Lawrence of Arabia (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lawrence of Arabia |
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Theatrical release poster by Howard Terpning
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| Directed by | David Lean |
| Produced by | Sam Spiegel |
| Screenplay by |
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| Starring | |
| Music by | Maurice Jarre |
| Cinematography | Freddie A. Young |
| Editing by | Anne V. Coates |
| Studio | Horizon Pictures |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 10 December 1962 |
| Running time | 210 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15 million |
| Money made | $70 million |
Lawrence of Arabia is a famous British epic historical drama movie from 1962. It tells the story of a real person named T. E. Lawrence and is based on his book, Seven Pillars of Wisdom. The movie was directed by David Lean and produced by Sam Spiegel.
The film stars Peter O'Toole as Lawrence, with Alec Guinness playing Prince Faisal. Other well-known actors like Jack Hawkins, Anthony Quinn, and Omar Sharif are also in the movie. The story was written by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson.
The movie shows Lawrence's adventures during World War I in parts of the Ottoman Empire, like Hejaz and Greater Syria. It highlights his attacks on cities like Aqaba and Damascus. The film also explores Lawrence's personal struggles, including the violence of war, his own identity, and his loyalty divided between his home country, Britain, and his new friends among the Arabian desert tribes.
Lawrence of Arabia won many awards. It was nominated for ten Oscars in 1963 and won seven, including Best Picture and Best Director. It also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama and several BAFTA Awards. The movie's music, created by Maurice Jarre, and its amazing cinematography (how it was filmed) by Freddie Young were highly praised.
Many people consider Lawrence of Arabia to be one of the greatest films ever made. In 1991, the United States Library of Congress chose it to be saved in the National Film Registry because it was seen as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." The American Film Institute has also ranked it as one of the top American films.
Contents
Main Characters and Cast
This movie features a large cast of talented actors who bring the historical figures to life.
Key Actors and Roles
- Peter O'Toole plays T. E. Lawrence, the main character.
- Alec Guinness plays Prince Faisal, an important Arab leader.
- Jack Hawkins plays General Edmund Allenby, a British military leader.
- Omar Sharif plays Sherif Ali ibn el Kharish, a strong Arab ally.
- José Ferrer plays the Turkish Bey, a leader from the Ottoman Empire.
- Anthony Quayle plays Colonel Harry Brighton, a British officer.
- Claude Rains plays Mr. Dryden, a British diplomat.
- Arthur Kennedy plays Jackson Bentley, a journalist.
- Donald Wolfit plays General Archibald Murray, another British general.
- I. S. Johar plays Gasim, an Indian actor who appeared in international films.
- Gamil Ratib plays Majid, an Egyptian actor.
- Michel Ray plays Farraj, a young Anglo-Brazilian actor.
- Zia Mohyeddin plays Tafas, a well-known Pakistani actor.
Behind the Scenes Roles
More than 1,000 people, including actors and extras, worked on this film. Some crew members even played small parts in the movie. For example, the first assistant director, Roy Stevens, played a truck driver. The film's gaffer (the head electrician), Steve Birtles, played a motorcyclist. Even the screenwriter, Robert Bolt, had a small, silent role.
How Accurate is the Movie?
While Lawrence of Arabia is based on real events, some parts of the film were changed for dramatic effect.
Real People and Fictional Scenes
Most characters in the movie are based on real people. However, some scenes, like the Battle of Aqaba, were made more exciting than they might have been in real life. The film also simplified the history of the region, the First World War, and the Arab Revolt. This was done to focus more on Lawrence's personal story.
For example, the movie shows Lawrence almost alone in representing the Allies in Hejaz. But in reality, many other British and French officers were there to help. The film also suggests Lawrence started the attacks on the Hejaz railway, but these attacks actually began before his involvement.
The Arab Army in the Film
The movie shows the Arab forces as mostly Bedouin fighters using guerrilla tactics. However, the main part of the real Arab army was made up of regular soldiers. These soldiers were recruited from Ottoman Arab prisoners of war and fought in more traditional battles, wearing British-style uniforms. The film doesn't mention this regular army, giving the impression that all the Arab forces were irregular fighters.
The Movie's Music
The amazing music for Lawrence of Arabia was composed by Maurice Jarre. He was not very well known at the time and had only six weeks to create two hours of orchestral music for the film.
Creating the Score
The London Philharmonic Orchestra performed the music. Although Sir Adrian Boult is listed as the conductor, Maurice Jarre actually conducted most of the music himself because of the complex timing needed.
Jarre's music for Lawrence of Arabia won him his first Oscar. It is now considered one of the greatest film scores ever made, ranking very high on lists of top movie music.
Musical Themes
The producer, Sam Spiegel, originally wanted two different composers to create music that would show both the "Eastern" (Arab) and British sides of the story. However, this plan didn't happen, and Maurice Jarre composed the entire score.
A famous march called The Voice of the Guns by Kenneth Alford is also featured in the movie's soundtrack.
The Film's Lasting Impact
Lawrence of Arabia has had a huge influence on many filmmakers and stories.
Influence on Directors
Many famous directors, including George Lucas (who made Star Wars), Stanley Kubrick (who made 2001: A Space Odyssey), and Steven Spielberg, have said this film inspired them. Steven Spielberg even called it a "miracle" and his favorite movie of all time. He watched it four times in four weeks when it first came out and said it taught him that movies can explore deep personal themes, not just tell a story.
Director Kathryn Bigelow also loves the film and said it inspired her to film The Hurt Locker in Jordan, a desert country.
Influence on Other Stories
The visual style and adventure of Lawrence of Arabia have inspired many other adventure, science fiction, and fantasy stories. This includes the Dune series, George Lucas's Star Wars movies, James Cameron's Avatar films, and even Disney's Frozen franchise.
Related Films
There is another film that continues the story of Lawrence and Faisal.
A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia
In 1990, a TV movie called A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia was released. It shows what happened to Lawrence and Prince Faisal after the events in Lawrence of Arabia. In this film, Ralph Fiennes plays Lawrence and Alexander Siddig plays Prince Faisal.
See also
In Spanish: Lawrence de Arabia (película) para niños
- BFI Top 100 British films
- List of films considered the best
