Boris Karloff

 "Horror means something revolting. Anybody can show you a pailful of innards. But the object of the roles I played is not to turn your stomach - but merely to make your hair stand on end."

Boris Karloff (born William Henry Pratt) was virtually unknown when he appeared as the creature in "Frankenstein" (1931). He created such a sensation that when a 1932 movie of his was released, only a year later, Universal only had to advertise "KARLOFF . . . 'The Mummy.'"

At its earliest stages the film was simply envisaged as a horror vehicle for Karloff with no connection to Egypt at all. Balderston was a history enthusiast and had covered the opening of Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb as a foreign correspondent. His experiences in Egypt and love of ancient history influenced him to change the setting and plot of the film to feature an Egyptian mummy.

Karloff's mummy makeup is based on the appearance of Ramses III; makeup artist Jack P. Pierce spent eight hours a day applying Karloff's makeup. This waste of time and resources is incomprehensible, since a wooden dummy was clearly used in the closeups (see his clogged nostrils), and Karloff in bandages was only used in the take where he opens his eyes. Accordingly, this was completely unnecessary and thought to be a Karloff demand, as he was never shown walking or even standing in full mummy bandages. Karloff remarked years later that the makeup he wore for this film was even more uncomfortable than that of the "Frankenstein." However, the trouper was known to secretly relish such discomfort.

Karloff to Pierce: "Well, you've done a wonderful job, but you forgot to give me a fly!"

"One always hears of actors complaining of being typed - if he's young, he's typed as a juvenile; if he's handsome, he's typed as a leading man. I was lucky. Whereas bootmakers have to spend millions to establish a trademark, I was handed a trademark free of charge. When an actor gets in a position to select his own roles, he's in big trouble, for he never knows what he can do best. I'm sure I'd be damn good as little Lord Fauntleroy, but who would pay ten cents to see it?"

Happy Birthday, Boris Karloff!