The Awakening (1980 film)
An archaeologist's daughter is possessed by an ancient Egyptian queen.
**The Awakening (1980 film)**
*The Awakening* is a 1980 supernatural horror film and the feature directorial debut of Mike Newell. The cast includes Charlton Heston, Susannah York, and Stephanie Zimbalist. The story centers on an archaeologist whose daughter is taken over by the spirit of an ancient Egyptian queen. This movie represents the third screen adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1903 novel *The Jewel of Seven Stars*, following a 1970 television version titled *The Curse of the Mummy* (part of the series *Mystery and Imagination*) and Hammer’s 1971 theatrical film *Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb*.
A joint production of the United Kingdom and the United States, the film was shot in England and Egypt during 1979. Orion Pictures—at the time an independent company founded by former United Artists executives—handled the release. It premiered in the United States on Halloween 1980. Domestically, it earned $8.4 million at the box office and was met with generally poor reviews.
Two distinct versions of the film exist. Newell’s original cut, running about 105 minutes, was released in the United Kingdom. A shorter version, edited by Monte Hellman and running roughly 101 minutes, was mandated by Orion Pictures for release in North America.
**Plot**
The story begins at an Egyptian archaeological dig in 1961. Three main characters are introduced: Matthew Corbeck, his wife Anne, and Jane Turner. Matthew and Jane discuss their efforts to uncover the tomb of an ancient Egyptian queen. Anne is troubled by the closeness between her husband and his assistant—a concern later confirmed.
Matthew and Jane discover a hidden tomb bearing the warning: “Do Not Approach the Nameless One Lest Your Soul Be Withered.” They proceed to the burial chamber of Queen Kara. As Matthew prepares to breach the entrance, Anne goes into painful premature labor. Matthew and Jane return to camp to find Anne on the floor in a trance. Matthew takes her to the hospital but leaves her there to return to the dig. Anne’s pregnancy ends in a stillbirth. As Matthew and Jane open the mummy’s sarcophagus, the stillborn infant is revived. Matthew neglects his wife and daughter Margaret, and Anne takes the baby and leaves him.
Eighteen years later, Matthew is a professor at a British university and married to Jane.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Mike Newell
- Producer
- Robert H. Solo
- Writer
- Chris Bryant / Allan Scott / Clive Exton
- Story
- Chris Bryant / Allan Scott
- Based On
- The Jewel of Seven Stars / (1903 novel) · Bram Stoker
- Starring
- Charlton Heston / Susannah York / Jill Townsend / Stephanie Zimbalist
- Music
- Claude Bolling
- Cinematography
- Jack Cardiff
- Editing
- Terry Rawlings
- Studio
- EMI Films / Solofilm
- Distributor
- Columbia-EMI-Warner (UK) · Orion Pictures (US)
- Country
- United Kingdom / United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film was announced in July 1979, with a screenplay by Chris Bryant, Allan Scott, and Clive Exton adapted from Bram Stoker's novel. Its original title was The Waking. Finance came from EMI Films in Britain and the newly-formed Orion Films in the US. Charlton Heston was cast after having previously declined an offer to star in The Omen (1976). Principal photography began as early as August 1979 on a budget of approximately $6 million. Filming largely took place in England, though the actors also spent approximately one month shooting on location in Luxor, Egypt, including at the Valley of the Kings and the City of the Dead in Cairo.
Reader's Guide
The Awakening is notable as Mike Newell's feature directorial debut and as the third film adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel The Jewel of Seven Stars, following a 1970 television adaptation and Hammer's 1971 film Blood from the Mummy's Tomb. The film is a co-production between the United Kingdom and the United States, shot in England and Egypt in 1979. It was released by Orion Pictures, then a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Pictures, premiering in the United States on Halloween 1980. The film earned $8.4 million at the U.S. box office and received generally poor reviews. Two different cuts exist: Newell's original 105-minute cut released in the United Kingdom, and a shorter 101-minute cut edited by Monte Hellman released in North America under mandate from Warner Bros. The film was regarded as a financial failure. Its legacy includes multiple home media releases, with the Australian label Imprint Films releasing a Blu-ray featuring Newell's original cut.
Did You Know?
- The film was the first feature film allowed to shoot inside the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
- Charlton Heston joked he took the part 'to renew my franchise on being the only American actor allowed to play an Englishman.'
- Director Mike Newell later said the production was 'utterly terrible' although he 'adored' working with Heston.
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