Lawrence of Arabia

by L. Robert Morris, Lawrence Raskin, Martin Scorsese (Foreword)

Two years in the making and the winner of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture of the Year, the Sam Spiegel-David Lean screen classic Lawrence of Arabia has been seen and enjoyed by millions since its original release in 1962. This volume, specially compiled to herald the film's thirtieth anniversary, provides, for the first time, a visual and textual account of this remarkable epic's genesis, artistry, and influence, as well as a fascinating new look at the life and legend of T. E. Lawrence. The saga of Lawrence - both the film and the man who inspired it - is told in exciting detail and accompanied by more than five hundred illustrations, two hundred of them in color, and almost all never before published. As the film's authorized commemorative history, this book was produced with complete access to all surviving archives of Columbia Pictures and Sir David Lean, as well as the personal files of the cast and crew. And it includes spectacular frame enlargements from the film, production stills and location photographs, studio memos, script excerpts, costume design sketches, and reproductions of rare memorabilia. This book also features revealing firsthand accounts by the film's creative artists, including Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jose Ferrer, screenwriter Robert Bolt, cinematographer Freddie Young, and costume designer Phyllis Dalton, as well as film restoration wizard Robert A. Harris. Highlights of this unprecedented volume include the intrigues surrounding thirty-five years of futile attempts to film the adventures of T. E. Lawrence, including his impish schemes to foil thirties movie mogul Alexander Korda; historical photos from military archives, and excerpts from Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom and Robert Bolt's brilliant script; the glittering procession of stars - from Leslie Howard to Marlon Brando - who did not play Lawrence; tales of trailblazing filmmaking in the harsh and exotic deserts of Jordan, Egypt,

Genres: Film

237 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1992

Reviews

[Michael Faris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides interesting details and beautiful pictures of Lean's film. If you loved the film, you will enjoy this book. Although i do wish there was more information on the restoration of the film, the issues in the development of the film and the challenges in actually making it are eye opening.

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dare I say an even better behind the scenes look into the movie, its pre and post production, the challenges of making it, the ones who made it, and the restoration efforts. Wish someone hadn’t stolen two pages of the copy I read.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exhaustive recount of an amazing film!

[Althea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of information and photos of the background and making of Lawrence of Arabia.