I met Peter O'Toole in the UK on Hampstead Heath.. I was playing with a little boy (he was around 8 or 9, I was 12 at the time), on a fallen tree ... he then said "Come meet my daddy!), and a tall handsome man in a suit stepped from the shadows and shook my hand, saying "My name's Peter" ... I was gobsmacked, as I had only just seen The Last Emperor the night before. What a wonderful memory .. RIP.
As a still photographer, one thing has always* impressed me about Lawrence of Arabia: You can freeze the playback at almost any point and get a wonderfully composed still image. This is that very rare work where superb cinematography and superb photography simultaneously exist as one. *Well, not actually "always". I was a kid when I saw it in the theater (when it was released) and wasn't thinking in "art" terms.
50 years ago when I was in art school I was so impressed with the beauty of this film that when we were given the assignment to do a series of illustrations of a story, I chose this film and did a series of pen and ink illustrations of scenes of the movie. The composition of the scenes is flawless. Literally every frame a painting.
It's way more than 8K. IMAX 70mm are approx. 18K. So 65mm isn't that much less. Most people think that digital cinema has overtaken but it's usually only 2K not even on the same level of the best 35mm film stock. And it is still worlds apart from IMAX. Digital IMAX just isn't the same.
@@EbonyPope Not true though. 15perf70 (analogue IMAX, the type Nolan uses) is three times bigger than 65 5 perf. So 65mm is way less. 65 mm negatives are about 8K max, the actual positve prints about 4K. When LoA was restored for the 50th anniversary in 2012, the original camera negative was scanned in 8K and showed concentric lines that were the result of the intense heat in the desert during filming. But nobody in the sixties ever noticed that. Modern day digital scanning devices did - thanks to 8K resolution. Digital IMAX is often LieMax where 2K movies are upconverted to 4K to warrant a higher ticket price. Often they're even projected in 2K. If Arri made a 15perf70 digital IMAX sensor, I'll bet it'll look better than it's analogue counterpart. But more importantly, LoA looks as great as it does thanks to the enormeously skilled director and cameraman, David Lean and Freddie Young. If they had had a digital Arri Alexa 65 available back then, they would have shot an at least equally epic looking film. And it would have never needed a restoration and would still be completely pristine, free of flicker, warp, noise, fading, ringing, wear and tear or any of the other problems that are all too common with analogue film that celluloid aficionados love to gloss over, yet are very keen to point out every minute problem with digital they might encounter.
Years ago a mate who worked as a focus puller asked me if I wanted to go see Lawrence of Arabia with him on the big screen, I had loved the film on TV. The depth of perspective, colour, richness, it looked like some kind of three dimensional magic. Turned out it was a special invite only showing of the original 70mm film for a ‘This is Your Life’ presentation to Freddy Young, the cinematographer.
This comment did not end where I thought you were going. I thought you were going to describe the contrast between seeing the film on TV and on the big screen. Huge difference on how it impacted you?
@@mediamannaman Haha, I thought it was implicit in the word ‘magic’. In reality I gave up watching television for over a decade, I wasn’t much of a telly watcher anyway. Then someone introduced me to the high definition ones and a surround sound system. I now occasionally watch a film on TV if I couldn’t watch it on the big screen. One just cannot get immersed in say Villeneuve’s Dune on a TV. It’s like the difference between looking at a palm sized print of Gerricault’s Raft of the Medusa in a book and then going to the Louvre and losing one’s self in the 35 meter squared painting!
@@ianseaweedYou couldn't have said it better brother. I just started going back to the cinemas again after years of not going. Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Furiosa were such a treat. Dune 2 was an absolute pleasure to witness on the big screen I went 8 times.. Luckily my theatre isn't expensive but you are spot on when you say you can't get immersed on a TV. The tragedy of Paul Atreides , the plight of the Osage, the enigma that was J Robert Oppenheimer and the madness of the Wasteland all wouldn't have been as impactful to me if I just saw them at home. Cinema is beautiful
Saw this absolutely stunning movie with a buddy when it first came out. when we arrived at the theatre, he stepped up to the wicket and said, "Two tickets, please, in the shade." He passed away a few years ago, but that line still kills me. I can't see any part of that film without that wonderful line coming to mind and making me smile.
I got to see a limited time re-release of this movie in the 80's at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. It's the perfect place to see old blockbusters. Got to see the Tem Commandments there too. Absolutely amazing.
A lifetime ago I had the distinct pleasure of playing the restored director's cut in 70mm in a classic movie palace in 1989. I was able to watch it several times on the big screen. The clarity of every shot was unbelievable. David Lean set the bar so high for every film to follow. Nothing compares to the quality of that experience.
I saw that re release in 1989 at the Odeon, Marble Arch in London. It was said to be the biggest screen in the country, and they had apparently installed new projector lenses for the occasion. I never before or since saw a more fantastic screening. The audience cheered at the end.
2:56 LoA is epic, cept for this scene, with the fake sand-painted ledge the actors lean over as if resting on a desert hill ... the full movie, 10/10 but that scene 1/10
I saw the film when it was first released in a cinema in Dallas where the air conditioner was set too cold. The contrast was dramatic, but even as a 14 year old kid I knew it was a great film.
My 1st viewing of this was in 1972 with my buddy in high school Photo Club, at the premiere cinema in the country of Singapore. Sat in the First Circle, 2nd-row center seat (which was in the 'balcony', so this put the center mid-screen at eye-level) on a Super-Panavision screen. It was 'only' 80 degrees inside, but could relate to the desert heat...Still one of the peak defining film experiences of my life. Up there with my release-week viewing of Star Wars Ep. 4, good seats Loews Astor Plaza in Manhattan (again with a high school buddies). Holy crap that was another epic cinematic experience! I loved your cinematic breakdown, subbed! 🙂
Just watched it in a 2-day theater special for the first time last night. Crazy how much better it is than many movies coming out today, especially in the theater. One of my favorites now!
O'Toole was a newcomer and up against veteran Gregory Peck for To Kill A Mockingbird - another iconic performance. And Peck had not won an Oscar himself yet. If either one of these films would have been released a year earlier or a year later, both actors would have won.
@@jurgentebeest6199 Just shows how that system of "only one winner a year" is actually pretty stupid. They should reward a great performance no matter whích year it was from, not decide on just one if there are clearly more who deserve it. So many great actors/movies/directors over almost a century now who were just ignored basically, just because of that rule. Makes the Oscars a lot more meaningless than they should be.
"The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts." ... one small scene. My all-time favorite film. Stunning cinematography, beautiful score, compelling story, historic epic, great acting. The absolute mastery of David Lean at the peak of his powers. ... Oh, and I shouldn't overlook Peter O'Toole's iconic performance, not to mention Omar Sharif, Jose Ferrer, and others. Again, not a single weak second in this masterpiece.
"May the seed of your loin be fruitful in your woman's belly" and "Thy mother mated with a scorpion" I love these quotes, particularly the first because it is SO inappropriate in today's society and entirely possible in another, older society. I have always associated it (them) with Lawrence of Arabia (I think I even remember the scene in a tent, early in the film). Or is it a Monty Pythonesque mickey take?
@@Neilhuny I have to mention it because it’s so rare to see this in film, in the scene where Anthony Quinn‘s character is celebrating a raid he’s speaking to Lawrence and launches an enormous air biscuit……….. and also says “I am a river to my people “ !
This scene stayed in my mind over the years. It means, simply, that if you want something in life you have self discipline and accept the pain that comes with it.
@@panchopuskas1 My being a martial artist for nearly thirty years allows me to relate to this simple scene. It seems such a little thing, but so significant.
The Golden Era Hollywood movies still look so good because you can see every penny of the budget on-screen, whether it's practical effects or contemporary special effects.
Barry Lyndon is exceptional to look at, a complete stunner, the candle light scenes are a masterpiece. Most of the cast are good, love Berkoff as always, however and hugely sadly Ryan O'Neal drove me completely insane with a totally incongruous "performance". Lean had a remarkable eye, check out Ryan's Daughter which is overlooked.
@@domingodesantaclara1130If it were a stronger actor, we’d probably complain about Barry being a “pinball protagonist” where things happen to him instead of him making things happen) more.
@@rorykeegan1895 I suspect Kubrick chose Ryan O'Neal because he exuded vapidity. (Sorry, Mr. O'Neal. If it's any consolation, O'Neal's performance in The Zero Effect was quite good.)
@@rorykeegan1895 Re:Ryan's Daughter. Robert Mitchum's woeful miscasting ruined the film for me. A simpy, cuckolded husband is not a part that Mitchum should play.
The Desert IS the character of the movie. Its technically about Lawrence. But the story of his arch is about how the Desert is never changed, it only ever changes you. The whole movie IS about the Desert. You did a great job expressing that
Plenty of older movies like Lawrence of Arabia haven't aged thanks to being shot on celluloid and on-location or built sets to give it that expensive, cinematic and timeless quality. Further examples would be Alien, Ben-Hur, Unforgiven, Vertigo, The Thin Red Line, Horseman on the Roof, Blade Runner, Empire Strikes Back, A Walk in the Clouds, The Hunger, T2, Cliffhanger, Seven, Paris Texas, The Thing, Amelie, Legends of the Fall, Titanic, Blade, Malena, Crimson Tide, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Black Rain, The Natural and LOTR.
Some of the special extended scenes look like sh*t. Especially the one in Fangorn and Gandalf fighting the witch king. Although I suspect this is also due to the fact that these scenes never got a finalized render. I would know. I've watched the movies at least 40 times each 😅
Just saw it in theatres like many others in this comment section. Some of those shots had me begging I could pause it for a moment and just stare and appreciate the work that was put forth. Crazy to think how much setup, planning, and hard work went into even just the littlest of moments in this masterpiece. Thank you for the video
@@Vingulno one can be someone else, you can only be the best of you. Kurosawa, Leone, Ford and currently Villeneuve have similar style on wide shots, yet they’re so unique and so different to each other equally creating paintings on the silver canvas. Spielberg is a wide shot master but he is most notable for his camera movement and blocking which is one of the best ever, along with Kurosawa’s and Ford’s yet all three of are so different.
@@gpapa31 by «equally creating paintings» I suppose you mean they all worked within the film media? Because they didn’t all create equally beautiful films, although all the directors you mentioned were/are indeed good at their craft. Yet Lean, Kurosawa and Leone (Ford is very good too) are miles above. It’s okay to acknowledge that not all things are of equal quality. Indeed there is no such thing.
It's very refreshing to watch a youtube video extolling the virtues of a film rather than a deconstruction/critique. It's been decades since I've seen Lawrence of Arabia, and at the time I had no appreciation for the craftsmanship and art of movie making. I think I will go revisit this one.
@@capitalb5889 Not true at all. I've seen LoA ten times. The tenth time was at a theater and it was a totally different experience than the nine times I had previously watched it (once via streaming, the other eight times on Blu-Ray on a very large television screen). In the theater it was as if I had never seen the movie; I was noticing new things in every shot!
I live in Arizona and right by my house they have this hundred foot wide movie screen at this really nice theater and they're playing Lawrence of Arabia in a couple of weeks and I can't wait! I love this movie but getting to see it on the big screen is going to be insane! Not too long ago I saw Apocalypse Now there and it absolutely blew my mind, even though I've seen it 100 times it was like seeing it for the first time. Nothing like seeing a classic film at the movie theater!
In 2005, one Sunday I had the pleasure of seeing this in a Dublin theatre on the big screen. I left that evening awestruck. I had seen the movie many times on TV up to that point but never did I understand how great this movie is until I saw it as it was meant to be seen.
This is my favorite movie. That shot of Sherif coming out of the mirage is golden. O'Toole and Sharif were mesmerizing. "The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts."
In real life neither of those happened. In fact it should have been Sharif playing Feisal's son who snuck up to the water and took some. The rival tribe scowled at him but let him have the water. Lean was an intense racist who had no hesitation to reduce Arabs to primitive murderers.
Actually 70mm prints have never been in Technicolor, but have always been printed on Eastman stock. To see this in dye transfer Technicolor you would have to see a vintage 35mm print.
I saw Lawrence of Arabia as a young teenager at the cinema with my father in 1963. It was flawless; sharp, vivid and spellbinding . We both left the cinema speechless.
Well, $15M budget in 1962 is equivalent to about $156M in today's dollars. Then, according to Wiki, "...the government of King Hussein was extremely helpful in providing logistical assistance, location scouting, transport and extras." So, effectively, the government of Jordan helped out. We must be up to about a quarter of a billion in cost (roughly)...
I've seen _Lawrence of Arabia_ projected in full 70mm using the best classic projectors on the best screen in all of North America, the Cinerama theatre in Seattle. There are few cinematic experiences so intense and dramatic. It was during a film festival where they also showed several other 70mm films, including _2001: A Space Odyssey_ . You cannot really imagine just how good 2001 truly is until you see it like that; the whole pacing of the film changes when it has that kind of presence, details that are insignificant on even the biggest home television screen take on far more importance, and even the smallest changes are so much more attention-grabbing.
It's the DESERT. You can spout all the numbers and tech stuff you want, but it's the DESERT that's the real star. This is one of my top five favorite flicks. It's a work of art. Kudos to every one who worked on it.
Saw the film in the theater for its 1989 restoration. It looked like it had been shot yesterday, not 27 years prior. A completely revelatory experience!
@@VladislavBabbitt 2001 takes all of the film technology from LoA, and then adds the best non-CGI special effects of all time. (Some people would say the non-CGI caveat is unnecessary here.)
My dad and uncle brought me to see this at the Senator Theater in Baltimore when it was re-issued in '89 (iirc). I was 12 or 13 and it changed my entire idea of what a movie could be and remains my absolute favorite film ever.
I adore this movie. Its one of the few that truly sweeps me away, and makes me feel like I've gone to another land I may never see in my lifetime. The way it shoots a desert, frames it, is so iconic, and that's crazy to think about, right? Like, its just an empty field of sand... but this movie makes every shot of that sand a work of art.
2:15 THIS shot! Just the way the fantastic landscape was used to frame itself... this is one of the many panoramas that made me fall in love with this movie. The mountains, the expanse of tents...
l watched this film on release...My lasting memory was Omar Sharif's ride from the distance, the camels 'robes' swaying in time with the gait of the animal...But to be fair the whole film is an absolute masterpiece in cinematography... David Lean was a master...its evident in his other films...Great analysis of Lawrence of Arabia...Thanks
If this movie was made today, every scene would have a yellow or black filter and tons of CG dust storms/crowds forced in post. Oh, and the story would suck.
Since you skipped her name - Lawrence was edited by the great Anne V. Coates, who also cut Becket, The Elephant Man, Out of Sight and Erin Brockovich - among many other films.
Watched it last night in the theatre with the re-release. It really needs to be experienced in that setting. You can't really get the same experience from a TV screen. And my God it pulls you so far into the journey in a way a modern film never could. Its a real testament to the movie's quality that the theatre was half full for a 62 year old film on a Monday evening.
I'd love to see it in a cinema. Lean is one of the best directors I've ever come across it's sad so few people talk about his work in general now, not many people in my generation know him compared to other great directors I find. I'm glad LoA at least is still very popular.
I just miss the feel of old films and old stories. Its rare to find something new with a soul these days. A good one comes out maybe once every 3 or 4 years
I've never seen the film, but just watching these clips gives me chills and leaves me in awe. I love how you explain the details and highlight how the visuals enhance the scenes. Great work!
I just saw it in the theatres for the first time ever last night (there was a special re-release screening of it this past weekend) although I have seen the film many times at home before. The theatrical screening simply magnificent, and it further bolstered my personal ranking of this film as my personal favorite of all time. Amazingly restored footage, and the theatre beautifully amplified the sound and the magnificent score multifold. Literally every aspect of this film (acting, screenplay, cinematography, score etc.) is top tier and I consider it to be a practically perfectly executed film.
Well done. I was just explaining to some young people about "Lawrence of Arabia" and it's brilliance weeks ago. Was nice to stumble on this video, some excellent additional points and technical information.
I was a kid, in my early teens when I first discovered this movie. It was the restored version on VHS, checked out from my local library, and I was blown away by this movie. I was just becoming aware of fantastic cinema like this. I also discovered films like "2001" , "The Gold Rush" and "The General". These movies have really shaped my tastes later in life.
I was born in 62. My family took me too see the film at the Cinerama theatre on King st. in Honolulu when it was re-released 5 years later. I saw it again in the same theatre 20 years later. There was even an intermission. The theater later closed a couple of years later.😥
First of all, a shout out to Robert Harris, who saved this wonderful film with his restoration. If not for Harris, this film might not even exist today. Second, I'd just like to point out that this movie would never get made today. Can you imagine a director pitching this idea? "Yeah, I want to shoot my film entirely in the desert. Plus, there's a train derailment scene in it and I'd like to derail an actual train instead of relying on special effects. Finally, the movie will only have men in it. No women at all. So will you back it?"
YES! Robert Harris and his cohorts saved it, as much as possible. Some of the damage goes back to the heat of the desert affecting the film in camera. You'll see vertical white areas in some scenes that are damage to original film. I saw the film in original release in Montreal, saw it a few times after, and then Harris's restoration. (He was also a member of a usenet group I frequented) I don't remember extra shadow detail in the original - I suspect that it wasn't there and a study of the gamma curve would show it not there. 65/70? That info is not particularly relevant. The late Marty Hart built a website explaining all the various formats. Peter O'Toole? One of the greatest actors that ever lived. I could do a Jungian thesis on Stunt Man. Movies today? I'd rather not go there.
@@hchickpea Absolutely! And David Lean was one of the greatest directors that ever lived. I'm always torn between which film I admire more - Lawrence of Arabia or Bridge Over the River Kwai.
We've all seen the disastrous results when women are allowed too much input or sway in story writing, casting, and direction. It's why movies have sucked for so long now.
First time i saw LoA was in my cellar den when i was about 12. They showed it on cable tv with ad breaks galore. Still i was glued to the screen for the hours it took to finish. Truly mesmerising.
I was lucky. When I was a kid, back in the 80s, my dad introduced this movie to me. I love the desert, and film! This movie is fantastic, and it still looks as good as the day it was created.
By far, Lawrence of Arabia is my all-time favorite movie. I even made a point of visiting Wadi Rum in Jordan to see the magnificent desert that Lawrence saw.
A David Mamet's like crisp and razor-sharp dialogue. A truly start-studded cast all doing THE best. A haunting Maurice Jarre score. Experimental direction. And Anthony Quinn's ''I am river to my people'' shout.
I've been following this channel for so long (maybe back from 2015) and every video you put out is incredibly useful and informative for us filmmakers. I'm really excited that this video will blow up.
If you haven't seen this film in a theater on the 70 mm film, you haven't really seen this film. I got a chance to go see it in the theater a number of years back, having watched it before at home. I thought it might be a nifty experience, but I wasn't expecting it to completely change my perception of the film. It really is something to see, and the visceral aspect to seeing such detail of the desert, on such a large screen, really adds something almost indescribable to the experience. And the themes of the film almost radiate because of it. Perhaps more so than any other film, this truly is a film shot for the cinema.
Nice one Sareesh! If anyone has ever tried to get exposure right in harsh overhead sun, you’ll realise how brilliant the cinematography alone is on this film. I think Denis Villeneuve may have picked up a thing or two from Lawrence?!
Natural sunlight, beautiful landscape, a quality film camera, and a director with a heck of an eye for framing. I just watched this last year and it was a joy to just look at for the whole runtime. Compared to the slop that Netflix is filled with, it was a revelation.
I was lucky enough to see it in 70 mm last year at the AFI center. the thing that jumped out at me more than anything else was with detail of every person in the background, with that high resolution you could make out every detail even if they were very far away.
Feels weird watching this video on my laptop as I've only ever watched Lawrence of Arabia on the big screen. 3 times, to be precise. Twice on 70mm, and it was the same print (I realized this when it skipped in the exact spot, rumour has it that it's the same singular print that travels around the UK). This warrants at least a big TV. Sidenote, as a Jordanian I could "replicate" this experience with my Mamiya C330 and a roll of Cinestill 50D if I hitch a ride to Wadi Rum
Great video essay. I do wanna point out the resolution you mentioned, the resolution for the 65mm/70mm format is not 8K, the resolution is actually 12K (the IMAX version of 65mm/70mm is 18K)
My father worked in the industry that designed processing equipment for the motion picture industry. He held patents in light valves I didn't even know about until I was going through his papers I had in a box long after he passed away I found them. I used to go to the trade shows with him in the 1970's and early 80's. I remember seeing the massive Super Panavision 70mm cameras and processing equipment. The film was heavy, and difficult to handle. Very few films were actually fully shot in 70mm film most were upsized from 35mm to 70mm for projection we always tried to go to the theaters that advertised 70mm. Growing up in my teen years in the 80's always be grateful that I got to see all the movies shot and projected on film something I do miss today. I know digital probably higher quality not the same as film.
@@cjkalandek996 i watched it at a re screening last night It was totally worth the experience it kept me engaged as a 23 year old whose barely a fan of movies i loved it.
Opposite for me, it moved fast, if you live in Cali, New York, or Illinois you can probably see it in 70 for the first time, which I highly, highly, highly recommend.
I'm not disagreeing with the other comments at all. It is worth knowing that its going to to be about 3hour ten mins with some bits of action but lots of very slow paced parts. if you pick a day when your in the mood for that its a class movie
Well done. I remember seeing this movie when it came out. I was stunned. From the opening scene it was an assault on the senses. I will re-watch it in a few hours.
A restored version of the film was released to theaters in the 1980s, when I was in college. A group of us drove an hour and a half to see it in 70mm. We made the drive again the next week just to see it again. It was breathtaking, the kind of film that changes the way one sees the world ever after.
1964 I was fourteen years old and had the pleasure of seeing "Lawrence of Arabia" at the movie theater. At the time, it was the only movie theater in my hometown with 70mm projection and a 4-channel sound system. Later, I also saw "Doctor Zhivago" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" there. The visual experience was always phenomenal. The visual power of L.o.A. remains unsurpassed, and I fully agree with your assessment. Regarding your question: unfortunately I can't remember the details, but at the time I didn't have the impression that any detail had been swallowed up in the black. I've seen the movie repeatedly on TV, it's simply good, but I miss the 70mm experience on a giant screen. Perhaps the technical advances in digitization, restoration and projection will one day be so good that there will be a fully-fledged equivalent ... I hope so!
ill never forget. in the mid 90s I saw a 70mm print on one of the few remaining original curved Cinerama screens. it was stunning. you could easily see individual grains of sand in the desert
@2:40, perhaps this is a difficult comparison? Mitchell BFC & FC film cameras, Panavision lenses, Kodak's 5250(Speed 50T), & the Technicolor chemistry placed right next to any high-tech digital camera & its new tech accessories? The tangible is going to outmaneuver the digital. The grain off of 50 speed film is righteous, & if you Push or Pull that Film, we are talking poetry with the colors or tonal range (B&W film). Good content! Keep it going.
I wish films like this were still made. Even Dune, which I thought was phenomenal, had an artificial feeling desert because of the sets and CGI and even the best shots were only as good as Lawrence’s worst ones
Showing that it is the quality of the people that make the film, not the amount of money thrown at the film. These days we have a lot of very expensive garbage and little real quality of this level. Compare this to Dune 2 that cost about US$200 million to make, Dune 2 is a pale comparison. In todays money, Lawrence of Arabia cost $140 million. Less money and much greater quality.
It also helps that the main actor only gets a pay of 12500$ in a 15.000.000$ production.. more money for the rest. These days the stars suck out half the budgets.
My Grandma used to take me to the cinema, I have lovely memories of that and more of her, and one of them is of this great film. I was 12 and it had just been released. Images and dialogue are as fresh in my memory now as they were the day after seeing it. Thank you for this analysis.
I love Noël Coward's witty quip about Peter O'Toole's appearance in the film - "If he'd been any prettier, they'd have had to call it Florence of Arabia".
I couldn't agree with you more. I watch this film once a year, usually in the fall or early winter, and each time I'm stunned by it. There are always new details to discover.
I've been meaning to watch this movie for years . Ever since it was featured in the alien sci-fi Prometheus and how the main character mimicked Lawrence. Thought that was very interesting. So finally spent 2 nites watching on Amazon prime on my projector screen. This movie is brilliant and beautiful to watch. It's crazy how this film has inspired so many modern cinema.
Got to see this on the big screen with a 70mm print. (Embassy Theatre Wellington NZ) Absolutely Stunning! Awe inspiring. Timeless. Felt like I could walk through the screen and I’d be there. (I don’t remember there being any issues with the darker tones. So yes, possibly the restoration.)
As almost 50 years old I have seen this movie many times, first time as an 7-8 year old boy and it have always blow'n me away... -One of the best movies ever made!
Watching this movie for the first time was one of my best experiences ever when it comes to films. I remember it was like 2 am and I was just passing through the channels to find something to watch before going to bed. I saw that Lawrence of Arabia was starting and thought that watching five minutes of it would make me sleep on the couch. But I was wrong, I couldn't blink! When it finished, the sun was rising, but I was too excited to go to bed. I kept on watching videos about it and reading more information about the movie and the real Lawrence himself. I just hope that one day I can watch it on cinema to appreciate all the details more clearly.
Download My Free Ebook! How to Make Stunning Films on a Budget. My Proven Secrets: wolfcrow.com/free-ebook/
It used to look like a million bucks, but then Bidenflation struck.
Yes, you're doing well to promote their trash. Keep going. The world needs to see this.
it is not DOWNLOADT it is subscribe form to mailing list LOL
I met Peter O'Toole in the UK on Hampstead Heath.. I was playing with a little boy (he was around 8 or 9, I was 12 at the time), on a fallen tree ... he then said "Come meet my daddy!), and a tall handsome man in a suit stepped from the shadows and shook my hand, saying "My name's Peter" ... I was gobsmacked, as I had only just seen The Last Emperor the night before.
What a wonderful memory .. RIP.
I love those kinds of stories...thank you.
Some people still believe he roams wild on Hamstead Health. Close to the meat.
@@IsThisAmerica1 close to the what???
How creepy.
Adults should never talk to underage kids.
@@markdexter6338 It would have been creepier if he had reined silent when his son tried to introduce his playmate to him.
As a still photographer, one thing has always* impressed me about Lawrence of Arabia: You can freeze the playback at almost any point and get a wonderfully composed still image. This is that very rare work where superb cinematography and superb photography simultaneously exist as one.
*Well, not actually "always". I was a kid when I saw it in the theater (when it was released) and wasn't thinking in "art" terms.
Insane
Agreed! Barry Lyndon is another movie like this
Once Upon a Time in the West was the first movie that hit me that way.
@@timsjo yep, I often think that of Lyndon. And of several Tarkovsky films.
like "Raiders Of The Lost Ark".
50 years ago when I was in art school I was so impressed with the beauty of this film that when we were given the assignment to do a series of illustrations of a story, I chose this film and did a series of pen and ink illustrations of scenes of the movie. The composition of the scenes is flawless. Literally every frame a painting.
A most beautiful piece of art. Those shots are unreal!
nice,
Being an artist myself, I really need to see your illustrations now!
It's way more than 8K. IMAX 70mm are approx. 18K. So 65mm isn't that much less. Most people think that digital cinema has overtaken but it's usually only 2K not even on the same level of the best 35mm film stock. And it is still worlds apart from IMAX. Digital IMAX just isn't the same.
@@EbonyPope Not true though. 15perf70 (analogue IMAX, the type Nolan uses) is three times bigger than 65 5 perf. So 65mm is way less.
65 mm negatives are about 8K max, the actual positve prints about 4K. When LoA was restored for the 50th anniversary in 2012, the original camera negative was scanned in 8K and showed concentric lines that were the result of the intense heat in the desert during filming. But nobody in the sixties ever noticed that. Modern day digital scanning devices did - thanks to 8K resolution. Digital IMAX is often LieMax where 2K movies are upconverted to 4K to warrant a higher ticket price. Often they're even projected in 2K. If Arri made a 15perf70 digital IMAX sensor, I'll bet it'll look better than it's analogue counterpart.
But more importantly, LoA looks as great as it does thanks to the enormeously skilled director and cameraman, David Lean and Freddie Young. If they had had a digital Arri Alexa 65 available back then, they would have shot an at least equally epic looking film. And it would have never needed a restoration and would still be completely pristine, free of flicker, warp, noise, fading, ringing, wear and tear or any of the other problems that are all too common with analogue film that celluloid aficionados love to gloss over, yet are very keen to point out every minute problem with digital they might encounter.
Years ago a mate who worked as a focus puller asked me if I wanted to go see Lawrence of Arabia with him on the big screen, I had loved the film on TV. The depth of perspective, colour, richness, it looked like some kind of three dimensional magic. Turned out it was a special invite only showing of the original 70mm film for a ‘This is Your Life’ presentation to Freddy Young, the cinematographer.
This comment did not end where I thought you were going. I thought you were going to describe the contrast between seeing the film on TV and on the big screen. Huge difference on how it impacted you?
@@mediamannaman Haha, I thought it was implicit in the word ‘magic’. In reality I gave up watching television for over a decade, I wasn’t much of a telly watcher anyway. Then someone introduced me to the high definition ones and a surround sound system. I now occasionally watch a film on TV if I couldn’t watch it on the big screen. One just cannot get immersed in say Villeneuve’s Dune on a TV. It’s like the difference between looking at a palm sized print of Gerricault’s Raft of the Medusa in a book and then going to the Louvre and losing one’s self in the 35 meter squared painting!
Lucky You bastard, respectfully
@@ianseaweedYou couldn't have said it better brother. I just started going back to the cinemas again after years of not going. Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Furiosa were such a treat. Dune 2 was an absolute pleasure to witness on the big screen I went 8 times.. Luckily my theatre isn't expensive but you are spot on when you say you can't get immersed on a TV. The tragedy of Paul Atreides , the plight of the Osage, the enigma that was J Robert Oppenheimer and the madness of the Wasteland all wouldn't have been as impactful to me if I just saw them at home.
Cinema is beautiful
can you comment on the darkness of the faces and elements in partial shadow? i would love to hear your response to his question
Saw this absolutely stunning movie with a buddy when it first came out. when we arrived at the theatre, he stepped up to the wicket and said, "Two tickets, please, in the shade." He passed away a few years ago, but that line still kills me. I can't see any part of that film without that wonderful line coming to mind and making me smile.
I got to see a limited time re-release of this movie in the 80's at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. It's the perfect place to see old blockbusters. Got to see the Tem Commandments there too. Absolutely amazing.
A lifetime ago I had the distinct pleasure of playing the restored director's cut in 70mm in a classic movie palace in 1989. I was able to watch it several times on the big screen. The clarity of every shot was unbelievable. David Lean set the bar so high for every film to follow. Nothing compares to the quality of that experience.
I saw that re release in 1989 at the Odeon, Marble Arch in London. It was said to be the biggest screen in the country, and they had apparently installed new projector lenses for the occasion. I never before or since saw a more fantastic screening. The audience cheered at the end.
2:56 LoA is epic, cept for this scene, with the fake sand-painted ledge the actors lean over as if resting on a desert hill ... the full movie, 10/10 but that scene 1/10
@@Defender78 They probably had to do this in post production in London on a stage
Saw this in a hot hot theatre in the middle of summer. It added a dimension to the desert setting.
No way, you saw the movie in 4DX?
I saw the film when it was first released in a cinema in Dallas where the air conditioner was set too cold. The contrast was dramatic, but even as a 14 year old kid I knew it was a great film.
@@thecompanioncube4211 Haha, Yes, I suppose so. Boy did I need a drink at intermission.
My 1st viewing of this was in 1972 with my buddy in high school Photo Club, at the premiere cinema in the country of Singapore. Sat in the First Circle, 2nd-row center seat (which was in the 'balcony', so this put the center mid-screen at eye-level) on a Super-Panavision screen. It was 'only' 80 degrees inside, but could relate to the desert heat...Still one of the peak defining film experiences of my life.
Up there with my release-week viewing of Star Wars Ep. 4, good seats Loews Astor Plaza in Manhattan (again with a high school buddies). Holy crap that was another epic cinematic experience!
I loved your cinematic breakdown, subbed! 🙂
This movie gave partial inspiration to the Sci-Fi book series "Dune."
Watched it for the first time in theaters last night. WOW. I think that was the greatest film I’ve ever seen.
This is my favorite film, followed by "Chinatown" as the second on my list. I envy people like you that are seeing it for the time on the big screen.
It is.
Where are you located to be lucky enough to be seeing Lawrence of Arabia in a theatre in 2024?
@@leecalladineYou beat me to that comment!
@@kingconcerto5860For real!
Just watched it in a 2-day theater special for the first time last night.
Crazy how much better it is than many movies coming out today, especially in the theater.
One of my favorites now!
I'm going tonight. Can't wait.
Sounds amazing! Where is it showing, would love to go
@@GoogleAccount-qe1uy AMC theaters. I'm the Phoenix area of AZ but I'd think it's all across the U.S.
I saw it in a theater with surround sound when it came out. It took my breath away.
Absolutely.
Sixty years later and it's still a disgrace that O'Toole did not win the Oscar for his performance.
O'Toole was a newcomer and up against veteran Gregory Peck for To Kill A Mockingbird - another iconic performance. And Peck had not won an Oscar himself yet. If either one of these films would have been released a year earlier or a year later, both actors would have won.
And he never won one, even though he was nominated for like eight times. He should have won at least a couple.
@@jurgentebeest6199 Makes sense . . . and best picture and best director were nothing to sneeze at, but O'Toole WAS magnificent in the film.
@@_Daniel_Plainview An injustice, for sure.
@@jurgentebeest6199 Just shows how that system of "only one winner a year" is actually pretty stupid. They should reward a great performance no matter whích year it was from, not decide on just one if there are clearly more who deserve it. So many great actors/movies/directors over almost a century now who were just ignored basically, just because of that rule. Makes the Oscars a lot more meaningless than they should be.
"The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts." ... one small scene. My all-time favorite film. Stunning cinematography, beautiful score, compelling story, historic epic, great acting. The absolute mastery of David Lean at the peak of his powers. ... Oh, and I shouldn't overlook Peter O'Toole's iconic performance, not to mention Omar Sharif, Jose Ferrer, and others. Again, not a single weak second in this masterpiece.
Laurence, why do you like the desert so much ? " its clean "
"May the seed of your loin be fruitful in your woman's belly" and "Thy mother mated with a scorpion"
I love these quotes, particularly the first because it is SO inappropriate in today's society and entirely possible in another, older society. I have always associated it (them) with Lawrence of Arabia (I think I even remember the scene in a tent, early in the film). Or is it a Monty Pythonesque mickey take?
@@Neilhuny I have to mention it because it’s so rare to see this in film, in the scene where Anthony Quinn‘s character is celebrating a raid he’s speaking to Lawrence and launches an enormous air biscuit……….. and also says “I am a river to my people “ !
This scene stayed in my mind over the years. It means, simply, that if you want something in life you have self discipline and accept the pain that comes with it.
@@panchopuskas1 My being a martial artist for nearly thirty years allows me to relate to this simple scene. It seems such a little thing, but so significant.
It’s not only an action film but an existentialist psychodrama. A great work of art one of the greatest films ever made
It is a horribly fabricated psychodrama which was totally inferior to the facts. The director made almost the entire thing up.
@@wolfgang757notice how he specifically mentioned the film and not the actual history
@wolfgang757❤❤Hello!Have you read the 7 pillars of wisdom ,by Lawrence himself? Of course,the fiim is romanticised- but not far from L.'s inner self
The Golden Era Hollywood movies still look so good because you can see every penny of the budget on-screen, whether it's practical effects or contemporary special effects.
When marketing budgets didnt exceed double the production budget.
This and Barry Lyndon are the 2 most beautiful movies ever made, each in their own way, exteriors vs interiors.
Barry Lyndon is exceptional to look at, a complete stunner, the candle light scenes are a masterpiece. Most of the cast are good, love Berkoff as always, however and hugely sadly Ryan O'Neal drove me completely insane with a totally incongruous "performance".
Lean had a remarkable eye, check out Ryan's Daughter which is overlooked.
@@domingodesantaclara1130If it were a stronger actor, we’d probably complain about Barry being a “pinball protagonist” where things happen to him instead of him making things happen) more.
@@rorykeegan1895 I suspect Kubrick chose Ryan O'Neal because he exuded vapidity. (Sorry, Mr. O'Neal. If it's any consolation, O'Neal's performance in The Zero Effect was quite good.)
@@rorykeegan1895 Re:Ryan's Daughter. Robert Mitchum's woeful miscasting ruined the film for me. A simpy, cuckolded husband is not a part that Mitchum should play.
Dr Zhivago also superb & would nearly go so far to say anything by David Lean.
The Desert IS the character of the movie. Its technically about Lawrence. But the story of his arch is about how the Desert is never changed, it only ever changes you.
The whole movie IS about the Desert. You did a great job expressing that
Don't forget that many desert scenes in LoA were shot in Spain. The 'desert' is not only in Jordan.
This film MUST be seen in a large theater. It’s simply gorgeous.
Love watching this film with my dog.
He always barks at the camels.
He's also a massive David Lean fan.
My dog also loves classic movies. His favorite is Citizen Canine.
Just as the old Arab proverb said :)
"the dogs bark, the caravan goes on"
Camels give him the hump huh?
@@351cleavland Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh . . . .
How does he feel about Alec Guiness?
I watched it as a teenager (17) when it first came out. I was stunned. 62 years later, I still am. Now that's the mark of a classic in any medium.
Plenty of older movies like Lawrence of Arabia haven't aged thanks to being shot on celluloid and on-location or built sets to give it that expensive, cinematic and timeless quality. Further examples would be Alien, Ben-Hur, Unforgiven, Vertigo, The Thin Red Line, Horseman on the Roof, Blade Runner, Empire Strikes Back, A Walk in the Clouds, The Hunger, T2, Cliffhanger, Seven, Paris Texas, The Thing, Amelie, Legends of the Fall, Titanic, Blade, Malena, Crimson Tide, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Black Rain, The Natural and LOTR.
Sorry. LOTR is 50/50. Some of the CGI scenes have not aged well.
But overall the trilogy is still a modern classic.
@@thetabletopskirmisher Which CGI scenes do you believe haven't aged very well?
@@thetalentoflook up Legolas horse mount
4k HDR has reignited my film collecting interest that I've not had since VHS, we're finally seeing all the detail movies shot on film were capable of.
Some of the special extended scenes look like sh*t. Especially the one in Fangorn and Gandalf fighting the witch king. Although I suspect this is also due to the fact that these scenes never got a finalized render.
I would know. I've watched the movies at least 40 times each 😅
Just saw it in theatres like many others in this comment section. Some of those shots had me begging I could pause it for a moment and just stare and appreciate the work that was put forth. Crazy to think how much setup, planning, and hard work went into even just the littlest of moments in this masterpiece. Thank you for the video
Just the time investment is astounding.They had to be perfectionists.
You can definitely tell it’s Spielbergs favourite film. In my opinion, his whole style seems based on this movie
Definitely in Raiders.
He could never get anywhere close, though.
@@Vingulno one can be someone else, you can only be the best of you. Kurosawa, Leone, Ford and currently Villeneuve have similar style on wide shots, yet they’re so unique and so different to each other equally creating paintings on the silver canvas. Spielberg is a wide shot master but he is most notable for his camera movement and blocking which is one of the best ever, along with Kurosawa’s and Ford’s yet all three of are so different.
Just saw it again in theater last week and i couldn't agree more. Not just one movie but literally every Spielberg movie
@@gpapa31 by «equally creating paintings» I suppose you mean they all worked within the film media? Because they didn’t all create equally beautiful films, although all the directors you mentioned were/are indeed good at their craft. Yet Lean, Kurosawa and Leone (Ford is very good too) are miles above. It’s okay to acknowledge that not all things are of equal quality. Indeed there is no such thing.
It's very refreshing to watch a youtube video extolling the virtues of a film rather than a deconstruction/critique. It's been decades since I've seen Lawrence of Arabia, and at the time I had no appreciation for the craftsmanship and art of movie making. I think I will go revisit this one.
Know this: Critics are lazy. They MAKE nothing. They only find fault. That's easy...and lazy.
Also, you probably saw it on a TV that didn't do it justice. I think TVs are now good enough to give us the cinematic impact.
@@capitalb5889 Not true at all. I've seen LoA ten times. The tenth time was at a theater and it was a totally different experience than the nine times I had previously watched it (once via streaming, the other eight times on Blu-Ray on a very large television screen). In the theater it was as if I had never seen the movie; I was noticing new things in every shot!
Watching Lawrence of Arabia restored in 4K now and it is absolutely magnificent. Great exploration into why it is so remarkable.
Hopefully you had a nice large pitcher of iced lemonade or tea.
Hey borther, put the phone down and just enjoy the film! ;)
@@Vingul Totally busted 😵
@@northhugr haha. Good to see you «in the wild» anyway mate.
I live in Arizona and right by my house they have this hundred foot wide movie screen at this really nice theater and they're playing Lawrence of Arabia in a couple of weeks and I can't wait!
I love this movie but getting to see it on the big screen is going to be insane!
Not too long ago I saw Apocalypse Now there and it absolutely blew my mind, even though I've seen it 100 times it was like seeing it for the first time. Nothing like seeing a classic film at the movie theater!
That has to be the best technical and artistic rundown of a film I have ever heard, bravo!
This movie gave partial inspiration to the Sci-Fi book series "Dune."
In 2005, one Sunday I had the pleasure of seeing this in a Dublin theatre on the big screen. I left that evening awestruck. I had seen the movie many times on TV up to that point but never did I understand how great this movie is until I saw it as it was meant to be seen.
Totally correct.
This is my favorite movie. That shot of Sherif coming out of the mirage is golden. O'Toole and Sharif were mesmerizing.
"The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts."
In real life neither of those happened. In fact it should have been Sharif playing Feisal's son who snuck up to the water and took some. The rival tribe scowled at him but let him have the water. Lean was an intense racist who had no hesitation to reduce Arabs to primitive murderers.
@@wolfgang757haters gotta hate, and you certainly hate this movie... without understanding that it's a MOVIE and not a documentary. Tired of you.
Saw this aged 12, in 70mm, on big screen, in Technicolor. Nothing compares. And the actors were pitch perfect.
Actually 70mm prints have never been in Technicolor, but have always been printed on Eastman stock. To see this in dye transfer Technicolor you would have to see a vintage 35mm print.
In my opinion, it's the best film ever made, just amazing
Agree.
Doctor Jivago
Children of men
It's held a permanent spot in my top-10 films of all time list.
There are many great films. But Lawrence Of Arabia is beyond them all.
I saw Lawrence of Arabia as a young teenager at the cinema with my father in 1963. It was flawless; sharp, vivid and spellbinding . We both left the cinema speechless.
Well, $15M budget in 1962 is equivalent to about $156M in today's dollars. Then, according to Wiki, "...the government of King Hussein was extremely helpful in providing logistical assistance, location scouting, transport and extras." So, effectively, the government of Jordan helped out. We must be up to about a quarter of a billion in cost (roughly)...
The King of Jordan ended up marrying one of the women who were on the film crew.
Awesome information. Love these bits.
The Acolyte costed 180 million ...
I've seen _Lawrence of Arabia_ projected in full 70mm using the best classic projectors on the best screen in all of North America, the Cinerama theatre in Seattle. There are few cinematic experiences so intense and dramatic.
It was during a film festival where they also showed several other 70mm films, including _2001: A Space Odyssey_ . You cannot really imagine just how good 2001 truly is until you see it like that; the whole pacing of the film changes when it has that kind of presence, details that are insignificant on even the biggest home television screen take on far more importance, and even the smallest changes are so much more attention-grabbing.
So what about the shadows?
I agree about 2001: A Space Odyssey being something else when an excellent copy is used on a huge screen. Amazing experience.
Damn! How do I find out about these festivals? I'd cheerfully take 3 flights to get there (have to from where I am).
1:19 Best, Character. Entrance. EVER.
Mesmerizing! I always thought, what a mysterious way to appear, out of the desert, like some surreal dream.
It's the DESERT. You can spout all the numbers and tech stuff you want, but it's the DESERT that's the real star. This is one of my top five favorite flicks. It's a work of art. Kudos to every one who worked on it.
So very true . . . it's absolutely mesmerizing, the strange, raw beauty of it . . . .
@@richardcleveland8549 There is nothing in the desert and no man needs nothing.
Seeing this film made me want to spend time in a desert. When you live in a city, the vastness and emptiness of deserts is awesome.
@@richardjakobek7477 I've just quoted Prince Faisal from the movie ;-)
@@panthergraf9630 Yes. It’s a great quote, but if you live in a city, sometimes ‘nothing’ is exactly what you need. ( maybe just for a few days ).
Saw the film in the theater for its 1989 restoration. It looked like it had been shot yesterday, not 27 years prior. A completely revelatory experience!
I saw LofA in 1989. In 1962 I was a very squirrely eight year-old and my parents didn't think I'd last in a 3 1/2 hour movie.
It's unfortunate that Hollywood no longer makes this kind of masterpiece..
Even more unfortunate is their moralizing and political activism that has killed all humour and human storytelling in movies.
it could be argued that one of the reasons why "2001: A Space Odyssey" looks the way it does because of "Lawrence of Arabia".
It could be argued, but you'd be wrong.
@@vittoriostoraro Why?
@@VladislavBabbitt 2001 takes all of the film technology from LoA, and then adds the best non-CGI special effects of all time. (Some people would say the non-CGI caveat is unnecessary here.)
It's because Lean and Kubrick had fluffy Norwegian forest cats as pets. They used the majestic manes of their cats for inspiration
@@vittoriostoraro Why?
My dad and uncle brought me to see this at the Senator Theater in Baltimore when it was re-issued in '89 (iirc). I was 12 or 13 and it changed my entire idea of what a movie could be and remains my absolute favorite film ever.
Saw it there as well. Best place in the area to see movies like that!
My wife and I flew up from from Florida to see this on the big screen - '89 in D.C.
I adore this movie. Its one of the few that truly sweeps me away, and makes me feel like I've gone to another land I may never see in my lifetime. The way it shoots a desert, frames it, is so iconic, and that's crazy to think about, right? Like, its just an empty field of sand... but this movie makes every shot of that sand a work of art.
2:15 THIS shot! Just the way the fantastic landscape was used to frame itself... this is one of the many panoramas that made me fall in love with this movie. The mountains, the expanse of tents...
Agreed 🤝
And, @6:11 👍
l watched this film on release...My lasting memory was Omar Sharif's ride from the distance, the camels 'robes' swaying in time with the gait of the animal...But to be fair the whole film is an absolute masterpiece in cinematography... David Lean was a master...its evident in his other films...Great analysis of Lawrence of Arabia...Thanks
If this movie was made today, every scene would have a yellow or black filter and tons of CG dust storms/crowds forced in post. Oh, and the story would suck.
The story sucked back then.
@@RM-jb2bv if it sucked so much then what movie do you consider to not suck?
@@SupremeLadyofDarkness28
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
If made today, it would be called Lorna of Arabia.
David Lean would wait hours just to film the sand moving in the direction he wanted
I have this movie on 4k UHD, it's a incredible transfer it looks like it was filmed on a modern Camera.
Since you skipped her name - Lawrence was edited by the great Anne V. Coates, who also cut Becket, The Elephant Man, Out of Sight and Erin Brockovich - among many other films.
Not mentioning this film's editor seems like a really egregious omission so thank you for mentioning her body of work.
Watched it last night in the theatre with the re-release. It really needs to be experienced in that setting. You can't really get the same experience from a TV screen. And my God it pulls you so far into the journey in a way a modern film never could. Its a real testament to the movie's quality that the theatre was half full for a 62 year old film on a Monday evening.
I'd love to see it in a cinema. Lean is one of the best directors I've ever come across it's sad so few people talk about his work in general now, not many people in my generation know him compared to other great directors I find. I'm glad LoA at least is still very popular.
@@ivy-fo3bxthey release it to theaters every few years. Absolutely worth keeping any eye out for it.
Never has a film captured the beauty of deserts like this one.
I just miss the feel of old films and old stories. Its rare to find something new with a soul these days. A good one comes out maybe once every 3 or 4 years
Life was also very different back then. Not all the noise we have now.
@@shawbrothers18and we weren't so used to jump cuts.
I've never seen the film, but just watching these clips gives me chills and leaves me in awe. I love how you explain the details and highlight how the visuals enhance the scenes. Great work!
I just saw it in the theatres for the first time ever last night (there was a special re-release screening of it this past weekend) although I have seen the film many times at home before. The theatrical screening simply magnificent, and it further bolstered my personal ranking of this film as my personal favorite of all time. Amazingly restored footage, and the theatre beautifully amplified the sound and the magnificent score multifold. Literally every aspect of this film (acting, screenplay, cinematography, score etc.) is top tier and I consider it to be a practically perfectly executed film.
Well done. I was just explaining to some young people about "Lawrence of Arabia" and it's brilliance weeks ago. Was nice to stumble on this video, some excellent additional points and technical information.
Simply one of the greatest films of all time. Brilliant video wolfcrow!
I actually saw this for the first time last week. I didn't even notice the length of it I was so enthralled.
"Thy mother mated with a scorpion"
Always makes me giggle
"You trouble me like women"
I was a kid, in my early teens when I first discovered this movie. It was the restored version on VHS, checked out from my local library, and I was blown away by this movie. I was just becoming aware of fantastic cinema like this. I also discovered films like "2001" , "The Gold Rush" and "The General". These movies have really shaped my tastes later in life.
I was born in 62. My family took me too see the film at the Cinerama theatre on King st. in Honolulu when it was re-released 5 years later. I saw it again in the same theatre 20 years later. There was even an intermission. The theater later closed a couple of years later.😥
First of all, a shout out to Robert Harris, who saved this wonderful film with his restoration. If not for Harris, this film might not even exist today. Second, I'd just like to point out that this movie would never get made today. Can you imagine a director pitching this idea? "Yeah, I want to shoot my film entirely in the desert. Plus, there's a train derailment scene in it and I'd like to derail an actual train instead of relying on special effects. Finally, the movie will only have men in it. No women at all. So will you back it?"
YES! Robert Harris and his cohorts saved it, as much as possible. Some of the damage goes back to the heat of the desert affecting the film in camera. You'll see vertical white areas in some scenes that are damage to original film. I saw the film in original release in Montreal, saw it a few times after, and then Harris's restoration. (He was also a member of a usenet group I frequented) I don't remember extra shadow detail in the original - I suspect that it wasn't there and a study of the gamma curve would show it not there. 65/70? That info is not particularly relevant. The late Marty Hart built a website explaining all the various formats.
Peter O'Toole? One of the greatest actors that ever lived. I could do a Jungian thesis on Stunt Man. Movies today? I'd rather not go there.
@@hchickpea Absolutely! And David Lean was one of the greatest directors that ever lived. I'm always torn between which film I admire more - Lawrence of Arabia or Bridge Over the River Kwai.
We've all seen the disastrous results when women are allowed too much input or sway in story writing, casting, and direction. It's why movies have sucked for so long now.
@@BlackPill-pu4vi I'm a woman and I agree with you 1,000%.
@@SupremeLadyofDarkness28 U single? A discerning woman like you is rare indeed!
4:20 My god those blues
bro i thought you were joking until i saw them, crazy
First time i saw LoA was in my cellar den when i was about 12. They showed it on cable tv with ad breaks galore. Still i was glued to the screen for the hours it took to finish. Truly mesmerising.
I was lucky. When I was a kid, back in the 80s, my dad introduced this movie to me. I love the desert, and film! This movie is fantastic, and it still looks as good as the day it was created.
Truly a masterpiece that must be experienced in a large screen theater to fully be absorbed into it.🤔
By far, Lawrence of Arabia is my all-time favorite movie. I even made a point of visiting Wadi Rum in Jordan to see the magnificent desert that Lawrence saw.
@Nashvillain: Wow! You went to Wadi Rum? That must have been an amazing experience knowing that T.E. Lawrence had seen the same sights. Good for you.
I have sen 77 years and this is still my favorite movie. Simply epic!
The greatest film of all time.
👍
A David Mamet's like crisp and razor-sharp dialogue. A truly start-studded cast all doing THE best. A haunting Maurice Jarre score. Experimental direction. And Anthony Quinn's ''I am river to my people'' shout.
I've been following this channel for so long (maybe back from 2015) and every video you put out is incredibly useful and informative for us filmmakers.
I'm really excited that this video will blow up.
Surely one of, if not the most influential movie of all time. Influenced most of the top directors working today.
If you haven't seen this film in a theater on the 70 mm film, you haven't really seen this film. I got a chance to go see it in the theater a number of years back, having watched it before at home. I thought it might be a nifty experience, but I wasn't expecting it to completely change my perception of the film. It really is something to see, and the visceral aspect to seeing such detail of the desert, on such a large screen, really adds something almost indescribable to the experience. And the themes of the film almost radiate because of it. Perhaps more so than any other film, this truly is a film shot for the cinema.
Nice one Sareesh! If anyone has ever tried to get exposure right in harsh overhead sun, you’ll realise how brilliant the cinematography alone is on this film. I think Denis Villeneuve may have picked up a thing or two from Lawrence?!
Thank you!
Natural sunlight, beautiful landscape, a quality film camera, and a director with a heck of an eye for framing. I just watched this last year and it was a joy to just look at for the whole runtime. Compared to the slop that Netflix is filled with, it was a revelation.
I was lucky enough to see it in 70 mm last year at the AFI center. the thing that jumped out at me more than anything else was with detail of every person in the background, with that high resolution you could make out every detail even if they were very far away.
Excellent video, Wolfcrow. I have learned a few things today.
Feels weird watching this video on my laptop as I've only ever watched Lawrence of Arabia on the big screen. 3 times, to be precise. Twice on 70mm, and it was the same print (I realized this when it skipped in the exact spot, rumour has it that it's the same singular print that travels around the UK). This warrants at least a big TV. Sidenote, as a Jordanian I could "replicate" this experience with my Mamiya C330 and a roll of Cinestill 50D if I hitch a ride to Wadi Rum
The movie has excellent acting, scenery, strong plot, local color that gave dignity and realism to the story. Never get tired watching this film.
Great video essay. I do wanna point out the resolution you mentioned, the resolution for the 65mm/70mm format is not 8K, the resolution is actually 12K (the IMAX version of 65mm/70mm is 18K)
My father worked in the industry that designed processing equipment for the motion picture industry. He held patents in light valves I didn't even know about until I was going through his papers I had in a box long after he passed away I found them. I used to go to the trade shows with him in the 1970's and early 80's. I remember seeing the massive Super Panavision 70mm cameras and processing equipment. The film was heavy, and difficult to handle. Very few films were actually fully shot in 70mm film most were upsized from 35mm to 70mm for projection we always tried to go to the theaters that advertised 70mm. Growing up in my teen years in the 80's always be grateful that I got to see all the movies shot and projected on film something I do miss today. I know digital probably higher quality not the same as film.
Never seen it. Now it’s a must watch!
@@cjkalandek996 i watched it at a re screening last night
It was totally worth the experience it kept me engaged as a 23 year old whose barely a fan of movies i loved it.
Opposite for me, it moved fast, if you live in Cali, New York, or Illinois you can probably see it in 70 for the first time, which I highly, highly, highly recommend.
@@cjkalandek996 I have no idea how you think that. Must be that Tiktok brain.
I'm not disagreeing with the other comments at all. It is worth knowing that its going to to be about 3hour ten mins with some bits of action but lots of very slow paced parts. if you pick a day when your in the mood for that its a class movie
@@r.a.mpicturesI don't even have TikTok. I think it's a waste of an app.
The desert was a seductive force. People from rainy dark UK were fascinated by the light. Isn’t it a work of art? I love that movie.
Well done. I remember seeing this movie when it came out. I was stunned. From the opening scene it was an assault on the senses. I will re-watch it in a few hours.
A restored version of the film was released to theaters in the 1980s, when I was in college. A group of us drove an hour and a half to see it in 70mm. We made the drive again the next week just to see it again. It was breathtaking, the kind of film that changes the way one sees the world ever after.
A visual masterpiece. So awesome!
Glad to see that one million people can still appreciate this film
1964 I was fourteen years old and had the pleasure of seeing "Lawrence of Arabia" at the movie theater. At the time, it was the only movie theater in my hometown with 70mm projection and a 4-channel sound system. Later, I also saw "Doctor Zhivago" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" there.
The visual experience was always phenomenal. The visual power of L.o.A. remains unsurpassed, and I fully agree with your assessment.
Regarding your question: unfortunately I can't remember the details, but at the time I didn't have the impression that any detail had been swallowed up in the black.
I've seen the movie repeatedly on TV, it's simply good, but I miss the 70mm experience on a giant screen.
Perhaps the technical advances in digitization, restoration and projection will one day be so good that there will be a fully-fledged equivalent ... I hope so!
Amazing.
Brilliant film making on all fronts!
Producers, directors, actors and all technical staff.
Many richly deserved thanks to all.
He would often cut in the next scenes sound early. It’s a technique I’ve never seen another director use. It’s effect is magical
ill never forget. in the mid 90s I saw a 70mm print on one of the few remaining original curved Cinerama screens. it was stunning. you could easily see individual grains of sand in the desert
@2:40, perhaps this is a difficult comparison?
Mitchell BFC & FC film cameras, Panavision lenses, Kodak's 5250(Speed 50T), & the Technicolor chemistry placed right next to any high-tech digital camera & its new tech accessories?
The tangible is going to outmaneuver the digital.
The grain off of 50 speed film is righteous, & if you Push or Pull that Film, we are talking poetry with the colors or tonal range (B&W film).
Good content! Keep it going.
Even on a 42-inch tv, those wide shots absolutely convey the unbelievable scale and beauty of the desert; I’d love to see it in a theater
I wish films like this were still made. Even Dune, which I thought was phenomenal, had an artificial feeling desert because of the sets and CGI and even the best shots were only as good as Lawrence’s worst ones
Showing that it is the quality of the people that make the film, not the amount of money thrown at the film. These days we have a lot of very expensive garbage and little real quality of this level. Compare this to Dune 2 that cost about US$200 million to make, Dune 2 is a pale comparison. In todays money, Lawrence of Arabia cost $140 million. Less money and much greater quality.
It also helps that the main actor only gets a pay of 12500$ in a 15.000.000$ production.. more money for the rest. These days the stars suck out half the budgets.
Maurice Jarre's music score is a vital part of the film's success.
Now we have woke
What a weird thing to comment on this video
I saw the movies when it first came out. I was 8 at the time and I completely fell in love with the desert - a love that has never left me.
My Grandma used to take me to the cinema, I have lovely memories of that and more of her, and one of them is of this great film. I was 12 and it had just been released. Images and dialogue are as fresh in my memory now as they were the day after seeing it. Thank you for this analysis.
I love Noël Coward's witty quip about Peter O'Toole's appearance in the film - "If he'd been any prettier, they'd have had to call it Florence of Arabia".
I couldn't agree with you more. I watch this film once a year, usually in the fall or early winter, and each time I'm stunned by it. There are always new details to discover.
I've been meaning to watch this movie for years . Ever since it was featured in the alien sci-fi Prometheus and how the main character mimicked Lawrence. Thought that was very interesting.
So finally spent 2 nites watching on Amazon prime on my projector screen.
This movie is brilliant and beautiful to watch. It's crazy how this film has inspired so many modern cinema.
Got to see this on the big screen with a 70mm print. (Embassy Theatre Wellington NZ) Absolutely Stunning! Awe inspiring. Timeless. Felt like I could walk through the screen and I’d be there.
(I don’t remember there being any issues with the darker tones. So yes, possibly the restoration.)
As almost 50 years old I have seen this movie many times, first time as an 7-8 year old boy and it have always blow'n me away...
-One of the best movies ever made!
Watching this movie for the first time was one of my best experiences ever when it comes to films. I remember it was like 2 am and I was just passing through the channels to find something to watch before going to bed. I saw that Lawrence of Arabia was starting and thought that watching five minutes of it would make me sleep on the couch. But I was wrong, I couldn't blink!
When it finished, the sun was rising, but I was too excited to go to bed. I kept on watching videos about it and reading more information about the movie and the real Lawrence himself.
I just hope that one day I can watch it on cinema to appreciate all the details more clearly.
Watching this movie in a theater will change your life. It is an awesome movie experience! ❤❤❤