David Lean's epic is quite possibly the most beautifully shot movie in the history of cinema, full of stunning camerawork amidst breathtaking locations. One of the most famous moments in the movie is the arrival of Omar Sharif's Sherif Ali, who first appears as nothing more than a speck on the distant horizon. With the frame divided almost 50/50 between the bright blue sky and the harsh desert, the sense of trepidation increases as Lawrence and his guide Tafas see the mysterious figure approach in a cloud of dust. When Tafas pulls a gun, he is quickly dispatched before Sherif Ali dismounts his trusty camel and engages with Lawrence. It is over two minutes after we initially see the character in the distance before he comes face to face with Lawrence, ratcheting up the tension as an unknown figure slowly approaches from nowhere and kills Tafas without explanation. As well as being the first encounter between Lawrence and Sherif Ali, the scene sums up both the mysterious nature of Sharif's character and foreshadows the uneasy relationship the two will share for the rest of the movie. An epic, spectacularly lensed character introduction fit for one of the greatest movies ever made.
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