10 War Movie Moments You'll Never Forget

One of the greatest, most biggest films ever made, David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia almost has too many memorable scenes to list off. It's a legendary film filled with legendary moments, anchored by a powerhouse performance from Peter O'Toole, who is joined by the likes of other inimitable talents like Alec Guinness, Omar Sharif, and Anthony Quinn. It is the complete film, a tour-de-force of exemplary character work, performance, and technicality, but if any one scene were to exemplify all these feats together, then it would have to be the attack on Aqaba.

Here, Lean draws all of his strengths together for one undying moment of spectacle. Lawrence, having quelled discontent in his fragile Arab alliance (and having handed over another part of his soul for the cause), leads a charge on the Ottoman-held city of Aqaba, a vital coastal position that can pound British ships out at sea.

Starting with a ringing bell and a shot of Turkish positions overlooking the desert, Lean then cuts to a shot of Lawrence's forces bearing down on the city like a force of nature. The use of perspective here is key; the establishing shot conveys the scale and fear-inducing threat posed by Lawrence, while repeated close-ups demonstrate the loud, galloping chaos within the wave's ranks.

Lean then switches perspective again to a wide panning shot fixed above the Ottoman positions, using distance to fully capture the unrelenting momentum of Lawrence's advance. The shot finally dwells on one of the guns pointed towards the sea, intimating the scale of the victory, and the odds that have been overcome.