1962 Film Poster - Director David Lean
I put off watching this for one or two days, simply because of its length - it is slightly more than one minute longer than Gone with the Wind and is the longest movie ever to win a Best Oscar Picture. Less importantly, I stalled because I am not a fan of Peter O'Toole.
Well, now I have sat through the epic blockbuster. The real stars? The sand and rocks of the desert just beat the orange-red sunrises to top spot. The desert scenes were shot in Jordan and Morocco, as well as Almeria and Doñana in Spain - they are breath-taking, but occasionally one feels one is holding one's breath a little too long. Apparently, O'Toole, in an interview, said of the desert, I loathe it. The majestic awfulness of the backcloths are further emphasised by the powerful music. Scenes that stick in one's mind are the various battle charges; the row of camels and men on the skyline or stretched out along the sand or in the valleys; the two aeroplanes attacking the Arabs below; the echoes resounding from the rocky slopes of a valley; and, of course, the long shot of Omar Sharif gradually appearing from far-off, repeated again with O'Toole. Some of the close-ups are also very good: the camera shot up from the bottom of a well; the stick shoved up a camel's arse; the dropping of the belt etc. from the struggling Arab; the ecstatic Lawrence 'modelling' his new Arab outfit; the row of Arab women's faces; the big gun above Aqaba pointing out to sea; the Arab boy being sucked into the quicksand; Lawrence's face as he is beaten...
Sherif Ali (Omar Sharif) approaches
It is very much a Director's (David Lean) picture rather than an actor's, although there are some very good performances.
As for the Cast: Peter O'Toole certainly gives a powerful performance and is at his best, when he suggests the turmoil going on in that strange head of Lawrence. Passionate, narcissistic, arrogant (they can only kill me with a golden bullet), unbalanced, capable of compassion and cruelty, it only hinted at a possible masochistic and indeterminate sexuality. It is interesting that two actual homosexuals, Anthony Perkins and Montgomery Clift were briefly considered for the part. Marlon Brando was offered it - he could have done the ego bits, but the Arabs, let alone the viewer, probably would not have made out what he was mumbling. Albert Finney was actually cast but was fired after two days! Why? A favourite quote about Lawrence for me was that he had a genius for backing into the limelight.
Peter O'Toole as Lawrence of Arabia
Alec Guinness put in a remarkable turn as Prince Faisal (particularly after just watching him in The Bridge on the River Kwai). Originally the part was Lawrence Olivier's, but he dropped out. In his diary, Guinness said he met several people who had known Faisal who actually mistook him for the late prince. His Arab accent was developed from a conversation with Omar Sharif. Guinness has some of the best lines in the film:
The English have a great hunger for desolate places (recalling Gordon of Khartoum etc.)
The man who gains victory in battle is prized beyond any other man...
With Lawrence mercy is a passion; with me it is merely good manners...
There is nothing further here for a warrior. We drive bargains; old men's work. Young men make wars, and the virtues of warfare are the virtues of young men. Courage and hope for the future! Old men make the peace, and the vices of peace are the vices of old men - mistrust and caution.
Jack Hawkins (as General Allenby) actually shaved his head for the role; he and Anthony Quayle (Col. Harry Brighton) both clashed with David Lean on their roles' interpretations. Both gave solid performances. Amazingly, the Allenby part might have been given to Cary Grant. The real Allenby spoke very highly of Lawrence, saying on the latter's death that I have lost a good friend and a valued comrade. Anthony Quinn made a splendid Auda abu Tayi - he spent hours applying his own makeup. Apparently, when he first arrived on the set, David Lean mistook him for a native and asked an assistant to ring Quinn and say he was being replaced! I was delighted to see a favourite actor of mine, Claude Rains (Mr. Dryden) in the film, playing the smooth diplomat. Of course, the film catapulted Omar Sharif (Sherif Ali) and his brown eyes onto the international movie stage. Again, strangely, Horst Buchholz and Alain Delon were both offered the role before Sharif.
Camels, men and the Desert
The movie was a huge financial and critical success and is regarded a masterpiece of world cinema and one of the greatest films ever made. The American Film Institute ranked the movie 5th in its original and 7th in its updated 100 Years...100 Movies lists. In 1999, the film was placed 3rd in the British Film Institute's poll of the best British films of the 20th century. Rotten Tomatoes states: The epic of all epics, Lawrence of Arabia cements director David Lean's status in the filmmaking pantheon with nearly four hours of grand scope, brilliant performances, and beautiful cinematography.
What would Lawrence make of the Middle East now? Cynically, soon afrer carved up by the British and French (the Sikes-Picot agreement is mentioned at the end of the film), the coherent Arab world lies presently in tatters.
2011 DVD
The next film is The Longest Day. We are in amongst the block-busters now; a far cry from the more intense human-focussed Ice Cold in Alex and others that have gone before.
No comments:
Post a Comment