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IMDbPro

The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy

Original title: La momia azteca contra el robot humano
  • 19581958
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 5m
IMDb RATING
2.4/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (1958)
  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi
A mad doctor builds a robot in order to steal a valuable Aztec treasure from a tomb guarded by a centuries-old living mummy.A mad doctor builds a robot in order to steal a valuable Aztec treasure from a tomb guarded by a centuries-old living mummy.A mad doctor builds a robot in order to steal a valuable Aztec treasure from a tomb guarded by a centuries-old living mummy.
IMDb RATING
2.4/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Rafael Portillo
  • Writers
    • Guillermo Calderón(original story)
    • Alfredo Salazar(original story)
  • Stars
    • Ramón Gay
    • Rosita Arenas
    • Crox Alvarado
Top credits
  • Director
    • Rafael Portillo
  • Writers
    • Guillermo Calderón(original story)
    • Alfredo Salazar(original story)
  • Stars
    • Ramón Gay
    • Rosita Arenas
    • Crox Alvarado
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 64User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos14

    The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957)
    The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957)
    The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (1958)
    The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (1958)
    The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (1958)
    The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (1958)
    The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (1958)
    Rosita Arenas in The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (1958)
    The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (1958)
    The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (1958)
    The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (1958)
    The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ramón Gay
    Ramón Gay
    • Dr. Eduardo Almada
    Rosita Arenas
    Rosita Arenas
    • Flor Almada…
    Crox Alvarado
    Crox Alvarado
    • Pinacate
    Luis Aceves Castañeda
    Luis Aceves Castañeda
    • Dr. Krupp
    Jorge Mondragón
    • Dr. Sepúlveda
    • (archive footage)
    Arturo Martínez
    • Tierno
    Emma Roldán
    Emma Roldán
    • Maria, the housekeeper
    Julián de Meriche
    • Comandante
    • (as Julien de Meriche)
    Salvador Lozano
    Jaime González Quiñones
    • Pepe Almada
    • (as Jaime Quiñones)
    Ángel Di Stefani
    • Popoca, the Mummy
    • (as Angelo De Steffani)
    Adolfo Rojas
    • The Human Robot
    Jesús Murcielago Velázquez
    • El Murciélago
    • (as Murcielago Velazquez)
    Enrique Yáñez
    • Esbirro del Murciélago
    Guillermo Hernández
    • Esbirro del Murciélago
    • (as Lobo Negro)
    Alberto Yáñez
    • Esbirro del Murciélago
    Firpo Segura
    • Esbirro del Murciélago
    Sergio Yañez
    • Esbirro del Murciélago
    • (as Sergio Yáñez)
    • Director
      • Rafael Portillo
    • Writers
      • Guillermo Calderón(original story)
      • Alfredo Salazar(original story) (adaptation)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first half of the film is a recap of The Aztec Mummy (1957) and The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957).
    • Goofs
      The Aztecs practiced cremation, not mummification. The Inca practiced mummification.
    • Alternate versions
      There are two different US versions of this film: One is the American International Pictures print with the original atmospheric music score (complete with classical music pieces), and during the climactic fight between Popoca and the Human Robot, Popoca had a scary, menacing voice (ie. groaning and roaring). Another is the 1964 rerelease by Young Horror Club of America, with a completely redone (and loopy) music score, somewhat different title cards, and the voice of Popoca (in said climactic fight) was replaced with a faint high-pitched voice (which sounded more like he was yawning). This latter version was seen in the public domain. Both versions had the exact same dubbing done for US producer K. Gordon Murray by Manuel San Fernando (intended for AIP's version).
    • Connections
      Edited from The Aztec Mummy (1957)

    User reviews64

    Review
    Top review
    3/10
    Contrary to popular opinion, it won't make you want to gouge your eyes out...BUT...
    "RVAM"'s reputation preceded it. I first heard of it in one of those Medved style movie books, "The 50 Worst Movies Ever" or "The Golden Turkey Awards", or something like that. Every review of the film basically said that this movie was so bad that it would make you bleed from the eyes to watch it. So when the Exposed Film Society finally got around to showing it, I was anticipating the kind of cathartic experience that only a true cinematic stinker can provide.

    However, "Robot" wasn't really all that bad.

    Oh, this is definitely a "Z" film through and through. Some of the voice dubbing (as is usually the case for K. Gordon Murray imports) is awfully cheesy, and the movie itself seems to be structurally something of a Frankenstein, since a huge chunk of it seems to be footage from a previous "Aztec Mummy" movie, narrated with a voice-over by the leading man. A dead giveaway: anytime the question "Then what happened?" is asked more than twice in the dialog, you are looking at reassembled footage put together with little regard for plot coherence or momentum. In RVAM, "Then what happened?" or "What happened then?" is uttered at least four times in the 1st hour.

    Even without the structural problems, the plot and dialog don't translate well to an older American audience. For instance, as the hero explains (and explains and explains) the back-story. he includes a remark about Doctor Krupp, "a doctor who suddenly turned into an evil master criminal" and began his quest for the treasure that the Aztec mummy guards. No background, no explanation, he just "suddenly turned evil". Obviously, this was aimed at a pretty undiscriminating audience.

    The clincher, though, is the "Robot", the supposed "showcase" of this movie. This Robot is the worst robot special effect since "Undersea Kingdom" or even "Santa Claus Vs. The Martians". Compared to this hunk of junk, the Tin Man from the "Wizard Of Oz" looked like the Terminator chassis that chased Linda Connor through the foundry in T2. The Aztec Mummy himself is well designed and executed; he's recognizably undead, familiar enough to look like a mummy, and yet distinct from the "Boris Karloff" bandage collection familiar to most American audiences. But whoever designed the Robot in this followup had no feel for the concept...or no budget. They could at least have given him some knees, for heaven's sake.

    In addition, the titular battle is terribly executed and lasts less than 60 seconds. (I've seen shoving matches on junior high playgrounds that are more convincing.) Then the movie basically just stops. That seems a bit of a rip off considering the amount of time the movie spends building up to the battle itself.

    In spite of all these problems, the movie isn't horrible or incompetent the way a Coleman Francis film or a Larry Buchanan film was. Compared to "Monster A-Go-Go" or "Attack of The Eye Creatures", "RVTAM" is like a Coppola film. It's just kind of dull and boring and silly. The actors are competent (in a mannered B movie way) and reasonably photogenic; Dr. Krupp, in particular seems to be having a wonderful time as he leers and plots and capers about in his cape and "Phantom Of the Opera" suit. I often found myself rooting for him, in spite of his being the villain.

    Anyway, I've seen much, much worse. File this with "Samson Vs The Vampire Women", under "interesting Mexican juvenile oddities".
    helpful•15
    4
    • lemon_magic
    • Jun 10, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 1959 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Mexico
    • Language
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy
    • Filming locations
      • Mexico
    • Production company
      • Cinematográfica Calderón S.A.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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