Cinema Classics Seminar: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
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Saturday June 20, 2026, 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Instructor: Paul Wright, Ph.D., Main Line Classical Academy
Hailed by Scorsese, Spielberg, Kurosawa, and others as the definitive cinema epic, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) continues to cast its spell sixty-four years later. Peter O’Toole is magnetic as the enigmatic and often controversial historical figure, T.E. Lawrence, turning in one of the most captivating early-career performances in film history.
Published in 1926, Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom recounted his participation in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during WWI, portraying its author as a man drawn to the very people he must convince to fight—and by whom he is forever transformed. An inspiration to Frank Herbert’s Dune (among many others), the truths and myths surrounding the life of Lawrence remain endlessly fascinating and the stuff of pure cinema. With pitch-perfect supporting performances by Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn, José Ferrer, and Alec Guinness, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) is also one of the most gorgeously-shot films ever made due to the Oscar-winning cinematography of Freddie Young. The film would claim seven Oscars in total, including Best Picture, for Lean as director, and for Maurice Jarre’s unforgettable score. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) warrants big-screen viewing as well as the rich examination and discussion of a class setting. In this seminar, we’ll do both.
Instructor: Paul Wright, Ph.D., Main Line Classical Academy
Hailed by Scorsese, Spielberg, Kurosawa, and others as the definitive cinema epic, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) continues to cast its spell sixty-four years later. Peter O’Toole is magnetic as the enigmatic and often controversial historical figure, T.E. Lawrence, turning in one of the most captivating early-career performances in film history.
Published in 1926, Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom recounted his participation in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during WWI, portraying its author as a man drawn to the very people he must convince to fight—and by whom he is forever transformed. An inspiration to Frank Herbert’s Dune (among many others), the truths and myths surrounding the life of Lawrence remain endlessly fascinating and the stuff of pure cinema. With pitch-perfect supporting performances by Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn, José Ferrer, and Alec Guinness, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) is also one of the most gorgeously-shot films ever made due to the Oscar-winning cinematography of Freddie Young. The film would claim seven Oscars in total, including Best Picture, for Lean as director, and for Maurice Jarre’s unforgettable score. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) warrants big-screen viewing as well as the rich examination and discussion of a class setting. In this seminar, we’ll do both.
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Where is it happening?
Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 W Lancaster Ave,Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherBryn Mawr Film Institute
