How does Omar Sharif's character Sherif Ali first appear?

Riding out of a shimmering mirage

What is famous about the match cut early in the film?

Lawrence blows out a match and the scene jumps to a desert sunrise

Lawrence of Arabia Quiz: Filming the Epic in the Desert

David Lean spent months shooting in real deserts with 70mm cameras to film the 1962 epic, and this Lawrence of Arabia quiz goes behind the scenes. Play 10 interactive questions on Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif's mirage entrance, Wadi Rum, Almería in Spain, Maurice Jarre's score, producer Sam Spiegel, seven Oscars and the book Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Director
Who directed Lawrence of Arabia?
Star
Who played T. E. Lawrence?
Sharif
How does Omar Sharif's character Sherif Ali first appear?
Cut
What is famous about the match cut early in the film?
Jordan
Which Jordanian desert valley appears in the film?
Spain
Where in Spain were the Aqaba attack scenes filmed?
Format
Which wide film format did Lean use?
Music
Who composed the score?
Oscars
How many Oscars did the film win?
Book
Which book by T. E. Lawrence inspired the film?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Who directed Lawrence of Arabia?
Answer: David Lean
Lean also made The Bridge on the River Kwai.
Q2: Who played T. E. Lawrence?
Answer: Peter O'Toole
It was his first major leading role.
Q3: How does Omar Sharif's character Sherif Ali first appear?
Answer: Riding out of a shimmering mirage
The long take is one of film's most famous entrances.
Q4: What is famous about the match cut early in the film?
Answer: Lawrence blows out a match and the scene jumps to a desert sunrise
Editor Anne V. Coates made the cut legendary.
Q5: Which Jordanian desert valley appears in the film?
Answer: Wadi Rum
Its red cliffs gave the film its grandeur.
Q6: Where in Spain were the Aqaba attack scenes filmed?
Answer: Almería
A set of Aqaba was built on a dry riverbed there.
Q7: Which wide film format did Lean use?
Answer: Super Panavision 70
The 70mm images showed vast landscapes in detail.
Q8: Who composed the score?
Answer: Maurice Jarre
It won an Academy Award.
Q9: How many Oscars did the film win?
Answer: Seven
They included Best Picture and Best Director.
Q10: Which book by T. E. Lawrence inspired the film?
Answer: Seven Pillars of Wisdom
It recounts his part in the Arab Revolt.

Lawrence Of Arabia Quiz – Filming the Epic in the Desert

Lawrence of Arabia, released in 1962 and directed by David Lean, tells the story of T. E. Lawrence in the Arab Revolt, based partly on his book Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Peter O'Toole starred in his first big leading role, with Omar Sharif as Sherif Ali.

Lean shot in Super Panavision 70 in Jordan, including Wadi Rum, and in Spain, where a set of Aqaba was built near Almería. Scenes such as Sharif's entrance from a mirage and the match cut to a desert sunrise became famous.

Producer Sam Spiegel backed the long shoot. Maurice Jarre's score and the film itself won Oscars among seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

What This Quiz Teaches

Film fans will enjoy these questions on a classic epic.

Who made the film
Where it was shot
Which scenes are famous
Who composed the score
How many Oscars it won

Did You Know?

The film runs well over three and a half hours.
No women have speaking roles in it.
A restored version was released in 1989.
Steven Spielberg has called it a major inspiration.
Anthony Quinn plays Auda abu Tayi.