Four-Star Films : ‘Lawrence of Arabia’

T.H. Lawrence, enigmatic adventurer, is the focus of David Lean’s beautifully photographed epic--shot by Freddie Young and Nicolas Roeg. Literate, serious, full of sweep and action, and--though Lean and writers Robert Bolt and (uncredited) Michael Wilson are too literal to penetrate fully the Seven Pillarsof Wisdom--still a deluxe, gorgeous adventure. Starring Peter O’Toole (right), the sun and the sand, to equally stunning effect--with Omar Sharif (left), Anthony Quinn, Alec Guinness (as Feisal), Jack Hawkins (as Allenby) and Arthur Kennedy (as a thinly disguised Lowell Thomas) (KCOP Sunday at 3 p.m.).

Other four-star films airing this week:

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington / Disney, Sunday, 10 p.m.

The French Connection / Cinemax, early Monday, 1:30 a.m.

Babette’s Feast / TMC, early Monday, 4:20 a.m.

It Happened One Night / TMC, Monday, 9:15 a.m. and Thursday, 11:05 a.m.

La Strada / Bravo, Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The 39 Steps (1935) KOCE, Saturday, 10:30 p.m.