George Zucco

British police are after a serial killer who lures his female victims through newspaper personal ads and sends cryptic poem clues to the cops. A serial killer in London is murdering young women he meets through the personal columns of newspapers. He announces each of his murders to the police by sending them a cryptic poem. After a dancer disappears, the police enlist an American friend of hers, Sandra Carpenter, to answer advertisements in the personal columns, and lure the killer.

The movie begins with title and credits shown over Aztec stone work. A scroll contains a foreword, "Near the little city of San Juan, New Mexico, stand the Aztec ruins. Archeologists tell us they are the remains of a once great temple, abandoned by the Aztecs when they migrated south to the Valley of Mexico, where they founded a rich empire. To defeat the greed of Cortez and his Spanish adventurers who had inaugurated a campaign of loot and murder, the wiley Emperor Montezuma hid his fabulous treasure far to the north and implored his native gods to guard it. Among these gods was the feathered serpent---Quetzalcoatl." We see the creature in its lair. A car passes by the ruins and Professor Andrew Forbes (George Zucco) is driving. He walks to an opening in the mountain. He walks through an underground chamber lit by torches. He paws a handful of gold and jewels in a treasure chest. The hiss of his captive creature draws his attention to a niche covered with bars. He talks to his pet, "More than 300 years, Quetzalcoatl, you have guarded the treasure of Montezuma. Now you protect it for Professor Andrew Forbes. As I have found it five years ago, it's mine by right of discovery. No other human eye shall see it and live." He pulls a feather off the creature, and taunts it. He knows it will kill to get it back. Dr. John Lambert (James Metcalf) reviews his most recent article, "Aztec Carving of the Legendary Bird Quetzalcoatl." Mary Forbes (Hope Kramer), step daughter of Professor Andrew Forbes, has stopped by to see Lambert. She warns Lambert that her father will be upset about the mention of Montezuma's treasure legend. She also mentions that her father has been acting strangely and disappears for long periods. Forbes bursts into the room and demands words with Lambert. Forbes pulls a feather from his pocket and drops it to the floor, and then storms out. Mary looks down and finds the feather. Lambert immediately recognizes the feather and tells Mary it is very rare. He explains that the creature was half bird and half reptile and that it lived on blood. The three other feathers, known to exist, were found on dead men whose throats had been torn open. Mary goes home and talks to her father about the feather. Forbes excuses himself and drives back to the mountain lair. Lambert has an appointment with a man named Hastings in the nearby town of Azteca. Pulling a lever, Forbes releases Quetzalcoatl from his cage. It flies off seeking its feather. Lambert stops his car and gets out. He hears the growls of the flying creature and pulls the feather out of his coat pocket to compare it to the flying creature he sees. Too late he realizes it is flying straight toward him. He dives into some bushes, but the creature lands on him and kills him. It flies back to the mountain entrance of its cage and is secured by a gloating Forbes. Newspaper headlines report on the death of Dr. John Lambert. In New York City and the studio of XOR radio, an announcer (an uncredited Richard Crane) tells his audience that Richard Thorpe (Ralph Lewis) will be doing an exclusive coverage of the case in detail. He will fly out to New Mexico and do his daily broadcasts live and will solve the case. Forbes and Mary sit and listen to the broadcast on the radio. The news manager, Mr. Grant (uncredited) is not amused by the whole scheme. Mary informs her father that Thorpe is very clever and only requires one tiny clue to solve cases. Forbes returns to the lair and retrieves another feather from Quetzalcoatl and says to himself, "Here's your clue, Mr. Thorpe." At the San Juan County Jail, Sheriff Bill Hayes (Henry Hall) meets with Thorpe, Jerry Jones (Eddie Acuff), the radio technician, and Professor Louis Havener (Wheaton Chambers), an ornithologist. Hayes sarcastically asks Thorpe, "Are you going to solve the murders today, or are you going to take a couple of days?" They part with an understanding that nothing will be done to jeopardize the investigation or the criminal case. Dr. Wagner (uncredited) provides details of the death of Lambert to the radio audience and to the Head of the Inquest (Budd Buster). The most startling fact is that the body was drained of blood. Hayes testifies that there were no footprints near the body. Forbes testifies that he and his step daughter saw him earlier in the day. He confirms the mythical creature was called Quetzalcoatl and that he has been doing archeological work. Thorpe asks Forbes about the death of his late wife under similar circumstances. Mary provides testimony about the feather. Next is Hastings (Milton Kibbee). He confirms that Lambert had shown him the feather, but he had not dropped it off at the Lambert home. Havener completed the days testimony with information about Quetzalcoatl. The jury of the coroner's inquest determines that Lambert's death was a homicide. Forbes agrees to help Thorpe with his investigation and offers to drive him out to the site of the murder. Once there, Forbes plants another feather and then leaves Thorpe to find it. Sheriff Hayes drives up and talks to Thorpe. Hayes spots the feather where Forbes planted it. He wants Hastings to see and identify it. Hayes tells Thorpe to drive to Azteca and bring Hastings back. Hayes picks the feather up in his hands. Forbes releases Quetzalcoatl to kill Thorpe, but Hayes is killed instead. Thorpe and Hastings return in time to see the creature fly off and find the Sheriff's body. The creature returns to its cage. Thorpe calls Forbes and asks to speak to Mary. Forbes takes a message, but tells his step daughter to stay away from Thorpe and Pine Mountain. Thorpe and Havener find the feather as Forbes pulls up in his car. They leave for the radio station in Pine Mountain. Havener examines the feather. Thorpe exits the waiting room to do his broadcast. He reports that Sheriff Hayes was killed and that he saw the prehistoric creature with a long reptilian tail. He intimates a man is involved, but does not reveal the name. Quetzalcoatl flies into the window at the radio station and kills Havener. Mary's screams bring Thorpe into the waiting room where he fires a gun at the departing creature. Thorpe does his next broadcast in front of the Sheriff's office. One man, Vance Bennett (Terry Frost) claims he has an old Aztec treasure map and a device he calls a doodlebug that can locate gold. Forbes is intrigued and annoyed by this man. Thorpe invites Forbes over to meet Bennett. Forbes volunteers to assist Bennett in his treasure hunt. Grant has shown little interest in the case, but the added bonus of treasure now has piqued his interest. Bennett gives Thorpe a feather he obtained from a collector in Honduras. Thorpe intends to use the feather as bait and that Forbes is responsible for the deaths and the treasure. Forbes and Bennett search the area of the deaths with the device. Bennett pulls out the feather and plants it, then finds it and shows Forbes he has it and puts it in his pocket. Thorpe is hiding in a cave with a metal cage door on it. He steps out when Forbes excuses himself. Bennett steps into the cave and replaces the metal grating over the entrance. Thorpe goes after Forbes. Using binoculars he sees Forbes enter through the cave door. Forbes releases Quetzalcoatl which heads for Bennett. Jones manages to fall in front of the cave entrance. Bennett pulls him inside before the creature attacks. Bennett gives Quetzalcoatl his feather and the creature departs. Thorpe sees the creature return. Forbes closes the cage and takes one more feather. He intends to use it on Thorpe. At his home, Forbes is upset to see Mary stroking a feather. He demands to know where she got it. Mary tells her step father it was in his bedroom. Forbes lies and tells her he found it yesterday out at the ruins. Mary warns her step father that he may be associated with the murders. Mary makes the connection between the feather and the death of her mother. Forbes takes Mary out to see the treasure and the creature. Thorpe does his next broadcast from inside the mountain lair of Quetzalcoatl. He mentions the creature, the method of murder and that he will soon unmask the killer. Something goes wrong with the equipment and the transmission goes silent. Forbes and Mary drive out to the ruins. Forbes shows her the entrance and warns her of how dark it is. Thorpe is now outside with Jones working on the equipment. Forbes opens the treasure chest. Jones has fixed the transmitter and they hear Forbes and Mary talk about the treasure. Forbes tells Mary, "It's mine, mine do you hear, all mine. I'm the richest man in the world." Thorpe runs to save Mary as Forbes escorts Mary over to the cage. She accuses Forbes, "Then you did kill Dr. Lambert and all the others." Forbes pulls another feather off Quetzalcoatl just as Thorpe runs in. The two struggle and the cage door is opened. Forbes, still holding the feather, runs out of the mountain chamber. Quetzalcoatl flies directly for its feather and the thief who stole it. It attacks and kills Forbes. Thorpe takes a couple of shots at the creature and brings it down. Thorpe finishes his broadcast with the announcement of his engagement to Mary. We close with Grant punching the announcer, telling him, "That was for not phoning Thorpe to cut me in on that treasure."

A gem heist gone wrong leaves a wanted man dead. A female reporter finds his body and, to claim the reward, hides the body in a wax museum. When the body vanishes, the hunt is on. In a cheap hotel room in New York City Jelke shoots gangster Joe Wells, takes a package from his pocket and flees.Wells staggers into an alley. On her way to her apartment above a wax museum, Sue Gallagher, a reporter for the Chronicle, finds Wells' body and hides his corpse among the wax-figures in the museum and calls her paper to send a photographer so she can get a scoop on the killing of Wells, who had a $5,000 reward for his capture, dead or alive. Meanwhile, Henry Miggs, the museum owner find the body and is ready to call the police but his handyman, Clutch Tracy tells him to conceal it and avoid suspicion. From this point on it is a game of where-is-the-body....and the stolen South American diamonds Wells was carrying. —O2D A gangster is shot in his hotel room and manages to make his way to a nearby wax museum, where he dies. A female reporter discovers the body and determines to break the case, but she must maneuver around a rival reporter--who happens to be her boyfriend--who also wants to break the case and the killer himself, who wants to find out where the body is. —frankfob2@yahoo.com

It's some 20 years after the Frankenstein monster and the wolfman met their demise in "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman" (1943), but Dr Neimann [Boris Karloff] and his hunchback assistant Daniel [J Carroll Naish], currently locked in jail, still plan for a way to cure Daniel's deformity by Dr Frankenstein's operation. When lightning destroys the jail wall, they escape. They link up with Dr Lampini's traveling horror show, and Daniel kills Lampini [George Zucco] so that Neimann can take his place. They plan to head "towards those for whom I have UNloving memories." First stop is Regalberg where they revive Dracula [John Carradine], in the guise of Baron Latoes from Transylvania, who kills the Burgermeister who originally put Neimann in jail. Dracula is re-skeletonized by the morning sun as he attempts to crawl back into his coffin. Next, they head for the village of Frankenstein to search for Dr Frankenstein's records. Here, Daniel rescues and falls in love with gypsy girl Ilonka (Elena Verdugo]. They find the ice cave where the Frankenstein monster [Glenn Strange] and the wolfman [Lon Chaney, Jr] lie frozen, revive the wolfman, and enlist his help in return for a cure if he will help in transporting the monster to Neimann's old laboratory in Visaria. On the way to Visaria, Daniel and Neimann care for the monster while Larry Talbot [the wolfman] and Ilonka drive the wagon and fall in love, much to Daniel's dismay. They also kidnap two of Neimann's nemeses--Herr Ullman [Frank Reicher] and Herr Strauss [Michael Mark] -- because Neimann plans to give Ullman's brain to the monster, the monster's brain to Talbot, and the wolfman's brain to Strauss. Daniel begs for Talbot's body so he can have Ilonka, but Neimann says no. Daniel attempts to warn Ilonka about Talbot's wolfman side, but she refuses to believe him. To release his anger, Daniel whips the supposedly unconscious monster. The full moon rises that night, and Talbot changes to the wolfman. The next day he confesses to Ilonka. She vows to release him. That evening, Neimann finally gets down to business. He revives the monster but not soon enough. Talbot changes into the wolfman and attacks Ilonka who shoots him; they both die. Distraught, Daniel attacks Neimann, the monster kills Daniel, the villagers see the lights flickering in Neimann's laboratory windows and attack the monster, who carries Neimann's body into the swamp where they both get sucked into quicksand. [Original synopsis by bj_kuehl.]

In Egypt, Yousef Bey (John Carradine) journeys to a remote temple in answer to a summons from Andoheb, High Priest of Arkham (George Zucco). Andoheb has called him to undertake a mission for the priesthood, but first refreshes his memory on the story of Kharis (Lon Chaney Jr.). 3000 years ago, Kharis and the Princess Ananka were involved in a forbidden love affair. The princess died and because of her sin, her soul was cursed forever. Kharis was buried alive along with her. 30 years prior to the present time, an expedition located and entered the tomb of Ananka. They fought and escaped from the guardian of the tomb-the living Mummy of Kharis. The archaeologists brought Ananka's body back to the Scripps Museum in the United States. However, the priests of Arkham sent Kharis to seek vengeance against the defilers of the tomb. Every person from the expedition that entered the tomb died at the Mummy's hands. Kharis was believed to be destroyed in a fire at the residence of Stephen Banning (Dick Foran), leader of the expedition. The same story is being told to a group of skeptical college students in Mapleton Massachusetts. Professor Norman (Frank Reicher) expands on the story, explaining how Kharis was kept alive by the fluid of the leaves of the Tana bush, a plant that has long been extinct. In fact, Professor Norman himself was entrusted with a quantity of the tana leaves that investigators found in order to conduct scientific research. After the lecture ends, one of the students, Tom Hervey (Robert Lowery), meets up with his girlfriend Amina Mansori (Ramsay Ames), a beautiful woman of Egyptian descent. Amina has been researching Egyptian history, which has brought on a strange, clouded feeling in her mind. Back in Egypt, Andoheb informs Yousef Bey that Kharis still lives and that Yousef's mission is to retrieve Kharis and the body of Ananka and return them to their rightful resting place in Egypt. Yousef Bey then pledges his devotion: "I swear by the mighty power of Amon-Ra, whose anger can shatter the world and by the dread horror of Set, that I shall never forsake my trust as a Priest of Arkham. Nor shall I rest until the Princess Ananka and Kharis are safe once more in the Hills of Arkham." Andoheb explains that each night during the cycle of the full moon, Yousef Bey is to brew the fluid from 9 tana leaves and that wherever Kharis is, the Mummy will sense this and find the leaves. The moon is full in Mapleton as Professor Norman studies the hieroglyphics on the case of tana leaves. He has deciphered the message about brewing 9 tana leaves during the full moon and decides to do just that. The battered, ragged form of Kharis now appears, his right arm is useless and held in a sling, his right eye burned and sealed shut. He senses the leaves brewing and begins instinctively heading toward them. On the way, he passes the home of Amina and his presence arouses her from a fitful sleep. She wanders outside in a trance-like state. She does not see Kharis, who is now some distance ahead, but somehow follows the same course. Kharis soon arrives at the home of Professor Norman and enters his study. Norman looks up and is shocked to see the Mummy shambling toward him with one arm extending, reaching for the Professor's throat. Soundlessly and brutally, Kharis strangles Norman and then drinks the fluid of the tana leaves. Amina now approaches and Kharis senses her presence and heads back outside. From a concealed location, Amina sees Kharis, which snaps her out of her trance but also causes her to immediately faint. She falls to the ground with a strange birthmark now apparent on her wrist. The next morning, Tom Hervey learns that Professor Norman was murdered and that Amina was found at the scene and detained. He immediately heads for the Professor's home. At the home, Sherriff Elwood (Harry Shannon) and the Coroner (Emmett Vogan) investigate the scene of the crime. They discover a strange mold around the Professor's throat; a sign they both know to mean that the Mummy stalks Mapleton again. The Sherrif questions Amina, who has developed a white streak in her hair overnight. Amina is dazed and confused, but Elwood continues to grill her until Hervey arrives. Tom unsuccessfully tries to provide an alibi for Amina and the Sherrif maintains his suspicions in her involvement. Elwood finally dismisses the pair but gives Amina the obligatory warning not to leave the area. Tom takes her home to comfort her but is himself disturbed by the changes in her appearance. Panic begins to grip the town as newspaper reports of the killing highlight the involvement of the Egyptian woman and the speculation that the Mummy has returned. Townspeople are warned to stay indoors at night and all able-bodied men are asked to help patrol the streets after dark. Weeks later Yousef Bey, who has arrived in Mapleton, calls on Amon-Ra to aid him in his quest and begins to brew the sacred fluid of the tana leaves to summon Kharis. Kharis, indeed, senses the leaves and heads toward them. Tom and Amina are out for a drive that same night. Amina is finally beginning to return to normal, laughing and no longer hearing voices or suffering from fevers and chills. Unseen, Kharis passes near them, causing Amina's mood to suddenly change and for her to feel an unnatural cold. Despite Tom professing his love for her, Amina cannot shake the strange feeling and asks to be taken home. Kharis continues on his quest for the tana leaves, passing through the Evans farm. The family dog is startled by his presence and begins to bark incessantly. Mr. Evans (Eddy Waller), armed with a shot gun, comes out of the house to investigate and is surprised by Kharis. Evans fires his weapon at the Mummy to no avail. Kharis swiftly murders the man and busts through the wall of the barn, undeterred from his quest. The Sherrif soon arrives on the scene and, recognizing the evidence of Kharis, plans to organize a search party. Kharis, meanwhile, finds Yousef Bey and consumes the life-giving tana leaves. Yousef thanks his god for his success thus far and re-pledges his devotion to their mission. The next day, at the Scripps Museum, Yousef Bey lags behind a tour group viewing the Mummy of Ananka. He asks Amon-Ra for forgiveness for allowing these heretics to view the sacred remains of the Princess. After closing time, Yousef emerges from a hiding place as Kharis breaks into the museum. The two are excited with anticipation as their mission appears near an end. Yousef encourages Kharis by telling him the Tombs of Arkham are waiting to claim their own. Kharis attempts to touch the mummified body, but it disintegrates under the wrapping as his hand approaches. At that same moment, Amina, miles away in her home, awakens screaming. Yousef Bey realizes that Ananka's soul has been re-incarnated into another form. Kharis is enraged and begins destroying the exhibit, attracting the museum security guard (Oscar O'Shea). The guard enters, not seeing Kharis, and draws his gun on the High Priest. The Mummy exits the shadows and moves toward the horrified man. He fires several shot at point blank range, but the Mummy is not even slowed. Kharis crushes his throat as Yousef Bey looks on with glee. Yousef Bey realizes that the two must still fulfill their mission and find the new vessel holding Ananka's soul and return it to Egypt. Tom Hervey visits Sherrif Elwood, seeking permission to take Amina away to New York to restore her health. Elwood says he is not trying to implicate Amina in the murders, but denies Hervey's request. At the Scripps Museum, the body of the guard is found and the tell-tale marks of mold identify the killer as Kharis. Police Inspector Walgreen (Barton MacLane) and Dr. Ayad (Lester Sharpe) from the museum are bewildered as to how Ananka's body has disappeared without disturbing the wrappings. Dr. Ayad translates the markings on the tomb for the Inspector: "Herein rests the body of Ananka, third daughter of Amenophis. In the Hills of Arkham shall Ananka lie in the tomb appointed for her and in none other, because freed from its resting place, her soul may find reincarnation in another form, again to seek out its salvation on earth." The Inspector is skeptical but asks the Doctor to accompany him to Mapleton to investigate further. Upon arriving, they seek out the assistance of Sherrif Elwood and the group convenes at the home of the late Professor Norman. Dr. Ayad translates most of the markings on the cask of tana leaves and Inspector Walgreen decides to use the leaves to attract and capture Kharis. Since bullets are useless against the Mummy, the plan is to build a pit to confine the creature until a way to deal with him can be found. Amina is still unable to shake the haunted feelings that torture her. Tom, disregarding the Sherrif's warnings, asks Amina to elope with him to New York. Amina tries to discourage him but Tom is insistent. She agrees and the two make plans to leave early the next morning. Tom leaves Amina in the care of her guardian, Mrs. Blake (Dorothy Vaughan) and Tom's faithful dog, Peanuts. Yousef Bey calls upon Amon Ra to lead him to the new home of Ananka's soul. Just then, a window blows open and Yousef sees the moon, which resembles the scene on the ceremonial amulet he wears as a Priest of Arkham. Knowing that this is a sign from the gods, he sends Kharis in that direction to find Ananka. Using the widowed Mrs. Norman's (Claire Whitney) recollections as a guide, Inspector Walgreen now begins to bait his trap by burning nine tana leaves. Kharis immediately senses this, and heads toward the Norman home--a course that takes him directly past Amina's home. Amina is awakened by his approach and hypnotically wanders into the yard. Kharis sees her and recognizes her as the carrier of Ananka's soul. Amina faints as Kharis picks her up and takes her away. The abduction is witnessed by Mrs. Blake, who phones Tom to alert him. Tom immediately sets out in pursuit. Mrs. Blake, then heads to the Norman house and tells her story to Inspector Walgreen, Sherrif Elwood and a large group of volunteers. A frantic chase now ensues. Kharis and Amina are headed for the old mill where Yousef Bey waits. Tom, led by Peanuts, is hot on their trail, while further back is the mob. Kharis arrives at the mill and presents Amina to Yousef Bey. Bey recognizes the birthmark on her wrist as the symbol of the Priests of Arkham. Amina awakens and the Priest informs her that she is, indeed, the reincarnation of Ananka. Amina denies this but Yousef Bey warns her: "For those who defy the will of the ancient gods, a cruel and violent death shall be their fate, never shall they find rest unto eternity." Yousef Bey now begins to admire Amina's beauty and feels the pangs of temptation to keep her alive as his bride. His devotion begins to falter as they are thousands of miles from the Tombs of Arkham and Ananka is thousands of years from her sin. He calls upon Isis to protect him in his hour of temptation, but his prayers go unanswered. He decides to use the tana leaves to keep Amina young and beautiful forever. The two will drink the fluid and become immortal and never return to Egypt. This enrages Kharis and before Yousef Bey can give her the fluid, the Mummy knocks the cup away. He exacts his vengeance on the Priest with a killing blow, delivered with enough force to fling Yousef's lifeless body through the window and onto the ground below. Tom Hervey now arrives and witnesses the death of the Priest. He rushes up the stairs to the mill but is met by Kharis. A struggle ensues and Tom is quickly overwhelmed. Kharis returns to retrieve Amina, whose hair is now completely white. The mob now approaches and they revive Tom, as Kharis attempts to escape with Amina. Once again led by Peanuts, the mob pursues the Mummy and his Princess into the neary swamps. In Kharis's arms, Amina/Ananka is now aging rapidly. They are chased deeper and deeper into the swamps and now begin to sink into the bog. Tom's last anguished sight of Amina is that of a 3,000 year old Egyptian Princess. Kharis and Ananka disappear under the water, united in death.

B-Movie actor George Zucco plays both mild-mannered Dr. Lloyd Clayton, who kills his "evil-twin" in self defense (played also by Zucco). Clayton's evil-twin comes back from the dead, exacting revenge of Dr Clayton's family. Dwight Frye (Dracula, Frankenstein) is the revivified Clayton's partner in this dastardly sibling rivalry.

Archaeologists defile the tomb of mummified Kharis, who was buried alive for falling in love with an Egyptian princess. A couple of comical, out-of-work archaeologists (Dick Foran and Wallace Ford) in Egypt discover evidence of the burial place of the ancient Egyptian princess Ananka. After receiving funding from an eccentric magician (Cecil Kellaway) and his beautiful daughter (Peggy Moran), they set out into the desert only to be terrorized by a sinister high priest (George Zucco) and the living mummy Kharis (Tom Tyler) who are the guardians of Ananka^Òs tomb. —Jeremy Lunt <durlinlunt@acadia.net>

The master sleuth hunts his archenemy, Professor Moriarty, who is planning the crime of the century. When Sherlock Holmes arrives in court moments too late to give evidence against Professor Moriarty, the professor is acquitted. Soon afterward, he develops a scheme for stealing the crown jewels from the Tower of London. In order to get Holmes involved, he persuades a gaucho flute player to murder a girl. —Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>