'Lawrence of Arabia' set for rerelease

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CENTENNIAL, Colo., Sept. 7 (UPI) -- "Lawrence of Arabia" will be re-released in U.S. theaters to mark the Oscar-winning epic's 50th anniversary, Fathom Events and Sony Pictures Entertainment said.

Directed by David Lean and starring Peter O'Toole, Omar Shariff, Claude Rains, Anthony Quinn and Alec Guinness, the digitally restored movie will be back on the big screen in select theaters Oct. 4.

The special anniversary screening will feature a pre-recorded introduction by Sharif, as well as newsreel footage showing the film's New York premiere and King Hussein visiting the set in Aqaba where he met Lean, O'Toole and producer Sam Spiegel as they were making the movie.

In the film, O'Toole plays T.E. Lawrence, a young, idealistic British officer in World War I assigned to the camp of Guinness' Prince Feisal, an Arab tribal chieftain and leader in a revolt against the Turks. Lawrence ultimately leads 50 of Feisal's men in a three-week crossing of the Nefud Desert to attack the strategic Turkish-held port of Aqaba. Following his successful raids against Turkish troops and trains, Lawrence's leadership and courage gain him nearly god-like status among the Arabs, a synopsis said.

"'Lawrence of Arabia' deserves a spectacular golden anniversary celebration on the silver screen," Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of Fathom Events, said in a statement Thursday. "This epic film starring Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif is one of the greatest films in the history of cinema with special footage that fans won't want to miss."

The "Lawrence of Arabia" limited-edition, four-disc collector's gift set will be released Nov. 13 on Blu-ray.