Search - Maurice Jarre :: Lawrence of Arabia (Newly restored edition) (1963 Film)

Extraordinary Score, Ordinary CD

Jurgis Rudkus | Boston, MA USA | 03/10/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, the original recording of Jarre's "Lawrence of Arabia" score is far superior to any of the rerecordings. No performance will ever again match the fire and verve of the first. Thus it is highly advisable that you pass on the Tony Bremner rerecording also widely available. That said, this CD is not what it could or should be. Only thirty three minutes of music are on the album, and the sound quality is not as high as it should be. The CD appears to essentially be the record on Compact Disc, and I'm not even sure if it was digitally remastered.) In its defense, though, I have heard the original recording remastered and, due to the unusual method in which it was scored (On a soundstage, not in a recording studio) the sound quality can only reach a certain level. Also, though some have complained about the music being out of order, it gives the CD an admirable dramatic structure. The music fan is advised to try and find the Varese Sarabande album, which was released about ten years ago but is now rare. (I think it is available at www.varesesarabande.com) That album included an exta cue ("In Whose Name Do You Ride?) and extended the finale with a cut from the overture. If, however, you don't care about such things, than go ahead and buy this album."

A Masterpiece

Steve Rawlings | Denver, CO USA | 04/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Lawrence of Arabia," one of the most compelling character studies ever captured on film, is the story of T.E. Lawrence, the eccentric British officer who united the bedouin tribes of Arabia against the Turks in World War I. The story unfolds in the haunting beauty of the vast, harsh, and unforgiving deserts of the Middle East.Maurice Jarre, through eloquent musical composition, gives voice to both the man and the desert. Lawrence was a man conflicted by personal ambition and a romantic image of the Arab cause. Jarre's crisp, syncopated musical rhythms vividly portray the exotic Arabian culture that so appealed to Lawrence. The majestic moments of the score, however, are reserved for the desert. Jarre's sweeping orchestrations blend with David Lean's expansive visual images to evoke the raw, physical power of the desert. This unforgettable synergy of sight and sound is perhaps the finest ever recorded on film. The music on this CD is not presented in the exact sequence in which it appeared in the movie. It is of small consequence. I have collected soundtracks from numerous motion pictures over the past 40 years. This is one of the finest musical scores in my collection."