Lawrence of Arabia Blu-ray delivers truly amazing video and audio in this exceptional Blu-ray release
The dramatic portrait of the famed British officer's journey to the Middle East, Lawrence of
Arabia is one of the most critically acclaimed and beloved films of all time. Assigned to Arabia
during World War I, Lawrence courageously unites the warring Arab factions into a strong
guerrilla front and leads them to brilliant victories in treacherous desert battlefields, where they
eventually defeat the ruling Turkish Empire.
Looking back and writing on a film like Lawrence of Arabia with anything other than some form of pointed criticism
seems almost an
exercise in futility;
it's been praised and praised some more, but few -- rare, extremely rare -- are the films that can withstand so much
acclaim and
actually
live up to that level of hype and hold up under
so much micro-scrutiny, all over the course of decades, through countless viewings, and beyond all the wordy discussions.
Rightly regarded as one
of the
finest movies ever made and a picture that leaves behind a legacy that
speaks to the power of perfect filmmaking and the lasting impact that is the filmed marriage of faultless craftsmanship and
enthralling story,
Lawrence of Arabia is
the
movie
that typifies cinema greatness, that is arguably the epic that defines epics, the picture that remains the textbook answer for
the question of why
movies are made and how a medium so influenced by external sources and so inundated with mediocrity, disappointments,
and disasters remains a
legitimate canvas for the most serious artists. It's a film that absolutely encapsulates everything that's so wonderful about
motion pictures, a
demonstration of the entire process completed with faultless execution, and at about double the runtime of most pictures at
that. It's one of
the top few in the same vein as Gone with the Wind, The Godfather, and Star Wars, films that should immediately spring
to mind as the
cream of the crop amongst
cinema-defining classics. Yet Lawrence of Arabia does perhaps lack the immediate name recognition, the popular
culture infusion, the
instantly
recognizable cast, and
the flash of those others,
but it's certainly the film that purists, enthusiasts, students, educators, and casual viewers alike should approach
when in search of a
motion picture
that
embodies the total amassed perfection of drama, action, acting, photography, music, and everything that together makes a
great movie or, in this
case,
a legend.
Reflections of a changed man, reflections dissimilar from those to come.
It is the height of World War I. A middling British Lieutenant by the name of T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) may be the most
enigmatic man in the
entire military. He works diligently and with exacting precision on map detail. His is a rather quirky sense of humor and
slightly odd way of carrying
himself. He's a very highly educated man, an expert on Arabic culture and letters, and he's about to embark on a quest that
will rise his star within
the army ranks and the general public alike. He's sent on a lengthy mission of personal information gathering to assess the
progress, or lack thereof,
concerning the Arab uprising against the formidable Turkish Army. He's to meet with the noted Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness)
and is escorted by
Sherif Ali (Omar
Sharif), a man who murders Lawrence's first guide and companion for drinking well water without its owner's -- Ali himself --
permission. Lawrence
impresses the Prince a great deal with his honesty, intelligence, grasp of Arabian culture, and respect for the Arabs' ways. He
speaks out against a
plan of retreat from the Turks and instead proposes a dangerous cross-desert raid on the Turkish coastal stronghold of Akaba,
the capture of which
would yield
political, strategic, and morale-boosintg victories all. As Lawrence proves himself a friend of the Arab, understanding of and
embracing their ways, a
strong military strategist, and a man of impeccable courage, he works his way into the hearts of his Arab comrades and
morphs into a man fully ingrained in their ways. As he leads the Arabs in battle, unites warring tribes, and settles difficult
disagreements, he
becomes a hero to the Arab people, a respected military figure, and a curiosity around the world. As victories mount and
Lawrence's star rises, he
comes to realize the weight of the burden he bears and begins paying towards the inward price for his outward successes and
transformation.
Lawrence of Arabia is the inward story of a single man set against the sweeping outward wrappings of an epic. It's a
film that fashions an
intimate tale on a grand scale, making use of countless emotions and actions to assemble a captivating journey across
deserts, through war, and
from
mind to soul. Director David Lean (The Bridge on the River Kwai) manages what seems
nearly impossible in any
artistic medium, and that is conveying so much personal drama through such strong character development in a movie so
broad in physical scope,
so
visually dazzling, so audibly captivating, so absolutely immersive in every way. The story of T.E. Lawrence is one of the most
intimate yet in many
ways
peculiar in film history. His tale is one
defined by deeds but not through an abundance of physical actions. He's a man of odd manners and ambiguity but a strong
stature and high
intelligence. He's a man of conviction and courage but prone to wild swings of emotion and folly. He's respected but not
always understood, held in
high regard but at some expense to his own well-being, moral compass, and overall stability. His is a tale
that's timeless though set in a certain place and time. His story is deeply personal though spread far and wide. It speaks to
the man that his life is
shaped by surrounding himself with those unlike him and distant from his
culture, never mind the vastness of the desert and the inhospitable terrain in which Lawrence not only finds life, but thrives.
But then comes the
downward half of the arc. His rise from obscurity
to stardom,
journey from cockeyed personal confidence to delusions of divineness, and the inevitable fall make for a splendid inner story
that takes shape from
within the gruel of war
and
the harshness and
expanse of the desert. It's a uniquely fascinating character study, though sometimes a bit obscured by what is an almost
overpowering sense of
grandeur that is the rest of the filmmaking story.
Indeed, Lawrence of Arabia remains an awe-inspiring spectacle of the finest variety. The movie absolutely dazzles
across every square inch
of bold cinematography, each stroke of Maurice Jarre's unforgettable score, and every second of Lean's impeccable direction,
from his handling of fast
action scenes to lingering distance shots of desert expanse and the slow reveal of characters approaching from the horizon.
The movie is inspired
filmmaking and inspiring to all who watch it. It's a film grand in scope and grander in its display of the Middle East's
geographic splendor. Every
scene yields a sense of awe and breadth quite unlike anything else. The film
promises and provides an unforgettable cinema journey in which the audience practically accompanies Lawrence across
uncrossable deserts, joins
him in battle, and experiences his character arc alongside him, whether in army fatigues or traditional Arab dress, whether
atop the world or beaten
down by inner chaos. Better, Lean's direction and
Freddie
Young's cinematography effortlessly and effectively convey the size of the desert, the perils of the journey, the heat under the
sun, the dangers of
war, and the seeming impossibility of it all with amazing precision. Arguably no film before has so realistically brought its
canvas to life, and it's all
due not to razzle-dazzle but rather sensible photography, bold choices, superb source material, grand shooting locales, and
perhaps even an invisible
helping hand, for as Steven Spielberg said of the film, it's truly a "miracle" of filmmaking that has not been -- and will never
be -- duplicated or
improved upon. Truly, this is cinema beyond belief.
Of course, any review of Lawrence of Arabia would be remiss without a note on the cast. In short, it's spectacular, so
good, in fact, that the
actors slip away and the characters instantly appear, from Lawrence and Sherif Ali and on down the line to the most
insignificant background player.
Certainly, the performances owe quite a bit to the combination of direction, cinematography, scriptwriting, and even
costuming, set design, and
shooting locales -- all create an authentic backdrop and canvas on which the players may finely shape their characters -- but
at the end of the day
they're another part of the "miracle" filmmaking process in which every element works in harmony and to unimaginable
perfection. Peter O'Toole's
breakout performance in the lead part is a revelation; O'Toole finds a unique cadence for the character and so fully absorbs
the role from the most
insignificant mannerism to the most performance- and film-defining arc elements that he embodies Lawrence to startling
perfection at any point in
the film and under any conditions, whether covered in sand or squeaky-clean in his resplendent white robes, whether toiling
away in cartography or
in the midst of torture or battle. It's one of the finest performances in film, faultlessly seamless and completely enveloping
through every frame.
The
supporting cast boasts name actors who also fall effortlessly into character, including Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn, and Alec
Guinness, none of whom
enjoy the sort of career-defining performance as Peter O'Toole but all of whom inhabit their characters with the sort of
faultless precision expected of
an epic of this scale, a film of this grandeur, a story this sweeping, a film this memorable, and an experience to be cherished,
a work of art that
defines its
medium better than any of its peers.
To be sure, no rose-colored glasses are required to see the greatness in the look back at Lawrence of Arabia, and now
through the high scrutiny
lens of Blu-ray comes an image that today requires only the gift of sight to see in all of its filmic glory. Sony's meticulous 4K
restoration is not just a
treat, it's a revelation and perhaps the definitive Blu-ray catalogue release, if not the format's finest presentation. It's a
beautiful picture, to say the
least, every frame lovingly cared for and displayed on Blu-ray with the sort of attention to detail and, indeed, flawlessness that
a film of this magnitude
commands. Sony's picture dazzles from the opening shots of Lawrence speeding down very well-defined pavement and past
sharp and accurate foliage.
Detail remains exacting throughout the film; whether fine grains of sand, sweeping desert vistas, intricate clothing lines, or
complex facial textures,
there's never a frame in which the picture doesn't dazzle with its perfect film-like elements. Light grain remains
over the image, and there's a natural sharpness, unsurpassed clarity, and startling accuracy that will impress even the most
demanding viewer. The
image is absolutely clean, showing no signs of wear and succumbing to no unwanted artifacts or digital tinkering. Colors are
equally resplendent. There
are many instances of the sandy earthen terrains contrasting with the bright blue sky overhead; both are picturesque in hue
and the balance is beyond
words. The image handles everything from white flowing robes to black costumes with equal precision. Gold trim, bright reds,
lush natural greens, and
all variety of colors simply dazzle in every scene. Black levels are perfect, as is shadow detail. Flesh tones never betray
natural appearances. In short,
this is everything the transfer needed to be. It's the sort of timeless image that transfixes and immerses, one that is so precise
that viewers will become
absolutely lost in the beauty of the film. Many will want to watch twice in succession, once for the transfer and once for the
movie.
Lawrence of Arabia makes its long-anticipated Blu-ray debut with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack
that's up to the task of
sonically carrying the film and supporting its splendid visuals. The prologue music plays with superb clarity, excellent
separation and distinctive notes,
natural heft, effortless balance, and fine spacing, including a prominent but natural surround element. Music is certainly the
sonic highlight throughout
the film and a necessary ingredient in dramatically shaping the Lawrence of Arabia experience. Maurice Jarre's
stunning score has never
sounded better on a home video release;
the level of pinpoint detail and the way the track naturally immerses the listening area is a true asset to the film. The
presentation is every bit as
rousing as it should be, and it's the perfect dynamic compliment to the faultless visuals. The track implements sound effects
with ease and precision,
too. Lawrence's bike hums down the roadway with excellent power, the effect naturally filling the stage and practically placing
the listener on its seat.
Aircraft move about the stage with efficiency, natural tone, seamless spacing, and perfect placement. There's a good power
and rhythm to machine gun
fire, a steady accuracy to single shots, and perhaps the most intense listening moment comes as horses stampede through the
soundstage during an
assault sequence in chapter 16. Ambient effects are handled quite well, including subtle environmental effects and more
potent elements alike, the
former things like light chatter in an encampment and the latter demonstrated by heavy, gusty wind as heard in chapter 17.
Dialogue is perhaps a hair
shallow at
times but clarity is natural and placement remains firmly in the middle, save for a few instances of reverberation both light and
heavy, the latter
exemplified by a wonderfully cavernous echoing heard as Lawrence travels alone early in the film, his singing voice bouncing
off various rock faces. This
is a high quality vintage soundtrack that's the perfect compliment to a classic film and its first-class video transfer.
Lawrence of Arabia's two-disc Blu-ray package contains a nice assortment of extras, most of them located on a
dedicated second disc. The
larger, more expensive four-disc set contains more supplements as well as some
added goodies; that set
will be reviewed on or around street date. As for this set, disc two subtitle options include English, Chinese traditional, Dutch,
French, German, Italian,
Japanese,
Korean,
Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai. This release also includes an Ultraviolet digital copy.
Disc One:
Secrets of Arabia: A Picture-in-Graphic Track (HD): From the Blu-ray menu: "Watch this feature length track
to experience the
making of a landmark cinematic achievement, and delve into the real life of T.E. Lawrence. Learn about the customs and
rituals of desert existence.
This experience includes a close-up look at relevant passages from T.E. Lawrence's book and an exploration of the various
places of his journey." The
piece presents the movie in a small box on the middle-right side of the screen and descriptive text to the left or below. Still
photographs and maps
occasionally appear in the left-hand box. Both boxes are framed on the top and bottom
by one of several desert-scape images. The movie returns to full-screen when no accompanying text is present. A small
control panel remains on the
top-right
corner of the screen.
Disc Two:
Peter O'Toole Revisits Lawrence of Arabia (HD, 21:07): The actor recalls landing the role of T.E.
Lawrence, preparing for the
part, his relationships with and thoughts on various cast and crew, life on and anecdotes from the set, his own crafting of one
of the film's most iconic
scenes, his thoughts on the film's themes and scope, the life of T.E. Lawrence, editing, not winning the Best Actor Oscar, the
film's legacy, and more.
Making of Lawrence of Arabia (SD, 1:01:29): A high-quality documentary that recalls the life of T.E.
Lawrence, the
marriage of
Lawrence's story and film, the initial film discussions and how David Lean came to be attached to the project, the process of
assembling a script,
casting,
costuming, working in the desert and scouting desert locations, the challenges of the shoot, Lean's exacting ways, anecdotes
from the set,
cinematography and the process of crafting some of the film's most difficult scenes, Sam Spiegel's arrest during the shoot,
themes and character arcs,
the editing process, scoring the film, the film's release, its restoration, and its legacy.
A Conversation with Steven Spielberg (SD, 8:49): The acclaimed director recalls his first screening, its later
impact on his life and
career, his fascination with how the film was put together, his reaction to the core story, the picture's artistic licenses and the
benefits thereof in this
instance, his first meeting with David Lean, his role in the restoration, a unique "live commentary" experience with Lean, and
the positives of the
film's "natural" filmmaking techniques.
Maan, Jordan: The Camels Are Cast (SD, 2:00): A vintage piece looking at the camels' work, role in the film,
and life on the set.
In Search of Lawrence (HD, 5:00): Another vintage featurette that examines the difficult process of shooting
in an unforgiving
desert.
Romance of Arabia (HD, 4:37): A short vintage feature that looks at the history and natural beauty of one of
the world's most
fascinating and historically important regions. The piece follows to briefly look at the making of the film.
Wind, Sand and Star: The Making of a Classic (1970) (HD, 4:32): Cast and crew reflect on the film's great
success, intercut with
making-of footage and voiceover narration covering the difficulties of the shoot. The piece recycles some material from other
vintage featurettes.
New York Premiere (SD, 1:08): Brief news reel footage of the picture's premiere.
Advertising Campaigns (SD, 4:51): A piece that offers quick overviews of the film's advertisement campaigns
from its various
releases and cuts over the years.
In short, film just doesn't get better than Lawrence of Arabia. This is an epic masterpiece if there ever was one, the
cinephiles' film, the picture
that defines everything that's great about its medium. The film boasts perhaps the finest direction and cinematography ever to
shape a film, never mind
its outstanding score and exacting acting. It's an unforgettable viewing experience that's only lessened on smaller screens
where the impact of the
vast desert expanse and the sheer size of the story aren't quite done the justice they deserve. Fortunately, the film may now
be viewed at home the
way it
was meant to be seen -- big -- thanks to Sony's meticulous restoration. In short, the results are breathtaking. This is
everything fans could have
wanted from the Lawrence of Arabia Blu-ray in terms of visual presentation. The audio soundtrack is superb, too, as is
the quality assortment of
extra content. No surprise that this is perhaps the best Blu-ray release of the year -- save, perhaps, for the larger collector's
edition set with added
supplements and incentives -- and one to which I proudly assign my highest
recommendation.
When talking about this week's notable Blu-ray releases, we need to go back to November 9th; Sony released The Amazing Spider-Man, the rebooted beginning to the Spider-Man franchise. The worst thing anyone can say about the new film is how similar its setup is ...
Sony Pictures Entertainment is debuting the newly digitally restored presentation of Lawrence of Arabia in select U.S. theaters for a special one-night event Thursday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. local time. Presented by NCM® Fathom Events and Sony Pictures Entertainment, ...
In November, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will bring Lawrence of Arabia to Blu-ray. Director David Lean's epic drama focuses on the military career of T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole, Becket), a lieutenant in the British Army who makes a profound impact on the ...
