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 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)
• 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 (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (USA) (laserdisc)
• Columbia Tristar Television Distribution (????) (USA) (TV) (a Sony Pictures Entertainment company)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

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:

The role of Sherif Ali was originally intended for Horst Buchholz but he was forced to turn it down owing to his commitment to Billy Wilder's movie One, Two, Three (1961). Second choice Alain Delon tested successfully but suffered problems with the brown contact lenses required for the role. Maurice Ronet was then cast but was replaced after difficulties with his French accent and his Arab dress (Lean complained "He looked like me walking around in drag").

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Lawrence arrives at the Suez Canal, the ship which comes into focus is a late-'50s Blue Funnel Line ship.

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 "Voces: The Bronze Screen (#1.1)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo

Still my personal favourite

I first saw this film on its release, aged 13, and it forms an important part of my transition towards adulthood. I am pleased to see that it consistently rates 20something in the IMDb listings, even from others (whom I envy, for I can't see it with fresh eyes) who are seeing it for the first time. Pleasing too is that some of those are also teenagers, for whom a forty-three year old film must itself seem part of the past. As for the minority who are bored by intentionally slow pacing (and for whom punctuation, paragraphing and grammar are a lost art), I suggest they learn a little about the history of film-making (from which it may become apparent that much of today's fast editing techniques were invented in the 1920s: try Eisenstein's October, for example).

From the universally admired cinematography of Freddie Young, the long shot of Omar Sharif's floating mirage entry, the pre-CGI battles and pan-up scene changes, to O'Toole's florid but career-defining performance and the (then) novel time-shift narrative, this film set standards not matched even by Lean himself, and, as many reviewers have commented, financially and practically unlikely to be attempted today. I too have rarely seen such clarity of image outside of Imax, and in my view the script by Robert Bolt (and I now have learnt, an uncredited Michael Wilson) is the finest in cinema. Maurice Jarre's music and some of the acting style now seem a little excessive, but repeated viewing (around 35 times in my case) does not diminish the impact and quality, and the restoration and now DVD release still, after all these years, approaches the effect of that first 1962 viewing.

It is rare that repeated watching of a film (as opposed to a live performance) does this, and the reasons go beyond the photography, performances and editing. In my opinion, it is because the characterisation and storytelling encourage an appreciation of the ambiguity and inconsistency behind our motives and behaviour, and, in a wartime scenario, in the contrast between political expedience and personal morality. For a 13-year old, this opened a window into the adult world, and it explains why the story has resonance far beyond its setting. The film doesn't require an understanding of middle-east politics (though it does have some very current relevance), but it does require an ability to look, listen and understand. The fact that so many people rate it so highly says everything about its wider impact. When The Matrix and even Lord of the Rings have slipped out of the ratings (and the adolescents who inhabit these pages have grown up), I believe this film will still be in the 20s or 30s, perhaps enabling young people to once again see the world through adult eyes.

Like Ali, I fear Lawrence. I fear the power of art to change us, to challenge our preconceptions. Every time I see this film I learn a little more, discover something new. When I was 13 I didn't understand much, but this film helped me to see that I wanted more, knew more, than my peers. I can't rate it more highly than that.