What more can be said?

Rating: Null/10 (6 February 2003)

Nearly everything has been written about this masterpiece by the specialist of the broad canvas,David Lean.As with "Dr.Zhivago" he paints just as well a wide expanse either of snow or sand.He is wonderful at depicting minute figures almost overwhelmed by the great backdrops seeming to engulf them. Lawrence,the risk taker par excellence,either biking too fast for safety,or undertaking the impossible trek to Akaba never bores us. Lean portrays the great expanses of time or distance,twelve days to Akaba...or the conflicts of risk .."You must be at the well before sunrise", which in other directors' hands could be tedious. Peter O'Toole acts the tortured character of Lawrence at war with his dark side,confessing to "enjoying" executing a tribesman. Jack Hawkins as Allenby acts the ambivalent British officer,promising, tongue in cheek, support which he is unsure that he can supply. Anthony Quayle is delightful as the imperturbable,understating British officer. The beginning sums Lawrence up well with the interviews given to the press at his funeral. This film is extremely helpful if one wishes to explore the Middle East mentality and thre unfulfilled promises of Arab independence following World War 1.