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This David Lean film starring Peter O'Toole is considered one of the pre-eminent classics of both war cinema and American cinema.  It's one of the best reviewed war films of all time, is one of the few war films to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, and is one of the war films that mattered from the 1960s.

The film - based on a true story - starts with Lawrence a low-ranking officer in the British military based in Cairo during the first World War.

 He's given an assignment to go to "Arabia" where he is to meet with the indigenous forces and attempt to enlist their help to fight against the Turkish, allies of Germany.

One of the things that I like about this film is it focuses on a part of the war that we're not used to seeing.  Typically, for either of the first world wars, filmmakers like to show us occupied France, or maybe Iwo Jima in the Pacific.  But both world wars actually had global participation, and their was action occurring in the Middle East simultaneous to the main show in Europe.  Turkey was part of the Axis alliance, though one that is rarely mentioned.  And the front in Arabia (an undefined area of the now modern Middle East to include what is modern-day Jordan) was one of the lesser important campaigns against the Turks.  All of which is to say, Lawrence isn't playing center stage, he's participating in a lesser front, in a forgotten part of the war, against an almost forgotten Axis ally, but still here too, heroes can be made.

The Arabs that Lawrence meets are mostly Bedouins - they are migratory, tribal, and Muslim.  They are too busy bickering amongst themselves, nursing age old rivalries to ever unite together to defeat the Turks.  Their allegiance isn't to a nation-state, so they're not even sure if Turkey's control over Arabia is a bad thing; it certainly doesn't seem to affect them in anyway.  But Lawrence plays on their baser instincts, promising them looting rights and glory, if they accompany him in battle.

Slowly, Lawrence begins to build an Army, one that wages a guerrilla war of destruction against the Turkish forces, taking over important port towns, blowing up trains carrying supplies, and essentially sapping the ability of Turkey to fight in Arabia.

Along the way though, Lawrence, already an enigmatic figure, begins to transform.  He's heralded by the Arabs because of their witnesses of several heroic acts, and Lawrence begins to lap up this exultation and believe in his own myth.  He soon sees his campaign in religious terms, with himself centered as the messiah figure that can finally bring freedom to the peoples of Arabia.  (In this way, he's a lot like Patton, the American military commander who also saw himself as destined for glory.)

(Click here for the Top 'Going Native' War Films.)

Reality, of course, is a bit more messy.  It's not exactly clear from the film that the Arabs desire democracy as its practiced by the British and Americans.  And, in any case, the British have designs to replace Turkey as a state benefactor, so it's really just trading one for the other.

By the film's mid-point, there's an iconic scene when Lawrence returns to Cairo to explain to his military commanders that he's taken the city of Aqaba with just fifty Arab fighters.  Taking Aqaba was seen as an impossible task, as this sea side city had heavy guns, which would have decimated any Naval force attempting to attack from the sea.  And behind Aqaba was the world's most harsh desert, one which was deemed impossible to cross.  (Don't tell Lawrence that something is impossible!  He'll just try to do it, which was, in fact, how he approached Aqaba unseen and managed to take the city.)  It's quite a sight watching Lawrence matter-of-factly explain that although not ordered to do so, he decided to use his initiative and take the city of Aqaba.  He's also in traditional Arab dress, and filthy from living in the desert for weeks on end, as he explains this.  To all the other dignified British officers at the officer's club, having drinks in their heavily pressed spic and shine uniforms, it's quite a sight to behold.

It should be said that from this mid-point in the film, Lawrence's obsession with freeing Arabia only grows.  I won't ruin the ending (though it's a verifiable historical fact how it ended), but suffice to say there are many battles, much bloodshed, betrayals, and all matter of intrigue.

This is a near perfect film.  It's scenes are rich and luxurious, as if no expense was spared in customs, or set design.  It's camera work is bold and extravagant and epic.  The musical score is beautiful, one that would likely be recognized by many if they heard it.  The performances are top notch, and at three hours, David Lean can afford to indulge in the sort of slow scenes that really help build characters and plot points.

If you haven't ever seen this classic war film, it is a must see.  Though save it for an afternoon where you won't be interrupted and can watch it in one go.