Das Erwachen der Sphinx

During 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.

When 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.

The 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 in Sneak Previews: The Awakening/One-Trick Pony/The Stunt Man/The First Deadly Sin (1980)