The Mummy (USA 1999)


Directed by: Steven Sommers
Screen Script: Nina Wilcox Putnam, Richard Schayer, John L. Balderston (1932)
Steven Sommers, Lyloyd Fonvielle, Kevin Jarre
Producers: Patricia Carr, Sean Daniel, James Jacks, Kevin Jarre, Megan Moran
Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Cinematography: Adrian Biddle
Film editing: Bob Ducsay
Runtime: 124 minutes

Cast
Brendan Fraser ... Richard 'Rick' O'Connell
Rachel Weisz ... Evelyn Carnahan
John Hannah ... Jonathan Carnahan
Arnold Vosloo ... Imhotep
Kevin J. O'Connor ... Beni Gabor
Oded Fehr ... Ardeth Bay
Jonathan Hyde ... Dr. Allen Chamberlain
Erick Avari ... Dr. Terrence Bey
Bernard Fox ... Captain Winston Havlock
Stephen Dunham ... Mr. Henderson
Corey Johnson ... Mr. Daniels
Tuc Watkins ... Mr. Burns
Omid Djalili ... Gad Hassan
Aharon Ipalé ... Pharaoh Seti I
Patricia Velasquez ... Anck-su-namun

The film begins with the story of Imhotep and Anck-su-namun, 1290 v. Chr. - Ardeth Bay tells us:
"Thebes, City of the Living. Crown jewel of Pharaoh Seti the First. Home of Imhotep, Pharaoh's high priest, keeper of the dead. Birthplace of Anck-su-namun, Pharaoh's mistress. No other man was allowed to touch her. But for their love, they were willing to risk life itself."
Imhotep and Anck-su-namun murder the Pharaoh and Anck-su-namun herself, too, to give Imhotep the opportunity to flight from the bodyguards (Medjai) of the Pharaoh (Medjai) and to resurrect her later.
"To resurrect Anck-su-namun Imhotep and his priests broke into her crypt and stole her body. They raced into the desert taking Anck-su-namun's corpse to Hamunaptra, City of the Dead, ancient burial site for the sons of pharaohs and resting place for the wealth of Egypt. For his love, Imhotep dared the gods' anger by going deep into the city where he took the black Book of the Dead from its holy resting place. Anck-su-namun's soul had been sent to the dark underworld, her vital organs removed and placed in five sacred canopic jars.
Anck-su-namun's soul had come back from the dead. But Pharaoh's bodyguards had followed Imhotep and stopped him before the ritual could be completed. Imhotep's priests were condemned to be mummified alive. As for Imhotep, he was condemned to endure the Hom-Dai, the worst of all ancient curses, one so horrible, it had never before been bestowed. He was to remain sealed inside his sarcophagus, the undead for all eternity. The Medjai would never allow him to be released for he would arise a walking disease, a plague upon mankind, an unholy flesh-eater with the strength of ages, power over the sands and the glory of invincibility.
For 3000 years, men and armies fought over this land, never knowing what evil lay beneath it. And for 3000 years, we, the Medjai, the descendants of Pharaoh's sacred bodyguards, kept watch."

TO BE CONTINUED...

(Copyright of the pictures: Universal Studios)