NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Second Sight Films Blu-ray (August 2022): Second Sight Films have transferred Terence Fisher's Hammer film The Mummy to Blu-ray. Like the Icon Entertainment from 10-years before (it now appears out-of-print), it has the feature presented in original UK theatrical aspect ratio 1.66:1 and alternative full frame1.37:1. I've done a few frame capture comparisons - we well as a couple from the Warner's Hammer Horror Classics Volume 1 Blu-ray package from 2015 (reviewed HERE.) The Warner only transferred the film in 1.66:1 (Warner's DVD was 1.78:1) but it, and the Icon, seems to show a bit more in the frame as compared to the Second Sight edition. Quality is not a huge advancement but I do like the Second Sight 1080P. It's consistent and clean and colors appear well-balanced. I don't think the video is enough of a reason to double-dip - but the extras are a more bona fide enticement.

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Second Sight Films use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It is, fairly indistinguishable from the other two Blu-rays. The Mummy has few aggressive moments that come through with modest depth and score by Franz Reizenstein (Yesterday's Enemy, Circus of Horrors) , sounding clean with consistent dialogue in the lossless transfer. Second Sight Films offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Second Sight Films Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Kelly Robinson. She discusses the Mummy's history in literature, popular culture and popular film. She describes The Mummy character as living in the shadow of more popular classic movie monster and that it is the least-charismatic of classic monsters - quoting Kim Newman as stating "literally dragging his foot." The Mummy is inflexibly the same because he only has one story. She argues that this is what makes the character so rich. She makes her case getting underneath those bandages - going back to ancient history, reincarnation etc. and providing some interesting, educational historical context. Second Sight include then excellent, previous, commentary with Marcus Hearn (author of The Hammer Vault) and Jonathan Rigby (author of Christopher Lee: The Authorized Screen History.) It is filled with both commentator's knowledge expanding on significant details of production and performances. Also duplicated is Unwrapping The Mummy: The Making of a Hammer Classic that runs shy of 1/2 and hour and is also new extending with more data beyond the commentary. Plus, also on the Icon Blu-ray - The Hammer Rep Company runs 15-minutes with Rigby again detailing the group of character actors that worked in the Hammer system + The House of Horror: Memories of Bray is quite long at over 3/4 of an hour. Bray Studios is a film and television facility at Bray, near Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. It is where Hammer purchased properties on banks of the Thames utilizing them extensively for their films. The original 6-minute promo reel is also duplicated. New (I think) are two pieces with David Huckvale - a 10-minute appreciation and about the same amount of time on 'the music' discussing Franz Reizenstein. There is a lengthy stills gallery and the package has a rigid slipcase with new artwork by Graham Humphreys plus a soft cover book with new essays by Kat Ellinger, Lindsay Hallam and Kevin Lyons plus production stills and 4 collectors' art cards.     

Terence Fisher's The Mummy gets its Jimmy Sangster-penned plot (and many characters) from two 1940s Universal films; The Mummy's Hand and The Mummy's Tomb, and liberally uses the finale from The Mummy's Ghost. It's a gorgeous film - sets and lighting - and the bandaged zombie is effectively scary marching toward you. It's glorious Hammer in their prime with Terence Fisher at the helm, written by Sangster and starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Sold. The Second Sight Films Blu-ray is easily the best - looking and sounding top-shelf while containing two strong commentaries (one new) and a host of other supplements, a gorgeous cover and including a book plus accoutrements. A must-own for fans of the studio.

Gary Tooze