Lawrence of Arabia

“One of the most intelligent, handsome, and influential of all war epics.” – Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Let’s say it outright, Lawrence of Arabia is Steven Spielberg’s favorite film of all time (‘a miracle’) and the one that inspired him to become a filmmaker. ’Epic’ is an over-used word in cinema, but David Lean’s 1962, near four-hour journey with TE Lawrence (Peter O’Toole) into the Arabian desert is surely the gold standard for films large in scale, design and delivery. It’s over half a century since Lean chronicled the exploits of Lawrence, an unconventional British officer who struck out alone during World War I with the aid of Bedouins (including Omar Sharif in his most famous role) to fight the Turks in parts of modern Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria. Most striking, still, are the desert scenes filmed by the great Freddie Young: battles yes, but also the film’s harnessing of the searing, inhuman heat of the sandy wilds, first introduced by Lean’s famous cut from a striking match to a rising sun. O’Toole, too, remains compelling, as he swings between arrogance and humility, confidence and doubt. Noel Coward found him so irresistible, he quipped the film should have been titled Florence of Arabia. Winner of seven Oscars and accolades too numerous to mention, you’ll need to dedicate half a day to Lawrence. You’ll be amply rewarded: - it deserves to be seen again on the big screen.

Coral Gables Art Cinema is the only art cinema in the southeastern United States equipped to screen films in 70mm, the high-resolution format that became synonymous with the medium's epics and films of exceptional visual grandeur. To see a film projected in this format is to see them in their full splendor, with pristine image and detailed sound. New screenings are added throughout the year.

About 70mm

70mm film projection is a process of projecting movies onto a big screen using a film print that is 70mm wide, which is about twice the size of regular 35mm film. This wider film format allows for a much greater amount of detail and image quality to be captured and displayed on screen, resulting in a more immersive and visually stunning cinematic experience.

Compared to digital projection, 70mm film projection has several benefits. One of the key benefits is that film prints can reproduce a wider range of colors and shades than digital projection, which can result in more vibrant and lifelike images. Additionally, film prints have a higher resolution than most digital projectors, which means that the images are sharper and more detailed. Film prints are also less prone to issues like pixelation or compression artifacts that can sometimes occur with digital projection.

70mm film projection can also capture a wider aspect ratio than most digital projection formats, which allows for more of the image to be visible on the screen. This wider aspect ratio is especially noticeable in epic movies that feature large landscapes or action sequences.

Overall, 70mm film projection provides a unique and high-quality cinematic experience that is unmatched by digital projection. While digital projection has become the industry standard in recent years, many cinephiles and filmmakers still appreciate the richness and depth that can be achieved using film prints.

Check out the rest of our See It In 70mm program!