Lawrence of Arabia (Single-Disc Edition)

This film begins at T.E. Lawrence’s funeral in 1935 and works backward to the point of his learning to be, first, a map-maker at the beginning of WWI (1914-1918), but acquiring this skill while he was still a student at Oxford. He is now known as an archaeologist, writer, military officer, and diplomat, especially during the Sinai and Palestinian Campaign and Arab Revolt, effectively ending the Ottoman Empire.Like many people who have seen the original 1962 release of Lawrence of Arabia (winner of 7 Academy Awards) in the theaters, I wanted to then re-watch it and other great epic films with important world history themes on DVDs - then the paramount technology (Note that Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg had helped restore a version of the original film for DVD release in 2000). After BluRays had come out, I found and purchased this 50th Anniversary newly-restored 4K version, which also included 3 other discs and other items in special packaging to mark this occasion, to whet my appetite to buy this package.What does this special set contain?I. 8 Things: A 4-disc set (3 film and 1 sound CD) & Other Things: A. Sound Track CD, plus a few new songs B. Disc 1: The newly-restored film an 8K scan/ immediate 4K film restoration, along with “Secrets of Arabia: Picture in Graphs Track”C. Disc 2: Backstories and extras (like Omar Sharif and Peter O’Toole finishing filming on different dates, but both racing though the desert and Atlas Mountains of Morocco, where some scenes were shot, and heading for some carousing, courtesy of Sharif in Casablanca! The two became pals for life after this entire experience! Another good one is King Hussein of Jordan, also a pilot, welcoming the planes bringing in the cast and crew to southern Jordan, where most of the desert battle scenes were filmed. This area in real life has been shot in many films, and for those of us who have visited/ lived in Jordan, it is a source of wonder and amazement.D. Disc 3: Anniversary Gift Set ExclusiveE. A free, authentic sample of 70 mm film frames, whose packet lists its limited edition # on its frontG. An 88-page coffee table book with color photosH. A special 50th Anniversary package, housing all of these items, making this truly a treasure trove of wonderfully-packaged items that owners are proud to show, by placing THIS entire package with items inside on a coffee table!I. The Ultraviolet Download Code (mine was expired, but I would never watch this epic film on anything other than a large-screen HD TV)II. The Exact Quantities of Minutes (Hours) on All Discs, excluding the CD: A. Disc 1, BluRay film: Lawrence of Arabia - 227 minutes (3.78 hours) B. Disc 1, “Secrets of Arabia: Picture in Graphs Track” – 130 minutes (2.16 hours) C. Disc 2 Backstories and related information – 144 minutes (2.40 hours) (TOTAL FILM TIME: 501 minutes (8.35 hours)In a nutshell, what is this film about? Historically, it is about the early 20th century British Empire, with the help of their agent, T.E. Lawrence, loosely following history by uniting the disparate Bedou tribes of Saudi Arabia (Note Anthony Quinn’s stunning portrayal of Auda abu Tayi) to help end the Ottoman Empire (1299-1922), ruled by the Turks which had mercilessly and brutally ruled the ME for 623 years (and caused the Armenian Genocide/ Holocaust from 1915-1917). Specifically related to this include the following: the scene on the British HQ balcony in Cairo. In it, the bleeding Lawrence (whose back was severely lashed in Dara’a, Syria by the Turkish Bey [played brilliantly by Jose Ferrer] who took sadistic pleasure in humiliating Lawrence while torturing and possibly sodomizing him) talked to his commander, General Allenby, played by Jack Hawkins, in which Lawrence agrees to go back in country (Syria) and head Allenby’s men to the meeting in Damascus, to supervise and divvy up the goods/ commodities of the ME. Note that Lawrence had problems with slipping back and forth between the British and Arab Bedou cultures in terms of behavior and dress. The scene in Damascus showed this cognitive dissonance, with his being dressed in desert regalia while behaving like a British Officer reading from the ledger the list of things to be divided and meted out by means of a pre-approved British plan for who would get what. The people in the room, throughout this time were in a state of chaos, gave him no respect, and more chaos broke out amongst the attendees. The end result is that the British then got most of Damascus.This activity, in turn, led to the slicing up of the entire ME region, in chessboard fashion, to change the landscape/ boundaries of certain countries to serve the ruling empires at the time (the UK and France) and then to transfer them to the countries that would later rise to have power. The was done very slowly and almost imperceptively, at a snail’s pace, by means of the following international stepping stones of important documents: The McMahon-Hussein Correspondence (1915-1916); The Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916); Balfour Declaration (1917); The Treaty of Versailles (1919).All of these pieces of paper seemed to sandwich WWI (The Great War to End All Wars), fought from July 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918, with later documents and plans ready to guide what would be mapped out afterwards.In T.E. Lawrence’s 1922 autobiography, he states that “The Arab Revolt had been made under false pretenses.”….”Had I been honorable, I would have sent my men home.” At least he was being honest even if it was in retrospect.All of these disparate parts combined together later to create a new entity in 1948, with the birth of Israel.Lawrence wouldn’t have known about these long-terms plans, though, – very few people would have. His story was only a small cog in a larger system that would later emerge.Current US high school world history educational curricula doesn’t really cover much of this part of world history then, but UK (and French) curricula would. US audiences, then, would have had much of this important historical background and dialog fly right over their heads, especially for younger students who may see this as an action film instead of one that is historical. In today’s global world, though, Americans, especially those who do much reading and travel, would eventually learn what this piece of history was and the results of this that were birthed around the mid-point of the 20th Century. They would specifically learn what really happened, especially to the Palestinians –even though the Balfour Declaration says that they would be respected and protected as a result of this maneuver.During this time period, how could 1 country be given away in order to birth another? Who let it happen and why? Who rules that country today, and who is paying for it? Have these actions led to a better world for everyone involved today?For viewing this film, there are 3 different sections of activities that could be created and used, to create critical dialog according to the age levels of the viewers: Pre-viewing; Viewing; and Post-Viewing. Educators and others could create these activities and share them online.Would I recommend this 50th Anniversary Set? Yes! For the 8.35 hours of film alone, this set is a bargain. For the knowledge of our world history, this set provides immeasurable resources for learning and understanding about our current world today because ‘this current world’ is a result of the activities portrayed in this film. All of these pieces are a pre-‘Chessboard’ to events that continue to shape our world today, with the victors and the losers of Empire, as Zbigniew Brzezinski later showed in his book on the same topic, The Grand Chessboard (1997).

This is the greatest movie I have ever seen. Not only is it superb filmmaking, but the film touches on a personal level I never expected to feel. David Lean's WW1 epic follows the both heroic and tragic military campaign of T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole in an Oscar-nominated role). When we first see Lawrence interact with others, he comes off as a bumbling fool, but his encyclopedic knowledge of the world earns him his first significant mission --- find Arab Prince Feisal, and learn of the Arabs' intentions. Whatever he learns will help the British campaign function more effectively for their own purposes. However, after meeting Feisal and his Sherif Ali, Lawrence instead becomes the central figure in the campaign by uniting the Arabs against the Turkish Empire, rather than report back to his British superiors.Make no mistake - "Lawrence of Arabia" is NOT a war film. There is glory of combat here; the battle sequences are brief and not very well-choreographed. But that's because Lean doesn't want us to see Lawrence's aim-and-shoot techniques. No, instead Lean smartly stays on his facial expressions -- O'Toole's behavior tells the story better than a battle's body count. When an enemy fort is overtaken, the "battle" is simply a camera pan of horses charging in. We don't need to witness an elaborate sequence because we only need to know that the Arabs defeated the Turks. "Lawrence of Arabia" is almost 4 hours, but is stripped to its essentials like those who dwell in its deserts.The film features a wonderful cast of supporting characters. Alec Guinness reteams with David Lean to play Prince Feisal, a leader of patient wisdom and admiration for Lawrence's passion. Omar Sharif made a star-making American debut (and Oscar-nominated performance) as Sherif Ali, whose strong loyalty to Lawrence also brings him immense pain when his friend is also suffering. Lawrence and Ali are as equal as they are opposite; Sharif's chemistry with O'Toole is perfect.The most obvious acheivement of "Lawrence of Arabia" is the cinematography and Lean's direction. Orson Welles "Citizen Kane" is a brilliant piece of filmmaking, but Lean overshadows that classic with more color and vivid imagery. There are too many genius shots to praise. The mirage sequence is the most famous, in which Ali's figure begins as a speck, but then rides ever so closer on a camel with no music...but haunting silence! Or when Lawrence is just assigned his mission: he looks at a burning match, exhales so gently...and the camera quick-cuts to a beautiful sunset in the Arabian desert. We witness the harsh realities of desert warfare, but don't actually see much blood or corpses. Instead, stirring dialogue and tracking shots get a strong enough reaction that the guns and casualties don't really matter.The dialogue is sharp enough to rival "Casablanca" or "Pulp Fiction". Screenwriter Robert Bolt's dialogue is so truthful, poetic, and eloquent -- it's a thrill just to hear these characters 'speak'. The scenes involving strategy and tactics aren't glorious declarations of brilliance; instead, they're more like verbal chess matches between stubborn parties. For example: an Arab Bureau liaison, Dryden (Claude Rains at his smarmiest), is devilishly manipulative. However, Rains' tonation is neutral yet wicked. When a reporter asks Dryden what happened during a secret meeting, he casually replies "Oh...nothing...nothing at all." His lies are so obvious, telling us he intentionally rubs the secrecy in his adversaries' faces.Another remarkable acheivement is Maurice Jarre's music score. Simply put, it's amazing and legendary! Thankfully, the DVD keeps the 4 and 1/2 minute Overture, Intermission, and Exit Music. For those unfamiliar, when cinematic epics played in movie theatres, music was played before the movie began. It helped audiences settle in and get ready for the film to begin. There were no images on the screen, but the music just played. The filmmakers took great pride in the best presentation possible for a film that took about 2 years to make. "Lawrence of Arabia" is as much as pleasure to listen to as it to watch it.Another point on the main character - credit for the portrayal of T.E. Lawrence belongs equally to the entire production team. Bolt knew how to write him, Lean knew how to shoot him, Jarre knew what music to write for him, Anne Coates knew how to properly edit and pace his character, and O'Toole knew how the play him. This strong collaberation of artists results in a rarity: we, the audience, can relate to a historical figure who a total 'enigma'. As presented in the film, T.E. Lawrence was a man of dual-willed dilemmas. He keeps unfathomable promises, but lacks the heart to be satisfied. He's a central war figure who inspires many, but eventually rejects his talents.As I said earlier, the character is collaborative effore - I forgot to mention the supporting characters who give their take on this bizarre man. They, I believe, is the heart of the film. One of the opening scenes reveals differing opinions on Lawrence's legacy. A reporter calls him a "shameless exhibitionist", while a British soldier calls him "a very great man". But is there any truth is what any of these men say? And if so, do they have enough credibility to even have an opinion? T.E. Lawrence (according the film) never really knew who he was or what he really wanted. Because of that confusing shell, his outcast reputation strengthed his ego to accomplish daring feats like crossing an endless desert, but also deeply hurt those closest to him (and those who only wanted his talents)."Lawrence of Arabia" is a one-of-a-kind experience. It has powerful music, unforgettable camera shots, beautiful dialogue, jaw-dropping images, spectacular sequences, stellar acting, and historical significance! There will never be a greater cinema epic than "Lawrence of Arabia"...DVD NOTESThere are two versions of this movie on DVD.1) A One-Disc version that has no Special Features. That is worth a purchase alone, because you can watch the film in one sitting.2) This Limited Edition DVD splits the movie into two halves. The video and audio quality appear to be the same, but the 2-Disc release has full-motion menus with music, whereas the other version only has freeze-frame menus. The second Disc includes an outstanding making-of documentary, some comments from Steven Spielberg on the restoration, and a few neat promotional materials. Seeing thses artists work themselves tirelessly for 2 years will only further your appreciation for this movie. Even if you don't share my praise for the film, you will admire the patience and hard work that everybody invested into it. This was not one man's vision; "Lawrence of Arabia" is collage of brilliant filmmakers and artists composing an unforgettable tale!I've often heard people say one film is their 'favorite', but then they say another is the 'greatest'. To me, my all-time favorite and standard of greatness are the same film. Watch this film immediately!

Lo mas sorprendente a parte de la resolución 4K con su grano, ha sido el sonido, para probarla llegué hasta el bombardeo del campamento y oyes los aviones volar por arriba de un canal hacia otro y las bombas explotar en los canales inferiores.Una maravilla que se puede hacer con una pista nativa 4.0La mejor edición y dificil de conseguir en España.Mereció la pena pagar el sobrecoste de traer de los E.E.U.U. porque la cara edicion del paquete de Columbia es casi imposible de encontrar en Europa y carisima.

You will immediately detect an air of reverence in my little film on YouTube 'Unveiling the Great Lawrence of Arabia'. This was not due to my paying $55 for an old film but it is one of my three best movies I have seen in my life. And now one of them has the 4K treatment, I don’t have 4K facilities but often the 2K blu ray is improved and it all comes in a steelbook enclosure.First the price was not such a shock as I recently secured a refund on The Mandalorian steelbook just about the same price. The Mandalorian was alright to watch but I could not imagine myself viewing that first series again. There are other comparisons apart from price. Lawrence of Arabia is 3h 46m whilst the Star Wars spin-off is total 3h 20m. I will watch tonight to see if the Intermission is included for Lawrence. Ice creams ready.As the temperature drops on our digital thermometers Lawrence lights a match on our disposable culture. Where these days every character is either good or rancid, here we witness men under fire reacting to events. Lawrence is neither good or bad. Neither set in his way or a wandering soul. He could be the definition of the unreliable narrator except for one thing. They used to call it integrity. A broader view.Aloneness.

De la peli nada que decir… (quien no la conozca que la vea, cualesquiera su edad).Calidad Blu-ray que no está mal (tengo DvD original y lo mejora algo) pero evidentemente no calidad de los actuales, es una versión restaurada de un film de más de 50 años.

TRES beau films je l'avais déjà vu mais à revoir, j'aime bien Omar SHARIF il est super dans ce rôle dont il est originaire du pays où il est né... JE RECOMMANDE

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Sublime movie. A true classic. It looks fantastic in 4k.