Noted 4.3 out of 5 is one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of cinema and Star Wars owes him a lot!

Rewarded by 7 Oscars in 1962, including those of the best film and the best director, this feature film is also in the list of works deemed culturally essential by the Library of the United States Congress. This recognition is fully justified, as the impact of Lawrence of Arabia has marked the history of cinema, inspiring directors such as George Lucas, James Cameron or Denis Villeneuve.

Under the direction of David Lean, this epic story redefined the way of telling and staging adventure stories, inviting us to dream of distant horizons and extraordinary challenges. Films like Star Wars, Avatar, Dune, Prometheus or the spy that loved me owes a lot to this grandiose fresco which continues to captivate the world of cinema and that of science fiction today.

An epic taken from a true story

During the First World War, the British officer Thomas Edward Lawrence, played brilliantly by Peter O'Toole, was responsible for freeing the Arabian Peninsula from the Ottoman yoke. To succeed, he integrated into the Arab tribes, adopting their customs, which allows him to gain the confidence of Prince Fayçal, played by Alec Guinness. However, this alliance will be put to the test in the face of the political ambitions of the European powers.

The scenario, designed by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson, relies on the authentic life of Thomas Edward Lawrence to develop a complex and exciting intrigue. The score of Maurice Jarre, sumptuous costumes and grandiose landscapes reinforce even more immersion in this extraordinary journey.

Despite its imposing duration – 3:36 -, the film fully captures attention thanks to the performance of memorable actors. Peter O'Toole embodies Lawrence with intensity and depth, whileAlec Guinnessbefore his emblematic role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Warsbrings wisdom and subtlety to his character. The result is a fascinating work that holds the spectator in suspense from start to finish.

A legacy that extends to the stars

As Adorocinema recalled, although the desert is not a novelty in the cinema, the way in which the director of photography Freddie A. Young sublimated these arid expanses has deeply influenced other works. Frank Herbert himself was inspired by these sets to create the universe of Dunewhich has recently been adapted on the big screen with resounding success.

Horizon Pictures

The inheritance of Lawrence of Arabia Also manifests itself in the Star Wars saga. The scenes on the Tatooine planet clearly evoke the landscapes crossed by Lawrence and its allies. In addition, the very appearance of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) recalls that of Lawrence himself.

Horizon Pictures / Lucasfilm Ltd.

Some of the recent franchise films, such as Rogue One or the Ascension of Skywalker, have also shot several sequences in the Jordanian desert of Wadi Rum, the same emblematic filming place as that of the film of David Lean. The Plaza de España in Seville, visible in Lawrence of Arabia As a military base in Cairo, was also used to represent a building on the Naboo planet in the attack of the clones.

Finally, the series Le Book de Boba Fett reproduces a scene inspired by a key moment in the original film where Lawrence and her allies intercept a Turkish train, transposed with Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) and the Tuskens.

The influence of this film monument greatly exceeds the examples cited. Noted 4.3 out of 5 by the spectators of Allociné, Lawrence of Arabia Continue to shine, ready to inspire many generations.

The classic is to be reviewed in streaming on Prime Video.