Lawrence of Arabia

"Every tool used to make movies was used in the making of Lawrence of Arabia, used and abused, sometimes past what we might have thought possible."—Steven Spielberg

The film that launched a thousand filmmakers, Lawrence of Arabia is Lean’s poetic and epic interpretation of T. E. Lawrence’s life as he leads the Arabian campaign against the Turks during World War I. The winner of seven Oscars, including Best Picture, it stars Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness, Omar Sharif, and Anthony Quinn. (216 mins., 70mm)

Here’s what the director himself had to say about the film’s 1989 restoration and re-release:

"Everyone worried about re-releasing Lawrence. They said the audiences have changed, that they talk and shout at the screen, that they’re impatient and wouldn’t go for it. Not at all. You could hear a pin drop. London, New York, Washington, Los Angeles. I think the audiences had almost forgotten the power of pictures."—David Lean

Trailer: