# Lawrence of Arabia (Here be Spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 27, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194 "2005-02-27T22:27:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/21 "2005-02-28T04:47:09Z")
Oops, that was the 1994 World Cup. The Rose Bowl isn’t in Italy. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/22 "2005-02-28T05:08:22Z")
Anaamika Two questions. In your OP, did you mean Bridge on the River Kwai? A Bridge too Far is pretty darn war like. Also, I remember you complaining about actors playing an ethinicity that they were not in real life. Does this film change your mind about that? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/23 "2005-02-28T05:49:23Z")
Another great Peter O’Toole performance: _The Stunt Man._ ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/24 "2005-02-28T06:06:19Z")
Christ on a crutch. They were burping, not farting And Lawrence never said “I like it” in response to being raped. I loved the line by Bolt (the writer) about Lean (the director) and Spiegel (the producer), both noted big-spenders. He said they were pouring rivers of money into the sand. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/25 "2005-02-28T06:33:30Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > The scene I remember is when he was alone with Ali, in a small camp, after he was released. Lawrence is kind of huddled into himself, partly in pain, and partly, I imagine, from the shame of what happened. He says those words when Ali speaks to him about the incident. I remember him saying something about being ashamed he would have told them anything of his plans (because of the torture) but they just didn’t ask. A shameful confession for a ‘warrior’ I suppose but nothing on the level of admitting to liking being raped and tortured. I think it’s obvious you’re confusing the two different confession moments. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/26 "2005-02-28T06:50:52Z")
You are right, I was confusing them. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/27 "2005-02-28T08:38:15Z")
4 hours long and not a single speaking part for a woman! “LoA” is apparently Kevin Spacey’s favourite film… mm ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/28 "2005-02-28T10:29:48Z")
I see we have a new “Minister of Political Correctness” on the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![jinty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jinty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jinty)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/29 "2005-02-28T13:07:40Z")
> [@mamboman](#): > > 4 hours long and not a single speaking part for a woman! I suspect that’s quite deliberate on director Lean’s part, given the overwhelmingly masculine nature of early 20c military life in general, and Lawrence’s in particular. According to the staggeringly comprehensive [Lawrence Info](http://www.telawrence.info/) website: “Lawrence did not marry or live at any time with a partner, of either sex. As far as we know he never voluntarily had an intimate relationship with anyone - man or woman.” The same site has more info on the [rape at Deraa](http://www.telawrence.info/life/faq.htm#L). * * * T.E. Lawrence: Michael George Hartley, this is a nasty, dark little room. Hartley: That’s right. T.E. Lawrence: We are not happy in it. Hartley: It’s better than a nasty, dark little trench. T.E. Lawrence: Then you’re an ignoble fellow. Hartley: That’s right. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/30 "2005-02-28T13:32:46Z")
**Anaamika** , the movie _How To Steal A Million_ lets the camera worship Peter enough to satisfy his biggest fans. It’s a darned good romantic comedy caper, too. I’ve mentioned this before in other threads, but wouldn’t Peter O’Toole have made a good James Bond? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/31 "2005-02-28T14:25:09Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Anaamika > > Two questions. > > In your OP, did you mean Bridge on the River Kwai? A Bridge too Far is pretty darn war like. > > Also, I remember you complaining about actors playing an ethinicity that they were not in real life. Does this film change your mind about that? Both answers: I meant _A Bridge Too Far_. What I said was, “this movie is much less war-like than _A Bridge Too Far_”, as \*A Bridge Too Far \* was a beautiful war drama. This was more of a beautiful drama that happened to take place during a war. As for your other question, yes and no. I would still rather see actors playing their own ethnicity but when a movie is done well, and directed well, it doesn’t matter too muhc. I’m a hedonist, I’m all about enjoying it. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/32 "2005-03-01T01:40:15Z")
All you Peter O’Toole freaks would be wise to check out **Rogue Male** , although it _is_ hard to find and is rarely shown on TV anymore. Set in 1939 England, O’Toole plays a loopy aristocrat who takes it upon himself to try to assassinate Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/33 "2005-03-01T05:00:59Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > We need spoiler boxes for a film that was released over 40 years ago? Yes. Not everyone was around 40 years ago. Every year brings a whole new audience that has never seen any given film. Not everyone has seen _Casablanca_, not everyone has read _Lord of the Rings_, not everyone has heard _Who’s on first?_ But they might want to or plan to, and not want it spoiled. Thus, we have spoiler boxes. > [@BobT](#): > > When I was backing to my car at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena after a match in the 1990 World Cup after a particularly hot day, he said to me “Aqaba … From the land!” I don’t understand this. Who said this? Omar Sharif? ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/34 "2005-03-01T05:16:43Z")
It’s a key part of the movie. The city of Akaba is only aproachable by the sea because to get to it by land means crossing the scorching Nefud desert. Which is impossible. But not for Lawrence, to whom nothing is written unless he writes it. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/35 "2005-03-01T05:22:04Z")
About ten or twelve years ago, the Wang Center in Boston showed Lawrence of Arabia in its original aspect ratio, which, from the lookj of it, was something insane like 3.5:1 (the IMDB lists it as 2.20:1 on the negative, but I’m here to tell you it was much wider than that on the screen), just this huge, custom screen stretching across the stage showing these desert panoramas. It was an absolutely bitter cold night, with the wind throwing needles of cold right through your clothes as it whipped down Tremont Street. However, the power of the gigantic desert scenes was such that intermission saw the entire capacity crowd racing for the water fountains and drink vendors, fanning themselves and feeling parched. Amazing. I have to second My Favorite Year as a near-perfect comedy performance by O’Toole, as well as a very fun, enjoyable film in its own right. If you like unrestrained comic weirdness, try Ruling Class. You’ll never forget its rendition of the tradional spiritual, “Dry Bones”. Skip Caligula. He’s barely in it, anyway, and it’s the most unwatchable adult film ever made. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/36 "2005-03-01T05:54:28Z")
**scotandrsn** wrote > [@](#): > > I have to second My Favorite Year as a near-perfect comedy performance by O’Toole, as well as a very fun, enjoyable film in its own right. Is that the one where O’Toole goes into a Lady’s restroom, a lady says “This is for ladies only”, and O’Toole responds “So is this, ma’am. but every now and then I have to run a little water through it.”? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/37 "2005-03-01T06:49:20Z")
I still think that if you’re visiting this board and you happen to not have seen a 40 year old movie and you are worried about the plot being spoiled, you could just not bother to read the thread. But that’s just me. I will defer to the wishes of the majority. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/38 "2005-03-01T14:29:09Z")
A great film with a great Peter O’Toole performance is The Lion in Winter. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/39 "2005-03-01T15:09:05Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > I still think that if you’re visiting this board and you happen to not have seen a 40 year old movie and you are worried about the plot being spoiled, you could just not bother to read the thread. But that’s just me. I will defer to the wishes of the majority. No, of course you’re right. But I like spoiler boxes. They’re like happy little surprises for me, and I love surprises. I caught myself the other day using a spoiler box for Seven Samurai, and that’s even older. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194/40 "2005-03-01T17:33:41Z")
> [@Bill H.](#): > > It’s a key part of the movie. > > The city of Akaba is only aproachable by the sea because to get to it by land means crossing the scorching Nefud desert. Which is impossible. > > But not for Lawrence, to whom nothing is written unless he writes it. Yes, but in your original quote, you mentioned being in Pasadena on a hot day and “he” said to you, yadda yadda. Who is “he”? And now that you’ve explained the context, was it impossible to get to Pasadena? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawrence-of-arabia-here-be-spoilers/292194.md?page=3)