Lot 415
Karloff in The Mummy (1887-1969) English-born actor who rose to fame in Frankenstein (Universal, 1931). An experienced stage actor, Karloff moved into silent pictures in 1916, working as an extra and character actor in serials while driving a truck to support himself. With the advent of sound, Karloff's stage training was an asset and he found more work. While sitting in a studio cafeteria in 1931, director James Whale spotted Karloff and cast him as The Monster in Frankenstein (a role Bela Lugosi had turned down). Karloff's unforgettable, nuanced performance and the success of the film secured his position in Universal Studios' horror pictures of the 1930s, most notably The Mummy, The Mask of Fu Manchu, The Bride of Frankenstein and The Black Cat. Karloff continued to act well into his seventies, often returning to the stage where he was not so typecast (earning a Tony nomination for his role in "The Lark").
A unique offering! Here we present a strip of cloth cut from a spool of wrappings used on The Mummy and a letter from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles confirming the prop's provenance Handsomely framed and matted with a Signed Photo ("Boris Karloff") black and white, 4¼ x 6¼", n.p., n.d.; an autograph note signed "Zita Johann", a 6¼ x 9½" color reproduction of the original lobby poster for The Mummy and a black and white still from the same movie. We are not able to verify the Karloff signature's authenticity, but of course, the draw in this lot is the Mummy's wrappings. While not examined out of frame, all of the items appear to be very fine.
A true showpiece for fans of The Mummy and Boris Karloff. The provenance of the cloth, the quality of the signed photograph and Zita Johann's ("Helen Grosvenor/The Princess") note make for a rare piece of movie history.
Estimated Value $1,500-UP.
|
| |
| Realized $1,208 |
