Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)

Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)
Directed by: David Lean

An outstanding biopic depicting the life of T. E. Lawrence and his time in Arabia. The film is an acclaimed epic that has upheld a level of esteemed accomplishment on international film polls ever since its release.

I felt an ultimate bond with the clumsy outsider, played fantastically by Peter O'Toole, as he persuades his seniors to allow him to travel through the Arabian Desert. His keen sense of adventure makes for a bold introduction into his mission during World War I to establish ties with struggling Arabic forces. The gleam of excitement in Lawrence's eye was something I immediately clung on to, even as it slowly disappears after he begins to take control of the Arabic forces. The evident reason for this happening is Lawrence’s high-level involvement in the Arabic forces and his demagogic presence among the natives – I was instantly reminded of Mr Kurtz in Heart of Darkness.

Each sequence in Lawrence Of Arabia is propelled by Lean's use of the lense. His sweeping shots of desert landscapes blend beautifuly with the mystical pace of camels jerking up and down in the heat, lending a splendid attribute to the film's presence.

The script is bound together by Lawrence's thrilling adventure: the relationships that he constructs with the Arabs; the battles that he commands throughout the foreign land; the reputation he builds amongst his superiors and his untimely death back in England. Due to the veracious drama and seething passion, it is often easy to forget that the film is a biopic and that O'Toole's astute portrayal is based on the life of a curious soldier turned furious colonel. However, that is where the appeal lies; Lawrence Of Arabia is a dazzling adventure more than worthy its prestigious status in 20th century cinema.