Lawrence of Arabia is the name most associated with the
World War I military figure
T. E. Lawrence. It is also the name of the
Academy Award-winning film based loosely on his life, starring
Peter O'Toole as the title character, directed by
David Lean and produced by
Sam Spiegel. (Lean and Spiegel had recently completed the acclaimed film
The Bridge on the River Kwai). The score by
Maurice Jarre and the on-location cinematography are especially acclaimed.
The film was awarded seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, in 1962. It was named the number five movie of all time by the American Film Institute. The film has been deemed "culturally significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
Despite its 216 minute length (in the most recent Director's Cut), the film includes no women in speaking roles.
