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 | 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 | Army | Turk | Arab | Arabian

Awards:

Won 7 Oscars. Another 19 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 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:
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)
Tim Clutterbuck	...	Turkish Pilot (uncredited)
Barbara Cole	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Captain 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	...	(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)
Robert Rietty	...	Majid (voice) (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
Robert A. Harris	....	producer (1989 reconstruction and restoration)
David Lean	....	producer (as The Sam Spiegel-David Lean Production of Lawrence of Arabia)
Jim Painten	....	produced by (1989 restoration)
Sam Spiegel	....	produced by

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre		(music composed by)

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	....	make up (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
Richard L. Anderson	....	sound consultant (1989 restoration)
John Cox	....	sound dubbing
Paddy Cunningham	....	sound recordist
Gregg Landaker	....	rerecording mixer (1989 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	....	photography: second unit
Peter Newbrook	....	photography: second unit
Nicolas Roeg	....	photography: 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 restoration)
Norman Savage	....	associate editor (uncredited)
Aidan Stanford	....	color timer (2002 restoration) (uncredited)

Music Department
Adrian Boult	....	music conductor (as Sir Adrian Boult)
London Philharmonic Orchestra	....	musician (as The London Philharmonic Orchestra)
Gerard Schurmann	....	orchestrations (as Gerard Schurmann)
Lawrence Ashmore	....	orchestrations (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 restoration)
Robert A. Harris	....	1989 reconstruction and restoration
Joanne Lawson	....	assistant (1989 restoration)
Jude Schneider	....	assistant (1989 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 restoration) (uncredited)
Eustace Shipman	....	medical doctor (uncredited)
Norman Spencer	....	assistant: Mr. Lean (uncredited)
Steven Spielberg	....	presenter (1989 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 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

• Horizon Pictures (II)

Distributors

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

Other Companies

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

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:

2.35 : 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) | DTS 70 mm (70mm restored 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:

For the 1989 reconstruction and restoration, many scenes of dialog were missing. As a result Peter O'Toole and a number of living principals returned and re-recorded dialog from more than 20 years previously. For principals who had died in the intervening years sound alike actors were employed (for instance for Jack Hawkins).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lawrence is crossing the desert with the prince's 50 men he starts to drift off. He is seen looking at his own shadow on the right side of the camel, but in the next shot the shadow is right under the camel. (See also Revealing Mistake)

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 Miracles and Mystery: Creating 'The Green Mile' (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo

Simultaneously personal and panoramic

Sweeping, epic and literate version of British adventurer and soldier T E Lawrence's experiences in Arabia during the First World War. Lawrence, miraculously well played by Peter O'Toole, "went native" when sent into the desert to find Alec Guinness's Prince Feisal. Before long he was striking out himself against the Turkish Ottoman Empire, which still held sway in the region at the beginning of the last century. Lawrence's efforts to unify the various Arab factions are particularly prescient.

Lawrence became an inspirational warlord whose neutral presence amongst the Arab tribes, lead by Omar Sharif and Anthony Quinn, amongst others, served to glue together shifting and uneasy alliances. As well as wrestling with himself, with his own demons, and with the cruel desert environment, the Englishman was also faced with culture clashes which pitted not only the imperialists against the indigenous populations, but also the mercenary practices of the Arab guerillas against the discipline of the British army. In the end, Lawrence himself does not know which side he is on, nor which party he belongs to. Set against a backdrop of the Arabian desert, the nomadic allies under Lawrence's direction, attack and disrupt the Turks' efforts to maintain control of the territory, whilst the elephant - the British army and its heavy guns under General Jack Hawkins - pushes ever deeper into the area: not until his job is done does Lawrence learn that the French and British governments have carved up the middle-east between them and that the battle-lines for the 21st century are already being drawn.

Scripted by the inimitable Robert Bolt and directed by David Lean, Lawrence of Arabia is one of those films without a weakness, despite drawing complaints for its near four hour length. The dialogue, cinematography, soundtrack and especially direction are superlative; likewise the supporting actors. But it is O'Toole at his charismatic best who steals the show in his starring debut; he never looked back. It may take an effort to watch this movie, but is well worth the ride and will, by the bye, provide some insight into the fractious and volatile world of Arab politics.

One of the best films ever made.