LAWRENCE OF ARABIA 211
St. Paul’s Cathedral, were completed shortly thereafter. With regard to cinema-
tography, Lean’s director of photography, Freddie Young, shot Lawrence of Arabia in
Super Panavision, a 70-mm version of the Panavision pro cess used on only three
previous films (The Big Fisherman, 1959; Exodus, 1960; West Side Story, 1961). The
wide- screen format required Freddie Young to rely on longer and more fluid takes
that fit with Lean’s extensive use of extreme long shots, pans, and following/tracking
shots. Once the shoot wrapped in August 1962 Lean and his editor, Anne V.
Coates, managed to produce a final cut in four months.
Plot Summary
[Part I] The film opens on 19 May 1935 when T. E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole), 46,
is killed in a motorcycle accident near his home in Dorset, England. At his memo-
rial ser vice at St. Paul’s Cathedral (London), a reporter ( Jack Hedley) tries to gain
insight into Lawrence by questioning those who knew him. The story then flashes
back to Cairo during the First World War. Over the objections of General Murray
(Donald Wolfit), Mr. Dryden (Claude Rains) of the Arab Bureau sends Lt. Lawrence
to assess the prospects of Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) in his revolt against the
Ottoman Turks. On the journey, Lawrence’s local guide drinks from a well when
he isn’t allowed and is killed by Sherif Ali (Omar Sharif). Col. Harry Brighton
(Anthony Quayle) tells Faisal that he should pull back once defeated, but Lawrence
suggests a dif fer ent tack: an unannounced assault on Aqaba. Although the coastal
town appears heavi ly guarded against an attack from the sea, it has a much weaker
defense on its land borders. Sherif Ali, though unsure of Lawrence’s plan, is ordered
to lead a group of 50 of Faisal’s men to attack Aqaba. Lawrence’s troops cross the
Nefud Desert, traveling day and night, towards much needed rest and water. One
of Ali’s men, Gasim (I. S. Johar), faints from exhaustion and falls to the ground,
unbeknownst to his com pany, as they are traveling at night. Not wanting to leave
a man behind, Lawrence goes back for Gasim, gaining the re spect of Sherif Ali.
Lawrence convinces the Howeitat tribal leader, Auda abu Tayi (Anthony Quinn),
to go against the Turks, but he almost loses the alliance when a personal matter
causes one of Ali’s soldiers to murder one of Auda’s men. Lawrence saves the alli-
ance by offering to personally dispatch the killer, but is shocked to find that the
murderer is none other than Gasim, the man whom he doubled back to save. Law-
rence has no choice but to shoot him. The next morning, Lawrence and his Arab
cohort capture Aqaba. Lawrence shares news of the victory with Dryden and the
new commander, General Allenby ( Jack Hawkins), and is promoted. After an inter-
mission in the film, Lawrence initiates a guerrilla war against the Turks. Jackson
Bentley (Arthur Kennedy), an American journalist, publicizes Lawrence’s exploits,
making him internationally famous. When Lawrence scouts the enemy- held city
of Daraa with Ali, he is arrested. Alongside other Arab citizens, Lawrence is taken
to the Turkish Bey ( José Ferrer) where he is stripped, ogled, prodded, flogged for
defiance, and other wise tortured before being left in the street. Lawrence is deeply
affected by the experience. Soon after, in Jerusalem, General Allenby persuades
Lawrence to join the “big push” on Damascus. Lawrence recruits an army that is