Lawrence of Arabia Film Synopsis with Commentary Jordan Sudermann

Transcription

1 Film times are approximate and keyed to 2-disc DVD version. Lawrence of Arabia Film Synopsis with Commentary Jordan Sudermann Synopsis: Commentary: Overture/Credits/Death/Memorial - 0:00:00-00:09:32 The overture plays over a blank screen. T. E. Lawrence rides his motorcycle on a small road in England. He swerves to miss two bicyclists and crashes. After his memorial service, several figures offer commentary on his life: Col. Brighton, Gen. Allenby, Jackson Bentley, and Gen. Murray. An unnamed officer offers the only unequivocal support of Lawrence. Lawrence died in this manner in May of Generals Allenby and Murray appear in the film, and were actual British officers during WWI. Col. Brighton is a fictional figure, representing other British officers involved in the campaign in the Middle East. Jackson Bentley is a fictionalization of Lowell Thomas, an American reporter who helped Lawrence become a celebrity. The unnamed officer will reappear late in the film. Cairo/Interview With Murray & Dryden - 00:09:32-00:17:43 Lawrence is working on maps in a basement office for the British military in Cairo. He learns of Bedouin attacks on a Turkish stronghold from an Arabic newspaper; notes that most of the British are ignoring this aspect of the war effort. Lawrence is summoned to meet with General Murray. In meeting with Gen. Murray and Mr. Dryden, Lawrence is assigned to act as liaison for the Arab Bureau in Arabia, and to find out the intentions of Prince Faisal. Murray is reluctant to send him, as he does not see the importance of the Middle East in the war, but Dryden convinces him. Mr. Dryden is a fictional figure, representing a number of British officials interested in the Middle East during the war. The Arab Revolt has already started in Arabia. The Arab fighters are unsuccessful in taking Medina from the Turks, which adds to Gen. Murray s skepticism. There is no mention in this scene or the entire film that Emir Hussein of Mecca, the father of Prince Faisal, has any other sons participating in the war effort. There is no indication in this scene that Lawrence has been in the Middle East, despite his experience researching his dissertation (on the architecture of Crusader castles) and working on archaeological sites in Syria. Lawrence s first meeting with Faisal wasn t even his first trip to the Middle

2 East in connection with the Arab Revolt. He first had ventured out as part of efforts to gauge the progress of the revolt in its early stages. The Arab Revolt started in June of 1916, and by October, with lack of success at Medina, prospects were looking bleak. In this sequence we get our first understanding of Lawrence as a character: doesn t always respect authority (behavior in officer s club, saluting Murray), tests physical limits (putting out match with fingers). Arabia/Well/Brighton/Faisal - 00:17:43-00:43:38 Lawrence travels through Arabia to find Faisal, accompanied by a guide named Tafas. Tafas is a Hazimi, and is shot by Sharif Ali, a Harith, because he drank from his well. Sharif Ali offers his assistance to Lawrence, but Lawrence refuses. Travelling alone, Lawrence runs into Col. Brighton just outside of Faisal s camp. Turkish forces begin an air raid of Faisal s army. The raid causes many of Faisal s men to desert, and the remaining to retreat south towards Yenbo. During this retreat outcasts Daud and Farraj first appear. This sequence enforces the notion that Lawrence is inexperienced in Arabia, but also establishes him as culturally open and engaging. The altercation between Tafas and Sharif Ali highlights tribal rivalries in Arabia, and brings Lawrence to comment that so long as the Arabs continue such rivalries they will be a little people, a silly people - greedy, barbarous, and cruel. Sharif Ali is a fictionalized character, perhaps a combination of guides/leaders Lawrence encountered during the revolt. Interview with Faisal/Lawrence s Plan - 00:43:38-00:57:45 Faisal, Brighton, Lawrence and a servant/quranic reader meet in Faisal s tent. Sharif Ali joins them. They discuss strategy, with Lawrence impetuously injecting his opinion despite Brighton having told him to keep quiet. The Arabs must continue south to Yenbo if they want the British to supply them; this far north they must take Aqaba. Faisal demands more guns and artillery. The Arabs want to press north in order to reach Damascus, which holds the promise of an independent Arabia. The British would rather focus on the Suez Canal, which does not interest Faisal. Lawrence feels that the Arabs should continue fighting as they are accustomed, rather than adapt The film simplifies the events leading up to the taking of Aqaba significantly. The British and Faisal were far more interested in taking Aqaba than Lawrence, who feared that a joint venture on Aqaba would provide the British with a foothold in the region, and thus would risk an independent Arabia. Thematically, this scene is more important for showing Lawrence s divided loyalties, and his interest in supporting the Arabs in their quest for independence, rather than for any historical accuracy or inaccuracy.

3 to European styles of warfare, and that to fall back on Yenbo would be a mistake. In a private conference with Faisal, Lawrence suggests that Faisal push north and deny the British control of Arabia. It is suggested that to take Aqaba would require the English or a miracle. Frustrated, Lawrence spends the night outside in the desert thinking. His plan: to take Aqaba with a small group of men by crossing the Nefud desert and attacking it by land. This would forestall the need for British involvement by sea, as the large guns at Aqaba face the water and are difficult to turn around. Faisal assents to let Lawrence lead this charge, although Lawrence does not inform Brighton of his departure. In the meantime, Faisal and the rest of his men will fall back on Yenbo. Crossing the Nefud - 00:57:45-01:22:54 Lawrence and Sharif Ali lead their group across the Nefud. Daud and Farraj, who have secretly followed the men, are found out, but Lawrence takes them on as his servants. While crossing the worst part of the desert, Lawrence realizes that Gasim has gotten off his camel and lost the group. Despite Sharif Ali s insistence, Lawrence goes back and successfully saves Gasim. Daud and Farraj both appear in Lawrence s account in The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Lawrence going back for Gasim may not have been as well-received as presented in the film. Auda Abu Tayi - 01:22:54-01:46:48 Sharif Ali and Lawrence discuss Lawrence s name, family. Lawrence s mother wasn t his father s wife. Sharif Ali suggests that Lawrence thus gets to choose his name, and insists that the best is the one the Arabs have adopted: El-Aurens. Sharif Ali burns Lawrence s uniform and fits him with Arab robes. While trying out his new clothing, Lawrence is found by Auda Abu Lawrence s father gave up his inheritance to live with his lover, Lawrence s mother. Auda Abu Tayi is a real tribal leader who joined the Arab Revolt. Other tribal groups not mentioned in the film also joined.

4 Tayi, head of the Howeitat. The men had been drinking at his wells. Auda Abu Tayi initially threatens them, but then is won over with their connection to Faisal. He invites them to feast with him, at which point they play on his pride to convince him to join them in taking Aqaba with promises of gold and honor. The larger group of warriors heads out. In a camp above Aqaba, the night before the attack, Lawrence must execute a man who killed a Howeitat in order to avoid a blood feud. The man he must execute turns out to be Gasim, the man he saved from the Nefud. In actuality, Lawrence was given Arab robes by Faisal in order to blend in better. This sequence does provide a primary example of Lawrence s showmanship, however. Lawrence did execute a man in order to prevent tribal warfare, but it was not Gasim, and happened earlier than presented in the film. Aqaba/Sinai - 01:46:48-END OF DISC 1-00:08:00 Arab forces take Aqaba. The town is looted. Auda Abu Tayi is upset that they only have paper money rather than gold. Lawrence promises to bring back more gold after he goes to Cairo to tell the British that they ve taken Aqaba. Lawrence, Daud, and Farraj cross the Sinai to reach Cairo. Daud is killed when he falls into some quicksand. Lawrence and Farraj reach an abandoned post on the canal, but see a motorcyclist on the other side. The attack at Aqaba is more exciting in the film than it was in real life. The entire sequence starting with Lawrence meeting Faisal to the taking of Aqaba is greatly streamlined, and does not reflect the other skirmishes between Arab forces and the Turks, Lawrence s additional travels/expeditions, and initial strikes on the Turkish railway. Aqaba is taken early July Cairo/First Interview with Allenby/Intermission - 00:08:00-00:28:20 Lawrence and Farraj arrive in Cairo. Lawrence brings Farraj into the officer s club and orders lemonades. As both are dressed in Arab robes, there is controversy over their appearance until Lawrence informs Brighton that they ve (the Arabs) taken Aqaba. Lawrence is brought to see General Allenby, who has been given the post to replace General Murray. Allenby replaced Murray after Murray failed to take Gaza twice. This scene is important in showing the impact of the war on Lawrence and the underlying conflict between Lawrence s goals for the Arabs and British goals in the region. Lawrence, Allenby, Brighton, and Dryden in Allenby s office. Lawrence does not want to go back--he s been affected by the

5 deaths of Gasim and Daud, especially the disturbing pleasure he got in killing Gasim. On the patio of the officer s club, Allenby convinces Lawrence to go back with promises of money, weapons, and a lack of British interest in Arabia. Lawrence has already promised the Arabs that their suspicions of the British are unfounded. Lawrence is congratulated by the officers in the club, finding acceptance due to his victory at Aqaba. Allenby and Dryden converse apart from Lawrence, suggest the promises made may not be easily kept. Intermission. Bentley/Railways - 00:28:20-00:51:48 American journalist Jackson Bentley interviews Faisal in Jerusalem. Bentley is looking for Lawrence in order to find a hero he can use to help galvanize American support for the war. Faisal discusses the lack of artillery from the British, the efforts to destroy the Turkish railways, and the practices of war in the revolt. Bentley warns him not to trust Allenby. Lawrence was followed by an American journalist, but only for about eight days. Lawrence and the Arab forces did work extensively to disrupt and immobilize the Turks by destroying the railways. However, they began this activity before taking Aqaba. Lawrence and Arab troops blow up a Turkish train. Lawrence puts on a performance for Bentley and is wounded by a Turkish soldier. Brighton criticizes the Arabs for looting. Sharif Ali and Bentley discuss democracy. Auda does not yet feel he has gained any honor from the latest ventures and seeks a more honorable gain. They take a Turkish train carrying horses. Auda is pleased with this bounty, takes the horses and his men home. Brighton criticizes this mercenary spirit.

6 While trying to blow up another train, Farraj is mortally wounded by a detonator. Lawrence shoots him so that he doesn t fall prey to the Turks. Brighton & Allenby/Deraa - 00:51:48-01:06:58 Brighton and Allenby discuss Lawrence s equivocations, the coming winter, whether or not Lawrence has gone native, and the price the Turks have placed on his head. Sharif Ali and Lawrence argue about next steps and the lack of a success on the level of Aqaba. Lawrence plans an expedition into the Turkish garrison of Deraa; only Sharif Ali will go with him. Lawrence has given multiple accounts of his experience in Deraa. The subtext of the film supports some kind of sexual undertone if not outright experience. The question of whether or not Lawrence was actually raped in Deraa has not been decidedly answered. This scene may require some delicacy in presenting in a high school setting. Lawrence is picked up by Turkish soldiers in Deraa. He tries to pass for a Circassian. When provoked by the Turkish bey, Lawrence attacks him and is subsequently beaten. He leaves Deraa physically and emotionally broken. He wants to leave Arabia and is frustrated by the determining quality of one s skin. Second Interview with Allenby - 01:06:58-01:15:32 Lawrence, wearing an ill-fitted British uniform, meets with Allenby. Faisal and Dryden are present; Faisal is upset about a secret treaty between Britain and France to divide up Arabia. After Faisal leaves, Dryden explains the Sykes-Picot agreement to Lawrence. Lawrence cites personal reasons regarding not wanting to return to Arabia, but Allenby insists on having him help the push for Damascus. Allenby ultimately convinces Lawrence to return; Lawrence promises him Damascus. In November of 1917, the Bolsheviks in Russia published a copy of Sykes-Picot that they had found in Russian files. Lawrence had known of this agreement prior to this publication, and had likely informed Faisal of it already as well. The story of who knew what and when is far more complicated that presented in the film, and speaks to the political aspects of the Arab Revolt and Lawrence s dual role in it. Again, Allenby convinces a distraught Lawrence to return to Arabia in a rather manipulative fashion. Compare to the earlier interview with Allenby.

7 Return to Arabia/Moving Towards Damascus - 01:15:32-01:30:22 Lawrence triumphantly returns to Arabia with a mercenary entourage of bodyguards. Lawrence and Sharif Ali observe the British shelling the Turks; Lawrence is less sympathetic towards the Turks than the British. The British and the Arabs continue on their march towards Damascus, though a Turkish column lies in the way of Lawrence and the Arabs. Lawrence did hire bodyguards after his experience in Deraa, although this may have had more to do with the price on his head than anything else. The massacre of the Turkish column took place on 27 September Lawrence and the Arab forces massacre the Turkish column after the Turks destroy an Arab village. Inspired by an Arab who was from this village, Lawrence charges No prisoners! Sharif Ali and Bentley are aghast at Lawrence s bloodlust. A scout brings grapes back from Damascus; they are close. Damascus - 01:30:22-END OF DISC 2 Allenby and the British arrive in Damascus to discover that the Arabs have already arrived and set up a provisional government of sorts. Faisal remains two days away from Damascus. Lawrence tries to run the Arab National Council, despite tribal arguments over the various municipal utilities. Lawrence works to emphasize a collective Arab identity over tribal identity. That evening, as the electricity goes out, most of the tribes leave Damascus. Auda leaves as well, while Sharif Ali remains to try his hand in politics. The next morning, Lawrence is notified of the poor state of the Turkish army hospital, which had been neglected by the Arab National Council. Lawrence visits the hospital in his Arab robes, and is slapped by a British officer who thinks he is responsible for the deplorable conditions. Damascus was taken at the end of September The British shortly beforehand decided to allow the Arabs to enter first. Lawrence deftly took advantage of the situation to install an interim ruler of Damascus before the British could take control. In Damascus Faisal was informed of the plan to have French guidance in governing Syria; the film neglects this as well as Faisal s stand against the French, who finally took control in Lawrence would attempt to influence the peace process in Paris and push for Arab independence, but was unsuccessful.

8 Faisal meets with Dryden and Allenby. Lawrence is commended and sent home. On his way out, Lawrence is recognized by the British officer who slapped him, who is pleased to meet him, and is unaware of their previous encounter. (This is the unnamed officer who praises him after the memorial service). Both Faisal and the British are relieved to be rid of him. They negotiate over control of utilities in Damascus. Brighton rushes out to say goodbye to Lawrence, but is too late. Lawrence is driven out of Damascus in a Jeep. He is conflicted about going home. A passing motorcyclist reminds the viewer of his ultimate fate. Resource List: Anderson, Scott. Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East. New York: Anchor Books, Caton, Steven C. Lawrence of Arabia: A Film s Anthropology. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, Cleveland, William L. and Martin Bunton. A History of the Modern Middle East, 4th ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, Fromkin, David. A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East. New York: Henry Holt, Lawrence of Arabia: The Battle for the Arab World. PBS DVD. Lean, David, dir. Lawrence of Arabia DVD