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The Mummy's Tomb (1942)
Most of these incidents
are so incredible that one would almost have to be there in order to believe them. You know, many people believe that we archeologists are just a collection of old fogies digging around in ruins after old dried-up skulls and bones. Particularly medical men like yourself. Isn't that so, John? I wouldn't say that, Dad. Not everybody thinks that way. Oh, I could go on telling you stories like this all day long. Personally, I think you're boring Isobel and her mother. Who cares what happened 3,000 years ago? Being my sister doesn't give you the right to be disrespectful. - I'll have you... - Now, now. Are you two children going to start that feud all over again? Oh, I just get annoyed. So does everybody else. Am I boring you, Mrs. Evans? Oh, not at all. I find it most interesting. And you, Isobel? Oh, I should say not. Please tell us the rest. Hmm. All right. Well, we started out from Cairo to search for Ananka's tomb. We weren't a particularly adventuresome-looking group. There was Babe Hanson, an old friend of mine, a Brooklyn magician named Solvani and his daughter, Marta. And, oh, yes, Dr. Petrie of the Cairo Museum. We traveled for a long, long time through the desert, then up into the mountains. Babe! Babe, where are you? - Wow! - What happened? You all right? I don't know. I started to hook the wire to the detonator to set off the dynamite and here I am. Effendi! Effendi! This is an unholy tomb. It's the seal of the Seven Jackals. What we've been searching for. They mustn't touch it, effendi. There's a curse upon it. Oh, bosh. It means death to whoever breaks that seal. We can't stop now for a lot of silly native superstitions. I have waited a long time for this moment. The native workers fled, screaming something about there being a curse on the place. However, it didn't turn out to be Ananka's tomb at all. Easy. It's heavy. Watch out. That's good. Look. Whoa! Why, it isn't sealed. Let's take it off. Careful, now. Careful. That isn't Princess Ananka. It's a man. And in the finest state of preservation of any mummy I've ever seen. Later on, we found the most amazing thing about this mummy. Doctor. What do these lines in his face mean? There's only one answer. He was buried alive. He must have struggled desperately against those bandages. What a terrible way to die. Probably for some sacrilege. Possibly. Have you touched his face? - What? - Go ahead. Touch it. Feels like living tissue. Exactly. How true that proved to be. Because, astounding as it may seem, Kharis had never really died. We learned afterward that Kharis was being kept alive by a strange race of high priests. Only one of these high priests remained, a man by the name of Andoheb. He and a servant kept constant watch on our movements from up above in the mountains. Very interesting, aren't they, Dr. Petrie? Professor Andoheb. Where did you come from? The important thing, Doctor, is that I'm here. Then you knew about this tomb, and yet you insisted the vase was an imitation. There are some things in science which should be brought to light. And there are others, Doctor, which should be left alone. You mean, we never should have come into this cave? Since you are here, I think it's fitting that you should learn exactly what you've stumbled upon. Come. For a scientist, you are very unobserving, Dr. Petrie. Why, there's a pulse beat. Why, this is absurd. It's... It's fantastic. In this vial, I have the fluid from nine tana leaves. Nine tana leaves, Dr. Petrie. That wouldn't mean anything to you, but watch. Now, Dr. Petrie. Why, it's... It's beating faster. He's alive. Let me go! Get off! Let me go! Let me go! Let me go! Let me go! Let me go! The mummy. Somebody swiped it. Who could've done that? - I can't understand it. - Steve, Petrie! What could've happened? I don't know, Babe. He's dead. Go on and get some sleep, Marta. We'll get a start as soon as it's light. - Steve. - Yes? I wish you'd give all this up and come back to the States with us. Well, I can't promise you that, but I will be back sometime. Do you mind if I say I think you're a swell person? Hmm? Well, after that, things happened pretty fast. The next victim was my native overseer, Ali. The same fashion as the doctor. Marta went to bed that night. We were all pretty jittery and... Marta! Babe. When we got there, they'd disappeared. Obviously, there was some sort of secret passageway. I remained to search for it and Babe looked around outside. The mummy, apparently, had broken an urn in passing. And I examined the fragments and found a clue. There was a secret passageway. Steve! Marta, what happened? How did you get here? The mummy brought me here. He's alive. Yes, I know. Pop. Is he all right? He's all right. Just a little shaken up. Meanwhile, outside of the temple... See here, you Egyptian Mickey Finn. I'll give you three to tell me where she is. I'm not kiddin'. We've gotta get you out of here in a hurry. He's after tana fluid. That's what must be in this vial. And in the urn, Steve! It's full of the fluid. You mustn't let him get it. Keep him away from it! Stop him! Stop him! Well, I got Marta back safely, all right. Brought back the body of the Princess Ananka, too. But I've always regretted I wasn't able to bring back the mummy with her. You can well imagine what a contribution to science that would have been. The monster was really alive, walking and breathing? Absolutely. It's beyond the imagination. The most amazing thing I've ever heard. Why, it's like hearing from a world beyond. That's the way it happened, and if Marta were alive today she'd tell you the same thing. Nobody that ever went through an experience like that could ever forget it. Well, at least I have the satisfaction of having destroyed a terrible monster, and in doing so, rid the world of an awful curse. Thirty years ago, an infidel sought to destroy me and to destroy Kharis. Both attempts failed. The bullet he fired into me only crushed my arm. The fire that sought to consume Kharis only seared and twisted and maimed. Open it. Kharis still lives... Lives for the moment he will carry death and destruction to all those who dared violate the tomb of Ananka. That moment has now arrived. Once each night, during the cycle of the full moon, you will dissolve three tana leaves and give the liquid to Kharis. Three leaves will keep him alive. Nine leaves will give him motivation. And now I leave in your hands the curse of Amon-Ra and the destiny of Kharis. Preparations are complete to the last detail. A position as caretaker of the little cemetery at Mapleton has been arranged. Now swear by the sacred gods of Egypt that you will never rest until the last remaining member of the Banning family is destroyed. Until they all have suffered the fate of those who dared to defile the tomb of our royal dead. Swear that you will never betray your trust. I swear by the mighty power of Amon-Ra, whose anger can shatter the world, and by the dread horror of Set, I shall never forsake my trust as a high priest of Karnak. And now, O mighty gods of Egypt, may you find in this young follower a successor worthy in every respect to carry on the sacred trust now delivered into his hands. And save him from any temptation that might destroy him. As it nearly destroyed me. The ways of my people are strange to Western minds, but it is my duty to offer prayers each night, so that the soul of my dear one is not left alone to wander lonely and forgotten through the spaces of time. Certainly. Anything we can do to... No, there is nothing. It is simply that not a single word may be uttered in the presence of Occidentals. Very good, sir. You can count on me, sir. I shall see that you're not disturbed, sir. Thank you. We are on our way, Kharis. Now nothing shall stand between us and the fulfillment of our vows. Nothing, Kharis. Nothing. - How do you do? - Good evening. - You the new caretaker? - Yes, effendi. They wired me and said you'd be here. I expected a much older man. It's very peaceful here. I think I like it. But it's such a lonely existence. It seems strange to me that a young fellow like you would want to tie himself down to the job of a caretaker. You see, there is a difference in our philosophies. Here I continue close to the one I admired and loved in life. Have it your own way. I'm not complaining. You understand what you have to do here. - Yes, I understand thoroughly. - All right. I'll be getting along. Good-bye. Bye, effendi. Three tana leaves to keep him alive, nine to give him movement. Kharis. Kharis. Kharis. The moon rides high in the sky again, Kharis. There is death in the night air. Your work begins. What was that? I don't know. Let's go home. I'm scared. Vic. Vic. Mmm? What's the matter? There's something outside. I seen it go by the window. Seen what? I don't know, but its shadow crossed my face. - Ain't nothin' out there. - I seen it, I tell ya. I'm gonna phone the Sheriff right now. Hello. Sheriff speaking. What do you want? A shadow? You wake me up for that? Go on back to bed. You must be crazy. Whoa! Whoa! What's the matter with you? Quiet down! You're kind of cramped for space, aren't you, son? Mmm-hmm. Yeah. Well, here goes. You know, that's just perfect. Even if you didn't ask me, as a checker player, I'd say you're a darn good doctor. Three games in a row ought to prove something. Yeah. Yeah, it proves it's 11:00. Ooh, I'd better be getting on home. And I'd better be getting to bed. You should've been there an hour ago. That's what you get for having an older sister. Now, Stephen, don't you start talking about ages. - What's the matter with them? - I'll run out and see. - You go to bed, Dad. - All right, son. I'll be back in a minute, Isobel, to take you home. - Good night, Jane. - Good night, dear. - Good night, Isobel. - Good night. King! Silver! Quiet, boys! What's the trouble with the dogs, Jim? They don't bark like that for nothing, Mr. John. Something must have frightened them mighty bad. Kharis! Why, that... That sounds like Stephen. Wait here. He... He's dead. One is gone, Kharis. One who dared defy our ancient gods. Three remain... Only three. And then we can return to the land that gave us birth. Ah, this is just a waste of time. Those marks left on his throat were nothing but dust. You're the coroner and you should know. Still, it might lead to some clue. It's worth checking on. I've tried to compare this with specimens of clay and dirt from all over this territory. Seems to be nothing like it around here. This is just another one of those fiend murders. What reason would anyone have for doing such a thing? You can't call it a fiend murder and let it go at that. I don't intend to, John. We'll do everything we can. - Just let us handle it. - All right, Sheriff. Go on. Well, you see, we were... We were parked along the west county pike and... What time was that? Well, it must've been a little before 11:00. We were listening to Jan Garber on the radio. That's right. Then all of a sudden, a shadow passed over us. What sort of a shadow? Well, I don't know. Just a shadow. Didn't you see what made it? No, sir. We didn't look up right at once. And when we did look, it was gone. - All right, you can go. - Yes, sir. I'll send for you if I need you again. - Vic. - Yeah. You called me about seeing the same sort of shadow. I seen it. It passed right over my bed. I seen somebody pass by the window, too. - What did he look like? - I don't know. The moon was behind him. He just kind of looked all black. Anything else? When we looked out, whoever it was, was gone. Okay, Vic, I'll see you later. I've covered a lot of murders, this is the first time I ever had a shadow for a suspect. Might as well let the reporters in. Yeah? What are you gonna tell them? I don't know. Maybe they can give me a lead. Okay. Oh, John, are you still at this desk? I've checked through every person that ever contacted him. I still can't find anyone who would have reason to... Look, John, you can't spend the rest of your life doing detective work. All right, Auntie. You're the boss around here. What would you have me do? Stop neglecting your practice. Go down to your office and... My dear, since this thing's happened, you've forgotten her completely. I guess you're right, Auntie. Of course I'm right. You go on out there. Spend the day with her. It'll do you both some good. All right. It's wonderful being with you again, darling. Aunt Jane told me you'd called, but since that night I've had so much on my mind. Oh, I understand, John. O mighty gods of Egypt, may you keep up my strength to carry out the mission entrusted to me. Strength to resist any temptation which may be thrown across my path. Strength to fulfill the destiny of Kharis. I was wondering when he'd get here. When does the train arrive? Around 11:00, I think. I'll run down and meet him. You needn't wait up. Oh. I certainly shall wait up. Babe was always one of my favorites. Suit yourself, Auntie. - Good night. - Good night, dear. Now go, while the moon is still high in the sky. Death goes with you. Am I glad to see you, Babe. I came as fast as I could, John. How's Jane? Oh, fine, considering. Come on, get in. We can talk on the way home. Very well. That's everything we know. Haven't been able to find a motive or reason or anything. - Not a clue nor nothing? - No. Oh, yes, yes, there was something, but nothing came of it. What was that? A kind of grayish mark on Dad's throat. Must've been a powerful hand that strangled him. What did you say? Kind of grayish mark on Dad's throat. Clay or dust or something. Grayish mark. A grayish mark. Quiet, King. Quiet, Silver. Jim! Jim! Jim! You are back, Kharis. Now you can rest. Rest until the moon is high again in the sky. Two are dead and two remain. It's no use. Hemiplegia. Take a look. It's a form of paralysis caused by severe shock. Jim. Jim. Don't you know me? Can't you remember anything? If there's any change, will you please call me? I will, John. All right, Babe. Hey, look who's here! Hi, boys, how are you? Hi, Lefty, Joe. Hi, Peoples. Well, Frank, don't tell me they sent you out on this assignment. Yep. Had my choice of covering the Russian front or this. I picked this. Look, John, your father has told this story over and over. Sure. When I was a kid. He used to tell me fairy tales, too. Yes, but this is different, and you know it. Thirty years ago, your father and I met up with this curse in Ananka's tomb. It wasn't imagination either. We saw that curse bring on death. We thought we'd destroyed the mummy in the fire. Maybe it escaped, or maybe there was another one. Oh, Babe, it's ridiculous. Even supposing you were right, what would it be doing around here? Where would it hide? If those high priests could keep a man alive for 3,000 years, they certainly could figure out the rest, too. Oh, Babe, listen... The only clue we have are the dust marks on Dad's throat, and now on the throats of Aunt Jane and Jim. It's not dust. It was mold that came from a mummy. All right, Babe. Have it your way. We can't go on arguing all night. - John, will you do me a favor? - Certainly. Leave Mapleton. Go as far away as you can, as quickly as you can. Why would I do a thing like that? Because you're next in line. The curse on that tomb extends to the blood relations of all the men that entered it. - Then you're included. - Suppose I am. I'm an old man. You're... Now, Babe, I've known you ever since I could walk. I'd do anything in the world for you. But I'm a doctor. I can't believe in a live mummy. Where are you going? I'm going to find someone that will listen to me. Someone that will listen to me before it's too late for all of us. There was a gray mark on the throats of every single person killed in this town. I know that. And that mark wasn't mud and it wasn't clay. It was mold. We'll look into it, Mr. Hanson. And we certainly appreciate your coming in like this to tell us about it. Don't you believe me? Well, now, you see... Yes, I know. You're a doctor, too, like John Banning. A heart and lungs couldn't last 3,000 years. Go on, tell me that. As a matter fact, I was just about to say those very words. All right, don't believe me. And don't do anything about it. Wait till more murders are committed. Look, Mr. Hanson, there are dozens of reporters here from all the metropolitan papers. A number of them are razzing Mapleton about the revival of witchcraft. I know that. What would they say if I was to tell them that a mummy, 3,000 years old, was doing all the killing? They'd laugh us out of office. What will they say when they find out that I was right? And that I tried to tip you off? Give me a beer, will you? Yes, sir. Coming right up. Excuse me. Aren't you Babe Hanson? - That's right. - I'm Jake Lovell, New York Record. How are you? Suppose you're down here because of all the trouble. Maybe. Too bad about Mr. Banning and his sister, wasn't it? Yeah. Any idea what's behind everything? I know what's behind it. You know what? I know all about it. Only nobody will listen to me. Look, friend, if you're after a listener, you don't need to look any further. Now, what's this all about? Well, it started 30 years ago when Steve Banning and I discovered Ananka's tomb. Yeah, well, what's that got to do with it? Everything to do with it. That tomb was guarded by a live mummy. We saw it. We fought it. You mean to say... You think a mummy's been doing all these murders around here? I know it was a mummy. What a yarn. It's gonna be a tough baby to sell my editor. Give me all the details. Well, at that time Steve and I were young men. Steve was interested in archeology. I know. I know. I've heard that laughingstock routine before. Now what do you want me to do? Sure, the whole town's afraid of their own shadows. I'm following up on it. Good-bye. Sheriff! It's out again. I just saw that shadow. I saw it with my own eyes. You saw a shadow. What else did you see? I didn't wait for anything more. That's fine. That's a great help. Well, you don't think for a minute I was taking any chances? - Where did you see it? - I was walking along High Street... Come on. We're going back to High Street. I've written hundreds of news stories, but never in my life... The killer! He's out again! He just frightened Nick Landsford down on High Street. The Sheriff and he are down there now! Thanks, Babe. See you later. Kharis! He's dead. Look. What is it? I'm not sure, but I think I know someone who can tell me. Darling, will you drive me to the university? - I want to see Professor Norman. - Of course. I'll call him and tell him we're coming. Be out in a minute. All right. This powder, which you say was scraped from the gray marks on the victims' throats, is mold. - Mold? - Yes, mold. Developed through so many centuries that it's almost impossible to calculate. Hmm... It's the same we find in this strip of linen. What makes you so sure? Well, in the first place, there's a distinct scent common to both of them. Smell it. It's undoubtedly the odor of myrrh. Comes from a tree known as the Commiphora abyssinica, which grows only in parts of Africa. So? This reddish brown resin is myrrh. The other test tubes contain cedar oil and sodium carbonate. Now, all those substances come from this strip of linen. Look. You can see that mark where the linen has been partially eaten away? Yes, yes, I know. But what's it all about? Where does it come from? That mold and this strip of linen both came from the body of a mummy. The chemicals were used for embalming. There's no doubt about it. That inky hieroglyphic there is the same that's found on the body of the Princess Ananka. It dates back almost about 3,000 years, to the reign of King Amenophis, her father. But... Whether you are ready to accept it or not, we are dealing with the presence of the Living Dead. Then Babe was right, and we wouldn't listen to him. Well, now you've seen the evidence. We've got to accept it. Living or dead, I'm going after it, whatever it is, now that I know what to look for. Come on. - Telegram for Mr. Banning. - Oh, yes. Thank you. The commission's just what I wanted. But coming at a time like this... I think it's wonderful. Just what you've needed, something to get you away from here. Nobody else could reason with you. But there's one thing certain. You know the army won't wait. Three days. Hardly gives me time to get my affairs settled. If you have any things that need attending to, I can take care of them. - You? - Sure. You didn't think for one minute I'd leave without taking you with me, did you? Well, you've just proposed and answered yes all in one breath. Oh, Isobel, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so abrupt. I... Now, don't go spoiling it by saying any more. We'd better get started. I have a million things to do. Wedding preparations and all that. John, maybe we'd just better go down to the judge's office in the morning. Oh, no, we'll have it at home, in memory of Dad. He'd have wanted it that way. All right, John. Kharis. Kharis, come here. They think there will be a marriage and an heir to carry on the blood of the Bannings. They think that, Kharis. This time, Kharis, I'm sending you upon a different mission. One of life rather than of death. You are eternal, Kharis. Earthly pains and sickness cannot touch you. Like the age-old hills of Egypt, you exist, you are. The ancient line of the high priests of Karnak must minister unto you until the end of time, Kharis. I shall do that for you, Kharis, I. I am going to take on to myself a wife, Kharis. A wife. Do you understand that? The one... The one who is supposed to be the bride of the last of the Bannings. The one whom it was ordained I should find. Turn around, dear. Mmm-hmm. There, I think that's it. What do you think, Ella? Oh, she looks beautiful. How fast they grow up, though. Are you sure you can have it ready for tomorrow? Oh, heavens, yes! There isn't much to do. A dart here and there, shorten the sleeves. You're about the same size your mother was when she was married in this dress. - Am I, Mother? - Mmm-hmm. Who knows? Maybe someday I may be making this dress over for another young bride. - Oh, you never can tell. - Well, good night. - Good night, Laura. - Good night, Laura. Together we three, until the world crumbles and there is no longer a stone or a rock, or a tree or a blade of grass. That is my will, Kharis, and you shall obey it. Bring her here. Go! Go. You've been happy, haven't you, Mother? We'll talk about that later. It's time now you were in bed. Vic. Vic! There's that sound again. I'm scared. - Good night, darling. - Good night, Mother. Sleep well. All right now, men. I've asked you to meet me at the Banning home because we've got a terrible job on our hands. And it's gonna require every bit of courage we've got to see it through. Whether you can believe it or not, the facts are here, and we've got to face them. A creature that's been alive for over 3,000 years is in this town, and it's brought death with it. We've got to run it down. Thirty years ago, my father discovered and violated a sacred tomb in Egypt. Did I hear you say something about Egypt? That's right. I've been out to the graveyard, Sheriff, and I was talking to the caretaker about a final resting place for myself. Yes? And the caretaker spoke all about Egypt and quoted a lot of passages from his Egyptian Bible. Then when I heard you talk here tonight, I thought maybe he knows something about it. John! John! Oh, John! John! Isobel! The monster took her away! - Isobel? - Yes. John, give out those clubs. Give out the torches. Come on, men, get your torches. Where am I? What are you doing? There is nothing to be afraid of. Nothing will hurt you ever again. That creature. Kharis? You have nothing to fear from him. He has brought you here to me because it is your destiny to achieve the greatest honor that can come to a woman. You will become the bride of a high priest of Karnak. No. No! For you, I'm going to forsake the teachings that have been handed down to us for generations upon end. The secret that has kept Kharis alive all these years can be ours as well. You're mad. After I have given you the tana fluid you will be immortal, even as Kharis is immortal. What I can do for you, I can do for myself. You will bear me a son, and he will be brought up in the confines of the tombs of Egypt, even as I was brought up. A new priest of Karnak who will carry on the ancient and honorable line. No. John and I, tomorrow, we're going to be married. There will be no marriage between you and John Banning. The sins of his father are upon his head, and only death waits for him, as it has for the rest of his family. For he who despoils the ancient tombs of Egypt must die. One day you will thank me for this. Over here. Kharis. Take her out and hide her until I get rid of these fools. Let's go in! Open that door! Open that door! Come on! Open up! Open up in there! Get something to break this door down! Quiet! Quiet, men! There's the man we're after. You gentlemen wish to see me? Yes. You've some explaining to do. What have you done with Isobel? With whom? Up to now, I've only asked questions. Do I have to use another method to make you speak up? Well? I know nothing of any such person, effendi. The mummy. Isobel. Through the woods. - Banning! - Well? For those who defile the temples of ancient Egypt, a violent death shall be their fate. Come on, men, let's go. Over there! If the mummy tries to get away, stop him with fire. Watch the back stairs. Don't let him get away. Isobel. Isobel! John. I'm so glad we managed to sneak out while the folks are celebrating. Hey! |
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