The incomparable Peter O’Toole, who recently journeyed on from us, began his film career with two movies that went unproclaimed. But then, he hit the ground running as T.E. Lawrence in David Lean’s magnificent LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, and thereafter commanded international movie screens for over 60 years.
By Peggy Nelson
Lawrence of Arabia – 1962 – dir. David Lean
Size DOES matter.
Some films need to be seen on the big screen. I first saw Lawrence of Arabia (dir. by David Lean, 1962) on one of the biggest, the UC Theatre in Berkeley, California. A giant screen is not only the appropriate frame for the stunning cinematography in this film, it is the only canvas large enough for its title subject. T. E. Lawrence was one of those rare people whose life comprised a perfect storm of circumstance and talent, creating a man worthy of a 70mm, almost 4-hour film; a figure truly larger than life.