6. Lawrence Of Arabia - 1962
I told you there was another David Lean film on this list right? Do I even need to get into this one? Is there anybody out there willing to argue Lawrence Of Arabia? Well, in case there is, I'll get to it. 1962 was a strong year for film and that was reflected in the Academy's selection of best picture nominees. The Longest Day, The Music Man, Mutiny On The Bounty, To Kill A Mockingbird, and Lawrence Of Arabia were all chosen, making for a stellar group of five to choose from. That's part of what makes Lawrence of Arabia such a special film - no matter how great those other four films are, David Lean's masterpiece lapped them all. Nominated for ten Academy Awards, it won seven, including: directing for Lean and best picture. It received nominations for lead actor with Peter O'Toole and supporting actor with Omar Shariff. The film also featured another stellar turn by Sir Alec Guinness. The film, based on the life of T.E. Lawrence, was a triumph of technical prowess while still maintaining that intimate beating heart. The world had never seen a movie with the scope on display here and very few in the decades since have been successful in matching it. Side Note: The current high definition transfer of this film is simply stunning. This film truly stands up in all regards, fifty years later.