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 Superbit release, we’re given a restored, Robert A. Harris approved visual presentation and a new DTS surround sound mix, though no supplements were included. In other words, this is the best version of the movie itself, even if extras are threadbare. 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 2.20:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a newly remastered version of the movie, one supervised by restoration expert Robert A. Harris. The result is excellent and while the previous treatment was more than solid, this new edition is head & shoulders above all prior releases. The print is in superb condition, with minimal grain, debris, and other defects to detract from the visuals. The sole complaint is some minor, but noticable halos, but at least the bulk of the edge enhancement and compression errors have been removed. The colors in this version are within a bolder and more natural scope, which really brings the visuals to life. I also found flesh tones to be more of a natural hue, which is a welcome improvement as well. The contrast is smooth and stark, with refined black levels throughout the picture. As usual with the Superbit line, detail has been opened up more than a little, so subtle visual touches are more obvious. This is the transfer fans have waited for, so kudos to Columbia for this new treatment.
Audio: How does it sound?
In addition to the restored visuals, this release also has some souped up audio elements. 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. The DTS soundtrack offers slight enhancements at times, but both tracks are more than sufficient. This release also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese, and Thai.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes no bonus materials.
