Referring to the film by its working title, The Innocent, the 1 Mar 1928 FD announced that the feature, an original written by Frances Marion, would be the first starring role for Vilma Banky. The 14 Mar 1928 FD indicated that Samuel Goldwyn, Inc. was handling the production, with filming set to occur at the United Studios in Hollywood, CA. Victor Fleming was named as the director.
       Principal photography began on 7 May 1928, according to the 23 Jun 1928 Motion Picture News. Extensive sets of post-war Alsace-Lorraine were built on the lot, and production was expected to continue into early Aug 1928.
       On 13 May 1928, FD reported the title change to The Awakening. One week later, the 21 May 1928 issue noted that the film would be the first all-talking Movietone release from United Artists Corp.
       The 16 Jun 1928 Motion Picture News added Yola D’Avril, Ferdinand Schumann-Heink, Owen Gorin, and Arno Frey to the cast.
       As of 22 Aug 1928, principal photography was still underway, as stated in that day’s Exhibitors Daily Review. The 13 Oct 1928 Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World announced that husband and wife team H. H. Caldwell and Katherine Hilliker had recently completed the editing and titling of the picture.
       The Awakening opened in Los Angeles, CA, at the United Artists Theatre on 11 Nov 1928, according to the following day’s Exhibitors Daily Review. The New York opening was held on 20 Dec 1928 at the Rivoli Theatre, as noted in the 9 Jan 1929 Var review, which praised the lavish and elegant production, and stated that George Barnes’s photography was “distinguished for clearness, beauty and imagination.” However, the review complained that the picture suffered from “dragginess,” and the story had a “kindergarten plot.”
       The Awakening was nominated for an Academy Award in 1930 for “Art Direction” by William Cameron Menzies.