardad
- Virginia Christine - Princess Ananka
- Kay Harding - Betty Walsh
- Dennis Moore - Dr. James Halsey
Credit
John B. Goodman - Art Director, Leslie Goodwins - Director, Fred R. Feitshans, Jr. - Editor, Paul Sawtell - Composer (Music Score), Paul Sawtell - Musical Direction/Supervision, Jack Pierce - Makeup, Virgil E. Miller - Cinematographer, Oliver Drake - Producer, Bernard Schubert - Screenwriter| The Mummy an' the Armadillo (2004 Film), The Mummy Strikes (1943 Film) | |
| The Mummy's Ghost (1944 Film), The Mummy's Hand (1940 Film) |
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