Lot Essay
The moment Peter O'Toole as Lawrence was pursuaded by Omar Sharif as Sherif Ali to discard his Army uniform for the white robes of a Sherif marked a significant point in the film ...Lawrence is now an Arab. At the same time, he looks like no other Arab in the film; rather than taking on the identity of his comrades, he assumes a visually unique role...Here, in particular, we sense the actor behind the role. Lawrence and O'Toole seem to be both reveling in and in awe of the part they are playing, uncertain of what to do next but at the same time aware that from now on there is no turning back: destiny calls. The moment is privileged: Lawrence will never again seem so winning and so vulnerable... -- Michael Anderegg
The clothes were so comfortable I practically turned into a transvestite! I thought I'd literally end up running around in a nightie for the rest of my days! -- Peter O'Toole
The costumes for Lawrence of Arabia were created by Phyllis Dalton after extensive research. Apparently Dalton's biggest frustration was with the Damascan tailors rather than with the design, as it proved to be very difficult to get the tailors to produce the duplicates needed of each intricately embroidered costume. ...the long embroidered silk shirt of Peter O'Toole's white outfit was created in London, and then embroidered in Damascus, to ensure an authentic look. Dalton would approve a sample and then find -- to her frustration -- that she needed to order as many as two dozen to get just six approximately the same: the enterprising tailors would decide to progressively 'improve upon' the original design... Phyllis Dalton's efforts with the costumes for Lawrence... were so successful that almost everyone thought that the Arabs were simply wearing their own clothing. David Lean was upset that Phyllis had not been nominated for an oscar and wrote to her ...I blame Columbia and Sam for not somehow getting you nominated for your wonderful job. You did it so beautifully that I think they failed to realize every costume was an original by you.... Dalton went on to win Academy Awards for her designs for Lean's next film Dr Zhivago and Branagh's Henry V, and a BAFTA for The Hireling and a BAFTA Special Award in 1994.
Lawrence Of Arabia, Columbia, 1962 won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and three nominations including Peter O'Toole for Best Actor, and dominated the ceremonies honouring the films of 1962. After an extensive, difficult and costly restoration the film premiered again in 1989 to rapturous reviews. Steven Spielberg recalled that Lawrence of Arabia was the first film I saw that made me want to be a moviemaker... and Martin Scorsese commented that seeing Lawrence...was one of the great cinema experiences... In 1995 the authoritative weekly paper Variety proclaimed Lawrence of Arabia - the "Best of the Best" -- the best film ever to win a Best Picture Oscar.
The clothes were so comfortable I practically turned into a transvestite! I thought I'd literally end up running around in a nightie for the rest of my days! -- Peter O'Toole
The costumes for Lawrence of Arabia were created by Phyllis Dalton after extensive research. Apparently Dalton's biggest frustration was with the Damascan tailors rather than with the design, as it proved to be very difficult to get the tailors to produce the duplicates needed of each intricately embroidered costume. ...the long embroidered silk shirt of Peter O'Toole's white outfit was created in London, and then embroidered in Damascus, to ensure an authentic look. Dalton would approve a sample and then find -- to her frustration -- that she needed to order as many as two dozen to get just six approximately the same: the enterprising tailors would decide to progressively 'improve upon' the original design... Phyllis Dalton's efforts with the costumes for Lawrence... were so successful that almost everyone thought that the Arabs were simply wearing their own clothing. David Lean was upset that Phyllis had not been nominated for an oscar and wrote to her ...I blame Columbia and Sam for not somehow getting you nominated for your wonderful job. You did it so beautifully that I think they failed to realize every costume was an original by you.... Dalton went on to win Academy Awards for her designs for Lean's next film Dr Zhivago and Branagh's Henry V, and a BAFTA for The Hireling and a BAFTA Special Award in 1994.
Lawrence Of Arabia, Columbia, 1962 won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and three nominations including Peter O'Toole for Best Actor, and dominated the ceremonies honouring the films of 1962. After an extensive, difficult and costly restoration the film premiered again in 1989 to rapturous reviews. Steven Spielberg recalled that Lawrence of Arabia was the first film I saw that made me want to be a moviemaker... and Martin Scorsese commented that seeing Lawrence...was one of the great cinema experiences... In 1995 the authoritative weekly paper Variety proclaimed Lawrence of Arabia - the "Best of the Best" -- the best film ever to win a Best Picture Oscar.