Watch: Why ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ STILL Looks So Good – A Video Esasy

Watch: Why ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ STILL Looks So Good – A Video Esasy

by Alex Billington
May 26, 2025
Source: YouTube

🎥 “David Lean was obsessed with scale and detail. He wanted the desert to be more than a backdrop – he wanted it to be a character in the story.” Every day is a good day to talk about Lawrence of Arabia. The 1962 all-timer masterpiece directed by David Lean is a must watch on the massive screen if it ever plays near you – for all the reasons explained in here and more. Filmmaker Sareesh Sudhakaran (who is “wolfcrow” on YT) has put together this plain 8-minute video essay examining why Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia still looks so good so magnificent all of these years later (60+ years now and it still looks like “a billion bucks”!). “If you’re a fan of epic storytelling and stunning cinematography, you won’t want to miss this exploration of why Lawrence of Arabia looks the way it does.” He focuses on the film’s iconic desert cinematography, shot by DP Freddie Young using 65mm film stock and exceptional lenses & cameras – filming for an entire year. And yep, it set the standard for how truly epic movies can look. One of his captivating observations is how they frame characters alone when they’re arguing, but together in the frame when they’re in agreement. All of this is fascinating and it makes me want to find a theater showing it in 70mm so I can watch it tonight.

Thanks to Kottke for the top on this video essay. The original intro from Sareesh Sudhakaran’s “wolfcrow” YouTube channel explains: “Dive into the visual brilliance of Lawrence of Arabia in this cinematic deep dive! Discover the secrets behind its iconic look, from the groundbreaking Super Panavision 70 technology to the masterful use of lenses and lighting. Learn how director David Lean and cinematographer Freddie Young crafted some of the most unforgettable images in film history… Watch now and see the desert like never before!” This online video essay is created by Indian filmmaker / cinephile / editor / cinematographer Sareesh Sudhakaran, who runs the “wolfcrow” YouTube and teaches people how to make movies. He also directed a few feature films including Gin Ke Dus released in 2024. You can view more of his work and find his online film school at his official website or follow him on IG @wolfcrowstudios. If you want to watch Lawrence of Arabia, it often shows in theaters or is available rent on VOD now. The 1962 classic won a total of 7 Oscars when it first debuted 63 years ago. To discover + watch more video essays, click here. Thoughts?

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