Final Film Critique

Final Film Critique: Lawrence of Arabia 1962
Crystal Evans
ENG225: Introduction to Film
Instructor: Sarah Carson
Date Submitted: 10/3/2014
Contexual Information
Title: Lawrence of Arabia 1962
Director: David Lean
Cinematographer: Frederick A. Young
Major Actors:
Peter O’Toole – T.E. Lawrence
Alec Guinness – Prince Feisal
Anthony Quin – Auda Abu Tayi
Jack Hawkins – General Allenby
Omar Sharif – Sherif Ali
Claude Rain – Mr. Dryden
Year of Release: 1962
Type of Film: Epic Biographical Adventure Drama
Genre: Epic Film Story/Plot
Story
An expert on the region, Lawrence volunteers to be sent to Arabia, a country he comes to love even more as he adopts its customs and dress. Dryden decides that Arab Bureau needs its own man on the spot, and sends Lawrence to Arabia; Lawrence decides to cross the Nefud and take Akaba, endearing him to both Arabs and British;
But after experiencing the desert’s brutality firsthand, he realizes the futility of trying to change the Arabs’ squabbling nature, he abandons it. Lawrence tries to mold Arabia to suit him through his strength of character, charisma, and leadership qualities. Lawrence goes and takes Akaba, crossing the impossible-to-cross Nefud desert; he solves the Auda-Ali tribal dispute by executing the wrongdoer, his friend Gasim; he competes with Allenby to reach Damascus first. Lawrence sees the larger picture of the Middle East situation, and attempts to unite the territorial tribes and achieve post-war self-determination; he intuitively understands that if they cross the Nefud, Auda’s Howeitat will join them, especially if promised gold; he tries to hold together the quarrelsome tribes in his Arab National Council, and get them to cooperate in keeping Damascus functioning as a city. Lawrence exhausts himself spiritually and physically