T. E. Lawrence really did die of a motorcycle accident. His death motivated the invention and wide spread use of helmets we know today. Fun Fact: To film Omar Sharif's entrance through a mirage, Freddie Young used a special 482mm lens from Panavision. Panavision still has this lens, and it is known as the "David Lean Lens" among cinematographers. It was created specifically for this shot and has not been used since. Bonus Fact: This movie was banned in many Arab countries as they felt Arab historical figures and the Arab peoples were misrepresented. Omar Sharif arranged a viewing with President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt to show him that there was nothing wrong with the way they were portrayed. Nasser loved the movie and allowed it to be released in Egypt, where it went on to become a monster hit.

This was, famously, shot on location. Everyone lived in tents in the desert for almost a year. The movie was a monumental achievement

This is one of those movies that if you ever see it playing locally at a movie theater, jump at the chance and see it on a giant screen. It had a limited release sometime before the pandemic and I think I saw it 2 or 3 times in a week. Simply an amazing experience.

Please consider THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963) starring Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson. Prisoners in a German POW camp plan a, well, a great escape

The greatest film ever made.

The sheer scale of the production is unimaginable today. It would be cgi and we would be poorer for it.

Cinematography Cinematography Cinematography

"Lawrence of Arabia" was one of the final classical monumental movies of the 1950's/60's. And a milestone in movie history. Peter O'Toole did an incredible performance. Camera and directing are just extraordinary.

Back in 1980 I went on my first and only trip to the UK. I was walking down a country road when I noticed a small plaque by the roadside. Approaching it I read that the plaque marks the spot where Lawrence died in his motorcycle accident.

It was shot in Jordan, which is directly north on the western side of Arabia, where the Red Sea flows into the Suez Canal. Lawrence operated in that area, attacking the Turks and the Hejaz railway. I lived in that part of Arabia for two years in the early 80's, in a town named Tabuk. The railway was in that area. You could go out in the desert and see an old train he blew up, still lying on its side. Back then you had to have a work visa to get into the kingdom. Now I believe they have tourism there. The first time I saw this movie it was a theatrical re-release, either in the late 60's or early 70's. Absolutely nothing equals the theatre experience of it. It's amazing.

I suggest "The Time Machine" from 1960!

Winner of 7 Oscars including Best Picture! I think this is the Director's Cut which is 230 minutes while the original cut was 217 minutes.

Best Picture Best Director Best Cinematography, Color Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color Best Sound Best Film Editing Best Music, Score - Substantially Original

Spielberg's favourite film. He saw it as a kid and it continues to inspire him as he apparently rewatches it prior to starting shooting a new film of his own. You can see a lot of its influence in his work.

When Lawrence brings Qasim out of the desert it was one of the most triumphant moments in all of cinema. When I saw it as a child, I truly believed that anything was possible. Still gives me chills to this day

"Nothing is written". My favorite line of all time.

One of my all-time favorites. Doctor Zhivago next with Omor Shariff.

Prior to the war, Lawrence was an archaeologist, historian, and language student. (Regarding the latter, his translation of Homer's Odyssey from Ancient Greek is still in print today.) He walked and bicycled thousands of miles in France, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel to research his thesis on crusader and medieval castles. And I believe he also participated in archaeological digs in the Middle East. So, his knowledge of Arabic and the terrain in Palestine made him a British military asset when the war came. Regarding Lawrence's white robes: In his book ("Seven Pillars Of Wisdom"), Lawrence relates that Prince Faisal's mother was pressuring Faisal to get married during the war, and as a not-so-subtle "hint" sent him a man's white Arab wedding robes. Faisal, overworked from managing the war effort, re-gifted these robes to Lawrence out of irritation with his mother. Rather than taking time to set up this humorous story (which wouldn't work on the screen anyways because the movie's Prince Faisal isn't a young man), the movie opted to have Sherif Ali give Lawrence the clothes instead.

Lawrence of Arabia may be the most beautifully shot film ever made

"Because I am a river to my people." Gets me EVERY time.

In a future David Lean film Omar Sharif would return as the star in Doctor Zhivago. Along with Alec Guinness and 'oh gosh' Julie Christie. Also featured was Geraldine Chaplin daughter of Charlie Chaplin. It's another Lean classic.

Why complain about the pacing, it's perfect. Too many people expect face paced effects driven Hollywood crap these days to pander to people with short attention spans.

I just happen to be reading a book, called ‘Hero’ right now. It’s a biography of T.E. Lawrence. He was such an interesting guy who accomplished some amazing things. He was a polymath & just a brilliant man. His father was a minor noble, who lived in Ireland & ended up running off with his daughter’s nanny & started a whole other life, so Lawrence had 4 brothers & another 5 half sisters from his father’s previous life, though he was never aware of his sisters, as far as I know. Another odd fact is that most biographers think that he was still a virgin when he died at 47 years of age.

It may be long, you might even say your famous critique that it could have been trimmed and not take away from the movie but I don't think so. Actually, if they ever find more footage, I'd watch a longer movie if it was ever presented. I never get bored with this movie or even another movie, Sergio Leon's masterpiece, Once Upon A Time In The West. That is a shorter movie, but.....

I watch this every year since I saw the the restored version in an historic wide-screen theatre (with the overture playing until the curtains opened.) Awesome. Epic. So glad you're watching it.

I just want to echo others, that if you ever have a chance see this in a theater. The pacing did not feel slow as we were watching this stunning movie unfold. The shots and the music, how beautiful Peter O'Toole was, it was an event. For more Peter O'Toole, the movie The Lion in Winter with Katherine Hepburn, where he reprised the role of Henry, the same king from Becket, with Richard Burton.

Amazing masterpiece very classic Lawrence of Arabia directed by David Lean starring Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, José Ferrer, Claude Rains and music score by Maurice Jarre. This film won an oscar for best picture, best director by David Lean and best original music score by Maurice Jarre. Thank you Shan great reaction bro awesome and next part 2😊👍👍👍

Thanks for the great reaction. I await Part 2. Please react to another David Lean Epic with great musical score " Doctor Zhivago' Thanks

The first time I saw this movie when I was fourteen, which is over twenty years ago now, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. From the very beginning, I felt the epic sweep of the narrative, the people, the politics, and history. Genuinely earns the label of "epic". Only a handful of times did a story hit me as hard as this did.

As a kid, I lived near a theater, where they had a Saturday Matinee where they showed these great older movies. I watched this on a full-sized screen. One of the truly great movie experiences. Kubrick's 2001, A Space Oddessy (released 5 years later) is a similarly great movie that is better to see on a full-sized theater screen, although that is where they did a lot of matte paintings and special effects.

This is in my top 10 all time favorite films...I also believe it is Steven Spielberg's favorite film. - 3:56 - One of the greatest transitions in movie history, IMHO! I love this one! - 13:48 - This is an important shot!!! When O'Toole looked at himself in the knife, it was reported that David Lean muttered, "Clever boy!" - The film was filmed in Jordan, Spain and Morocco. In fact, Wadi Rumm was also a location for Denis Villeneuve's 'Dune'. Aqaba was actually filmed in Spain. - When Anthony Quinn showed up on set as Auda Abu Tayi, it kind of freaked out many of the Arab extras who were older...supposely with the make-up, Quinn looked exactly like Auda. They got over it and enjoyed seeing him as "Auda". You cut my favorite line of Quinn's, "Thy mother mated with a scorpion!" :D - Lawrence was just one of a long line of men from the West, who made names for themselves in "foreign" parts mainly due to their love of the places they were, some of whom are named in the film like Charles Gordon of Khartoum. Most of those men died in the places they loved, leading to lots of romanticism about them and the places they were connected to. Before the war, Lawrence had traveled quite a bit in Arabia...which is how and why the Arab Bureau recruited him. His knowledge of the peoples, customs, and geography of the Middle East...especially Arabia. Eagerly awaiting Part 2!!!!

Easily one of my top ten movies!!

My favourite film of all time, I first saw it on TV when I was about 10 years old and I was totally transfixed by the film, even though it was a low quality, grainy pan and scan broadcast. The brilliance of the film shone through all the same. I eagerly look forward to the Lawrence reaction part 2.

Your reaction to the famous matchstick cut was worth the watch. Imagine the power of it on the big screen. 😳

Lawrence of Arabia was filmed on location in Morocco, Jordan, and Spain. The crew spent over a year in the desert living out of tents filming this movie.

One of the great movies of all time. Acting , directing, filming, writing. dialogue - everything top notch. Lawrence's book, a great work of literature as well

My favorite quote about this movie is: "Playwright Noel Coward once said that if O'Toole had been any prettier, they would have had to call the movie "Florence of Arabia." Peter O'Toole is an absolute gem of an actor. This is one of his eight nominated roles as best actor. My Favorite Year is probably his most light hearted movie and is his last full role to be nominated.

This movie is so long that it takes a sincere effort for mot people to sit through it today. However, for those that can watch the whole movie and have the ability to follow a story that doesn't spoon feed you everything, it is brilliant.

Friend, watching it on a KZfaq misses so much. It is meant to be viewed in a cinema in full stereo in 70 mm... it just blows you away when you see it how it is meant to be seen.....

This is an enduring masterpiece. What makes it so unusual is that it is at the same time both a magnificent epic but also a fascinating character study of a complex, flawed man. Take note of how the desert is filmed in the second part, not sweeping, awesome and romantic as at the beginning, but rough, dark and scruffy, to suit the change of tone.

Another great reaction, Shan! Lean's next epic, Doctor Zhivago (1965), is waiting ... same cinematographer, same film composer.

Yes! I've looked forward to this so much :)

My favorite movie. Every frame is a gorgeous picture.

Probably THE best movie ever created

This movie is just incredible. One of my most viewed films and am still blown away by the sheer epic visuals.

By the by, the man who shook his hand in Damascus was the man, near the end of the film, who hit him in the hospital while he was in Arab garb. I finally got that fact on the 3rd watching.

The critics didn't really have anything negative to say about this movie, except for one who said Peter O'Tool was so pretty the movie should have been called Florence of Arabia.

"I wonder whether it was shot on location or not." That was worthy of two spit-takes, Buddy. Best. Mike.

For two other awesome Peter O Toole performances may I suggest The Stunt Man (1980), and My Favorite Year (1983). He was nominated for Oscars for both.

Peter O'Toole ad libbed looking at his reflection in the shiney dagger. He overheard the cameraman comment, "Clever boy".

This movie is a biography of one of the strangest and greatest military officers in World war I

When you look up 'epic film' you see a shot from LoA. This is an amazing piece of work.

Always bringing the quality, thanks for this gem viewing, Shan. It's fascinating, Ridley Scott had one of his characters recite lines from this movie in A Good Year (2006) and then again in Prometheus (2012), David the android watches the movie LoA and recites the very same lines... about the desert being so clean. How about Attenborough's Gandhi next?

One of the two boys tagging along with Lawrence was the child actor Robert Blake, future star of the 1970s police series 'Baretta' whose famous tag was "If you can't do the time don't do the crime." He also co-starred in the classic 1967 true crime film 'In Cold Blood'.

This is my #1 favorite movie of all time. It's such a sweeping perfect action adventure. Epic is an understatement, it's so beautiful. It was O'Toole's debut as leading man and what a debut!

Much of this movie was filmed in Jordan. I visited there and went on a jeep tour that took us out into the desert to visit some of the actual film locations. I also visited Akiba, which is also in Jordan on the Red Sea.

Lawrence also translated La Morte d'Arthur into English, and so is responsible for the Sword in the Stone, the Once and Future King, and most modern arthurian legend.

David Lean was very influenced by the John Ford/John Wayne western, The Searchers in filming this movie. It's definitely worth watching at some point. And if you like watching real planes, not composited in, then the Battle of Britain needs to go on the list, too.

David Lean is my favorite Director. Epic. Lawrence is one of the best films ever made.

Glad you reacted to this Shan! It’s a classic. I first watched it last year and thought it’s one of the greatest films of all time. I wanted to watch it not only because it’s popularity but it’s also referenced quite a bit in Ridley Scott’s Alien prequels with the android David emulating Peter O’Toole’s Lawrence.

Another masterpiece on your channel. I love it. This movie is so good!

It's difficult to find a weakness in a film such as this. Your comments were spot on throughout. As always. Can't wait for part 2.

I originally saw this movie at a theater with a huge screen; Leow's Paradise in the Bronx. This was Panavision in all its glory, and clearly the best way to see it.

Another beautiful choice! Amazing classic.

I first saw this movie in its entirety in 1989 when the first restored version was released. I'm sure I had seen some of it on TV as a child, and I was familiar with the theme music because my parents had a record that had the theme on it, but I was not prepared for the experience of seeing it on the big screen. Superlatives fail me. Seriously. I vowed that I would never watch it on a small screen ever in my life. I have the DVD. I borrowed it from a friend who moved away without collecting it from me, but I have never watched it because even my parents' 55" TV is not big enough. And like Mr Lopez, I see it in the theatre as often as possible.

Love that literal 'match cut' and the sound bridge of Lawrence blowing out the match transitioning into the desert winds. *This is Film Art. :-)

"They're actually flying". Be serious. This is how movies ought to be made. Like Fury Road.

This is based on the terrific book "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" by Lawrence himself -- a brilliant, poetic, real-life adventure tale.

I named my son after this movie .My Lawrence is now almost 26, thanks for the reaction.

Shan if you like this you need to see Doctor Zhivago from 1965. Another David Lean masterpiece with iconic performances from Omar Shariff and Julie Christie.

A brilliant film. Just fantastic directions, acting, cinematography, script, soundtrack. Gorgeous movie.

An absolute masterpiece of note! David Lean, what can I say....

So like the movie itself you have an intermission between parts 1 and 2 😉 I also found it kind of amusing that they actually included an intermission on the DVD!

1:55, yeah, it reminds me a lot the like End credits to the Lost World Jurassic Park, with the intro of the horns and drums that have the same motif. Maybe Spielberg was paying homage to David Lean.

Bad movies can be short but feel really long. Good movies can be long but the time flies by. Lawrence of Arabia is a GREAT film.

I've been eagerly awaiting this review.

Amazing film. Amazing cinematography/directing. A very long, slow burn...but a brilliantly shot film

Suggestions: The Natural (1984) 20 000 Leagues under the Sea (1954) The Black Hole (1979) The Vikings (1958) 3 Days of the Condor (1975) Sleuth (1972) Jason and the Argonauts (1963) The Man who would be King (1975) Zulu (1964) Stardust (2007) Time Bandits (1981)

Film was shot in Jordan. The aircraft flown by the Turks are actually flying for the scene as you see it, but they are British De Havilland Tiger Moths which were developed after WWI so are a minor anachronism. Aqaba is the seaport the turks hold which if taken, the British will be able to supply against the turks.

10:44, the shots are quite beautiful and sweeping and epic in scale. You don't see anything like that anymore

The film score was judged to be so magnificent that it was decided to play it as an overture to the movie and was played without any visuals.

Shan, much of location shots were filmed in Wadi Rum, Jordan. Denis Villeneuve also shot Dune there. Surprised you didn't see the similar rock formations. Great channel and reaction as usual.

Finally! I remember nagging at you to watch this a year back lol. I knew it would be a good fit 😃

I saw this in a theater on 70mm film, it was spectacular

All on location... everything as far as I know. Also the only "effect" shot is the one looking straight up at the sun when Lawrence goes back to rescue Gasim, it's a matte painting - they apparently tried filming the sun in a full frame shot, but blew out the film every single time.

👍Great reaction. I would love your reaction to Tora! Tora! Tora! It’s a epic WW2 move about the attack on Pearl Harbour. It’s is historically accurate. It’s told from both sides . With the American directing there side and the Japanese directing there’s

Dr Zhivago should be your next Lean film. Also Mad Mad Mad Mad World is an epic comedy.

If you haven't seen it already, Mississippi Burning is a great film. Gene Hackman, Willem Defoe and Frances McDermott are brilliant

Dude....GREAT reaction. Regarding Anthony Quinn: Fellini's "La Strada".....and "Viva Zapata" with Marlon Brando. Those are two fantastic movies, total classics, and two amazing performances. Whether or not you watch them on the channel - and you totally could - definitely don't go to your grave without seeing either. (and both are a lot shorter than "Lawrence Of Arabia" and "Ben Hur"!)

Can't watch this yet, but been waiting for this one!

It is and was written. One of my favorite movies!

Okay, I have to be a pedant here. Otherwise, some people might think this is real history. The scenes with General Archibald Murray are probably real. There was no diplomat named Dryden -- the guy in the movie is a composite character representing the diplomatic corps. The Arab Bureau did send Lawrence to find Prince Faisal. The drama with the guide's being killed by a rival tribesman is a means of showing the depth of the divisions among the tribes. It may or may not have happened. There was a Sherif Ali, but his true role in all this wasn't as key as the movie makes it out to be. The family of the real Sherif didn't like the character and objected to the use of his name. They had no way to stop it, though. Colonel Brighton (another composite character) spoke to Faisal of falling back on Yenbo and falling back 50 miles. It's known where the encampment was -- about 5 miles from Yenbo. Faisal talks like a venerable old man, or at least a mature one, but he was 32 years old, maybe 6 years older than Lawrence. Sheikh Auda abu Tayi was not naïve and not quick to sell himself to the Turks. Lawrence didn't have to tell him tales about a box of gold in Aqaba. Auda understood what Lawrence was telling him and took up the cause. Auda mapped out the route to Aqaba -- they went around the Nefud desert, they didn't cross it -- and led the raid on the garrison. It's true that he had a young son he was training to be a leader. His true that he camped at Wadi Rum at certain times of the year. Wadi Rum is in Jordan and the scene was filmed there. I don't know why it was called that -- a wadi is a river that runs only for a part of the year and then dries up until the following year. There doesn't seem to be one at that location, but maybe there had been in an earlier time. Gasim's fall from his camel wasn't unnoticed. Nobody bothered to pick him up because nobody liked him. He was a mean, miserable cuss. They were against going back to rescue him not because "it is written," whatever that's supposed to mean, but because they didn't consider him worth the effort. It's true that Lawrence rescued him, but he hadn't been left that far behind. Lawrence may have executed someone with a gun, but it wasn't Gasim, and it didn't happen on the eve of the raid on Aqaba. Like most or all movies about encounters between East and West up to that time, the West was always shown uplifting the East. The characterization of the Arabs in the movie is condescending and inaccurate. Don't get me wrong -- I loved the movie in 1962 and I still love it.

The talent is piled high in this film. O’Toole, Guinness, Quinn, Sharif, Quayle, Ferrer, and Rains just among the actors. Peter O’Toole holds the record for the most Oscar acting nominations without a win (8); of course, the first was for this. I would highly recommend you see The Lion in Winter, and just for a twist to see him do comedy, My Favorite Year. He also did well in Creator, which I consider the best example of a decent movie being made from an awful book. One thing that this film does completely change, as far as I know, is that in real life Lawrence *did* know about the Sykes-Picot Agreement - the arrangement between the U.K. and France that divided the Middle East between them, and that precluded the possibility of independent Arab states. A disastrous deal, in hindsight.

Saw at the theater as a kid my Mom took us to alot of movies in the 60s , great movie but even as a kid I knew it was kind of depressing but still classic! Thanks Shan!

FYI: Dryden is played by Claude Raines, whom you saw as Renault in "Casablanca". Here is a charming, sweet interview with O'Toole, late in life, with Robert Osbourne, for TCM. There's a great section on "Lawrence of Arabia", starting at about the 20:04 mark. They did film this on location, and it was a grueling experience. Make sure to get to the part where O'Toole describes riding a camel, and the ride to Aqaba. Lean could work small and intimate as well as grand. I recommend finding and watching "Hobson's Choice", a tiny, meaningful comedy based on a play, starring Charles Laughton, young John Mills, and Brenda deBanzie. It is a favorite movie of mine.

It was filmed on real locations and it looks it. There was no CGI back then. Surprised you thought it might be not on location. The desert scenes were shot in Jordan and Morocco, as well as Almería and Doñana in Spain.

Oh yeah it just keeps getting better and better

Here we go!! So excited!!

Fantastic movie

Love David Lean, including Doctor Zhivago and Passage to India. I’f you want to watch something less demanding, try the Dirty Dozen, or the Night of the Hunter. I am not sure who the modern prototypes for Lee Marvin or Robert Mitchum would be.