LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) ..... A VISUAL TREAT

Directed by: David Lean

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is 1962 British EPIC movie based on the life of T.A.LAWRENCE and his experiences in Arabia during 1^st world war. Movie is directed by David Lean and it stars Peter O’Toole in title role of T.A.LAWRENCE. The film has other leading stars like Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Alec Jiuness and Anthony Quayle.

 Lawrence who is a British army lieutenant is posted in Cairo during 1^st world war, he is only known for his unorthodox behavior and his knowledge. He is sent to find the prince faisal and analyze the situation of revolt against Turks. It moves on with how he gets the people of different communities in Arabia to get together and fight for their land. He does some of the unbelievable tasks which were looked impossible. His struggle with his own identity is also important aspect in the movie.   

One word to describe this movie “HUGE”, yes to make this scale of movie is no child’s play. This is made on bigger scale real locations (almost 60% movie is shot in desert) so many long shots covering many people and camels. It has running time of almost 215 minutes (generally movies don’t have running time like this) and it was shot with advanced technology of coming age. If this would have been made today it surely would have been biggest budget movie by far.

Movie is visually superb. Excellent camera work. And background music is excellent and has been used effectively. All the actors did very well especially Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif.

A good option to watch at home on weekend this classic.

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RASHOMON (1950)

Language: Japanese

Directed by: Akira Kurosawa

Movie has taken 12^th century of Japan as backdrop. It starts with two people sitting on gate of RASHOMON under heavy rain and later joining them another guy. These two people, a monk and a woodcutter tell the story of a bandit, a samurai and his wife. Where samurai and his wife were attacked by bandit in forest and samurai gets killed.

The story of samurai, his wife and bandit are told in four different ways by different witnesses in front of authority. One by the bandit, second by samurai’s wife third by samurai’s soul by the medium of his wife and last by the woodcutter who claims that he had seen all the happenings in the forest. but at the end it was believed and concluded that story told by woodcutter was true.

The movie tells the story of how people become selfish and liar. Why and how human beings are unable to be honest with themselves about themselves. They have a tendency to mould the truth and they can not talk about themselves without embellishing.

I think movie was way before its time. Kurosawa has narrated the story with brilliance. He has smartly used all the different characters in narration for different point of views of story. Camera work is also superb to that time ( it is to be noted that the movie was made just few year later the second world war ). All performances are superb.

For me movie has to have a story and that also well crafted and narrated and this movie has all. It’s a classic from Kurosawa will all the merits.  

12 ANGRY MEN (1957)

Directed By: Sidney Lumet

Starring: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E. G. Marshall

     Martin Balsam, Jack Warden, John Fiedler

     Jack Klugman, Edward Binns, Joseph Sweeney

     Ed Begley, George Voskovec, Robert Webber

12 angry men released in 1957 is directed by Sydney Lumet. The story is surrounded by a court jury of 12 men who are to consider a case of 1^st degree murder and the defendant’s (an 18 year old boy) fate of if they found him GUILTY or NOT GUILTY.

The jury consists of 12 different people from the society with distinctive mindsets. Movie starts with a judge instructing jury after the hearing of case about the verdict to be decided by them and as it was 1^st degree murder case the decision of jury must be unanimous and all the members must be of the same conclusion at the end.  After that the whole movie is shot in one room except 2 scenes (one in washroom and one in the climax which is of outside court).

Now as the jury started with their 1^st vote count JURY#8 votes NOT GUILTY and so they have to discuss the whole case and things went through the court-room. The whole movie shows 12 men with different personality from different fields, who think differently, who have nothing in common and even don’t know each other are to decide the fate of the defendant. Two of the jury are rude old men who have their personal bias opinions for slum people and children of young age (the defendant was from slum). Two-three were not much interested in the case they just wanted to finish the things and get out the room to enjoy some baseball match. Others would believe that what ever witness told was true. But as the discussion of case goes on they required to re-think on all the possibilities and why the witnesses would be wrong in testifying.

Sydney Lumet has narrated the script so well that it left the viewer spellbound during 96min of drama. Whole story focuses mainly on behavioral aspects of humans. It has brilliant performances from all the actors and Henry Fonda( who played JURY#8) deserves special mention.

From my point of view the movie was engaging as well as a learning experience (especially for those who are studying Human Behavior or who are interested Human Behavior’s different aspects).

A must watch for classic movie lovers.