One of the chief storytelling moments is the point of no return. It’s the exact moment in action where a journey is fundamentally and irreparably changed. Stakes are raised, futures are changed. and worlds are altered. For the film industry, this was 1962. The moment David Lean’s epic Lawrence of Arabia hit the screens, it was clear that movies were different forever.
Lawrence of Arabia combined the massive vistas of the Western and the excitement of The Bridge on the River Kwai (also by Lean) in a way that elevated what film and storytelling could be.
It’s influence does not stop in the Arabian desert either. Without Lawrence of Arabia, there is no Arakis. Frank Herbert’s Dune was was almost purely derived from the story of T.E. Lawrence and you can CLEARLY see the remnants of that in Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 adaptation which was filmed in the exact Jordanian desert.
Peter O’Toole’s portrayal of T.E. Lawrence is stellar if a bit controversial. The story told exclusively from his perspective teeters between mythic and unreliable. It’s a messiah story, more historical fish-story than detailed documentary. We know the general premise of the story to be accurate—an eccentric and somewhat insubordinate archaeologist is thrust into the Arab Revolt and leads a band of rebels through the An Nafud desert to overtake an important military point Aqaba, but certain aspects of the story may be a bit “romanticized” so to speak–such is the way with any messiah story. Always be critical of the story told from one perspective… We all know history is written by the victors.
As his time with the Bedouin tribes progresses, his behavior becomes more and more tribal (we will discuss the Fremen parallels when I review Dune). The story is quite compelling however long. Lean takes his time to show the arcs of Lawrence, the tribe, and other supporting characters with plenty of poetic justice breadcrumbed through subplots as Lawrence delves deeper into the ways of the desert.
I do not have much negative criticism for this film as it is a bit of historical fiction. There is a bit of implied homophobia, general racism, and sexism in the film. But given the context, it makes sense that this happens. This came out in the 1960s and was an adaptation of a story in the 1910s in the Middle East. There are going to be some problems with representation for modern audiences. The film is honest about these things being a part of life at the turn of the century. I wouldn’t go so far as to say the film is overtly critical of that, but it is honest at least to the information we have on T.E. Lawrence’s life.
All told, this is a phenomenal film both in its scope and lasting impact. Lawrence of Arabia is irreplicable on this list. It elevated film and storytelling to heights never before seen. Take the time to see this. Break it up at the intermission and complete it in two sittings.
10/10
210 minutes
Available on Amazon Prime
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