Review of Lawrence of Arabia (1962) by Stuart K — 07 Jun 2010
David Lean had won Oscars for The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), how do you follow that up?? Lean found a suitable follow-up with with an adaptation of Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1922), the autobiography of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, who acted as a well respected liason during the Arab Revolt against the Turks from 1916 to 1918.
It's a brilliant grand old adventure film that people don't make anymore. It also brings out the best of the desert. It begins in Cairo, where T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) was a misfit, upsetting his peers with his behaviour, until he is sent by Arab Bureau chief Mr.
Dryden (Claude Rains) to assist Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness). Lawrence convinces Faisal to take a daring attack on Aqaba against the Turks, so the British can send supplies in, rather than retreating, and it works, and Lawrence ends up being lauded by his Arabian peers, and even leads a guerrilla war, becoming a hero.
The film eventually won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. It is a brilliant adventure film, the 70mm photography by Freddie Young is exquisite, and O'Toole is a brilliant Lawrence, and it put him on the road to fame, even if the film did take liberties with Lawrence's life, Lean paints on a huge canvas, and it's really engaging.
The supporting cast are also brilliant, including Anthony Quinn, José Ferrer, Jack Hawkins, Anthony Quayle and Omar Sharif as Ali, Lawrence's aide.
This review of Lawrence of Arabia (1962) was written by Stuart K on 07 Jun 2010.
Lawrence of Arabia has generally received very positive reviews.
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