The Mummy

This fabulous new release of the Hammer Horror classic comes with a generous slate of features which includes not one but two separate audio commentaries. The one by Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby is fairly conventional - which is not to say uninteresting - taking viewers through the film step by step as it unfolds and discussing aspects of production and stories from the set. The other, by academic Kelly Robinson, is truly fascinating, focusing as it does on wider aspects of the mummy as a character in European and North American fiction, and probing the ways in which it differs from Hammer's previously established monsters Count Dracula and Baron Frankenstein's creation, by virtue of its lack of a foundational narrative. Drawing together the cinematic and the literary, this is a real treat, the sort of in-depth material which is hard to access outside educational settings, and it adds considerable value to the overall package.

In addition to this, there's a delve into the history and context of the production, with David Huckvale. He also presents a feature on the music of the film, using his piano to tease out the different aspects of the score and explain their associations. A further featurette examines the production in more depth, and there is also a short documentary in which assorted Hammer cast and crew members reminisce about the time they spent in its old home at Bray Studios.

A particular treat here is a featurette on the Hammer Rep Company, as it is informally known - an introduction yo some of those actors whom aficionados will instantly recognise even though they never got top billing, instead playing small character roles which fleshed out the stories and contributed to their overall quality. It's a shame that this is so short. With several hours of extra features on the disc in total, one hesitates to complain, but it would be lovely to see this area explored in more depth on a future release.

The original promo reel for the film is presented here without sound, editing issues making it impossible to sync, but it will nevertheless appeal to the completists. Finally there is a stills gallery which features some delightful poster art from the UK, US and French releases of the film, as well as a series of snaps from the set.