Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Director:

David Lean

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

30 January 1963 (Canada)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

An Epic Masterpiece As You've Never Seen It Before! (1992 Restored Video Release)

Plot:

A flamboyant and controversial British military figure and his conflicted loyalties during his World War I service in Arabia.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Army | Turk | Arab | Flashback

Awards:

Won 7 Oscars. Another 20 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Peter O'Toole	...	T.E. Lawrence
Alec Guinness	...	Prince Feisal
Anthony Quinn	...	Auda Abu Tayi
Jack Hawkins	...	General 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 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	...	R.A.M.C. Colonel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Rietty	...	Majid (voice)
John Barry	...	MP in Map Room (uncredited)
Bruce Beeby	...	Captain at 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 in Arab Council (uncredited)
J.R.M. Chapman	...	Extra (uncredited)
Tim Clutterbuck	...	Turkish Pilot (uncredited)
Barbara Cole	...	Nurse (uncredited)
John Crewdson	...	Turkish Pilot (uncredited)
Basil Dignam	...	Cavalry General at Field Briefing (uncredited)
Peter Dukelow	...	Driver in 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	...	Turkish Soldier (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	...	Artillery General at Field Briefing (uncredited)
Daniel Moynihan	...	Officer in 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 at Field Briefing (uncredited)
Norman Rossington	...	Corporal Jenkins (uncredited)
John Ruddock	...	Elder Harith (uncredited)
Fernando Sancho	...	Turkish Sergeant (uncredited)
Stuart Saunders	...	Regimental Sergeant Major (uncredited)
Cyril Shaps	...	Bartender in 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: credit restored in 1978 by WGA

Produced by
Sam Spiegel	....	producer
David Lean	....	producer (uncredited)

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 (as Charles Parker)
A.G. Scott	....	hairdresser

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
John Cox	....	sound dubbing
Paddy Cunningham	....	sound recordist
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)
Terry Yorke	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Archie Dansie	....	chief electrician
Ernest Day	....	camera operator
Skeets Kelly	....	second unit photography
Peter Newbrook	....	second unit photography
Nicolas Roeg	....	second unit photography
Ronald Anscombe	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Steve Birtles	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Peter Carey	....	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	....	wardrobe
Charles Guerin	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)
Jose Luis de la Heras	....	wardrobe assistant (Spain) (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Anne V. Coates	....	editorial consultant (1989 restoration)
John Dowdell	....	hd colorist (uncredited)
Norman Savage	....	associate editor (uncredited)
Aidan Stanford	....	color timer (2002 restoration) (uncredited)

Music Department
Adrian Boult	....	conductor (as Sir Adrian Boult)
Gerard Schurmann	....	orchestrator
Lawrence Ashmore	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor (uncredited)
Morris Stoloff	....	music coordinator (uncredited)
Lucie Svehlova	....	orchestra leader (Tadlow re-recording ) (uncredited)

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

Other crew
Barbara Cole	....	continuity
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)
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)
Eustace Shipman	....	medical doctor (uncredited)
Norman Spencer	....	assistant: Mr. Lean (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 restoration)
David Lean	....	special thanks (1989 restoration) (as Sir David Lean)
Martin Scorsese	....	special thanks (1989 restoration)
Steven Spielberg	....	special thanks (1989 restoration)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures
• Horizon Pictures (II) (as Horizon Pictures {G.B.} Ltd. London, England)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1962) (USA) (theatrical) (released through) (as Columbia Pictures Corporation)
• 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)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1983) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• 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)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1992) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1993) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Egmont Film (1996) (Sweden) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Bontonfilm (2001) (Czech Republic) (DVD)
• 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 Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia Films (1963) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia Tristar Television Distribution (199?) (USA) (TV) (a Sony Pictures Entertainment company)
• Criterion Collection, The (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1993) (Finland) (TV)
• Nelonen (2003) (2005) (Finland) (TV)
• R-Video (????) (Finland) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Nordic (2009) (Finland) (DVD) (1-disc edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (50th anniversary limited edition)
• Universal Pictures Finland (2001) (Finland) (DVD) (2-disc edition)
• Video Tape Center (VTC) (????) (Finland) (VHS)
• Videosonic Arts (1986) (Greece) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2011) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies (uncredited)
• Goldwyn Sound Facility  rerecorded at (as Goldwyn Sound Facilities) (1989 restoration)
• London Philharmonic Orchestra  music played by (as The London Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording (uncredited)
• Royal Government of Morocco, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the co-operation extended to them by (as The Royal Government of Morocco)
• Royal Hashemite Government of Jordan, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the co-operation extended to them by (as The Royal Hashemite Government of Jordan)

Also Known As:

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 | USA

Language:

English | Arabic | Turkish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

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 | Hong Kong:IIA | USA:Approved (original release) | USA:G (edited version) | 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 (re-rating) (1988) | West Germany:12 (f) | Japan:G (2009) | UK:A (original rating: 222m) (passed with cuts) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Morocco

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

Costume designer Phyllis Dalton devised a subtle way to indicate T.E. Lawrence's failing grip. As the film progresses, his robes become thinner and thinner until they are virtually translucent.

Goofs:

Continuity: In two consecutive shots of Bentley passing by the fountain in Jerusalem, the shadows are completely different.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Colonel Brighton:He was the most extraordinary man I ever knew.
Vicar at St. Paul's:Did you know him well?
Colonel Brighton:I knew him.
Vicar at St. Paul's:Well nil nisi bonum. But did he really deserve a place here?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)

Soundtrack:

The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo

The best movie of all motion picture history

I first watched "Lawrence of Arabia" when I was about 11 years old. Being a big fan of Steven Spielberg at that time, I was sort of awed by the fact that this was his personal favorite (check the "conversation with Steven Spielberg" featurette in the special features disk and you'll really see Spielberg's affection for that film)

Over the years, Lawrence remained among my DVD collection, and I can't say I actually watched it since that first time, when, by the way, I didn't really like it. But "time does things to movies", and when I watched it again last year, I found my eyes to be weeping at the end. It instantly became one of my favorite movies.

Since then I learned a lot about the history of cinema, and I also learned a great deal about the movies of Sir David Lean. I found my self watching films like "Brief Encounter", "The Bridge on the River Kwai", "Doctor Zhivago", "Ryan's Daughter", and the underrated, "A passage to India". Lean became one of my favorite directors, and, just a few months ago, I decided to watch Lawrence with some friends. Although I had seen it a couple of times before, this time it was a different experience altogether: from the starting credits, to the blowing of the match, the crossing of the Nefud dessert, finding Gassim and bringing him back to the camp, the invasion of Aqaba, his torture and rape (?), Lawrence's laugh after the slap by the "outrageaous" guy, his being left alone, to the final gaze to the motorcycle. I sensed something when I watched that film, which leaves my with the undoubted feeling that "Lawrence of Arabia" is the greatest film ever made. For me, this is it. Ever since '62, it's been a downfall. No other film has managed to reach Lawrence in its poetic greatness. Few do come very close (Vertigo for instance).

If we are to classify the two complete different cinematic styles, it would be those of Hitchcock and Ford. Hitch was a very "confined" director. He captured his movies from the point of view of one character. His movies took place, most of the time, in closed spaces. In a sense, Hitchcock's films were a journey in people's emotions and a study in people's characters. On the other hand, Ford was an open director. He wasn't confined to one character, or one location, his films where actual journeys. His basis was mostly on theme, and his main ability was to amaze with his imagery. Thus, these are the two different shooting styles....Well, Lean combines both.

Which is basically why his best film, Lawrence, is the best film of all times. But not only in terms of style. Also, in terms of content. The intelligent script written by Robert Bolt, the powerhouse performances by O'Toole and Shariff (a shame they didn't get the statuette), but also, the ultimately heroic yet tragic figure of T.E. Lawrence, contribute in making this the most visually and emotionally sweeping film of the last 111 years.

Such a shame that Lean retired for 14 years after "Ryan's Daughter", there's no way to know where he would have gotten.