Customer Reviews

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" was envisioned to be a definitive blockbuster, epic in size, yet thought-provoking, as well (a quality often lacking in other 'big' films of the era). He succeeded brilliantly on both counts, with cinematography that captures both the mystery and harshness of the desert, Maurice Jarre's haunting score, action scenes that are riveting, and performances that are all first-rate, headed by Omar Sharif's charismatic Ali, and, in the title role, Peter O'Toole as the enigmatic title character.

Lawrence remains a controversial figure to this day, a man of incredible abilities, yet devastating character flaws that would, in time, destroy both his credibility and his reputation. O'Toole's sensitive interpretation of the man is simply brilliant, balancing a larger-than-life ego and bravado with a confusion of who he really is, and a growing moral corruption that would eventually bring about his downfall.

An amazing film, truly David Lean's masterpiece!

This is movie is an excellent WWI desert war film. I was captivated immediately by Peter O'Toole as T.E. Lawrence. What a strange character but he gets the job done. He gets the job done but whose job is it in reality? José Ferrer as the Bey is perfect as the homosexual Turkish commander who leaves an indelible mark on Lawrence. The desert is eternal. This film is complex and perplexing in nature. This is probably David Lean's greatest directorial effort.

Peter O'Toole is the enigmatic T.E. Lawrence. It is an indelible performance. The entire film is mesmerizing and captivating from the opening to final shot. This is David Lean's masterpiece. Maurice Jarre's score is a true classic evoking images that are eternally grained into our memories.

This film is a well deserved 7 Oscar winner. A huge production effort, 10 M dollars in 1962 was a record. To fully appreciate this opus, you should see it in a theater, no doubt, but if that is not possible don't miss it. VHS or DVD or Blue Ray will allow you to taste many of the great features of this movie.

First: a gathering of actors performing in an unusual high level: Peter O'Toole as Lawrence, Omar Shariff as Sheriff Ali, Jack Hawkins as General Allenby, Anthony Quinn as Auda abu Tayi, Alec Guinness as King Feisal.
Not only those performances are outstanding, lots of secondary characters are also paramount: the two kids that followed Lawrence, Michael Ray as Farraj and John Dimech as Daud; the uncredited Turk soldier that holds Lawrence while he is whipped, gives an unforgettable expression, in a scene that takes no more than three minutes; the first Bedouin guide to Lawrence (Zia Mohyeddin); the British officers showing their elitist attitudes; almost all performances are remarkable one way or the other.

Second: the music score of Maurice Jarre with some remarkable compositions that remain as a trade mark of the movie.
The more than beautiful photography from Freddie Young (with an extended career that include more than 130 films), desert pictures are overwhelming, not only sand but rocks and eroded mountains. Both winning Oscar.

Third: the film director, David Lean (also Oscar winner), conducts with the same allure mass battle scenes and intimate dialogues between Ali and Lawrence, Feisal and Lawrence amongst other. No doubt he influenced the generalized high quality actor's performance.

Fourth: the story is a forceful recreation of a critical war period with its political implications (still unresolved after almost 90 years). The intimate description of Lawrence divided loyalties: to Arab Cause and to British Empire. Of Lawrence's spiritual suffering: he was an intellectual and a mystic thrown in the middle of a bloody war conflict and having to lead human beings to death, suffering and destruction. Lawrence's internals contradictions: he enjoyed killing a man; afterwards, he was incapable to refrain his vengeance desires and lastly his failure to fulfill his promises. All this kaleidoscopic emotions are shown by Peter O'Toole with a compromise rarely seen; he gives real flesh and blood to his historical character.

There are some minor historical inaccuracies (poetic licenses may we say?), King Feisal is shown as an elder man; in reality he was only a couple of years older than young Lawrence. Peter O'Toole was (approximately) 6 feet high (or 1.80 meters) and Lawrence was (approximately) 5 feet 3 inches high (or 1.65 meters), this is in a way minimized by how O'Toole managed his corporal demeanor.
An unforgettable film!!!

Reviewed by Max Yofre.

This, and the other top ten movies, deserve their own category of rating: 5+. A movie that cannot be reproduced under any circumstances.