Lawrence Of Arabia

[stenka razin]

Truly epic in scope, Lawrence of Arabia (1962) is the type of film that may never be made again due to the lack of money for vast location projects such as this was. Lawrence of Arabia is big in every area, big story, big characters, big music, and big locations. The acting is supurb with Peter O'Toole giving the performance of a lifetime. A bit of trivia, Cary Grant was first offered the role of Lawrence. You will never forget Maurice Jarre's film score, either....By the way, Sir William Walton was originally offered the film score!
Lawrence of Arabia is a film which celebrates the silence and emptiness of the vast Arabian Desert. The film was produced in a time when only the best would do. Great British Director Sir David Lean only used the finest edits of his original very long film to make his epic. The vast shots across the shimmering desert showing a miniscule rider approaching, the glorious sunsets, the Arab encampments, the battles, all combine to make this film a must-see masterpiece.
It is my number one favorite film of all time. ****++++

[slofstra]

Truly epic in scope, Lawrence of Arabia (1962) is the type of film that may never be made again due to the lack of money for vast location projects such as this was. Lawrence of Arabia is big in every area, big story, big characters, big music, and big locations. The acting is supurb with Peter O'Toole giving the performance of a lifetime. A bit of trivia, Cary Grant was first offered the role of Lawrence. You will never forget Maurice Jarre's film score, either....By the way, Sir William Walton was originally offered the film score!
Lawrence of Arabia is a film which celebrates the silence and emptiness of the vast Arabian Desert. The film was produced in a time when only the best would do. Great British Director Sir David Lean only used the finest edits of his original very long film to make his epic. The vast shots across the shimmering desert showing a miniscule rider approaching, the glorious sunsets, the Arab encampments, the battles, all combine to make this film a must-see masterpiece.
It is my number one favorite film of all time. ****++++

It's certainly in my Top Ten. Apparently the initial release of the movie was so long that theatres complained they could not have two showings in one night, and the movie was cut. The only way to watch it is the original long version.

Recently, I rented another David Lean movie, Ryan's Daughter. By the time it came out, the day of the blockbuster was over, and it did not fare all that well at the box office. I remember that this movie played at the largest screen in Toronto, the University theatre (if I recall), which has long been torn down. I was blown away by the movie, and when I saw it again many years later I found the movie a disappointment. In seeing this movie again recently I realize why I liked it so much in the first place. Lots of long slow shots of the Irish coastline with the actors match-stick size on the beach. That kind of thing plays well on a huge screen or on today's flat panels, not on an ordinary telly.
Of course, Sarah Miles looked great on any screen.

Are there any other David Lean movies which I should watch?

[Ralph]

"Lawrence of Arabia" is a wonderful, sprawling epic. Just don't believe it tells Lawrence's story with much accuracy.

[Ricordanza]

It is my number one favorite film of all time.

I've got to agree with you. There have been many great films made since then, and every day I could assemble a slightly different top ten list, but Lawrence of Arabia would always be on the top of the list.

[stenka razin]

Truly epic in scope, Lawrence of Arabia (1962) is the type of film that may never be made again due to the lack of money for vast location projects such as this was. Lawrence of Arabia is big in every area, big story, big characters, big music, and big locations. The acting is supurb with Peter O'Toole giving the performance of a lifetime. A bit of trivia, Cary Grant was first offered the role of Lawrence. You will never forget Maurice Jarre's film score, either....By the way, Sir William Walton was originally offered the film score!
Lawrence of Arabia is a film which celebrates the silence and emptiness of the vast Arabian Desert. The film was produced in a time when only the best would do. Great British Director Sir David Lean only used the finest edits of his original very long film to make his epic. The vast shots across the shimmering desert showing a miniscule rider approaching, the glorious sunsets, the Arab encampments, the battles, all combine to make this film a must-see masterpiece.
It is my number one favorite film of all time. ****++++

It's certainly in my Top Ten. Apparently the initial release of the movie was so long that theatres complained they could not have two showings in one night, and the movie was cut. The only way to watch it is the original long version.

Recently, I rented another David Lean movie, Ryan's Daughter. By the time it came out, the day of the blockbuster was over, and it did not fare all that well at the box office. I remember that this movie played at the largest screen in Toronto, the University theatre (if I recall), which has long been torn down. I was blown away by the movie, and when I saw it again many years later I found the movie a disappointment. In seeing this movie again recently I realize why I liked it so much in the first place. Lots of long slow shots of the Irish coastline with the actors match-stick size on the beach. That kind of thing plays well on a huge screen or on today's flat panels, not on an ordinary telly.
Of course, Sarah Miles looked great on any screen.

Sarah always looked good on screen.

Are there any other David Lean movies which I should watch?

slofstra, Sir David Lean was a wonderful and truly great director. Here are some other favorites:

1-Bridge on The River Kwai, an enigmatic masterpiece is also in my top ten. Sir Alec Guiness is magnificent.

2-Brief Encounter, a very touching and beautiful love story.

3-Great Expectations, an evocative retelling of Dickens.

4-Oliver Twist, a heart warming and lovely adatation of Dickens, with a magnificent musical score by Sir Arnold Bax.

5-Doctor Zhivago, which tries as hard as it can to tell Zhivago's vast and epic story and does it beautifully.

6-A Passage To India, E.M. Forster as seen through Lean's wonderful eyes and done quite well.

[stenka razin]

"Lawrence of Arabia" is a wonderful, sprawling epic. Just don't believe it tells Lawrence's story with much accuracy.

You may be right about the facts not being exact, but, there is no denying that Peter O'Toole is Lawrence and his portrayal has to be one of the greatest performances by any actor in film history. Sad that he missed out on an Oscar that year to one of my favorites, Gregory Peck, for 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. It seems that Peck was due and your know how Hollywood treats its favorites. Well, O'Toole was a newbie that year and was nominated seven more times and still hasn't won an Oscar, sadly!

[IcedNote]

I know this is a classic and all, but I just couldn't get into it. Sure, great lead performance, but much like Citizen Kane, I thought the movie was too full of itself. I just checked and I gave it 2 out of 5 stars on Netflix. I know I'm one of the younger posters on here (soon to be 28), but I don't think it's an issue of not appreciating older movies; I like plenty of older movies.

So yeah...there's that.

-G

[slofstra]

I know this is a classic and all, but I just couldn't get into it. Sure, great lead performance, but much like Citizen Kane, I thought the movie was too full of itself. I just checked and I gave it 2 out of 5 stars on Netflix. I know I'm one of the younger posters on here (soon to be 28), but I don't think it's an issue of not appreciating older movies; I like plenty of older movies.

So yeah...there's that.

-G

It is a certain kind of a movie, so I can see where some sprawling epics might sprawl a little too much for some viewers. I like movies that are a little slower paced and just immerse you in another time and place for a while.

But hey, you probably liked Spotless Sunshine of the Eternal Mind, and we don't, at least I didn't -- very much.

[slofstra]

slofstra, Sir David Lean was a wonderful and truly great director. Here are some other favorites:

1-Bridge on The River Kwai, an enigmatic masterpiece is also in my top ten. Sir Alec Guiness is magnificent.

If you want a laugh, look up Dudley Moore's Beethoven Sonata-like interpretation of Colonel Bogey on Parade.

Here 'tis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GazlqD4m ... re=related

Yes, a great movie, one of my late father's favourites along with the Great Escape. I once met a man who had been in a Japanese internment camp in Burma, and said they made it look like a kindergarten in the movie. But, oh well.

2-Brief Encounter, a very touching and beautiful love story.

Don't know it.

3-Great Expectations, an evocative retelling of Dickens.

4-Oliver Twist, a heart warming and lovely adatation of Dickens, with a magnificent musical score by Sir Arnold Bax.

The old B&W Great Expectations is very good. I'll have to look for the Oliver Twist though.

5-Doctor Zhivago, which tries as hard as it can to tell Zhivago's vast and epic story and does it beautifully.

Have you seen the more recent BBC miniseries with Keira Knightley. Much more depth in the expanded format - I liked it even better than the original. Tom Courtenay (in the original) is one of my favourite actors.

6-A Passage To India, E.M. Forster as seen through Lean's wonderful eyes and done quite well.

That must have been one of his last - a very fine movie also.

[stenka razin]

slofstra, Sir David Lean was a wonderful and truly great director. Here are some other favorites:

1-Bridge on The River Kwai, an enigmatic masterpiece is also in my top ten. Sir Alec Guiness is magnificent.

If you want a laugh, look up Dudley Moore's Beethoven Sonata-like interpretation of Colonel Bogey on Parade.

Here 'tis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GazlqD4m ... re=related

Dudley was so brilliant when he wasn't drinking. Thank you for the treat.

Yes, a great movie, one of my late father's favourites along with the Great Escape. I once met a man who had been in a Japanese internment camp in Burma, and said they made it look like a kindergarten in the movie. But, oh well.

Really, Sesue Hayakawa certainly tortured Guiness quite harshly.

2-Brief Encounter, a very touching and beautiful love story.

Don't know it.

You should......

3-Great Expectations, an evocative retelling of Dickens.

4-Oliver Twist, a heart warming and lovely adatation of Dickens, with a magnificent musical score by Sir Arnold Bax.

The old B&W Great Expectations is very good. I'll have to look for the Oliver Twist though.

Oliver Twist will bring a tear to your eyes.

5-Doctor Zhivago, which tries as hard as it can to tell Zhivago's vast and epic story and does it beautifully.

Have you seen the more recent BBC miniseries with Keira Knightley. Much more depth in the expanded format - I liked it even better than the original. Tom Courtenay (in the original) is one of my favourite actors.

No, I have not seen the Keira Knightley BBC update, but, I think she is quite an aristocratic British actress and quite lovely, too and I will look for it.

6-A Passage To India, E.M. Forster as seen through Lean's wonderful eyes and done quite well.

That must have been one of his last - a very fine movie also.

Sadly, this film was Lean's last and it is quite an epic film in the best sense.