Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

UK/US 216m, Colour
Director: David Lean; Cast: Peter O’Toole, Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins

Lawrence of Arabia is based on the life of T.E. Lawrence, an archaeologist-turned soldier whose exploits in the Arab uprising against Ottoman Turkish rule during World War I were widely publicized by the American journalist Lowell Thomas, and further made popular through Lawrence’s autobiographical work, the Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1922). Lean’s epic depiction of these dramatic events, while highly romanticized and largely fictionalized, also provides interesting observations on Lawrence’s idiosyncratic personality and internal struggles. Filled with brilliant performances, beautifully shot and accompanied by the Maurice Jarre’s memorable score, Lawrence of Arabia is arguably one of cinema’s most significant films of all time (Klaus Ming March 2012).