Watch The Eyes Of The Mummy

The Eyes Of The Mummy is a silent film released in 1918, starring Pola Negri, Harry Liedtke, and Emil Jannings. The film is a horror-romance centered around an Egyptian high priest, who has been cursed to live forever. The story begins when an archeologist named Radu (Harry Liedtke) discovers a mummy in the Egyptian desert, which he believes is the remains of a high priestess named Ma, who was cursed by the gods to live forever. Radu decides to bring the mummy back to Europe to study it.

Upon arriving in Europe, Radu falls in love with a young cabaret dancer named Mizi (Pola Negri), who becomes obsessed with the mummy. Radu introduces Mizi to the mummy, and she becomes convinced that the mummy's eyes are following her. The mummy's curse then takes hold of Mizi, and she and Radu become trapped in a dangerous love triangle with the mummy.

The film's atmospheric visual style is a product of its director, Ernst Lubitsch, who was known for his use of lighting, framing, and camera movement. The eerie, dreamlike sequences help to build suspense and heighten the film's sense of dread. Lubitsch also uses slow zooms and close-ups to convey the characters' emotions, particularly Mizi's growing fear and paranoia.

The performances by the three leads are strong, particularly Negri's portrayal of Mizi. Her character is both vulnerable and seductive, and she effectively conveys the character's descent into madness. Liedtke and Jannings both give solid performances as Radu and the mummy, respectively. Jannings, in particular, is chilling as the cursed high priest, conveying a sense of powerful malevolence with a minimum of effort.

Aside from the film's visual style and performances, the film's intertitles are also noteworthy. Written by Norbert Falk, the intertitles are poetic and often metaphorical, with lines such as "her body was aflame with feverish dreams, while her soul was transfixed by the gaze of the mummy's eyes." The intertitles add an element of literary sophistication to the film and help to emphasize the film's themes of love, death, and immortality.

Overall, The Eyes Of The Mummy is a notable early horror film that combines elements of romance and suspense to create a unique narrative. Its atmospheric visual style and strong performances from its leads make it an enjoyable watch for fans of silent cinema, particularly those interested in the horror genre.