The Timeline of the Universal Horror Mummy Movies

chainsaw midget · February 09, 2020, 11:21:30 PM

Something caught my attention. The timeline of the Universal Mummy movies is a bit strange.

The original Mummy movie (from 1932) starts in 1921 then jumps ahead tens years. That would make it 1931. No problems yet.

The Mummy's Hand (1940) take place in May 1940. We're still good.

The Mummy's Tomb (1942) is said to take place 30 years after the Mummy's hand. So it would be in the 1970. At the end of the movie, a character receives his draft notice for World War II. So WWII lasted until the 70s in the Universal Monsters universe... or something.

The Mummy's Ghost (1944) is just two years after the Mummy's Tomb. So 1972.

The Mummy's Curse (1944) jumps ahead ANOTHER 25 years. So the Final Lon Chaney Jr Mummy movie, it would take place in 1997.

Bill Clinton was President, people were playing the Nintendo 64, DiCpario was starring in Titanic and the Mummy was rising from the Louisianan Swamps.

Behold, Fashions of the 90s.

Ted C · February 10, 2020, 02:29:53 PM

Are you sure about that "30 years later" part? I can't think of any context in which that makes sense. 3 years later would make sense, but not 30.

chainsaw midget · February 10, 2020, 02:52:33 PM

Quote from: Ted C on February 10, 2020, 02:29:53 PM
Are you sure about that "30 years later" part? I can't think of any context in which that makes sense. 3 years later would make sense, but not 30.

I'm positive.

And it doesn't make sense.

RCMerchant · February 10, 2020, 03:42:58 PM

Quote from: chainsaw midget on February 10, 2020, 02:52:33 PM
Quote from: Ted C on February 10, 2020, 02:29:53 PM
Are you sure about that "30 years later" part? I can't think of any context in which that makes sense. 3 years later would make sense, but not 30.
I'm positive.

And it doesn't make sense.

Trying to figure out the "era" of the Universal monster series is a luckless task. They have electricity-(Frankenstein's labs; electric lamps in Dracula) but no cars in the early films. And everyone gets from one place to another in horse-drawn carriages. The fashions of the day (30's-40's) are worn.
As far as the Mummy series goes-yeah. the timeline is senseless.
Oh yeah- the Karloff Mummy has no connection to the latter 1940's Mummy movies. Karloff's mummy is named Imhotep. From the MUMMY's HAND and on the Mummy is Kharis.
Oddly, the Hammer 1959 the MUMMY starred Christopher Lee as 'Kharis' as well!

chainsaw midget · February 10, 2020, 05:23:40 PM

And the Mummy Abbott and Costello meet was named Klaris.

ER · February 10, 2020, 07:07:43 PM

The 1990s. I love it.

Ted C · February 10, 2020, 10:57:16 PM

Quote from: RCMerchant on February 10, 2020, 03:42:58 PMTrying to figure out the "era" of the Universal monster series is a luckless task. They have electricity-(Frankenstein's labs; electric lamps in Dracula) but no cars in the early films. And everyone gets from one place to another in horse-drawn carriages. The fashions of the day (30's-40's) are worn.

Electricity and horse-drawn carriages aren't that hard to resolve. Someone as apparently wealthy as Frankenstein could afford to have the latest tech in his lab while most of the people in the country were 50 years behind.

I don't know who thought it would make sense to set sequels 30 years in the future without any attempt at futuristic fashion or technology, though.

RCMerchant · February 10, 2020, 11:35:15 PM

In BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, Dr.Pretorius has Dr.Frankenstein talk to his wife who he has captive over a phone, which Pretorius declares an invention of his own. The phone was invented in 1854..so it was before that time, supposedly.