The movie “The Lawrence of Arabia” is based on the best selling book of the same name. It was an autobiography of T. E. Lawrence and is a true story. It tells the adventures of Lawrence during the Great War of 1914 to 1918 (The First World War.) Lawrence was a British officer in the army based in Egypt, which at that time belonged to England. The British were at war with both Germany and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). Lawrence encouraged the Arabs to revolt against Turkey and in doing so brought down the Ottomans and allowed Britain to take control of Arabia. It was the single biggest achievement by one man during the war. Lawrence was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath and awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the French Légion d’Honneur, though in October 1918 he refused to be made a Knight Commander of the British Empire.
Lawrence was most famously portrayed by Peter O’Toole in the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. It was directed by David Lean and produced by an Austrian called Sam Spiegel. This epic film includes a stirring and profoundly moving soundtrack. The scenery of Arabia is dramatically portrayed and the Arabian culture is demonstrated in detail. This truly is one movie that everyone must see at least once.
Film director Steven Spielberg considers this his favorite movie of all time and the one that convinced him to become a film maker.
Awards and honours
Academy Awards
The film was nominated for ten Oscars at the 35th Academy Awards, and won seven, including Best Picture.
Lawrence of Arabia won seven Academy Awards:
- Academy Award for Best Picture — Sam Spiegel
- Academy Award for Best Director — David Lean
- Academy Award for Best Art Direction — John Box, John Stoll and Dario Simoni
- Academy Award for Best Cinematography — Freddie Young
- Best Music, Score – Substantially Original — Maurice Jarre
- Academy Award for Best Film Editing — Ann V. Coates
- Academy Award for Best Sound — John Cox
It was nominated for three more:
- Academy Award for Best Actor — Peter O’Toole
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor — Omar Sharif
- Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay — Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson
[edit]BAFTA Awards
Lawrence of Arabia won four BAFTA Awards:
- BAFTA Award for Best Film from any Source — Sam Spiegel, David Lean
- BAFTA Award for Best British Film — Sam Spiegel, David Lean
- BAFTA Award for Best British Actor — Peter O’Toole
- BAFTA Award for Best British Screenplay — Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson
It was also nominated for:
[edit]Golden Globe Awards
Lawrence of Arabia won five Golden Globe Awards:
- Best Motion Picture — Drama — David Lean, Sam Spiegel
- Best Director of a Motion Picture — David Lean
- Best Supporting Actor — Omar Sharif
- Most Promising Newcomer — Male — Omar Sharif
- Best Cinematography, Color — Freddie Young
It was also nominated for:
- Most Promising Newcomer — Male — Peter O’Toole
[edit]Other awards
Directors Guild of America
- Outstanding Directorial Achievement — David Lean
David di Donatello Awards
- Best Foreign Film — Sam Spiegel
British Society of Cinematographers
- Best Cinematography Award — Freddie Young
Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
- Best Director Foreign Film — David Lean
Kinema Junpo Awards
- Best Foreign Language Film — David Lean
National Board of Review
- Best Director — David Lean
Writers’ Guild of Great Britain
- Best British Dramatic Screenplay — Robert Bolt, Michael Wilson
American Film Institute recognition
- 1998 AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movies #5
- 2001 AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Thrills # 23
- 2003 AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Heroes and Villains:
- T.E. Lawrence, hero #10
- 2005 AFI’s 100 Years of Film Scores #3
- 2006 AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Cheers #30
- 2007 AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) #7
- 2008 AFI’s 10 Top 10 — #1 Epic film
