San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
4K restoration of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ screening
The Smith Rafael Film Center, as part of a series of 4K restorations, will be screening a newly minted print of “Lawrence of Arabia,” the 1962 classic starring Peter O’Toole. This is the movie that made and defined O’Toole’s career. He was given an Academy Award nomination (and he should have won; instead, they gave it to Gregory Peck for playing an ineffective lawyer in “To Kill a Mockingbird”).
In addition to O’Toole’s work, there are the marvelous desert vistas to savor, as well as the magnificent theme music by Maurice Jarre. Of course, you could watch this movie on TV any day of the week. But to really bask in the visuals — the image of a man on a horse appearing suddenly on the horizon and gradually getting bigger and bigger — you need the big screen. In fact, “Lawrence of Arabia,” filmed in 70mm, may be the ultimate large-screen movie. “Lawrence of Arabia”: 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, and 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28. $7-$12.50. Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael. www.rafaelfilm.cafilm.org