Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55759 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-10-02
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.20:1
• Formats: Box set, Collector's Edition, PAL, Restored
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 227 minutes

Synopsis
David Lean's masterpiece, perhaps the greatest of screen epics, stars Peter O'Toole in one of the most electrifying debuts in film history. The film is less an ordinary adventure than an experience that leaves an overwhelming sense memory of the struggle between two powerful forces: the Arabian deserts, immense, intractable, ever-shifting, punishing; and T.E. Lawrence, humble as a monk, flamboyant as a rock star, protean, polymathic, heroic, enigmatic, mad. While working on the staff of British Intelligence in Cairo in 1916, Lawrence's fluency in Arabic earns him a post on a mission sent to establish contact with Prince Feisal (Alec Guinness), leader of the Arab revolt and ally of the British against the German-sponsored Turks in WWI. Impressed by Lawrence's knowledge of their culture, the prince allows the young officer to join his staff, and Lawrence quickly earns the Arabs' respect after he executes acts of extraordinary heroism. As the Englishman's genius for guerrilla warfare becomes evident, he assumes the role of de facto leader of the Arab revolt, uniting the heretofore warring tribes into a devastatingly effective weapon. But the chaos of war also unleashes the repressed officer's powerful need for self-abasement and mortification of the flesh. A visionary work that unfolds one indelible image after another, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA fuses the conflict of man against man, man against nature, and man against himself into a sublime poem of force. The film features a literate script by Robert Bolt and an outstanding cast, which also includes Claude Rains, Jack Hawkins, Arthur Kennedy, Anthony Quinn, Jose Ferrer, and Omar Sharif in his unforgettable desert-crossing debut.

Customer Reviews

Epic classic
One of the top classic epic films ever made and my most personal favourite. If you've somehow managed to miss it until now, see it now!
Very well presented in The Reel Collection. Sturdy box containing what seems a miniature of a film reel tin (of course) with 2 discs separated by a pad. The tin is protected by a black pad with a velvety covering, backed by cardboard. This lifts up to reveal 4 cards with stills from the film and interesting information on the backs, about Lawrence himself and making of the film.
Wonderful film, excellent presentation, I thoroughly recommend it.

A lavish spectacle with depth....
Perhaps David Leans finest ever creation. This is my all time favourite film.
Its somewhat historically defective but films are about more than just history they at times reflect a myth and sometimes even create a few of their own. Laurence of Arabia caputures perfectly the engigma that is Laurence. Like Lawrence himself this film has gone in and out of vogue - once seen as a story of a great man of Empire, later as a villain of imperialism the film is actually neutral and allows you to draw your own conclusions about Laurnece without making any crass, hysterical or self righteous observations.
Its one of the few all star cast films that actually work thanks to the fantasticly strong direction and incredible editing of one of the finest ever filmmakers. Some people object to David Leans style as overly clinical. What they are really criticsing is his near flawless cinemetic technique. Watch closely the scene between Fiesal and Bentley. There are dozens of cuts, camera movements and focus pulls yet when you watch the scene its seamless - brilliance that never draws attention to itself is Leans style. The film is simply HUGE in scope with a top flight cast who are superbly equipped with a brilliant script and simply breathtaking locations. Its a drama that spans almostb 4 hours yet never wearies you. The film takes you through a gamut of emotions: Comedy at the stiffness of the generals, betrayal by the diplomats, pity for some of the characters and the gut wrenching scenes of savagery in the attack on the retreating turks when Laurence finds the savage that lurks under the veneer of civilisation.
Theres no heavy handed anti-war message, nor a glofification of it. Theres no uplifing message at the end - simply a cipher.
Its a beautiful, thrilling, compelling picee of cinema that is as deep as its wide, an adventure with both thought and poise and in which every single frame is no less than a masterpiece. Enjoy !

and there's more!!!.................
An all time classic and more of course & a long film yes but just Brilliant!!.

If you enjoyed watching this film and find yourself watching it over and over again then you MUST see Ralph Fiennes in the sequel to this film called "A Dangerous Man - Lawrence After Arabia" on VHS. A rare and hard film to get a hold of but worth every penny.