The Egyptian Mummy (1914)

Thanks for the memories!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Despite the title, THE Egyptian MUMMY isn't an early horror film about a bandage-wrapped creature rampaging through the streets of modern-day America. Instead, it's a lively comedy about an eccentric professor who decides to create a priceless mummy by getting an old tramp to pose as one. Comedy hijinks ensue, including a little romance and a cast of exaggerated characters.The truth is that this film is pretty decent for its time and has survived in a surprisingly good quality version. The professor character is classic stuff but the old tramp is even better: wait until you see how emaciated and sinister-looking he is! The actor would have been a good fit for a villain in a true horror movie.Certainly as with all early silent shorts, THE Egyptian MUMMY has dated somewhat in the ensuing years, but there are still some decent set pieces here, and at least one genuinely funny moment about a guy who decides to kill himself in a decidedly novel way. See for yourself.

Billy Quirk is a young man who decides that a good way to make some quick money would be sell a "mummy" to a nutty doctor (Lee Beggs) who thinks he has a procedure to bring the dead to life. Quirk wants the money to marry his girlfriend Constance Talmadge. Talmadge has such a small, unremarkable role that there is no indication of the great silent comedy star - such as in The Matrimaniac and Duchess of Buffalo, she would later become ( although oddly, one of her most memorable roles, for me, was as the Mountain Girl in Intolerance). This silent comedy short was just not that funny. What humor there was, except for the whole silly premise of the plot, was provided by the emancipated hobo playing the "mummy." Certainly of historical interest because of Talmadge and because of that worth a watch by silent comedy fans.

I laughed at this short, it was funny. And I was surprised that another Connie Talmadge film survived, and quite delighted to see her playing her perky self again. If only more of her films were still around. She was super at comedy.This short tells the story of a man who finds an unusual way to make a lot of money very quickly, so that he can marry the girl of his dreams. He enlists the aid of a hobo to play a mummy, so that he can sell his body for scientific experiments. Of course the mummy has to play dead, but has a very difficult time doing so. When he "comes alive" again pandemonium results. I give this short a 7 out of 10.

An unexceptional short which does not qualify as a precursor to later `mummy' films. Connie and Billy are young and in love... but her father does not approve. Billy's contrivances make no headway until the mummy of Ramses III is delivered to the house of Connie's father! Remember, this is a comedy not a horror movie.