Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Popularity:

Up 20% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

David Lean

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

11 December 1962 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

A Mighty Motion Picture Of Action And Adventure!

Plot:

The story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and lead the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks.

Plot Keywords:

Arab | Desert | Turk | Army | Hero

Awards:

Won 7 Oscars. Another 23 wins & 14 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)
Mohamed El Habachi	...	Talal (uncredited)
Kenneth Fortescue	...	Allenby's Aide (uncredited)
Harry Fowler	...	William Potter (uncredited)
James Hayter	...	Arab Sheikh at Council (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)
Ernie Rice	...	Mourner at St. Paul's (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)
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)
Malcolm Stewart	....	sound (uncredited)
Don Wortham	....	boom operator (uncredited)

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

Visual Effects by
Bridgid O'Donnell	....	restoration supervisor (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)
Brian Harris	....	clapper / loader (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)
Felix Trimboli	....	camera operator (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
José Luis de las Heras	....	wardrobe assistant (Spain) (uncredited)
Charles Guerin	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

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

Location Management
Douglas Twiddy	....	location manager
Eva Monley	....	location manager (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
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)
Phil 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	....	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

• 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) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1963) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia (1963) (Argentina) (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)
• Videosonic (1986) (Greece) (VHS)
• 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)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1993) (Finland) (TV)
• 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)
• Universal Pictures Finland (2001) (Finland) (DVD) (2-disc edition)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Nelonen (2003) (Finland) (TV) (2005)
• 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)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Nordic (2009) (Finland) (DVD) (1-disc edition)
• YLE Teema (2011) (Finland) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2011) (Finland) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (50th anniversary edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (50th anniversary limited edition)
• Park Circus (2013) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
• 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)
• R-Video (19??) (Finland) (VHS)
• Video Tape Center (VTC) (19??) (Finland) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Angels the Costumiers  costumes supplier (uncredited)
• 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

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:PG | Australia:G (Original rating) | Australia:M (Special Edition DVD) | Brazil:14 | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | France:Tous publics | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:12 | Ireland:PG | Ireland:12 (Blu-ray rating) | Japan:G (2009) | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | Norway:16 | Norway:15 (director's cut) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | UK:12 (Blu-ray rating) | UK:A (original rating: 222m) (passed with cuts) | USA:PG | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | USA:G (edited version) | USA:Approved (original release) (PCA #20334) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1988) | West Germany:12 (f)

Filming Locations:

Morocco

Company:

Horizon Pictures (II)

Trivia:

While filming, Peter O'Toole bonded with co-star Omar Sharif. Recalls Sharif, "Peter and I were like brothers immediately. He said to me, 'Your name is not Omar Sharif - no one is called Omar Sharif. Your real name is probably Freddy something!' And for the rest of the film and the rest of our lives, he's never called me Omar. He calls me Freddy."

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the opening scenes set in 1935, not only are three phase electricity cables visible in many shots, but a color UHF television transmitter is also visible over Lawrence's right shoulder.

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 Casting a Classic (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

Arrival At Auda's Camo

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.