Lawrence of Arabia Movie Review 1962

Exceptional biography of T.E. Lawrence, a British military "observer" who strategically aids the Bedouins battle the Turks during WWI. Lawrence, played masterfully by O'Toole in his first major film, is a hero consumed more by a need to reject British tradition than to save the Arab population. He takes on Arab costume and a larger-than-life persona. Stunning photography of the desert in all its harsh reality. Blacklisted co-writer Wilson had his screen credit restored by the Writers Guild of America in 1995. Laser edition contains 20 minutes of restored footage and a short documentary about the making of the film. Available in letterboxed format.

Distribution

Home Vision Cinema, c/o Image Entertainment, 20525 Nordhoff St., Ste. 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311, URL: http://www.homevision.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 221 minutes.
Originally from British.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Culture Clash, Deserts, Restored Footage, Middle East, Rebel With a Cause, Biopics: Military, World War I, Top Grossing Films of 1962, Historical Drama, 4 Bones

Screenplay

Robert Bolt, Michael Wilson

Cast

Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Claude Rains, Anthony Quayle, Arthur Kennedy, Jose Ferrer, Michel Ray, Norman Rossington, John Ruddock, Donald Wolfit

Cinematography

Frederick A. (Freddie) Young

Director

David Lean

Music

Maurice Jarre

Other

Anne Coates

Producer

Sam Spiegel, Columbia Pictures

Awards

Oscars 1962: Art Dir./Set Dec., Color, Color Cinematog., Director (Lean), Film Editing, Picture, Sound, Orig. Score; AFI 1998: Top 100; British Acad. 1962: Actor (O'Toole), Film, Screenplay; Directors Guild 1962: Director (Lean); Golden Globes 1963: Director (Lean), Film--Drama, Support. Actor (Sharif); Natl. Bd. of Review 1962: Director (Lean), Natl. Film Reg. 1991.