And the Best Picture goes to....
1962
Sam Spiegel, Producer
3 hours 38 minutes
Estimated Budget $15,000,000
Rated PG
The Other Nominated Films
The Longest Day
The Music Man
Mutiny on the Bounty
To Kill a Mockingbird
Directed by David Lean Winner, Best Director
CAST
Peter O’Toole Nominated, Best Actor
Alec Guinness
Anthony Quinn
Omar Sharif Nominated, Best Supporting Actor
Also Nominated for
Freddie Young Winner, Best Cinematography, Color
John Box Winner, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
John Stoll
Dario Simoni
John Cox Winner, Best Sound
Anne V. Coates Winner, Best Film Editing
Maurice Jarre Winner, Best Music Score
Robert Bolt Nominated, Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
Michael Wilson
LOGLINE:
An account of British officer T.E. Lawrence, who united Arab tribes in a revolt against the Ottoman Turks during World War I.
REVIEW:
“Lawrence of Arabia” is one of those films that demands a significant amount of patience from its audience being that much of the running time seems to focus heavily on stunning scenery rather than delivering an engaging story. In fact, the first three-quarters of the film struggles with character development, leaving viewers indifferent by the time the final act rolls around.
The pacing is slow, and at over three hours long, there are undoubtedly numerous scenes that could have been trimmed or cut entirely. Do we really need to see countless shots of people riding camels across the desert? It reached a point where I found myself nodding off, despite the film’s grand scale.
Don’t get me wrong—the cinematography is undoubtedly bleak yet beautiful, showcasing some impressive desert vistas. However, I couldn’t help but wonder how many shots of the desert were really necessary.
While Alec Guinness delivers a stoic performance in his limited screen time, it was actually Anthony Quinn who stood out among the supporting cast, bringing more depth to his character than others. It’s surprising that Omar Sharif received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor over him.
Peter O’Toole is introduced as a strikingly handsome figure, his blonde hair and blue eyes making him quite distinct among the predominantly Middle Eastern cast. T.E. Lawrence, as portrayed in this film, is eccentric and educated, breaking away from the typical military stereotype. His transformation into someone the Arabs view as one of their own is noteworthy.
A couple of interesting points to mention: this film holds the distinction of being the only Best Picture winner to have no female speaking roles. Additionally, I found myself wondering whether Lawrence served as inspiration for Frank Herbert’s Paul Atreides in “Dune,” as both characters are educated men adopted by a desert culture and play pivotal roles in leading a rebellion.
In summary, while “Lawrence of Arabia” has its moments of grandeur, it struggles to maintain an engaging storyline, ultimately leaving me with mixed feelings about what makes this film so special.