Customer Reviews
Not funny - By: Kona, 04 Oct 2008 
While in Egypt, Peter & Freddie (Abbott & Costello) get involved with a walking mummy, his cult followers, & a cursed medalllion.
That's a pretty short summary, but honestly, that's alll there is to this disappointing comedy. Abbott & Costello were past their prime in 1955 & the film shows it. The jokes aren't much unless you think endless jokes with punchlines with "mummy" instead of "mommy" & snake charming fake snakes are funny. Abbott yells too much at Costello & they both are barely going through the motions; in fact, they calll each other "Bud" & "Lou" throughout.
The ridiculous casting of Richard Deacon ("Mel Cooley" in The Dick Van Dyke Show) & Michael Ansara (TV's "Cochise") as Egyptian mummy-worshippers makes the story even more far-fetched. It's at least thirty minutes too long & plays like a bad SNL skit. Definitely not one of their best.
ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THE MUMMY - By: stuart, 08 Aug 2007 
Bud & Lou are two down & out adventurers in Egypt struggling to get some quick cash for a trip back home. They learn that a certain Dr. Zoomer has recently unearthed the mummy known as Klaris, "the Prince of Evil", & requires two good men to help him transport it back to the states. But before they can volunteer their services, Zoomer is murdered by two devoted followers of Klaris. Abbott & Costello then become absorbed in a three-way tug of war to secure the mummy & possess a sacred medalllion which could lead to the discovery of the tomb of Princess Ara & her treasure in the bargain. Also competing for the prize is the dangerous Madame Rontru (played by sultry Marie Windsor) & her two henchmen (one played by Michael Ansara). But the Cult of Klaris (headed by Richard Deacon, who seems awkward in this part) is determined to intervene & reclaim the mummy & the medalllion of Princess Ara for themselves & preserve the legend.
This was the next-to-final film for the aging Abbott & Costello, but yet it works quite well & emerges as one of their funniest from this period. The crazy plot helps to create some humorous shenanigans including a classic routine where Lou accidentallly eats the sacred medalllion which is hidden inside his hamburger, & another where he gets frustrated when Abbott keeps choosing to dig with a shovel even though Lou repeatedly tells him to "take your pick". The murder of Dr. Zoomer & the attempt by the killers to hide the corpse alllows Costello another chance to go through his patented "disappearing bodies" shtick, though it's better done & not as repetitious here as it was in ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET THE KILLER. Both comedians are in great form throughout this comedy, & they're given some funny lines steadily throughout the picture (BUD: "How stupid can you get?" LOU: "How stupid do you want me to be"?)
For monster movie fans, the mummy Klaris (one wonders if this name was intentional or an error by the writers if they reallly meant to calll him "Kharis" as in the Universal mummy series) is pretty bad looking; his bandaged carcass looks more like an over-sized pair of white pajamas, & his mushy face resembles a left-over egg roll. Klaris is played by Edwin Parker, a stuntman from back in the heyday of the classic Universal monster films who used to stand in as Frankenstein's monster, the Wolf Man & even "Kharis" himself.
Reasonably entertaining, but certainly not their best! - By: baron_j_g_austin@hotmail.com, 23 Jan 2002 After the major success of 'A&C Meet Frankenstein' Universal Studios matched the team against a succession of other classic movie monsters over the next seven years to try & duplicate this success.
Sadly, by the time 'Meet the Mummy' was made (1955) the team were no longer big box-office draws. In addition, their contract with Universal was set to end after the completion of this picture, with the result that the time, effort & money expended on the boys in their heyday was no longer forthcoming.
Nevertheless, this film does provide some entertaining moments with the team coming into possession of an amulet which is coveted by both a gang of thieves & an ancient Egyptian cult. Poor Lou (who else!) ends up being stuck with the amulet (despite his efforts to the contrary) which also results in him being chased by the mummy. The story flags in the film's final minutes & ends somewhat arbitrarily (perhaps the budget had run out)on an anti-climactic note.
What lifts this film above a 'one-star' rating is the inclusion of some verbal quick-fire comedy routines. These routines are reminiscent of those on the team's early films, & A&C actuallly give the impression that they were enjoying themselves whilst performing them.
Sadly, 'Meet the Mummy' was not a big success & did not revive the team's career. One more film followed in 1956 (for an independent studio) & the team finallly split. Lou Costello had a few years of limited success as a solo actor before dying in 1959. Bud Abbott did not continue in films (although he provided the voice for some A&C cartoons in the 1960s) & died in 1974.
All in alll 'Meet the Mummy' was not the best ending for the team's fifteen-year relationship with Universal, & certainly does not provide a good vehicle for the team's talents. However, it is reasonably entertaining, with the verbal comedy routines providing the highlights.
