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Movie Review

"lawrence Of Arabia"

Shamma M. Raghib

Academy Award Winning Best Picture of 1962
Release Date: 1962
Genre: Adventure, War, Drama
Time: 222 mins.
Cast: Peter O'Toole, Alec Guiness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Jose Ferrer, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quayle, Claude Rains, Arthur Kennedy, David Wolfit.
Director: David Lean
Campus Classic Ratings: 6.8/10

This film covers the Allies' Mid-eastern campaign during World War I, as seen through the eyes of the enigmatic T. E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole).

Cairo, 1917:
With sweeping desert scenes for a background, this epic film based on the life and writings of T.E. Lawrence, follows Lawrence (an English officer) as he unites and leads an Arab revolt against the Turkish Empire during World War I. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) along with Prince Feisal (Alec Guiness) convinces disparate tribal leaders Auda (Anthony Quinn) and Sherif Ali (Omar Sharif) to unite with the English to drive the Turks from Arabia. The mood of the film is set by Lawrence's lonely and dangerous trips across the barren desert. There are stunning scenes of bombs derailing trains and Arab warriors attacking and glorifying in the victories. After Lawrence is captured, tortured and then released by the Turks, a sort of madness overtakes him and he begins to revel in killing for killing's sake. There is a bittersweet ending with the Arabs prevailing against the Turks, but then they revert to fighting amongst themselves.

This is a film of unparalleled beauty, rich texture, sweeping spectacle and even wry humor that punctuates the cultural clashes of Arab and British. Few filmmakers are able to thus coordinate the elements of cinematic spectacle, narration and meaningful characters.

At times, the beautiful pictures of the dry land and the winds encircling the desert are just breathtaking. The age-old lifestyle of the Arabs might just be a breath of relief and an insight to how simple life was back then

There are many memorable moments in the movie, like when Lawrence is waiting with his guide at a lonely watering hole when way off in the distance a single horseman appears. Lawrence is dumbfounded and the guide is shot and killed by the horseman Sheri Ali.

Another scene worth mentioning is the one while crossing the Sinai Peninsula, leading a small army. Lawrence risks his life to go back and save a man who had fallen behind, only to be forced to execute him later when he proves to be a thief.

Should I give you any spoilers, well… just one…it's just not right for home-viewing… but I doubt Cineplex will air this picturesque classic.