Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

David Lean

Writers (WGA):

T.E. Lawrence (writings)
Robert Bolt (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

30 January 1963 (Canada)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | War

Tagline:

The Desert Classic. (1983 Video Release)

Plot:

Epic rumination on a flamboyant and controversial British military figure and his conflicted loyalties during wartime service.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Arab | Army | Turk | Camel

Awards:

Won 7 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Peter O'Toole	...	T.E. Lawrence
Alec Guinness	...	Prince Feisal
Anthony Quinn	...	Auda abu Tayi
Jack Hawkins	...	General Lord Edmund Allenby
Omar Sharif	...	Sherif Ali
José Ferrer	...	Turkish Bey (as Jose Ferrer)
Anthony Quayle	...	Colonel Brighton
Claude Rains	...	Mr. Dryden
Arthur Kennedy	...	Jackson Bentley
Donald Wolfit	...	General Sir Archibald Murray
I.S. Johar	...	Gasim
Gamil Ratib	...	Majid
Michel Ray	...	Farraj
John Dimech	...	Daud
Zia Mohyeddin	...	Tafas
Howard Marion-Crawford	...	Medical officer (as Howard Marion Crawford)
Jack Gwillim	...	Club secretary
Hugh Miller	...	RAMC colonel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Barry	...	MP, map room (uncredited)
Bruce Beeby	...	Captain, Officer's Club (uncredited)
Fred Bennett	...	Sergeant at Cairo headquarters (uncredited)
John Bennett	...	(uncredited)
Steve Birtles	...	Motor bike rider (uncredited)
Robert Bolt	...	Officer with pipe gazing at Lawrence (uncredited)
Peter Burton	...	Sheik, Arab Council (uncredited)
Tim Clutterbuck	...	Turkish pilot (uncredited)
Barbara Cole	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Captain John Crewdson	...	Turkish pilot (uncredited)
Basil Dignam	...	Cavalry general, field briefing (uncredited)
Peter Dukelow	...	Driver, Cairo (uncredited)
Kenneth Fortescue	...	Allenby's aide (uncredited)
Harry Fowler	...	William Potter (uncredited)
Mohamed Habachi	...	Talal (uncredited)
Jack Hedley	...	Reporter at Lawrence's funeral (uncredited)
Rafael Hernández	...	(uncredited)
Bert Holliday	...	Driver (uncredited)
Noel Howlett	...	Vicar at St. Paul's (uncredited)
Cher Kaoiu	...	Khitan of Aleppo (uncredited)
Patrick Kavanagh	...	Staff major, Murray's aide (uncredited)
David Lean	...	Motorcyclist by Suez Canal (uncredited)
Ian MacNaughton	...	Michael George Hartley (uncredited)
Clive Morton	...	Artilery general, field briefing (uncredited)
Daniel Moynihan	...	Officer, Officer's Club (uncredited)
Henry Oscar	...	Reciter (uncredited)
George Plimpton	...	Bedouin (uncredited)
Bryan Pringle	...	Driver (uncredited)
Kamal Rashid	...	Auda's son (uncredited)
John Robinson	...	Infantry general, field briefing (uncredited)
Norman Rossington	...	Cpl. Jenkins (uncredited)
John Ruddock	...	Elder Harith (uncredited)
Fernando Sancho	...	Turkish sergeant (uncredited)
Stuart Saunders	...	Regimental Sergeant Major (uncredited)
Cyril Shaps	...	Bartender, Officer's Club (uncredited)
Roy Stevens	...	Truck driver (uncredited)
Barry Warren	...	Two British Officers / Arab Sheik (uncredited)

Directed by
David Lean

Writing credits (WGA)
T.E. Lawrence		(writings)
Robert Bolt		(screenplay) and
Michael Wilson		(screenplay) originally uncredited

Produced by
Robert A. Harris	....	producer (1989 reconstruction and restoration)
Sam Spiegel	....	producer

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Freddie Young		(director of photography) (as F.A. Young)

Film Editing by
Anne V. Coates

Casting by
Maude Spector

Production Design by
John Box

Art Direction by
John Stoll
Anthony Masters		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Dario Simoni		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Phyllis Dalton

Makeup Department
Charles E. Parker	....	makeup artist (as Charles Parker)
A.G. Scott	....	hair stylist

Production Management
John Palmer	....	production manager
R.L.M. Davidson	....	production manager (uncredited)
Tadeo Villalba	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Noël Howard	....	second unit director (as Noel Howard)
André Smagghe	....	second unit director (as Andre Smagghe)
Roy Stevens	....	assistant director
Bryan Coates	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
André De Toth	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Benchekroun Larbi	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Michael Stevenson	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
David Tringham	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Fred Bennett	....	construction assistant
Peter Dukelow	....	construction manager
Eddie Fowlie	....	property master
Terence Marsh	....	assistant art director (as T. Marsh)
George Richardson	....	assistant art director (as G. Richardson)
Tony Rimmington	....	assistant art director (as A. Rimmington)
Roy Rossotti	....	assistant art director (as R. Rossotti)
Dario Simoni	....	set dresser
José Algueró	....	assistant art director: Spain (uncredited)
Charles Bishop	....	sketch artist (uncredited)
David Fowlie	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
John Graysmark	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Edward Rodrigo	....	production buyer (uncredited)
Wallis Smith	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Peter Spencer	....	chargehand props (uncredited)
Roy Stannard	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Roy Walker	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard L. Anderson	....	sound consultant (1989 reconstruction and restoration)
John Cox	....	sound dubbing
Paddy Cunningham	....	sound recordist
Gregg Landaker	....	sound re-recording mixer 1989 reconstruction and restoration
Winston Ryder	....	sound editor
Malcolm Cooke	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Beryl Mortimer	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Stan Phillips	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Terry Sharratt	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Don Wortham	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Cliff Richardson	....	special effects
Wally Veevers	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Ken Buckle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Geoffrey Last	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)
Joe Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Sullivan	....	stunt double: Peter O'Toole (uncredited)
Dan Wilmott	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)
D.J. Wimott	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Archie Dansie	....	chief electrician
Ernest Day	....	camera operator
Skeets Kelly	....	photographer: second unit
Peter Newbrook	....	photographer: second unit
Nicolas Roeg	....	photographer: second unit
Ronald Anscombe	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Steve Birtles	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Kenneth Danvers	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Ceri Davies	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Mike Fox	....	focus puller: second unit (uncredited)
Ginger Gemmel	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Mark Kaufman	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Kevin Kavanagh	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Tim Murphy	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Dick Savery	....	grip (uncredited)
Bob Stilwell	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Alex Thomson	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Mike Tomlin	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Les Wiggins	....	camera technician (uncredited)
Mervyn Wilson	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Kenneth J. Withers	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Wilson-Apperson	....	wardrober
Charles Guerin	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)
Jose Luis de la Heras	....	wardrobe assistant (Spain) (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Anne V. Coates	....	editorial consultant 1989 reconstruction and restoration
Norman Savage	....	associate editor (uncredited)
Aidan Stanford	....	color timer (2002 restoration) (uncredited)

Music Department
Adrian Boult	....	conductor: The London Philharmonic Orchestra (as Sir Adrian Boult)
Gerard Schurmann	....	orchestrator (as Gerard Schurmann)
Lawrence Ashmore	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor (uncredited)
Morris Stoloff	....	music coordinator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Peter Middlemiss	....	transportation manager (uncredited)

Other crew
Barbara Cole	....	continuity
Maggie Field	....	assistant 1989 reconstruction and restoration
Robert A. Harris	....	1989 reconstruction and restoration
Joanne Lawson	....	assistant 1989 reconstruction and restoration
Jim Painten	....	producer 1989 reconstruction and restoration
Jude Schneider	....	assistant 1989 reconstruction and restoration
Douglas Twiddy	....	location manager
Nicole Apoteker	....	production secretary: Morocco (uncredited)
Raif Asharif	....	veterinarian (uncredited)
Barbara Back	....	production secretary: Morocco (uncredited)
Peter Beale	....	office runner (uncredited)
John Breslin	....	dialect advisor (uncredited)
Marie Budberg	....	researcher (uncredited)
Jock Dalgleish	....	liaison officer (uncredited)
John Dunkley	....	office runner (uncredited)
Richard Ford	....	mechanic: Rolls Royce (uncredited)
Josie Fulford	....	assistant continuity (uncredited)
Hamdan Hamid	....	riding instructor (uncredited)
Noreen Hipwell	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Philip Hobbs	....	location caterer (uncredited)
Bert Holliday	....	mechanic (uncredited)
Lt. Col. R.C. Hutt	....	military advisor (uncredited)
Mildred McCarger	....	production representative (uncredited)
Grace McCorrey	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Jean Menz	....	secretary: Mr. Spiegel (uncredited)
Hugh Miller	....	dialogue coach (uncredited)
Eva Monley	....	location manager (uncredited)
Eva Monley	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Pat Moon	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Pamela Moore	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Anthony Nutting	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
L.E.M. Perowne	....	military advisor (uncredited)
Otto Plaschkes	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Martin Scorsese	....	presenter (1989 reconstruction and restoration) (uncredited)
Eustace Shipman	....	medical doctor (uncredited)
Norman Spencer	....	assistant: Mr. Lean (uncredited)
Steven Spielberg	....	presenter (1989 reconstruction and restoration) (uncredited)
John Sullivan	....	wrangler (uncredited)
Jeremy Taylor	....	horse master (uncredited)
Lew Thornburn	....	representative: London (uncredited)
Lee Turner	....	script supervisor: second unit (uncredited)
David White	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Maureen Whitty	....	production secretary (uncredited)
John R. Woolfenden	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Thanks
Jon Davison	....	special thanks (1989 reconstruction and restoration)
King Hussein	....	special thanks
David Lean	....	special thanks: reconstruction and restoration (as Sir David Lean)
Martin Scorsese	....	special thanks (1989 reconstruction and restoration)
Steven Spielberg	....	special thanks (1989 reconstruction and restoration)

Production Companies

• Horizon Pictures (II) (for)
• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Film (1963) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia Film-Verleih (1963) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1963) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1973) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1989) (France) (theatrical) (restored version)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1990) (Germany) (theatrical) (restored version)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1991) (Germany) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Egmont Film (1996) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (1999) (Argentina) (video)
• LK-TEL (1999) (Argentina) (video)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Nordisk Film (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Bontonfilm (2001) (Czech Republic) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (USA) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• London Philharmonic Orchestra  music played by (as The London Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording

Also Known As:

Lawrence de Arabia (Argentina) (Mexico) (Spain) (Uruguay) [es]
Lawrence av Arabien (Finland: Swedish title) (Sweden) [sv]
Lawrence d'Arabie (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Lawrence da Arábia (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Arábiai Lawrence (Hungary) [hu]
Arabian Lawrence (Finland) [fi]
Lawrence Ish Arav (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Lawrence af Arabien (Denmark) [da]
Lawrence d'Aràbia (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Lawrence d'Arabia (Italy) [it]
Lawrence von Arabien (West Germany) [de]
Lawrence z Arábie (Czechoslovakia: Czech title) [cs]
Lawrence z Arabii (Poland) [pl]
Lorens od Arabije (Yugoslavia: Serbian title) [sr]
O Lawrence tis Aravias (Greece) [el]

Runtime:

216 min | UK:228 min (director's cut) | UK:187 min (1970 re-release) | UK:210 min (original version) | UK:222 min (premiere version) | USA:227 min (restored roadshow version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Arabic | Turkish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (RCA Sound Recording) (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints) (restored version) | Mono (35 mm prints) (original version) | 4-Track Stereo (magnetic prints) (35 mm) (original version)

Certification:

Hong Kong:IIA | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:G (re-rating) (1971) | Iceland:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | South Korea:12 | Brazil:14 | USA:PG (edited for re-rating) (1988) | West Germany:12 (f) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M (Special Edition DVD) | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Ireland:PG | Norway:15 (director's cut) | Norway:16 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate, Morocco

Company:

Horizon Pictures (II)

Trivia:

Peter O'Toole finally mastered his camel-riding technique by adding a layer of sponge rubber under the saddle to ease his bruised backside...a practical innovation quickly adopted by the actual Bedouin tribesmen acting as extras during the desert location filming.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lawrence is showing off in his new Arab dress, the shadows are initially long, but in the next shot have suddenly shortened.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Vicar at St. Paul's: Well nil nisi bonum. But I find something... disproportionate in all this.
Colonel Brighton: He was a remarkable chap. By any counts, remarkable.
Vicar at St. Paul's: Did you know him well?
Colonel Brighton: I knew him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Michael Palin/Eugene Record (#3.16)" (1978)

Soundtrack:

The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo

a memento from the days when they made real movies

It is, in a way, depressing to watch this movie today. One winds up contrasting it with the sort of technologically slick and aesthetically shallow spectacles, like "Titanic", that garner the sort of adulation that a truly great movie like "Lawrence" received in its day, and one realizes how far we have fallen.

Ignore David Lean's painterly technique, the way he fills the screen like a canvas. Ignore Freddie Young's stunning cinematography in fulfillment of Lean's vision. Ignore the fabulous score by Maurice Jarre. Ignore the stupendous cast. Ignore the topnotch script.

What we have, beyond all this, is an absolutely gripping and psychologically perplexing character study of a uniquely enigmatic individual that keeps us on the edge of our seats for the full length of the movie. "Lawrence", at over 200 minutes, goes by faster than many a movie of half its length, due to Lean's brilliant pacing and direction, and superb acting all around. To make a comparison in the world of music, this movie, like Mahler's 8th symphony, is a universe contained within itself.

Of course, it is an exercise in self-denial and philistinism to watch this movie in anything other than the wide-screen - or "letterbox" - format, due to Lean's complete use of every inch of the wide screen. To watch it otherwise is to miss half of Lean's intention.

To use a hackneyed phrase, they simply don't make 'em like this anymore.