Customer Reviews

Lawrence of Arabia (Single Disc)

5 star:		(165)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is, without a doubt, the greatest historical epic ever filmed and the crowning achievement of David Lean's career. It's also the film that makes best use of the majestic desert landscape with shots of extraordinary rock formations, dunes, shimmering "mirages," and caravans making their way across seemingly endless sands.

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA tells the story of T.E. Lawrence and his adventures in the Middle East during World War I as he led the Arab revolt against the Turks. It is loosely based on Lawrence's book, THE SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM.

Even though there are battle scenes in LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, this film is, first and foremost, a character study of Lawrence who was, by anyone's account, a fascinating figure. Even the battle scenes serve to enhance the character of Lawrence rather than detailing the horrors of war and we see Lawrence's dark, embittered side as well as his heroic one.

Although Peter O'Toole wasn't David Lean's first choice to play Lawrence (both Marlon Brando and Albert Finney were offered the part), I can't imagine anyone else in the title role.

Omar Sharif is impressive as Sherif Ali Ibn El Kharish. Prior to this film, he was a virtual unknown, but LAWRENCE OF ARABIA launched Sharif on a long career that made him instantly recognizable the world over.

Even though O'Toole and Sharif weren't well-known when they starred in LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, the film's supporting case is certainly stellar: Alec Guiness, Anthony Quinn, Jose Ferrer and Claude Raines.

Although I think LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is best viewed on a large theatrical screen, this doesn't mean anyone should pass up the DVD. It's just too good for that, especially the Director's Cut (but do make sure you get the widescreen edition; this film demands it).

Don't watch LAWRENCE OF ARABIA expecting to get a history lesson. Watch it to learn more about the fascinating man who was T.E.Lawrence. If you do, I can't see any way you'll be disappointed.

Wide screen TV does this movie good. Great actors, amazing story, a classic movie that all should have in their movie library.

WARNING this disc is only good for people with DTS or AC3 amplifiers. If your are a two channel STEREO sound system person like me you will discover that the AC3 track is out of phase. They spent NO time to ensure proper stereo channel balance for two channel users.

They should have done a DTS for multi-channel people and then either a PCM or 2:0 AC3 for Stereo playback.

I am sick and tired of the fact that proper stereo is being compromised for shallow 5:1 marketing gimmicks.

In 20 years of the superior sounding 12inch Laserdisc format we never had to put up with compromised stereo. Providing the film to tape master was good the LD disc was good. In DVD a superb film to tape master can be ruined by the middle man Digital Authoring.

Howard S Marks
Manchester UK

"Lawrence of Arabia" is the sweeping, grand and brilliantly conceived fictional account of the life of T.E. Lawrence. The plot follows Lawrence from his modest beginnings as a somewhat backward British officer, to his rise as a cult figure and finally, his downward spiral and death. In his debut film, Peter O'Toole delivers a tour de force performance. Omar Shariff is ideally cast as Ali. The evergreen chameleon, Alec Guinness is marvelous. Claude Raines and Jack Hawkins are their usual stellar best.

THE TRANSFER: Film restorer, Robert A. Harris was called back in to color correct the original restoration negative he had previously worked on. The result is a much smoother, more vibrant print of this immortal classic that truly exhibits the film's rich texture.

Unfortunately, Columbia (after promising that they would remove it) has left in all of the previous edge enhancement that was contained on the orginal DVD transfer. Fine details shimmer excessively. Much of the latter half of the film is plagued by an incredibly large amount of edge enhancement that creates harsh halo effects around much of the background information. These effects are terribly distracting.

Despite Superbit's claim to offer the best picture quality available to the home consumer - this disc simply does not hold up! Also, the break in the film DOES NOT come at the intermission, where one might expect it. While the Superbit doctrine claims this is in order to preserve the integrity of the image quality, it's really hard to take them serious when DVD transfers like "Hello Dolly!" have their full 144 min. running time crammed onto one side of a disc with no discernable traces of edge enhancement or shimmering included!

The audio has been corrected and, for the most part, sounds wonderful - but, on occasion - particularly during the duped segments - where before the over all characteristic was strident, it is now muffled instead (improvement? - you decide).

Extras: Nothing of course - this is Superbit, what did you expect?

BOTTOM LINE: Mr. Harris has my deepest admiration for his restorative efforts on this disc. However, the edge enhancement on "Lawrence" is a visual blemish I am not willing to overlook, precisely because it is NOT limited to a few scenes but plagues the transfer throughout and distracts from all the hard efforts Mr. Harris has put forth on this disc. Columbia has my greatest disdain!

Lawrence of Arabia is the thinking man's epic, a brilliant adaptation of the life of an English patriot and the Arab revolt captured brilliantly by director David Lean. Peter O'Toole is marvelous. Alec Guinness superb. Omar Shariff, enigmatic and compelling. This film really represents a high point in 60's American cinema and film in general.
That Columbia Home Video chose to restore the film to its original length and Technicolor glory back in the 1980's is commendable. That they mucked up the DVD transfer is irreprehensive.
Although color fidelity is stunning, edge enhancement, aliasing and shimmering fine details plague this transfer throughout. It's frustrating to try and indulge in a story when the whole background surrounding the characters is in a constant state of motion. There are many scenes free from these annoying problems but just as many ravaged by them.
Extras, a documentary, featurette, trailers and more are ample but presented with a considerable degree of edge enhancement as well. Also, the collector's keep case has trouble closing. Overall, this two disc set could have been a much more stirring visual experience. What a shame!

It's a wonder this film was made at all. As Omar Sharif famously said (I'm quoting from memory, but this is close): "Say you are the man with the money at the studio. Someone comes to you and says he wants to make a film that's four hours long, with no action, no love story, no women at all, very little dialog, and no stars in the lead roles, and you want to go to one of the most remote places in the world to film it. What would you say?"

Fortunately, it was made, and stands to this day as the greatest epic ever filmed. The dialog is indeed sparse, but memorable. There's not a wasted word in this movie. There is action, but it's not the focus of the film, this isn't an "action" movie. O'Toole and Sharif were relative unknowns at the time, but this film made them international stars. There is indeed no love story. Lawrence is believed to have been homosexual, and that aspect of his character is hinted at in the film, but not really addressed (this was 1962, after all). They did in fact film it in the vast, remote Jordanian desert, and that desert is as much a character in the film as any of the actors. If there was ever a more beautifully filmed movie, I haven't seen it. To say the cinematography is breathtaking is to fail to do it justice. The DVD looks spectacular, you have to remind yourself constantly that you're looking at a movie filmed over 40 years ago. The sound has also been remastered, and Maurice Jarre's score sounds glorious. Don't listen to those who say Lawrence of Arabia is overrated. It's impossible to overrate this movie.

I have seen this masterpiece many many times, but only after reading T.E. Lawrence's book "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" this year do I now begin to understand. This movie is a product of two of the century's greatest minds, one an author and soldier, the other a film maker. The power of Lawrence's descriptions of the desert matches the great cinematography. No film could fully project the power of the inner thoughts of this most introspective man; for that you absolutely need the book to fill in the gaps. Many of the scenes take on a much deeper meaning once you have read the book in detail. The Columbia Tri-Star two-DVD edition is faultless, something I will always treasure. I find it hard to believe that someday a better movie could possibly be made, but we can hope against hope.

This is simply , a towering movie. Just a few films show with so splendor the epical sense as this one. Not only it established a standard as the best work filmed in the desert: the kinetic existence of this well educated man who fights in a conflict absolutely out his concerns . It's impossible not remind to Lord Byron when he died in Greece , fighting by a noble cause.
All the cast was incredible. Alec Guiness , Omar Shariff, Anthony Quinn , Jack Hawkins and Claude Rains and obviously this legendary actor Peter O'Toole who lost the prize as best actor in 1962 with Gregory Peck in To kill a mockingbird.
David Lean adapted the book the seven pillars of wisdom with overwhelming results.
Lensed in Jordan and Spain , the film has countless astonishing sequences , but I 'd really wanted to underline , just ywo of them.
When the army has crossed the Akaba desert , there's a man who apparently fell from the camel. Lawrence decides go bacj for him : and then he listen the warning : you won't get back from the journey don't challenge the destiny . Obviously Lawrence ignores the warning and goes for him . When he arrives with the half dead man , he states those brilliant lines: the destiny is just right here and he touches his head.
The other scene is just the opening sequence when he crashs his motocycle and dies in an absurd accident.
The hero's life doesn't have any sense after the the triumph of the last battle. Something similar happens with Gladiator >
I can't imagine the hero thinking in quiet life or a normal life as the rest of the human being . The hero has completed his mission , has completed his own cycle and the time comes for him to fade . This mythical cycle makes the death of Lawrence,has been more than casual .
This work is much more than simply an extarordinary film ; it's a real triumph of the western world ; an artistic treasure ; a timeless picture!

David Lean's epic masterpiece on the tale of Col. T.E. Lawrence of Arabia is an outstanding masterpiece. It is difficult to reproduce a movie of such proportion now. Consider the actors: Peter O'Toole, Alec Guiness, Omar Sheriff, Anthony Quinn, Claude Rains, Jack Hawkins, all of whom give great performances. Most important was the cinematography, filmed in Morocco and Jordon for almost 2 years, which is breathtaking especially the desert scenes starting from the first point when they show the desert at sunrise. Also commendable is the music by Maurice Jarre, which goes beautifully with the picture.

Most important is the screenplay by Robert Bolt that beats all movies that I can recall. The movie is about an insignificant person who becomes a great person, raises the Arabs to unite in the first World War and revolt against the Turks and capture Damascus. Though he believes he could be anything, he realizes the limits of his abilities. In the end, when General Allenby realizes that Lawrence has outlived his purpose, he says,

"By the way, you have been promoted Colonel now".

Lawrence, "Yes, why"?

Prince Faisal, "Take the honor Colonel, be a little kind. There is nothing here for a warrior. Young men make wars and the virtues of war are the virtues of young men, courage and hope for the future. Then, old men make peace, and the vices of peace are the vices of old men, mistrust and caution. It must be so."

General Allenby to Lawrence, "Godspeed then."

After this, when Lawrence leaves and they squabble over who should keep what part of Damascus.

Prince Faisal, "But El Aurens is a double edged sword. We are both equally glad to be rid of him, are we not?"

Gen. Allenby, "I thought I was a hard man Sir."

Prince Faisal, "You are merely a general, I must be a king."

Col. Brighton leaves in disgust over this.

It is so sad that movies nowadays place less importance on the quality of the screenplay. I cannot think of a single director who can put together something like this which transcends time. The AFI rates this movie #5. It could easily beat "Gone with the Wind" and the "Godfather" for its depth. The only issue with this movie is that it does not have any romance and there are no women in the movie, which may rule out a large group of people from enjoying the movie. Otherwise, it is a timeless masterpiece.

A lot of the present day movies that have made it big such as "Titanic" pale in any category beside this movie. I would urge any person starting a collection to start with this movie and any person interested in directing, photography, acting or screenplay to start with this movie. They do not come better than this.

The Lawrence of Arabia boxed set released by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment is based on a 1988 restoration of the film. This version omits some of the very best scenes from the original picture; specifically, the long, tense, horse & camel charge on Akabar. The "1988" version only has about a 30 second mish-mash of footage from the original picture. There are also other shorter, less dramatic, but "arguably" important scenes missing from this version.

I only saw the movie for the first time in 1991. A restored version was being played in Austin, TX and a friend insisted that we simply had to go see it on the big screen. Needless to say, I loved it. But, my absolute favorite part was the charge on Akabar. When I bought the video, I actually fast-forwarded through to see the "charge"?! Imagine my suprise when it was not there. If you can find a more complete version than the one TriStar currently has available, I heartily recommend buying it instead of this current release. I wish I had.