Analysis of Opening Sequence: The Mummy

The Mummy



Director: Steven Summers
Release: 1999

The narrative function of this opening sequence is to give the back story of the film, it sets up how the 'mummy' was created. As such it follows the conventions of opening sequences, it sets up the story of the film, there are no immediate credits, there is a voiceover and the Universal logo is displayed

Characters introduced are Imhotep, the priest who later becomes the mummy. Anck Su Namun, the Pharoah's mistress and Imhotep's lover and the Pharoah, Theti.

The scene begins with a graphic match, the Universal logo becomes the sun. The establishing shot is of a pyramid, which immediately indicates that the film is set in Ancient Egypt. This is also evident in the costume. There are panning and crane shots of the city, which has been created using CGI, to show off its size and grandeur.

In terms of cinematography, special care has been taken in the positioning within the frame, particularly the close up shot of Imhotep smearing the paint on Anck Su Namun's arm as this is the key clue to the pharoah discovering Imhotep and Anck Su Namun's affair.