- Film Review
- Reviewed By Adrian Turner
-
5 out of 5
This is director David Lean's magisterial portrayal of one of Britain's most enigmatic yet charismatic heroes, TE Lawrence, whose precise role in the Arab revolt against the Turks during the First World War still perplexes military historians. Peter O'Toole's flamboyant performance hints at every aspect of Lawrence's complex character (including his masochistic tendency), while Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson's script develops into a withering satire on the ball-and-socket mentality of Lawrence's superiors, who play the Great Game of Empire by the book. Taking 15 months to shoot in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Spain and England, Lean developed an obsession with the desert that mirrored Lawrence's own. There are some awesomely beautiful images, notably the mirage that introduced the world to a new star, Omar Sharif. Winner of seven Oscars and restored to its original glory in 1989, this is movie-making on the grandest scale.
Plot Summary
Epic adventure starring Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn and Jack Hawkins. During the First World War, the enigmatic Lieutenant Lawrence yearns to escape his desk job in military intelligence and experience some action. His chance arrives when he is appointed British liaison officer to the Arab Revolt against the Turks.
Cast and crew
Cast
- TE Lawrence
- Peter O'Toole
- Prince Feisal
- Alec Guinness
- Auda Abu Tayi
- Anthony Quinn
- General Allenby
- Jack Hawkins
- Turkish Bey
- José Ferrer
- Colonel Harry Brighton
- Anthony Quayle
- Mr Dryden
- Claude Rains
- Jackson Bentley
- Arthur Kennedy
- General Murray
- Donald Wolfit
- Sherif Ali Ibn El Kharish
- Omar Sharif
- Gasim
- I S Johar
- Majid
- Gamil Ratib
Crew
- Director
- David Lean
- Share this episode
-