The Mummy’s Tomb

The Mummy’s Tomb

Year: 1942

Runtime: 61 mins

Language: English

Director: Harold Young

HorrorFantasyHorror the undead and monster classicsCreepy chilling and terrifying horrorChilling experiments and classic monster horror

A vengeful high priest of Karnak brings the living mummy Kharis (Lon Chaney Jr.) to the United States, intent on exacting retribution on the descendants of those who robbed the tomb of Egyptian princess Ananka three decades earlier. Their relentless pursuit of the cursed intruders drives the film’s chilling horror.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Mummy’s Tomb (1942)

Trace every key event in The Mummy’s Tomb (1942) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Framing narration at the Banning home

Steve Banning sits with his family and evening guests, recounting the expedition and the monstrous events that followed. He guides the listeners through the eerie story of the tomb and its guardian, setting the stage for the flashback that follows. The frame establishes the legend that will drive the rest of the narrative.

Present day, thirty years after the events Banning residence
2

Andoheb’s explanation and death

Within the Egyptian tombs, High Priest Andoheb explains the legend of Kharis and the use of tana leaves to control the mummy. He passes on the instructions for terminating the remaining Banning expedition and its descendants before dying. The mission to resurrect the curse is handed to Mehemet Bey.

In the tombs, before Bey sails to the United States Tombs of Egypt
3

Bey becomes Mapleton cemetery caretaker

Mehemet Bey relocates to the United States and takes a caretaker job at Mapleton cemetery. He quietly sets up the operation that will revive the mummy using the tana brew. His ulterior motive begins to take shape as he embeds himself in the town.

After arriving in the United States Mapleton cemetery
4

Tana brew revived; Kharis awakens

Bey administers the tana brew to Kharis, reviving the mummy and binding it to his will. The creature resumes its mission to avenge Ananka’s desecrated tomb and to fulfill Bey’s hidden agenda. Mapleton becomes the stage for the ancient plan to unfold.

Shortly after Bey arrives Caretaker's hut, Mapleton cemetery
5

Kharis kills Steve Banning

The mummy leaves the cemetery to exact revenge on those who disturbed the tomb and kills Steve Banning as he prepares for bed. The town is plunged into fear as mysterious deaths begin to be blamed on supernatural forces. The immediate investigation is hampered by superstition and panic.

Night of the first killings Banning residence
6

Investigation begins; Babe Hanson arrives

Newsmen and local authorities search for a lead, while Babe Hanson arrives after hearing of Banning’s death. He becomes convinced a mummy may be responsible and takes matters into his own hands, hoping to reveal the truth to a wider audience. His presence heightens the tension in Mapleton.

Following Banning’s murder Mapleton
7

Jane Banning’s murder and Hanson’s pursuit

Jane Banning is murdered, reinforcing the belief that a mummy stalks the town. Hanson tries to warn others and shares his theory with a local bar reporter, but is hunted down by Kharis before he can fully expose the truth. The danger for everyone around Mapleton becomes all too real.

Soon after Banning’s murder Mapleton; local bar
8

John Banning and Norman solve the mark

Dr. John Banning teams with Professor Norman to decipher the grayish mark found on the victims’ throats. Norman’s tests confirm that the substance is mold from a mummy, lending credence to Hanson’s theory. The investigation begins to align with the supernatural explanation the townsfolk fear.

Post-Hanson murder Laboratory, Mapleton
9

Bey’s plan to disrupt the wedding

Bey learns that Steve Banning and Isobel Evans are planning to marry, and he schemes to derail the nuptials. He also reveals a darker motive: to marry Isobel and install her as the High Priestess to bear him an heir. The plot thickens as personal vendetta and ancient ritual collide.

Before the abduction Mapleton cemetery caretaker's hut
10

Isobel is abducted by Kharis

In the dead of night, Kharis slips into the Evans home and abducts Isobel, delivering her to the cemetery caretaker’s hut. Bey’s plan moves forward as Isobel becomes central to his royal ambition. The town’s fear escalates as the ancient plot tightens its grip.

Night of the abduction Evans home to cemetery hut
11

Isobel’s fate and Bey’s revelation

Inside the hut, Bey reveals his intent to wed Isobel and crown her as High Priestess of Karnak, ensuring an heir to the royal line. Isobel resists, but Bey’s grip tightens as the mummy stands ready to enforce his will. The personal and the supernatural collide in a perilous confrontation.

Same night Caretaker's hut
12

Confrontation; Bey is shot

The townspeople converge on the hut to confront Bey and the mysterious situation around Isobel. Kharis seizes Isobel and escapes, while Bey attempts to shoot Banning but is himself gunned down by the sheriff. The immediate threat appears to be neutralized, but danger lingers.

Late night Outskirts of the hut
13

Pursuit to the Banning estate; Kharis perishes

Kharis heads toward the Banning estate, pursued by torched townspeople. Inside, Banning battles the mummy, rescues Isobel, and inadvertently sets the house aflame. The mob’s flame consumes the creature, ending the immediate threat in a dramatic blaze.

Evening Banning estate, Massachusetts
14

Wedding and a draft ahead

With the danger resolved, Steve and Isobel marry swiftly, as Steve receives his draft notice for World War II. Their union marks a cautious new beginning amid the looming global conflict. The couple steps into a future shaped by both love and the shadow of war.

Shortly after the wedding; World War II era Banning estate

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:12

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