Search - Lawrence of Arabia on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations Movie Release: 1962 DVD Release: 08/27/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Korean, Spanish, Thai SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 3 hrs 38 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Epic, War Epic, British Empire Film See Also: Lawrence of Arabia [Limited Edition], Lawrence of Arabia [Superbit], Lawrence of Arabia [Collector's Edition], Lawrence of Arabia [Collector's Edition]

This sweeping, highly literate historical epic covers the Allies' mideastern campaign during World War I as seen through the eyes of the enigmatic T. E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole, in the role that made him a star). After a prologue showing us Lawrence's ultimate fate, we flash back to Cairo in 1917. A bored general staffer, Lawrence talks his way into a transfer to Arabia. Once in the desert, he befriends Sherif Ali Ben El Kharish (Omar Sharif, making one of the most spectacular entrances in movie history) and draws up plans to aid the Arabs in their rebellion against the Turks. No one is ever able to discern Lawrence's motives in this matter: Prince Feisal (Alec Guinness) dismisses him as yet another "desert-loving Englishman," and his British superiors assume that he's either arrogant or mad. Using a combination of diplomacy and bribery, Lawrence unites the rival Arab factions of Feisal and Auda Abu Tayi (Anthony Quinn). After successfully completing his mission, Lawrence becomes an unwitting pawn of the Allies, as represented by Gen. Allenby (Jack Hawkins) and Dryden (Claude Rains), who decide to keep using Lawrence to secure Arab cooperation against the Imperial Powers. While on a spying mission to Deraa, Lawrence is captured and tortured by a sadistic Turkish Bey (Jose Ferrer). In the heat of the next battle, a wild-eyed Lawrence screams "No prisoners!" and fights more ruthlessly than ever. Screenwriters Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson used T. E. Lawrence's own self-published memoir -The Seven Pillars of Wisdom as their principal source, although some of the characters are composites, and many of the "historical" incidents are of unconfirmed origin. Two years in the making (you can see O'Toole's weight fluctuate from scene to scene), the movie, lensed in Spain and Jordan, ended up costing a then-staggering $13 million and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The 1962 Royal Premiere in London was virtually the last time that David Lean's director's cut was seen: 20 minutes were edited from the film's general release, and 15 more from the 1971 reissue. This abbreviated version was all that was available for public exhibition until a massive 1989 restoration, at 216 minutes that returned several of Lean's favorite scenes while removing others with which he had never been satisfied. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Peter O'Toole - T.E. Lawrence
Alec Guinness - Prince Feisal
Anthony Quinn - Auda abu Tayi
Jack Hawkins - Gen. Allenby
Omar Sharif - Sherif Ali ibn el Kharish
Claude Rains - Mr. Dryden

Director David Lean's epic film of the life of one of England's most interesting soldiers is now available in a single disc format. Thankfully you can see this film as it's meant to be seen, in an Anamorphic widescreen 2.20:1 aspect ratio. The audio is also pretty good, in English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby Digital stereo with subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and Thai. There aren't a lot of extras on this one because it's such a long film, but it is available in a 2-disc set if you're looking for more. ~ Sharon McRill, All Movie Guide