The Awakening (1928 film)

The Awakening (1928) is a feature film directed by Victor Fleming and starring Vilma Bánky. It was based on a story by Frances Marion.[1]

The Awakening
Film poster
Directed byVictor Fleming
Written byCarey Wilson (screenplay)
Frances Marion (story)
Produced bySamuel Goldwyn
StarringVilma Bánky
Walter Byron
CinematographyGeorge Barnes
Edited byViola Lawrence
Katherine Hilliker
H. H. Caldwell
Music byHugo Riesenfeld
Irving Berlin (song "Marie")
Production
company
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • November 17, 1928 (1928-11-17)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUSA
LanguagesSilent film
English intertitles

Plot

In Alsace, which was under German occupation, shortly before the outbreak of the First World War. Marie Ducrot is a pretty young peasant woman who falls in love with Count Karl von Hagen, a German army officer. Marie is seen when she visits von Hagen in his quarters. The people suffering under the occupation see Marie as a traitor and assault her physically. Marie disappears and is believed dead. But she has fled to a monastery where she is accepted as a novice.

The war breaks out. Von Hagen is wounded in fighting near the monastery. Marie nurses him back to health. Von Hagen wants her to go to Germany with him. The French lieutenant Le Bête helps the two to reach the German lines. The couple get to safety, but Le Bête is killed by a sniper's bullet.

Cast

Reception
The Awakening poster, 1928

The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Production Design at the 2nd Academy Awards. The Nominee, William Cameron Menzies was also nominated the same year for Alibi.

Critical reception

A review in the trade publication Harrison's Reports summarized the film as "'spotty;' that is, it is good, in fact very good, in spots; on the other hand, in spots it is slow, and even poor."[1] It also commended Banky and Byron for "good work" in their roles and Fleming for his direction.[1]

Preservation status

The film is presumed lost.[2]

See also

References
  1. "'The Awakening' (S) -- with Vilma Banky and Walter Bryon". Harrison's Reports. January 5, 1929. p. 3. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  2. The Awakening at Silentera.com


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