Lawrence of Arabia is a spectacular movie bristling with greatness in everything from its visuals to its acting to its individual moments. David Lean's desert epic spares nothing, and at almost four hours in length, when it is finish we think that we would gladly sit through a few hours more. It was the star making movie for Peter O'Toole, who is magnificent in the title role and their are wonderful supporting performances throughout from Omar Sharif, Alec Guiness, Anthony Quinn, Claude Rains, and Arthur Kennedy. The movie tells the story of T.E. Lawrence and begins with his death in a motorcycle accident. At his funeral, a group of men wander why he is being eulogized as such a great man, and an officer who knew him begins to tell his story. During World War I, while stationed in Cairo, Lawrence is sent on a mission to meet with Prince Feisel (Guiness). There he meets Ali (Sharif) and convinces them to unite with rival Arab nations against the Turks and march through the desert through thought to be uncrossable terrain in order to achieve this. Forming an alliance with Abu (Quinn), the Arabs defeat the Turks and continue their rebellion by engaging them and blowing up their trains. Lawrence encourages the Arabs to be independent which enrages the British and his behavior baffles both groups. Flamboyant and enigmatic, Lawrence questions his own greatness then in turn insists upon it to get his way. Again, Lawrence of Arabia features a superlative performance from Peter O'Toole in a role as complex as about any I've seen. David Lean, a man of great vision, creates his masterwork, beautifully capturing the desert and mounting great moment upon great moment. Lawrence of Arabia is a great film and the kind that is not seen today.
