Lawrence of Arabia is a sweeping epic that still manages to be a character study of the entirely unique and compelling T.E. Lawrence.
Notwithstanding the writing of Robert Bolt and the performance by Peter O’Toole (was there ever a better break-out role?), David Lean’s direction is what moves this movie into the realm of greatness. In the following scene we see Lean’s economy with the camera (i.e. very little movement, very few cuts) in capturing and framing Lawrence and Prince Feisal’s (Alec Guiness) pivotal conversation that underlines the major themes of the film and sends Lawrence off to find Feisal’s “miracle”.
[NO spoilers here]
If you have not seen this film, it is well worth the three hours.
