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Lawrence of Arabia

Oscar™ Best Picture - Winning Movies

8.0

46,743

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The Making of Lawrence of Arabia

Original title: Lawrence of Arabia
Year: 1962
Running time: 222 min.
Country: United Kingdom
Director: David Lean
Screenwriter: Robert Bolt, Michael Wilson
Music: Maurice Jarre
Cinematography: Freddie Young
Cast: Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Anthony Quinn, Anthony Quayle, Claude Rains, Arthur Kennedy, José Ferrer, Donald Wolfit, I.S. Johar, Gamil Ratib, Michel Ray, John Dimech, Zia Mohyeddin, Howard Marion-Crawford, Jack Gwillim, Fernando Sancho, Hugh Miller, Jack HedleySee 7 More
Producer: Columbia Pictures, Horizon Pictures. Producer: Sam Spiegel
Genre: Adventure. Drama. War | Biography. Epic film. I World War. Historical
Synopsis: While working on the staff of the British Intelligence in Cairo in 1916, Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) is sent to a mission to establish contact with Prince Feisal (Alec Guinness), leader of the Arab revolt and ally of the British against the German-sponsored Turks in WWI. Impressed by Lawrence's knowledge of their culture, the prince allows the young officer to join his staff, and Lawrence quickly earns the respect from the Arabs after he executes acts of extraordinary heroism. As Lawrence's genius for guerrilla warfare becomes evident, he assumes the role of de facto leader of the Arab revolt, uniting the heretofore warring tribes into a devastatingly effective weapon.

Rankings Position

Show 5 rankings

Awards: 1962: 7 Academy Awards, including Film, Director, Editing and Music. 10 Nominations

1962: Golden Globes: 6 Awards including Best Drama & Director. 9 Nominations

1962: BAFTA Awards: British Film, Film from any Source, British Actor & Screenplay. 5 Nominations

1962: Directors Guild of America (DGA): Best Director

1962: National Board of Review: Top 10 Best Films and Best director

1963: David di Donatello Awards: Best Foreign Prod. & Foreign Actor (O'Toole) (ex aequo)

Critics' reviews

"What a bold, mad act of genius it was to make 'Lawrence of Arabia', or even think that it could be made (...) For a movie that runs 216 minutes, plus intermission, 'Lawrence of Arabia' is not dense with plot details."

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"Vast, awe-inspiring, beautiful with ever-changing hues, exhausting and barren of humanity (...) [It] lacks the personal magnetism, the haunting strain of mysticism and poetry that we've been thinking all these years would be dominant"

Bosley Crowther: The New York Times
"The David Lean touch gilds everything (...) [Peter O’Toole] makes a striking job of the complicated and heavy role of Lawrence."

Variety
"You're captivated from the start (...) The ensemble around O'Toole is unparalleled (...) Maurice Jarre's memorable score (...) crashes over you"

Desson Thomson: The Washington Post
"Lean and photographer Fred A. Young have combined their artistic talents in an evocation of the Arabian desert that makes it both terrifying and deeply moving in its lonely grandeur."

Kate Cameron: New York Daily News
"One of the most intelligent, handsome, and influential of all war epics. Combining the scenic splendor of De Mille with virtues of the English theater"

Jonathan Rosenbaum: Chicago Reader
"The greatest, most sweeping, most eye-dazzling epic of all time (...) So much about the film is outsize, it’s easy to overlook just how nuanced and intimate O'Toole's performance is"

Chris Nashawaty: Entertainment Weekly
Show 5 more reviews

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Ranking Lists Position

14 My Favorite Biopics/Biographical Movies (91)
16 My Favorite Adventure Movies (166)
18 My Favorite British & Irish Movies (72)
24 Movies with Amazing Cinematography (87)
47 My Favorite War Movies (105)
59 Movies with Skillful Editing (22)
66 Movies with Impressive Art Direction (30)
75 Best Directed Movies (30)
77 Movies with an Incredible Soundtrack (OST) (151)
95 My Favorite Movies from Europe & Latin America (29)

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