The film is fascinating on both the micro and the macro levels. At the personal level, all of the leading characters are fascinating and unpredictable, worthy and fearsome.
None are caricatures.
Perhaps no other movie has ever had some many intriguing and fully-developed roles so brilliantly portrayed. On the other hand, the themes of myths, tribal antipathy, nationalities, war, alliances, promises, leadership, corruptibility, savagery, affection, arrogance, pride, delusion, and pomp are admirably tackled and handled. Without subtlety the film also makes much of the role of the press in supporting the establishment and promoting its causes and making and finding heroes, a theme that remains contemporary. The film was made in 1962 when the issue of homosexuality was not easy for major movies to handle, or even dare to handle. The casting of Peter O'Toole as Lawrence was not only brilliant, but also critical and, indeed, it is very hard to imagine anyone else who could have brought it off.