Plot: What’s it about?
In the midst of World War I, a young British lieutenant named T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole) has become tired of his current assignment, in which he colors maps and such. As such, he leaps at the chance to take on a new position and in this case, he works as an observer with Price Feisal (Alec Guinness), an Arab military leader. But once he reports to Saudi Arabia for his duties, he soon finds himself swept up in all the affairs, which means he does more than just observe. As time passes, Lawrence travels all across the dunes, meets all kinds of people, and takes action whenever he feels he needs to. When he first arrived in the deserts, he was just a normal man like anyone else, but after some time, he became a hero and a leader. But even then, he was a simple man with a larger vision, not a larger than life figure that was untouchable. This synopsis glosses over much of the detail to be found in Lawrence of Arabia, but I have done that on purpose, so that the viewers can explore those areas for themselves.
It has been a long wait, but one of the finest films of all time has reached DVD, as Columbia/Tristar has released Lawrence of Arabia. This epic film took home seven Oscars in 1962, including Best Picture and over time, has gained even more praise as new viewers discovered it for themselves. In this two disc release, we’re given a restored visual presentation, new surround sound mix, and a wealth of terrific supplements. In other words, the deluxe treatment that Lawrence of Arabia deserves, but more on the discs later in the review. I think this is one of the greatest movies ever and as time passes, I seem to find even more ways to appreciate it, on so many levels. The masterful direction of David Lean steers this epic to success on all plains, on both artistic and entertainment plateaus. So while this picture is a visual masterpiece and features incredible performances and creative motions, the audience is always entertained also, so this is not a stuffy period piece, to say the least. In short, this release is one of the easiest recommendations I’ve ever made, as everyone from rabid cinema lovers to casual movie fans will want to pick this up, it is a must see title in all respects. A rental is good for first timers, but film buffs and fans of the film will want to run out to purchase this, it deserves a space in anyone’s collection.
As I mentioned, Lawrence of Arabia was directed by David Lean, who I consider to be one of the finest directors of all time. As I look over his resume of films, I can’t detect a single movie that isn’t a treasure trove for films fans, at least on some levels. Some offer more than others of course, but I love to watch any of his efforts, as I am sure I’ll be treated to lush visuals and great performances, thanks to Lean’s excellent direction. I won’t say all of Lean’s movies are classics either, but he has a number of films worthy of that status, even more that rank as must see titles for film buffs. In Lawrence of Arabia, Lean uses a massive canvas on which to paint his film, but he also keeps it very personal, which is impressive beyond all means. Other films directed by Lean include Summertime, Great Expectations, A Passage To India, Brief Encounter, Doctor Zhivago, Oliver Twist, and The Bridge On The River Kwai. The cast of the film includes Peter O’Toole (Supergirl, The Stunt Man), Omar Sharif (Mackenna’s Gold, Green Ice), Alec Guinness (Star Wars, Murder By Death), Anthony Quinn (The Message, Last Action Hero), Jose Ferrer (The Caine Mutiny, Ship of Fools), Jack Hawkins (Zulu, Ben-Hur), and Claude Rains (Notorious, Casablanca).
Video: How does it look?
Lawrence of Arabia is presented in a 2.20:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This release features a restored and remastered source print and it shows, as minimal debris or grain is present, a real accomplishment to be sure. I know that some folks will find minimal flaws and be unhappy, but this is a sterling new transfer and I doubt anyone (aside from those nitpickers) will be let down. In addition to the clean print used, the image seems very sharp and doesn’t look dated at all, I was very pleased with the overall shine present. The colors have a natural, but still bright sheen and as far as flesh tones, they seem normal and consistent. I found no real errors with the contrast either, as black levels were strong and I saw no visible detail loss. As I mentioned, I am sure some small flaws do exist here, but in the end, I am more than thrilled with this new visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
In addition to the restored visuals, this release also has a new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, which turned out much better than I expected. A lot of these remixes seem hollow and forced, but that wasn’t the case here, as this track was well made in all respects. Of course, you can’t expect dynamics like you’d find on new releases, but given the age of the material, I am pleased with the results. The surrounds are used to effective ends and while that doesn’t mean constant use, it does mean adequate use and a natural presentation, which is what counts. The beautiful music score is well presented also, very rich and immersive, which is good because the music deserved a solid presence here. I had no problems with the dialogue either, as vocals were clean, crisp, and always at a proper volume balance. I do wish this audio track had more depth and range, but I think given the age of the materials, this is about as good as it gets in this case. This release also includes
Supplements: What are the extras?
As you would expect from a two disc edition, this release has some excellent supplements also, although not as many as I had hoped for. The main draw here is an extensive documentary on the film, The Making of Lawrence of Arabia. I was very taken in by this piece and while it lacks some elements, such as unused footage and the presence of O’Toole, I still think it is a terrific documentary in most respects. With a running time of well over an hour, this piece has ample time to explore various aspects of the production, mostly through interviews with the cast and crew. An excellent overall documentary that really reveals a lot about this classic picture, this is not to be missed. Next is an eight minute interview with Steven Spielberg, who discusses his love for the film, but fails to address the lack of substance in his own films. You can also view four more featurettes and while these are shorter, they’re still well worth a look in the end. The pieces are Maan, Jordan: The Camels Are Cast, In Search of Lawrence, Romance of Arabia, and The Making of a Classic. As I mentioned, these are more brief looks into the film, but still offer worthwhile information and shouldn’t be passed over, by any means. An animated look at the promotional materials is also found here and was fun to watch, just to see how the movie was marketed during its release. This release also contains some talent files, newsreel footage from the New York premiere, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
