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If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know I'm a listaholic. I'll make lists for just about anything movie related, but one such topic I haven't covered (yet) is my Favorite Film Scores. When I get around to compiling and publishing that list, you can bet Lawrence of Arabia will be featured, possibly near the top. Composed by Maurice Jarre over the span of six shorts weeks, the score does what the best scores aim to do - it evokes an emotional response, highlights the action on screen without overpowering it, and helps to create atmosphere. At times, Jarre's score is bombastic and powerful, but it works just as well during its quieter and more subtle moments. In addition to Jarre's original music, which earned him the first of three career Academy Awards for Best Original Score, Lawrence of Arabia also features the march The Voice of the Guns, composed by Kenneth Alford in 1917. This piece is used several times throughout the film to denote the power and breadth of the British army. It's a stirring piece, but I think it pales in comparison to the beautiful music Jarre brought to life, which is used throughout the film - including during the overture and intermission. The American Film Institute listed the score as the third best of all-time, just behind Star Wars (hard to argue against that selection) and Gone with the Wind.

The main reason I wanted to see Lawrence of Arabia on the big screen was because I knew its reputation as such a stunningly photographed film. I had seen clips and a handful of still frames, but those can't compete with viewing the whole thing, from beginning to end on a screen that engulfs your entire field of vision. Even though the print I saw was heavily damaged in parts and mildly damaged throughout, the majesty of Freddie Young's cinematography shone through. The shot composition and the length of the shots - credit to the superb editing work of Anne Coates, who is still active after 50+ years in the business - combined to make some of the most breathtaking visuals I've ever had the pleasure to see. Young and Coates both won Academy Awards for their work - the first of three career wins for Young - which shouldn't be surprising to anyone who has seen this masterful film.

One of my few complaints about the film is the poorly timed intermission, which occurs very late in the film. Since the film runs almost 3.5 hours, you'd expect the intermission to happen close to halfway through. Instead, the intermission - which lasted an ungodly 25 minutes at my screening - occurred after 2.5 hours. The timing interrupted the flow of the film in such a way that the narrative suffered. The first 2.5 hours practically flew by for me - so much so that I was shocked to see what time it was when I got up to stretch and refill my popcorn and soda - but the final act seemed to drag.

I blame this in part due to being so completely removed - literally! - from the film. I understand the point of intermissions in longer films like Lawrence of Arabia, but the timing here really hurt my overall enjoyment. With less than an hour to go, I would have much preferred not having the break at all. When I eventually buy the Blu-ray disc, I will watch it straight through and see how I feel.

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