Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Talk About Character Development !!!!! What A Classic Should Be!!!!!
For me this epic film is tied with "A Bridge On The River Kwai" as the best movie ever made. This film had everything & more. The peerless acting of Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Omar Sharif, Jack Hawkins, & Anthony Quinn were perfectly cast for their respective roles. Fine cinematography, direction, action, suspense, special effects, & musical score made this a mammoth production that took two years to complete. Set in world war one in the turbulent middle east, T.E.Lawrence attempts to unite the Arabs to overthrow their Ottoman Turkish rulers. He starts as a mapmaker for British intelligence in Cairo. From the very first frames you can feel the extraordinary WILL of this man. He burns himself with matches saying to his comrade "the trick is not to mind that it hurts." He is sent to spy on King Feisal{Alec Guinness}, but he soon finds that he identifies more with the arabs than with his fellow Brit's. His brutal journey to the king under the scorching desert Sun alone is worth four stars. He develops an unexpected & intruiging relationship with an arab chieftain Sherif Ali{Omar Sharif}, that moves the film ever forward. Without orders he crosses the desert to lead a motley group of fifty men joining Auda Abu Tayi{Anthony Quinn}, to attack the Turks at Aqaba. With the victory comes his fame as US reporter Jackson Bentley{Arthur Kennedy}, brings the story to the media's attention. He moves from one gruelling adventure to another showing an indomitable will that encourages his men to fight above what they thought their own abilities were. Lawrence Of Arabia is an epic that celebrates the empty silence of the arabian desert. the vast clips across the glowing desert show a tiny rider approaching, mesmerizing sunsets, battles, & camp details make this a masterpiece. Peter O'Toole gave the greatest performance ever in this film. I'm not saying that Gregory Peck did not deserve the Oscar for "To Kill A Mockingbird," just that O'Toole deserved it a little more. The former still has never won the Oscar, which for me is an unpardonable sin!

My Favorite Movie
This is a movie that really demands to be seen projected on a big screen. I was lucky enough to see the movie in theaters around 1990 when the restoration of the movie was completed and it was re-released.

It's a movie that could not get made today. There are no women, no car-chases, not a great deal of action, and not a lot of dialogue. Yet the movie is a masterpiece. Subtle performances from the legendary supporting cast, plus a star-making turn from Peter O'Toole. It's a complex movie that demands some involvement from the viewer. If you prefer to have ever plot detail laid out for you on a platter, stick to the latest installment of the "Fast and the Furious" franchise and leave this one alone.

Desert Power
"Lawrence of Arabia" is a spicy, sensuous exploration of World War I-era Saudi Arabia. It stands as David Lean's greatest cinematic achievement,and of the worthiest Oscar winners. For the most part, it's true to history about TE Lawrence, his exploits with the Arabs under the Ottoman Empire, and his personal struggles.

Peter O'Toole is handsome&lanky as TE Lawrence (who,in real life,was rather dimunitive&homely) In the beginning, Lawrence is a bored officer in Egypt,working a desk job. His love of adventure gets him entangled in the liberation&unification of the Arabs. Alec Guinness is excellent as the sagely Prince Feisal, while Anthony Quinn is great as the stubborn tribal chieftain. Omar Sharif shines as Sharif Ali, Lawrence's friend, companion, and, knowing Lawrence's real-life inclinations, perhaps his lover. "Lawrence of Arabia" is a very masculine movie. It's not just because of Arab Muslim society, in which women are veiled&hidden. There's also the factor of Lawrence's homosexuality. The movie shows his two teenaged male companions,who may have been companions in an intimate sense. When Lawrence is brought before the Turkish bey (a slimy Jose Ferrer),the Turk strokes his bare,muscular chest. The movie hints at Lawrence's violation by the Turks. However, Lean doesn't show that after Lawrence returned to England, he had a male companion beat him on a regular basis. Lean is daring in hinting to Lawrence's queerness; the Production Code forbade ANY positive portrayal of gays. One can also say "Lawrence" is still revolutionary in portraying Arabs&Muslims as civilized&humane.

"Lawrence of Arabia" is a majestic, marvelous film. The desert itself is a character, severe and pure. Maurice Jarre's soundtrack conveys the desert's beauty&power. The acting is superb. "Lawrence of Arabia" is an oasis in a desert of cheesy movies. It's a true classic.