The Mummy’s Hand (1940) in Color — Starring Dick Foran & Peggy Moran

The Mummy’s Hand (1940) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover The Mummy’s Hand, the 1940 American horror film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Dick Foran, Peggy Moran, and Wallace Ford, now available as a professionally colorized version. In Egypt, Andoheb travels to the Hill of the Seven Jackals in answer to the summons of The High Priest of Karnak. The dying priest explains the story of Kharis: over three thousand years ago Prince Kharis had secretly loved Princess Ananka, but she died. Kharis stole sacred, life-giving tana leaves, but he was caught before he could use them to restore life to the dead Princess Ananka. Kharis’s penalty upon being discovered was to be buried alive, without a tongue, and the tana leaves were buried with him. Priests recovered him and kept him alive as protector of Ananka’s tomb. In Cairo, archaeologist Steve Banning and his sidekick Babe Jenson discover a vase fragment that leads them to Princess Ananka’s tomb, setting in motion a deadly confrontation with the ancient mummy Kharis. This Universal horror classic launched the Mummy series that would continue through the 1940s, featuring Tom Tyler in the iconic role of Kharis. Own this classic horror film in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

In Egypt, Andoheb travels to the Hill of the Seven Jackals in answer to the summons of The High Priest of Karnak. The dying priest of the sect explains the story of Kharis to Andoheb: over three thousand years ago Prince Kharis had secretly loved Princess Ananka, but she died. Kharis stole sacred, life-giving tana leaves, but he was caught before he could use them to restore life to the dead Princess Ananka. Kharis’s penalty upon being discovered was to be buried alive, without a tongue, and the tana leaves were buried with him. Priests recovered him and kept him alive as protector of Ananka’s tomb. During the cycle of the full moon, the fluid from the brew of three tana leaves must be administered to the creature to keep him alive. Should despoilers enter the tomb of the Princess, a fluid of nine leaves will restore movement to the monster so he can protect it from defilers. Any more than nine will make him uncontrollable.

In Cairo, down on his luck archaeologist Steve Banning and his buffoon sidekick, Babe Jenson, discover the remnants of a broken vase in a bazaar. Banning is convinced it is an authentic ancient Egyptian relic, and his interpretation of the hieroglyphs on the piece leads him to believe it contains clues to the location of Princess Ananka’s tomb. Banning visits Andoheb, who misleads him about the importance of the vase and then drops and breaks it on purpose. With the support of the eminent Dr. Petrie of the Cairo Museum, but against the wishes of Andoheb, who is professor of Egyptology at the museum, Banning seeks funds for his expedition. Banning and Jenson meet an American stage magician, Solvani, who agrees to fund their quest in return for a share of the spoils of the tomb. They then get into a scuffle with Andoheb’s henchmen. Solvani’s daughter Marta is not convinced of his investment, thanks to a prior visit from Andoheb, who brands the two young archeologists as frauds.

The expedition departs in search of the Hill of the Seven Jackals, with the Solvanis tagging along. In their explorations, they stumble upon the tomb of Kharis, finding the mummy and the tana leaves but nothing to indicate the existence of Ananka’s tomb. Andoheb surprises Dr. Petrie in the mummy’s cave and has the scientist feel the creature’s living pulse. After administering the tana brew from nine leaves, the monster quickly dispatches Petrie by strangling him with one hand, and escapes with Andoheb through a secret passageway to the temple on the other side of the mountain. The creature marauds about the camp, strangling the Egyptian overseer Ali and eventually attacking Solvani and kidnapping Marta. Banning and Jenson set out to track Kharis down, with Jenson going around the mountain and Banning attempting to follow the secret passage they have discovered inside the tomb.

Andoheb has plans of his own: enthralled by Marta’s beauty, he plans to inject himself and his captive with tana fluid, making them both immortal. Jenson arrives in the nick of time and shoots Andoheb dead in self-defense, while Banning attempts to rescue Marta. However, Kharis appears on the scene and in the ensuing struggle, Banning’s bullets have no effect on the mummy. Marta had overheard Andoheb describe the secret of the tana fluid and tells Banning and Jenson that Kharis must not be allowed to drink any more of it. When the creature raises the tana fluid to his lips, Jenson shoots the container from his grasp. Dropping to the floor, Kharis attempts to ingest the spilled life-giving liquid. Banning seizes the opportunity to overturn a brazier onto the monster, engulfing it in flames.

At the end, the members of the expedition head happily back to the United States with the mummy of Ananka and the diamonds from her tomb.

Cast & Crew

Director: Christy Cabanne

Stars: Dick Foran, Peggy Moran, Wallace Ford, Eduardo Ciannelli, George Zucco, Cecil Kellaway, Charles Trowbridge, Tom Tyler

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The Mummy’s Hand was originally filmed in black and white, with cinematography that captured the atmospheric Egyptian tombs and the eerie presence of the mummy. This professionally colorized restoration enhances every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the ancient Egyptian tomb sequences to the dramatic confrontations with Kharis. The colorized version reveals new visual richness in the film’s settings, where the Cairo bazaar, the desert expedition, and the ancient tombs gain authenticity that transports viewers to the mysterious world of Egyptian archaeology. Tom Tyler’s iconic performance as Kharis gains additional dimension in color, his shambling, mute presence becoming even more striking as color highlights the details of the mummy makeup and the atmospheric lighting that made him one of Universal’s most memorable monsters. The film’s horror sequences, including the mummy’s attacks and the climactic fire scene, become even more dynamic in color, the contrast between the dusty tombs and the dramatic flames creating visual intensity that enhances the terror. Now also available in colour.

Buy The Mummy’s Hand in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Released in 1940, The Mummy’s Hand represents a significant entry in Universal’s Classic Monsters series, launching a new Mummy franchise that would continue through four sequels: The Mummy’s Tomb (1942), The Mummy’s Ghost (1944), The Mummy’s Curse (1944), and Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955). Unlike Boris Karloff’s 1932 The Mummy, which was an eerie love story across the millennia, The Mummy’s Hand established the template for the later Mummy films: straight fright fare with a shambling, strangling, single-minded and mute monster. This version of Kharis, played by Tom Tyler, would become the form that viewers would know the mummy best, establishing the character’s iconic look and behavior for decades to come.

The film was directed by Christy Cabanne, a veteran director who had been working in Hollywood since the silent era. The screenplay was written by Griffin Jay and Maxwell Shane, creating a story that combined archaeological adventure with supernatural horror. The film’s success established a formula that Universal would use throughout the 1940s: low-budget horror sequels that could be produced quickly while still delivering the thrills that audiences expected from the studio’s monster franchise.

The Mummy’s Hand was part of Universal’s strategy to revive their monster franchise in the 1940s, following the success of the Son of Frankenstein and other sequels. Unlike the original 1932 Mummy, which was a prestige production with a substantial budget, The Mummy’s Hand was made more economically, reflecting the studio’s approach to B-movie horror during the war years. Despite its lower budget, the film featured impressive special effects for the time, particularly in the mummy’s resurrection and attack sequences.

The film holds a 60% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 10 reviews, with an average score of 5.8/10. Contemporary critics had mixed reactions, with Bosley Crowther of The New York Times commenting on the film’s use of trope and cliché, adding “frightening or funny, take your choice.” However, the film’s success with audiences ensured the continuation of the Mummy series and cemented Kharis as one of Universal’s enduring horror icons. Through modern colorization, this classic horror film reaches new audiences who can appreciate its place in the history of American cinema and the Universal Monsters legacy. Now also available en couleur.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 / MKV digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: English original mono
• Runtime: 67 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Who stars in The Mummy’s Hand?
A: Dick Foran stars as Steve Banning, with Peggy Moran as Marta Solvani, Wallace Ford as Babe Jenson, Eduardo Ciannelli as the High Priest, George Zucco as High Priest Andoheb, and Tom Tyler as Kharis the mummy.

Q: Is The Mummy’s Hand a sequel to the 1932 Mummy?
A: No, The Mummy’s Hand is a reboot that launched a new Mummy series, featuring a different version of the mummy character named Kharis.

Q: What is the plot of The Mummy’s Hand?
A: Archaeologists discover Princess Ananka’s tomb, awakening the mummy Kharis who must protect the tomb from defilers, leading to deadly confrontations in the Egyptian desert.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as MP4 and MKV files that play on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

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