Watched this for the first time on 4K disc over five sittings — I actually thought that it ended in a weird spot and then the words “Intermission” came onscreen, making me laugh. I don’t know much about the actual history of T. E. Lawrence but I was surprised (complimentary) at how much the film points to the British actions as a contributing force to today’s geopolitical mess.
There are aspects here that have not aged well, notably the white actors cast in MENA character roles. The craft, though…we used to make capital-M movies, y’all. I’m more familiar with David Lean through his early work like Brief Encounter, so the expansive canvas and sheer scale here was overwhelming at times. I can see why Sinners’ Oscar-winning cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw name-checked this film as a key inspiration. (Also thinking about this recent NY Times article about lighting and focus — most of this movie is in deep focus, no shallow DOF.)