Thomas Edward Lawrence served as a British officer and, because of brave exploits, became known as Lawrence of Arabia. His writings inspired more than one movie about his life. Actors portraying him through the years included Sir Alec Guinness, Peter O’Toole, Sir Ian McKellen, and Ralph Fiennes.
T. E. Lawrence led the Arab army against the Turks in World War I. Many details in the film were not completely accurate, but put in place for the good of the film. For the most part, the film showed the kind of man Lawrence was and what kind of man it would take to accomplish the things he was able to do.
This 1962 movie won seven Academy Awards for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Color, Best Cinematography Color, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Music Score – Substantially Original, Best Picture, and Best Sound.
It’s a favorite of many, but the film’s length was a bit too much for some. Over three and a half hours long, this film has no dialog spoken by a woman. With that much footage, you’d think there would be a line for a woman in there somewhere. The film benefitted from the skill of very good actors and a perfectionist director. The Oscars are proof of the dedication and excellence associated with this film.
