The 1962 epic biographical drama Lawrence of Arabia airs on BBC Two this afternoon, September 12, at 1.30pm. Widely hailed by critics as one of the greatest films ever made, it has captivated audiences for more than 60 years.
A cinematic masterpiece with a stellar cast
Peter O'Toole stars in the titular role of Thomas Edward Lawrence, the British Army officer renowned for his wartime exploits in the Middle East during World War I. Directed by David Lean, with a screenplay by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson, the film is adapted from TE Lawrence's 1926 autobiography Seven Pillars of Wisdom, also known as Revolt in the Desert.
O'Toole is joined by Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quayle, Claude Rains, Jose Ferrer and Arthur Kennedy. The official plot states: "The story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks."
Award-winning acclaim and box office success
The film received 10 Academy Award nominations and won seven, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Art Direction - Color, Best Cinematography - Color, Best Film Editing, Best Music Score - Substantially Original, and Best Sound. It also won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Drama and BAFTAs for Best Film and Outstanding British Film.
Lawrence of Arabia took in $70 million at the worldwide box office against an estimated production budget of $15 million. It debuted at London's Odeon Leicester Square on December 10, 1962, followed by its US release on December 16. Jordan banned the film, citing a disrespectful portrayal of Arab culture, while Egypt was the sole Arab nation to approve it for release, where it proved a success.
Record runtime and lasting legacy
With a runtime of 3 hours and 42 minutes, the film edges out Gone With the Wind by just over a minute, making it the longest film to win the Best Picture Oscar. It holds a 93% approval rating from critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
One critic said: "At last, a film has arrived to justify and even compliment the wide screen - a spectacle with an intelligent purpose and, in many respects, the most exciting and beautiful movie ever made." Another wrote: "One of the most magnificent pictures, if not the most magnificent, and one of the most exasperating."
A further review noted: "How did David Lean and star Peter O'Toole achieve such perfection? If we could define and distil it, we wouldn't need a special category for those flicks we call 'classics.' Lawrence of Arabia is that, and then some."
Audiences have been equally enthusiastic. One viewer wrote: "Lawrence of Arabia is a masterclass in epic filmmaking, blending biography and historical drama into an unforgettable cinematic experience. Its scale and visual grandeur remain unmatched, even by modern standards." Another said: "A cinematic masterpiece. The large scale and slow burn of the desert scenes, the cinematography basically making the desert it's own character... It's an all time classic that will never age."
One Rotten Tomatoes review reads: "This film is a masterpiece of cinema... a must-see classic because of its expansive settings and engrossing narrative." Another viewer added: "A masterpiece in every meaning of the word. Everything is great, not one weak link... don't be intimidated by the runtime, it goes by fast."
Lawrence of Arabia broadcasts this afternoon, September 12, at 1.30pm on BBC Two.
