IMDb RATING
4.8/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
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
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
Not THAT Bad...Not THAT Good Either
The Awakening is a film about an archaeologist that finds the tomb of a nameless Egyptian queen named Kara. Charlton Heston plays Dr. Corbeck, a man consumed with finding evidence to support this legendary status of Kara. A man who puts work ahead of family, even during the birth of his own daughter. Heston finds the tomb in the very long introductory flashback of 18 years ago beginning the film. He finds it under somewhat strange circumstances. A man is killed attempting to stop his dig mysteriously. Whilst all this is going on, Heston's estranged wife is bearing his daughter after waking from a coma. Now, I am not really sure what the significance of all these events are, but I found the first part of this film in particular very engrossing. The next three fourths is what really lost me and some logical credibility as Heston meets his sultry 18 year-old daughter, they discuss how Queen Kara had killed her father and everyone that touched his hand because he killed her lover and made her partake of his own bed, and then takes her(Heston's daughter) to Egypt. While in Egypt, Stephanie Zimbalist goes under some strange transformation as if she is becoming Kara and we go from there. This film has some beautiful location shots in Egypt, and I found the information, whether real or imaginary, about the queen, mummification, canopic jars(jars used for organs), etc... quite fascinating. The acting is pretty good. I thought Heston did a fine job. Zimbalist is good as well. The biggest problem is the writing. After you watch the film, you really are not sure what happened. I still don't know. The film is also a bit slow in the first half, but there are(for those who really enjoy it) some very gruesome deaths too. I cannot wholeheartedly recommend the film, but if you enjoy the mysteries of Egypt or mummy movies in particular...I would give it a look see. What could it hurt?
helpful•167
- BaronBl00d
- Sep 2, 2001
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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
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