All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did. -T.E.Lawrence
In the year 1962 Sir David Lean created a masterpiece in the world of Cinema,a landmark that modern Cinema would look for inspiration a movie that is nothing short of a Miracle by itself Lawrence of Arabia.A work in the world of cinema that stands unrivaled to this very day.The life of an Extraordinary man T.E.Lawrence told by the greatest Storytellers and portrayed by the greatest Actors of that time.
This is the Story of a Legend,a Traitor,a Hero,a Narcissist,a Great Thinker,a Bedouin,a British Officer and that of T.E.Lawrence. Lawrence’s life is nothing short of an adventure by itself from fighting wars to daydreaming in the desert to being the poster boy for the war in the Middle-East Lawrence was someone we all dream to be when we grow up.The movie follows this mans journey through the deserts of Arabia to find himself and what he seeks.Lawrence can be seen as the identity crisis of a Desert loving British Officer and a Bedouin,Two roles he adorns in his life and to which he must be loyal to is what forms the crisis.
The brainchild of David Lean the movie is a life of its own.I can imagine no other Director making Lawrence.The movies cinematography of the desert is breathtaking accompanied by the White Arab Clothed Blue Eyed British Officer.The mirage scene is definitely a miracle in the cinema of the past.
Maurice Jarre’s soundtrack brings memories of the desert and Lawrence’s life whenever it is played.A soundtrack that has no substitute.The greatness that this music piece holds in it cannot be expressed in mere words.
The Movie features an Ensemble cast of sheer Greatness with Peter O’Toole playing Lawrence,Alec Guinness as Prince Faisal,Omar Sharif as Sherif Ali,Anthony Quinn as Auda abu Tayi,Anthony Quaile as Colonel Brighton,Arthur Kennedy as Jackson Bentley,jack Hawkins as General Allenby and Jose Ferrer as the Turkish Bey.
The screenplay has been regarded as one of the greatest ever written.The exchanges take the viewer to a higher level of thought.Each of the movies dialogues are simply mesmerizing.
Steven Spielberg considers it to be his All time Favorite and so do I.If Cinema is Art then Lawrence is its Mona Lisa.
A few epic quotes from the movie:
T.E. Lawrence: The best of them won’t come for money, they’ll come for me.
T.E. Lawrence: There may be honor among thieves, but there’s none in politicians.
T.E. Lawrence: Ferraj. Wash!
Sherif Ali: Ferraj. El Aurens, truly for some men nothing is written unless they write it.
Sherif Ali: Have you no fear, English?
T.E. Lawrence: My fear is my concern.
Mr. Dryden: Lawrence, only two kinds of creature get fun in the desert; Bedouins and gods, and you’re neither. Take it from me, for ordinary men, it’s a burning, fiery furnace.
T.E. Lawrence: No, Dryden, it’s going to be fun.
Mr. Dryden: It is recognized that you have a funny sense of fun.
Jackson Bentley: Never saw a man killed with a sword before.
T.E. Lawrence: [scornfully] Why don’t you take a picture?
Jackson Bentley: Wish I had.
Jackson Bentley: You gonna be a democracy in this country? You gonna have a parliament?
Sherif Ali: I will tell you that when I have a country. Did I answer well?
Jackson Bentley: You answered without saying anything. That’s politics.
Sherif Ali: What is your name?
T.E. Lawrence: My name is for my friends. None of my friends is a murderer!
Jackson Bentley: What attracts you personally to the desert?
T.E. Lawrence: It’s clean.
Prince Feisal: There’s nothing further here for a warrior. We drive bargains. Old men’s work. Young men make wars, and the virtues of war are the virtues of young men; courage and hope for the future. Then, old men make the peace, and the vices of peace are the vices of old men; mistrust and caution.
Auda abu Tayi: It is Auda of the Howitat who speaks.
Sherif Ali: It is Ali of the Harith who answers.
Auda abu Tayi: Harith! Ali, does your father still steal?
Sherif Ali: No. Does Auda take me for one of his own bastards?
Auda abu Tayi: No, there is no resemblance. Alas, you resemble your father.
Sherif Ali: Auda flatters me.
Auda abu Tayi: You’re easily flattered. I knew your father well.
Sherif Ali: Did you know your own?
A Time Travelers Memoirs 