Review of Lawrence of Arabia (1962) by Elyakim S — 09 Jul 2018

If Lawrence of Arabia were made today, it probably would not work. The on-location filming would be muddled with CGI battles and fake desert backdrops. The film would be too long for anyone to sit through. The main character doesn't make much sense. Thankfully, it was screened in 1962, and the outcome is a masterpiece of the highest level.

The most captivating aspect of this film is Lawrence himself, portrayed effortlessly by Peter O'Toole. Lawrence is unconventional in every sense. He has no clear motive for doing what he does and he is always second-guessing himself. One moment he loves the desert, the next moment he never wants to see it again, and the moment after he's back without a qualm. That internal conflict happens not once, but twice within the movie. He's not sure how he wants to see himself. Almost ridiculously, he wants his followers to view him as a God-like figure who writes the future himself. However, he is also horrified by his willingness to deal out judgment. Additionally, his ambitions are so high, that he lets himself down in the end, even though he technically achieves his goal.

The scope of the desert, beautifully captured by F.A. Young, can be viewed as an analogy to Lawrence himself. Perhaps the reason for his obsession with desert life is that he wants to be portrayed like the desert: a fearsome expanse of power, dominated by towering landscapes that no man can persuade to change.

In short, Lawrence of Arabia is a masterpiece that needs to be viewed by more filmgoers. Its cinematography and plot structure heavily influenced future epics such as Gandhi and The Lord of the Rings.