Rent Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

4.1 of 5 from 412 ratings
3h 38min
Rent Lawrence of Arabia Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
  • General info
  • Available formats
Synopsis:
This true life story follows the struggles of T.E.Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) in uniting the hostile Arab factions and leading them to victory over the ruling Turkish Empire during the First World War.
Actors:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , John Barry,
Directors:
Producers:
Sam Spiegel
Voiced By:
Robert Rietty
Writers:
T.E. Lawrence, Robert Bolt
Others:
Michael Wilson, John Cox, Maurice Jarre, John Box, Dario Simoni, Anne Coates, Fred A. Young, John Stoll
Studio:
Sony
Genres:
Classics, Drama
Collections:
A Brief History of Archaeology on Screen: Part 1, A Brief History of Coronations on Screen, A Few More Screen Princes, A World of Difference: A History of Gay Cinema, Acting Up: British Actors at the Oscars, All the Twos: 1902-62, Award Winners, BAFTA Nominations Competition 2023, BAFTA Nominations Competition 2024, Cinema and the First World War, Cinema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 1, Drama Films & TV, Films & TV by topic, Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: John Mills, Memory Lane: Films Set in 1920s, Oscar Nominations Competition 2024, Oscar's Two-Time Club, Oscars: Winners & Losers, Roeg and Bertolucci: Remembering the Masters, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Satyajit Ray, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Ridley Scott, Top 10 Best Picture Follow-Ups, Top 10 Films About Trains: Westerns and War Movies, Top 100 AFI Movies, Top 100 AFI Thrills, Top 100 BFI Films, Top Films
Awards:

1963 BAFTA Best Actor

1963 BAFTA Best Screen Play

1963 BAFTA Best Film

1963 BAFTA Best British Film

1963 Oscar Best Picture

1963 Oscar Best Director

1963 Oscar Best Editing

1963 Oscar Best Cinematography Color

1963 Oscar Best Art Direction Color

1963 Oscar Best Sound

1963 Oscar Best Music Original Score

BBFC:
Release Date:
09/04/2001
Run Time:
218 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 5.1, German Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:
Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 2.20:1
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • A Making of Documentary
  • The Original Theatrical Trailer
  • A Conversation with Steven Spielberg
  • Footage from New York Premiere
  • 5 Featurettes
  • Archives of Arabia
  • Filmographies of the cast and crew
BBFC:
Release Date:
10/09/2012
Run Time:
227 minutes
Languages:
Castilian Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles:
Castillian, English, English Hard of Hearing, Hindi
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 2.20:1
Colour:
Colour
BLU-RAY Regions:
(0) All
Bonus:
  • Picture in Graphics: "Secrets of Arabia"
  • Peter O'Toole revisits "Lawrence of Arabia"
  • The Making of Lawrence of Arabia Documentary
  • A Conversation with Steven Spielberg Featurette
  • Featurettes: "The Camels Are Cast"
  • "In Search of Lawrence"
  • "Romance of Arabia"
  • "Wind, Sand and Star: The Making of a Classic"
  • NY Premiere (Newsreel)
  • Advertising Campaigns
Disc 1:
This disc includes the main feature
Disc 2:
This disc includes the special features
BBFC:
Release Date:
Unknown
Run Time:
227 minutes

More like Lawrence of Arabia

Reviews (7) of Lawrence of Arabia

A great classic that remains an epic masterpiece - Lawrence of Arabia review by Philip in Paradiso

Spoiler Alert
18/07/2022

The film depicts the life of Lawrence of Arabia and the role he played in helping to organise the Arab uprising against the Ottoman Turks in the Middle East during WWI. It is a great classic, generally considered to be one of the best feature films of all times. I had never seen it in full (there are 2 DVDs, in total about 220 mins, i.e. 3 1/2 hours). I found that the movie is as good as its reputation and lives up to it.

Peter O'Toole, as Lawrence, is remarkable, even if the portrayal of Lawrence in the film has been criticized by some historians, inevitably, in terms of the way his life and character are interpreted. Other actors are also very good, including Omar Sharif and Anthony Quinn as Bedouin warlords. It seems to me that the context at the time is well rendered, in a realistic way overall. We understand the interplay between Lawrence and his slightly idealistic plans for Arab independence and the harsh reality of European (British and French) colonial ambitions. The Bedouins and their tribal leaders have genuine agency, which is also interesting: they are not at all the passive 'natives' that a less subtle movie might have represented. The big picture is never neglected and this puts the life and role of Lawrence in context in an intelligent manner. There are many gripping action scenes and the film never feels overlong or dated.

So, the film works on many levels and will grab you, whether you are interested in the life of Lawrence and the politics of the Middle East at the time or not. It is a must-see.

2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

One of The Greatest Of Films - Lawrence of Arabia review by GI

Spoiler Alert
16/08/2023

This is one of those magnificent movies that makes you realise why you fell in love with cinema. It's a masterpiece, epic, stunningly beautiful, brilliantly scripted and directed and keeps at it's heart an intimate character study of a diverse historical figure. Set during the First World war it tells the story of T.E. Lawrence, an eccentric young British army officer who is sent by his superiors to act as liaison to an Arab prince to encourage the Arabs to fight the Turks. The British, of course, have designs on Arabia but Lawrence against the odds and to the surprise of his British High Command unites the warring Arab tribes and secures unprecedented victories against the Turkish army at personal cost to his beliefs and perhaps his sanity. There are some very famous scenes to be enjoyed here and a story that is really interesting and brilliantly told. Peter O'Toole plays Lawrence to sheer perfection aided by a stellar cast including Alec Guinness, Omar Shariff, Jack Hawkins, Anthony Quayle, Claude Rains and Anthony Quinn. The film garnered seven Academy Awards and they are richly deserved. A magnificent, beautiful film and one every film fan must see and watch time and time again.

1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

Classic - Lawrence of Arabia review by CP Customer

Spoiler Alert
12/01/2006

They dont make war movies like this anymore, a great education as to Britains involvement in Arabia

1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

Unlimited films sent to your door, starting at £15.99 a month.