Classics Review: Lawrence of Arabia

In 1926, T.E. Lawrence published an autobiography called, “Seven Pillars of Wisdom.”The book recalls Lawrence’s experience in World War I as a military advisor assigned by the British Army to unite Arabic tribes against the Ottoman Empire. Earning the trust of the Arabic people, Lawrence becomes conflicted with the harsh reality of war, enduring psychological trauma and his allegiance to the British Army and new allies. After World War I ended, Lawrence died from a motorcycle accident in 1936. 

23 Years Later, filmmaker, David Lea and film producer, Sam Spiegel were convinced by Columbia Pictures to adapt Lawrence’s autobiography into a film. Disinterested in political overtones and historical events on the Arab Revolt, Mr. Lean went with a character driven approach focusing on Lawrence’s perspective. In 1961, Peter O’Toole won the titular role. Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif & Alec Guinness earned supporting roles. After a lengthy production filming desert scenes in high temperature, “Lawrence of Arabia” was officially distributed worldwide. 

Released in 1962, (same year Spider-Man made his comic book debut) it received critical acclaim from critics and movie goers alike. The film was also a financial success. Lawrence of Arabia won seven Academy Awards including “Best Director,” (David Lean) and ultimately, “Best Picture.” In 2000, Steven Spielberg & Martin Scorsese restored the film on DVD. In 2012, the film was digitally restored in 4K which screened at the 2012 Cannes Festival.

Lawrence of Arabia is considered as one of the best films in cinema inspiring notable filmmakers.

• Martin Scorsese
• Steven Spielberg
• George Lucas
• Ridley Scott
• Brian De Palma
• Oliver Stone
• George Miller
• Kathryn Bigelow
• Christopher Nolan
• Denis Villeneuve

Speaking of filmmakers, Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” will be released in July 17, 2026. Which is my birthday month. I have one reason why I wanna share my opinion on this biographical adventure epic, it’s one of Mr. Nolan’s favorite films. As a Chris Nolan fan, I’m so thrilled for his highly anticipated adventure epic.

Big & Small Aspects

Big: Peter O’Toole did an excellent job for his performance.

Other Cast Members such as Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif & Alec Guinness all did a decent job for their respective performances.

David Lean did a terrific job directing.

Maurice Jarre (Doctor Zhivago, Ryan’s Daughter) orchestrated the soundtrack.

Practical Effects were heavily involved.

Costumes and Set Pieces were manually crafted.

Cinematography’s shot in Super Panavision 70.

Pacing felt natural for a 3 hour+ film. My eyes were glued to the screen. I’ll have you know this film isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. If you have the guts to watch a long movie, strap in for the ride.

Lawrence chemistry with the Arabic tribes serve as the main highlight.

Primary Themes are Loyalty, Ideology, Trust, Betrayal, Guilt, Power & Identity. Each one’s handled maturely.

Now that we live in the streaming era, you can skip the overture and intermission sections. If you wanna experience how the audience wait patiently in their seats, it’s optional.

Fun Facts

1. Steven Spielberg stated Lawrence of Arabia is the film that wanted him to be a director.
2. In 1991, the film was selected by the Liberty of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry.
3. Before Peter O’Toole ultimately won the lead role, Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift & Anthony Perkins (OG Norman Bates) were considered for the part.
4. Alec Guinness also played Lawrence in a stage play called, “Ross.”  Don’t believe me? Look it up.
5. Justin Cook (Yusuke Urameshi from YuYu Hakusho and Kirishima from My Hero Academia) confirmed Lawrence of Arabia is his favorite film.

Random Thoughts

1. At first, I thought I was gonna be easily disinterested in the film due to its insane 3 hour+ runtime. Thankfully, I was intrigued. I’m used to playing video games 4 hours a day and bingewatch 4-6 episodes per hour. When I was a kid, I watched “The Lord of the Rings Trilogy” in a movie theater. The Extended Editions kept me invested.
2. I may have watched Lawrence of Arabia as a pre-teen.
3. I admit, this is the only David Lean film I’ve ever seen. Maybe someday I’ll check out “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” “Doctor Zhivago” & “Ryan’s Daughter.” I’ve been busy watching a ton of anime and playing video games.

Small: I couldn’t find nothing wrong. I’m giving the cast and crew an Extra Point for making a flawless 3 hour+ epic as possible.

The Final Verdict: A, FOR APEX!

It’s gonna be a tough decision, I consider Lawrence of Arabia as my favorite film of 1962. “To Kill a Mockingbird” & “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valace” are top tier timeless classics. If you’re a Christopher Nolan fan like me, the former is worth your spare time. Don’t forget to check out the latter two. Which film from 1962 is your number one favorite? Please leave a comment.