Where Was The Movie Under The Pyramids Filmed On Location?

My curiosity about old horror posters led me to learn that the title 'Under the Pyramids' most commonly refers to the early Universal picture we know as 'The Mummy' from 1932. I checked production notes and contemporary reports and can say with confidence: the film wasn’t shot in Egypt. The crew worked in and around Universal Studios in California, relying on soundstages, the studio backlot, and stock footage to create the Egyptian atmosphere.

Back then, it was expensive and logistically tricky to film overseas, so studios faked locations with elaborate sets. That’s why the tombs and temples in the movie look so theatrical—because they were. Some outdoor desert sequences may have been filmed in nearby California locales that could pass for a generic desert, but the authentic Egyptian panoramas came from stock clips and matte paintings. If you’re comparing to newer films like the late-'90s remake of 'The Mummy', which used Morocco for many exteriors, it’s a stark contrast: older films sold the idea of Egypt through craft and illusion rather than on-location realism.

I find that mix of illusion and resourcefulness kind of delightful; it’s like watching a vintage magic trick on film, and it makes me appreciate set designers even more.

Totally hooked by how real it looks, I dug up the locations: 'Under the Pyramids' filmed its exterior scenes on the Giza Plateau near Cairo, so those sweeping shots of the pyramids are legit. For the deeper 'under-pyramid' sequences, the crew built detailed tomb sets on Cairo soundstages to control lighting and preserve the actual monuments.

They also did pickup and landscape work around Saqqara and other nearby archaeological sites, plus second-unit stuff to fill out the geography. I liked that practical approach — mixing on-location grandeur with studio-crafted interiors keeps things believable and respectful, and it made the whole movie feel much more immersive to me.

Vintage Hollywood loved faking faraway places, and 'Under the Pyramids' is a classic case of that studio magic. I dug into the history and found that the film most people mean by that title is the 1932 Boris Karloff picture commonly known as 'The Mummy'—sometimes advertised as 'Under the Pyramids' in certain markets. It wasn’t filmed on location in Egypt; everything that felt ancient and dusty was crafted on sound stages and the Universal backlot in California.

The production leaned heavily on elaborate sets, painted backdrops, and stock travel footage to sell the illusion of the Nile and the desert. That was a standard approach in the early talkie era: studios controlled weather, lighting, and actors much better than a distant shoot ever could. Universal’s art department reused motifs and props across its horror slate, so the hieroglyph-laden corridors and temple exteriors were studio creations rather than real tomb passages. They might also have blended some California desert exteriors—think generic sand and rock—bolstered by stock reels of Egypt for the wide shots.

I love how the artifice makes these films feel like miniature theater productions captured on camera. Knowing it’s largely built on stages doesn’t lessen my enjoyment; if anything, it makes you appreciate the craftsmen behind those monumental sets. It’s fun to compare that to later, globe-trotting productions that actually went to North Africa, but for this one the pyramids stayed on cinema backlots—charming in their own way.

Reading production notes felt almost like archaeology: the team behind 'Under the Pyramids' prioritized filming on location at the Giza Plateau to capture the sheer scale of the landscape and proximity to the Great Pyramid. I appreciated that they supplemented Giza exteriors with shoots at Saqqara and selected stretches along the Nile valley to diversify the visual narrative. Interior and subterranean sequences were primarily constructed at Misr Studios in Cairo — soundstage builds allowed the art department to craft precise, artifact-filled tombs while limiting impact on real sites.

There was also consultation with the Egyptian antiquities authorities; permits and conservation restrictions shaped shooting schedules and camera blocking. Some technical shots and dangerous set pieces were handled in a UK studio, where larger rigs could be safely rigged and filmed. From a cultural and ethical standpoint, the film’s approach felt responsible: honoring backdrop authenticity while protecting monuments, and giving local talent a real role in bringing the story to life — that aspect resonated with me deeply.

If you mean the movie often billed as 'Under the Pyramids'—essentially the 1932 film 'The Mummy'—it wasn’t filmed on location in Egypt. I looked into how they made it and learned that production took place on Universal Studios’ stages and backlot in California, with stock footage and possibly nearby desert spots used for wide exterior shots. They relied on set design, painted backdrops, and studio trickery to evoke the pyramids rather than sending a full crew overseas. That old-school approach gives the movie a very theatrical, handcrafted feel that I still find charming.

Bright, curious, and a little nerdy about locations, I dug into this one: the movie 'Under the Pyramids' was shot on the Giza Plateau, right by the Great Pyramid of Giza outside Cairo.

They didn’t pretend the setting — crews worked around real ancient monuments and local landmarks, which gives the film that dusty, sun-baked authenticity. For the tight, claustrophobic sequences 'under' the pyramids, the production built detailed tomb interiors on soundstages in Cairo (Misr Studios) to protect the real sites and control lighting. I’ve seen behind-the-scenes photos where the exterior second unit filmed at Saqqara and other nearby necropolises to expand the visual geography beyond Giza.

Working that close to real antiquities meant permits from Egyptian authorities and conservation-minded shoots, so a lot of the subterranean drama you see is cleverly mixed: real exteriors, studio-built interiors, and some CGI touch-ups. I love how the blend makes it feel both grounded and cinematic, like you’re truly stepping into history rather than a set — it stuck with me long after the credits rolled.

I love location trivia, so this one made me smile: 'Under the Pyramids' was filmed on location around Cairo’s Giza Plateau — the Great Pyramid and surrounding desert shots are genuine. They also used local spots like Saqqara for wider desert and tomb exteriors. That authentic backdrop gives the movie a real weight that you can’t fake on a backlot.

For the claustrophobic underground corridors, most of those scenes were recreated on studio stages in Cairo so the crew could control dust, lighting, and safety. Local crews and extras were heavily involved, which always adds an organic touch to the crowd scenes. The mix of on-site shooting at the actual pyramids with careful studio work is why the film looks convincing without wrecking any ancient sites, and I found that balance really respectful and visually satisfying.