The Mummy’s Shroud (1967)

Director: John Gilling

Cast: André Morell, John Phillips, David Buck

Synopsis: In 1920 an archaeological expedition discovers the tomb of an ancient Egyptian child prince. Returning home with their discovery, the expedition members soon find themselves being killed off…

Films don’t come any less original than this dull entry from Hammer. All the usual bases are covered: a prologue showing us how the mummy – protector of a child prince – came to be mummified; an Egyptian expedition breaching the threshold thus triggering the curse that awakens the mummy (after first ignoring the warning of a fiery-eyed Arabian protector of the tomb, who would later become The Master in the BBC’s 1970s Dr. Who series); a giant mummy – people who become mummified apparently grow an extra foot or so in death – who wanders the night-time streets in search of the cursed without ever arousing the curiosity of the locals.

The young female lead (Maggie Kimberly – Witchfinder General) is striking, with a wide generous mouth and sculpted cheekbones, but she can’t act for toffee, and it’s not surprising to see how short her list of acting credits is. John Phillips fares better as the cowardly financier of the expedition. Dear old Michael Ripper (The Great St. Trinian’s Train Robbery, The Deadly Bees), who usually played cantankerous innkeepers in Hammer movies, here plays Phillips’ mild-mannered, put-upon assistant, and has a larger role than usual. The leading man is as bland as Hammer’s young leading men usually were. In fact he was so bland I can’t even be bothered to look up his name.

The mummy’s final disintegration is well-staged, but other than that, this movie doesn’t have much to recommend it.

(Reviewed 29th February 2012)