Lawrence of Arabia an Epic Masterpiece

Last week, Sharon Osbourne, the media personality known for her reality television show The Osbournes (along with rock star husband Ozzy and their children), as well as being a judge on America’s Got Talent and more recently, one of the co-hosts of the daytime series The Talk, was gracious enough to sit down with me for a few minutes to talk film. It did not take Mrs. Osbourne long to single out her favourite – the 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia. She was captivated by the superb scenery and the brilliant cinematography of legendary director David Lean (The Bridge on the River Kwai, Doctor Zhivago), which made this movie and its imagery unforgettable.

The 3 hour and 36 minute movie (that won seven Oscars – including Best Picture, Director, Music Score) opens with us watching our main character, T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole), dying in a motorcycle accident back in England. At his memorial service, a reporter asks those exiting what memories they had of the British military man. We then flash back to his time in the Middle East where he is sent by his superior, Mr. Dryden (Claude Rains – Casablanca), from Cairo to the desert to observe Arab Prince Feisal (Alec Guinness – Star Wars) in his revolt against the Turks despite the objections of General Murray (Donald Wolfit).

In the desert, his Bedouin guide is murdered at a well by an unknown man who says he did not have permission to drink – he turns out to be an advisor to the Prince named Sherif Ali (Omar Sharif – Doctor Zhivago). When Lawrence arrives at the Arab camp, he meets with his British superior and is told to keep quiet when meeting the Prince. Disobeying orders, he gains the confidence of the royal – who tells him privately that there are only two ways to get what he wants: put his men under British control or a miracle.

Lawrence sees a way to create that miracle and he takes fifty of the Prince’s men across the supposedly impassable Nefud Desert to attack the port city of Aqaba. The journey is long and arduous but they make it across, yet are stopped by another tribe, the Howeitat’s and their leader Auda Abu Tayi (Anthony Quinn – Zorba the Greek). Lawrence unites the two tribes and they win the skirmish, allowing them to take control of the city. Lawrence then returns to Cairo to inform the new leader, General Allenby (Jack Hawkins – Ben-Hur), of his conquests. He is then promoted and sent back with money, weapons and a claim that Britain has no interest in Arabia.

Part two of the picture follows Lawrence as he bombs Turkish trains. Later, he scouts the city of Daraa and is grabbed, tortured and raped (implied) by Turkish Bey (José Ferrer). This act impacts the man negatively; he flees, returning to his superiors, who, in turn, send him back again for the ‘big push’. Will the disturbed man be able to follow through?

Lawrence of Arabia is a visual masterpiece. From its vast faraway shots, to its impressive editing, transitionals and cinematography, every piece of film is stunning artwork. Some of the best takes include the superb shot that transitions from Lawrence blowing out a match to the sun rising in the desert, Sherif Ali coming out of the haze as if from a mirage, the amazing scope of the taking of Aqaba and the complex derailment of a train by way of an explosion. One must remember that every shot was done in the desert, shooting in nature, with real actors, extras and animals. When you see a thousand people riding camels, there was no CGI; it is all authentic. Also, if another take was needed, the sand had to be reworked to pristine, undisturbed condition, which meant that on some of the large set pieces, only one take could be filmed per day. Additionally, every actor did their own stunts – it is said that O’Toole fell off of his camel in the attack on Aqaba and could have been trampled, yet the animal stood over him, saving his life. It is also said that Lean made sure that every shot – be it a take from three miles away, or a close up, featured the real actor, adding to the authenticity.

The music must also be commended. The sweeping score composed by Maurice Jarre is epic in its own right – adding a grandiose atmosphere to the movie. The superb acting from O’Toole, who is able to play the complexity of the legendary figure (both good and bad, British and Arab, witty and dark, leader and private person), along with the rest of the strong cast, gives you a motion picture that offers something for everyone.

Lawrence of Arabia is one of the most influential movies of all-time; with Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese being huge fans (helping restore the film). Also, an ode to the film was placed in the recent Ridley Scott film Prometheus, with Michael Fassbender’s character watching the movie as he styles his hair like O’Toole’s Lawrence. To see what all of the fuss is about, sweep the sand off of this powerful classic. It is as stunning as ever.