Ben Hur
Lawrence of Arabia is celebrating fifty years this year and the movie has been re-mastered to be released back into cinemas.
And Lawrence of Arabia is just one of the sweeping epics that that era was famous for - producing some of the best movies of all time I may add - so we take a look at some of the best.
- Ben Hur
A sweeping epic that has already celebrated fifty years is Ben Hur, which was released back in 1959.
The movie was an adaptation of the Lew Wallace 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ and saw Charlton Heston take on the lead role of Judah Ben-Hur.
This historical drama remains one of the best in the genre as William Wyler delivered a motion picture that was one of the most expensive of all time.
But the movie will forever be remembered of the nine-minute chariot race that remains one of the most breathtaking piece of cinema - particularly when you consider that actors Heston and Stephen Boyd shot many of the scenes themselves.
The movie went on to win eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and only Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King have equalled the feat.
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- Gone With The Wind
Gone With The Wind is another of the epic movies that really has stood the test of time - it was released back in 1939 and was bask on the 1936 novel of the same name.
This remains one of the greatest love stories of all time and Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler two of cinema's greatest characters.
As well as a love story Gone With The Wind is also a great war movie as it is set to the backdrop of the American Civil War.
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" is one of the movie famous line ever uttered on the big screen and a line that actor Clark Gable with forever be synonymous.
Gone With The Wind to win ten Oscars including Best Picture and is a movie that is as loved today as it was when it was first released.
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- Spartacus
Two years ago it was the turn of Spartacus to celebrated it's fiftieth anniversary as it is another of the enduring movies in this genre.
Released in 1960 the movie was directed by Stanley Kubrick and starred Kirk Douglas in the title role alongside Lawrence Olivier and Jean Simmons.
The movie followed Spartacus as he lead a violent revolt against the decadent Roman Republic.
The movie was a box office smash when it was released and was the biggest grossing movie of all time until it was surpassed a decade later.
However this success did not bring the movie a Best Picture Oscar nomination - however Peter Ustinov did won for his supporting performance.
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- Doctor Zhivago
We have already seen one great love story in our look back at some of the best sweeping epics and now we look at another in the form of Doctor Zhivago.
Released back in 1965 the movie was an adaptation of the novel by Boris Pasternak and saw David Lean in the director's chair.
The movie is set during the Bolshevik Revolution and follows a married doctor who falls for a a political activist's wife.
Omar Sharif and Julie Christine took on the roles of Yuri and Lara in what is widely regarded as David Lean's greatest movie.
The movie was nominated for ten Oscars and walked away with five - however it missed out on the Best Picture prize.
Click here to buy Doctor Zhivago on DVD
- Lawrence of Arabia
Of course we can't talk about sweeping epics without mentioning Lawrence of Arabia that is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year.
Released in 1962 the movie is another David Lean project that stars Omar Sharif and Peter O'Toole.
Click here to buy Lawrence of Arabia on DVD
The movie is based on the life of T. E. Lawrence and his conflicted loyalties during wartime service.
It was a bold project that Lean and co really did pull off as it is a grand movie that is as great now as it was when it was first released.
Lawrence of Arabia is re-released into cinemas 23rd November
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Gone With the Wind