An archeologist discovers his daughter is possessed by the spirit of an Egyptian queen. To save mankind he must destroy her.An archeologist discovers his daughter is possessed by the spirit of an Egyptian queen. To save mankind he must destroy her.An archeologist discovers his daughter is possessed by the spirit of an Egyptian queen. To save mankind he must destroy her.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Christopher Fairbank
- Porter
- (as Chris Fairbanks)
Richard Atherton
- Vicar
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring filming in the Valley of the Kings, an unforecast sandstorm swept up on the location while the production was shooting a goodbye scene between Charlton Heston and Susannah York, where Heston rides off into the night in his Land Rover. Arab tents lost their footings and flew into the air while Susannah York was knocked over by the sudden and powerful gust of wind. Moreover, camera bulbs got smashed and the crew raced to cover the camera with a plastic sheet. The storm then subsided and disappeared. But director Mike Newell was advised that such storms can rise-up again for a repeat showering. As Heston calmed the set, and York was helped from the side-lines by Heston's wife Lydia, Newell prepared for another take. York and Heston then blocked their spots, and just as Newell yelled "Action!", the storm rose again. As such, the scene got shot with the real life special effects of a real life storm and without any movie manufactured special effects.
- GoofsWhen Jane and Matt discover the tomb entrance, Jane reads the hieroglyphic inscription from left to right, but the direction in which the inscription is written is right to left, as shown by the birds in it which face the start of the line by convention.
- Quotes
Margaret Corbeck: Hi.
Paul Whittier: You're American aren't you?
Margaret Corbeck: How did you know?
Paul Whittier: The one word, "hi".
- Alternate versionsThe Awakening (1980) has two endings: SPOILERS AHEAD! For the U.S. dvd, the film ends with Margaret- now possessed- staring with crazed eyes and Egyptian makeup. For the U.K. dvd, the film ends with Margaret stepping outside the museum at night, and her shadow is superimposed over the skyline of London to suggest her evil or plans.
Featured review
The Awakening is directed by Mike Newell and collectively adapted to screenplay by Clive Exton, Chris Bryant and Allan Scott from the Bram Stoker novel The Jewel of Seven Stars. It stars Charlton Heston, Susannah York, Jill Townsend and Stephanie Zimbalist. Music is by Claude Bolling and cinematography by Jack Cardiff.
Heston plays archaeologist Matthew Corbeck, who after discovering the tomb of disgraced Egyptian Queen Kara discovers his daughter is possessed by Kara's spirit and to save mankind he may have to destroy her.
It's honourably serious, a willing attempt to make an intelligent end of the world type picture with flecks of troubling family dynamics. The production value is top draw, every effort has been made to make it look great, with lavish photography (nice to see a film of this type actually be filmed in Egypt), skillfully crafted set designs and an evocative score that drifts across the sands with distinction. Hell, even the casting of Heston at a time when his star had considerably faded, still gave the production some weight. If only it wasn't so immeasurably dull and distant!
The makers, obviously tugging on the coat tails of The Omen and Mummy movies previously, never develop the edgy themes bubbling away just below the narrative's surface. It's often feels like a big compromise was put forward by an executive, a request that they must ensure deaths are the draw card and to hell with the possibility of making a substantial brain tickler. Or it could just be that there were too many writers in the mix?! So what we essentially get is a laboriously paced movie going through the motions until the next death scene arrives, and then it's back to some slow brooding again.
The cast are solid, the ending suitably downbeat, and if you like Omen type deaths then there are a couple here worth your time, but you may need plenty of energizer drinks to keep you awake first. 4/10
Heston plays archaeologist Matthew Corbeck, who after discovering the tomb of disgraced Egyptian Queen Kara discovers his daughter is possessed by Kara's spirit and to save mankind he may have to destroy her.
It's honourably serious, a willing attempt to make an intelligent end of the world type picture with flecks of troubling family dynamics. The production value is top draw, every effort has been made to make it look great, with lavish photography (nice to see a film of this type actually be filmed in Egypt), skillfully crafted set designs and an evocative score that drifts across the sands with distinction. Hell, even the casting of Heston at a time when his star had considerably faded, still gave the production some weight. If only it wasn't so immeasurably dull and distant!
The makers, obviously tugging on the coat tails of The Omen and Mummy movies previously, never develop the edgy themes bubbling away just below the narrative's surface. It's often feels like a big compromise was put forward by an executive, a request that they must ensure deaths are the draw card and to hell with the possibility of making a substantial brain tickler. Or it could just be that there were too many writers in the mix?! So what we essentially get is a laboriously paced movie going through the motions until the next death scene arrives, and then it's back to some slow brooding again.
The cast are solid, the ending suitably downbeat, and if you like Omen type deaths then there are a couple here worth your time, but you may need plenty of energizer drinks to keep you awake first. 4/10
- hitchcockthelegend
- Oct 9, 2013
- Permalink
- How long is The Awakening?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $8,415,112
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $2,728,520
- Nov 2, 1980
- Gross worldwide
- $8,415,112
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content