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The 1962 film, Lawrence of Arabia, depicted the time that Thomas E Lawrence, a World War I British Army officer, spent with the Arabs. The film won 7 Academy Awards, including Best Score, Director, Cinematography, and Picture. Many consider it to be among the greatest movies ever made. Its main focus is on the role Lawrence played in the war between the Arabs and the Turks.

The movie opens with Lawrence’s death in 1935. He was killed in a motorcycle accident when he tried to avert a collision with bicyclists. Reporters try to paint a picture of him, but fail. The action shifts to World War I Cairo and Lieutenant Lawrence. He is dispatched to prepare a report on Prince Faisal’s rebellion against the Turks. He persuades Faisal to attack the city of Aqaba, and quickly finds himself embroiled in the rebellion. Over the next few years, he will often find his loyalties divided. He also discovers some unsettling truths about himself along the way.

Most of the main roles were ultimately awarded to actors who were not initially chosen. Peter O’Toole plays the lead, but Marlon Brando and Albert Finney both turned the part down first. Alec Guinness was not cast as Prince Faisal until Laurence Olivier dropped out. David Lean, who directed, had to convince Sam Spiegel, the producer, to cast Jack Hawkins as General Allenby. Spiegel wanted to sign Cary Grant in the role. Omar Sharif was eventually cast as Sherif Ali, but only after Alain Delon and Horst Buchholz rejected it. Filming had actually begun with Edmond O’Brien playing Jackson Bentley, the American reporter. When O’Brien fell ill, Arthur Kennedy was cast to replace him. Anthony Quinn, Jose Ferrer, and Claude Rains, who played Auda abu Tayi, the Turkish Bey, and Mr. Dryden respectively, however, were the first choices.

Other characters besides Lawrence were actual participants in the war. Among these were Auda abu Tayi, Prince Faisal, and Generals Allenby and Murray. Lawrence’s servants and the man who charged into the Turkish lines at Tafas existed. Gasim, the Arab Lawrence rescued and then had to execute was also real.

Other characters were composites. Sherif Ali was modeled primarily after Prince Faisal’s cousin. The character of Colonel Brighton seems to have been based largely on Stewart Newcombe. Lowell Thomas, who actually covered Lawrence’s story and played a large part in his fame, was the inspiration for reporter Jackson Bentley.

As often happens when art interprets life, some points were inaccurate, such as the weakness of the Arab Council. Nor did the Arab army desert Lawrence as the screenplay depicts. Bentley, in an incident that occurred in late 1917, states that America had not joined the war when it had, historically.

How accurately the film reflects the character of T. E. Lawrence has been debated since the film was released. Some hold the position that he was an egotist, while others state that the facts do not bear this out. Others debate whether Lawrence was a masochist and whether he was asexual or homosexual. Two of the most vocal critics have been Lawrence’s brother and reporter Lowell Thomas. The arguments, however, have failed to detract from the film’s popularity.

The film has seen several versions during its existence. When originally released, it ran 222 minutes, not counting intermission, overture, and the exit music. Twenty minutes were cut, and a version that was just over three hours appeared during the seventies. In 1989, a 216 minute version was released.

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