A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia
Encyclopedia
A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia is a made-for-TV movie
(1990) depicting the experiences of T. E. Lawrence
and Emir Feisal of the Hejaz at the Paris Peace Conference
after the end of World War I
. One of the conference's many concerns was determining the fates of territories formerly under the rule of the defeated Ottoman Empire
. The film stars Ralph Fiennes
(in his first film role) as T. E. Lawrence, Alexander Siddig
(then credited as Siddig El-Fadil) as Feisal, Denis Quilley
as Lord Curzon and Nicholas Jones
as Lord Dyson.
The film was produced in 1990, a year after David Lean's
1962 film epic, Lawrence of Arabia
, was re-released to theatres. It serves as an unofficial sequel
to that earlier film, as it depicts events that happened after the Great War.
The film's screenplay was written by Tim Rose Price, who enlisted the help of Robert Bolt
, one of the screenwriters for the original Lawrence film. Bolt assisted with story, plotting, and the portrayal of Lawrence. Christopher Menaul
directed the film.
The film goes further than its predecessor in showing the effects of revisionist historians. It demonstrates contemporary concerns about British and international politics and ethnic conflict. It also explores further Lawrence's enigmatic personality and suggests more openly his alleged homosexuality.
which is used for the title of the film:
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream in the dark recesses of the night awake in the day to find all was vanity. But the dreamers of day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, and make it possible."
Feisal arrives at the post-war Paris Peace Conference (1919) to claim Syria for Arab rule after the break-up of the Ottoman Empire
. He is delayed by French diplomats uncertain of his intentions. Lawrence joins Feisal's negotiating staff despite attempts by the French (and British) to exclude the Arabs altogether. (The only country portrayed sympathetically is the United States, with Woodrow Wilson
’s dictum to let the locals decide for themselves, in terms of self-government for colonial and territorial areas.) Lawrence defends Feisal’s claim to Syria
by citing previous British offerings to Feisal’s father in a “secret letter”, as well as their joint triumphant march into Damascus
against the Turks
. Feisal's main demand is for Syria to be governed by Arabs. France has a stake there, however, and has made previous colonial agreements with Great Britain which complicate matters.
Lawrence's newly gained popularity after World War I poses a further complication, as popular movies promote him, a white European, as the "Uncrowned King of Arabia". The wartime friendship between him and Feisal is thereby strained. As negotiations reach a peak, Lawrence is called away to his dying father’s bedside. He arrives too late to see his father alive, and must leave too soon to see him buried.
Throughout the film, Lawrence is shown writing what would become his life's work, Seven Pillars of Wisdom. As in the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia and many biographies, the film suggests that Lawrence favors relationships with men over women. Ralph Fiennes plays Lawrence as hesitant in the public eye, smiling when forced to, knowing when to be hard in his negotiations, and completely alien to the world of women.
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
(1990) depicting the experiences of T. E. Lawrence
T. E. Lawrence
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, CB, DSO , known professionally as T. E. Lawrence, was a British Army officer renowned especially for his liaison role during the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916–18...
and Emir Feisal of the Hejaz at the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
after the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. One of the conference's many concerns was determining the fates of territories formerly under the rule of the defeated Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. The film stars Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English actor and film director. He has appeared in such films as The English Patient, In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, Strange Days, The Duchess and Schindler's List....
(in his first film role) as T. E. Lawrence, Alexander Siddig
Alexander Siddig
Siddig El Tahir El Fadil El Siddig Abderrahman Mohammed Ahmed Abdel Karim El Mahdi is a Sudanese-born English actor, also known as Siddig El Fadil and his stage name Alexander Siddig. He is known for playing Dr...
(then credited as Siddig El-Fadil) as Feisal, Denis Quilley
Denis Quilley
Denis Clifford Quilley OBE was an English theatre, television and film actor who was long associated with the Royal National Theatre....
as Lord Curzon and Nicholas Jones
Nicholas Jones
Nicholas Jones may refer to:*Nicholas Jones , British actor*Nicky Jones , American voice actor*Nicky Wire , member of the Manic Street Preachers*Nic Jones , British folk singer and guitarist...
as Lord Dyson.
The film was produced in 1990, a year after David Lean's
David Lean
Sir David Lean CBE was an English film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor best remembered for big-screen epics such as The Bridge on the River Kwai , Lawrence of Arabia ,...
1962 film epic, Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia (film)
Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British film based on the life of T. E. Lawrence. It was directed by David Lean and produced by Sam Spiegel through his British company, Horizon Pictures, with the screenplay by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson. The film stars Peter O'Toole in the title role. It is widely...
, was re-released to theatres. It serves as an unofficial sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to that earlier film, as it depicts events that happened after the Great War.
The film's screenplay was written by Tim Rose Price, who enlisted the help of Robert Bolt
Robert Bolt
Robert Oxton Bolt, CBE was an English playwright and a two-time Oscar winning screenwriter.-Career:He was born in Sale, Cheshire. At Manchester Grammar School his affinity for Sir Thomas More first developed. He attended the University of Manchester, and, after war service, the University of...
, one of the screenwriters for the original Lawrence film. Bolt assisted with story, plotting, and the portrayal of Lawrence. Christopher Menaul
Christopher Menaul
Christopher Menaul is a British film, television director and television writer.Christopher Menaul left Cambridge with a First in History and quickly established anillustrious career as a multi award-winning TV and Feature film director...
directed the film.
The film goes further than its predecessor in showing the effects of revisionist historians. It demonstrates contemporary concerns about British and international politics and ethnic conflict. It also explores further Lawrence's enigmatic personality and suggests more openly his alleged homosexuality.
Synopsis
The film starts with a quote from Lawrence's book Seven Pillars of WisdomSeven Pillars of Wisdom
Seven Pillars of Wisdom is the autobiographical account of the experiences of British soldier T. E. Lawrence , while serving as a liaison officer with rebel forces during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Turks of 1916 to 1918....
which is used for the title of the film:
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream in the dark recesses of the night awake in the day to find all was vanity. But the dreamers of day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, and make it possible."
Feisal arrives at the post-war Paris Peace Conference (1919) to claim Syria for Arab rule after the break-up of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. He is delayed by French diplomats uncertain of his intentions. Lawrence joins Feisal's negotiating staff despite attempts by the French (and British) to exclude the Arabs altogether. (The only country portrayed sympathetically is the United States, with Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
’s dictum to let the locals decide for themselves, in terms of self-government for colonial and territorial areas.) Lawrence defends Feisal’s claim to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
by citing previous British offerings to Feisal’s father in a “secret letter”, as well as their joint triumphant march into Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
against the Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Feisal's main demand is for Syria to be governed by Arabs. France has a stake there, however, and has made previous colonial agreements with Great Britain which complicate matters.
Lawrence's newly gained popularity after World War I poses a further complication, as popular movies promote him, a white European, as the "Uncrowned King of Arabia". The wartime friendship between him and Feisal is thereby strained. As negotiations reach a peak, Lawrence is called away to his dying father’s bedside. He arrives too late to see his father alive, and must leave too soon to see him buried.
Throughout the film, Lawrence is shown writing what would become his life's work, Seven Pillars of Wisdom. As in the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia and many biographies, the film suggests that Lawrence favors relationships with men over women. Ralph Fiennes plays Lawrence as hesitant in the public eye, smiling when forced to, knowing when to be hard in his negotiations, and completely alien to the world of women.
Themes
- RacismRacismRacism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
: The film shows numerous scenes in which the European diplomats discriminate against the Arab envoy, going so far as to refuse to have them participate in the conference as an equitable partner (this is also because of politics.) In one of the last scenes, an ANZAC officer (unnamed but meant to be General Harry Chauvel) states that he will not let "his victory" (the conquest of DamascusDamascusDamascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
) be taken away by a band of "marauding tribesmen." At the end, after Lawrence has sent a letter promising independence to the Arabs to a British newspaper, he is accused of having "betrayed his country and his race for heathen aliens."
- PoliticsPoliticsPolitics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
: As hinted at the end of David Lean's film, European politicians would not do justice to the promises Lawrence made to Feisal during the Arab campaign. France emphasises her interests in Syria and denies the native Arabs governance over one of the areas the Allies had conquered. Moreover, while watching a workman handling petroleumPetroleumPetroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
, Lawrence makes a statement that has resonance today, "[I]t's all about oil".
- HomosexualityHomosexualityHomosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
: T.E. Lawrence's alleged homosexuality is hinted at, when, during their encounters, Feisal and Lawrence behave quite tenderly towards one another. In a pivotal moment, when Lawrence tries to organize a last-ditch effort to save Feisal's claims, Mme. Dumont, a French envoy's wife, tries to seduce him (a fictional scene). Although this could possibly be his last hope, Lawrence states under a mixture of laughter and tears that he is "not capable of this task." This scene may also be interpreted as Lawrence's steadfast moral stance. Immediately following, Lawrence is reported as having been mistaken for a pleasure-boy in Arabia by Colonel Richard MeinertzhagenRichard MeinertzhagenColonel Richard Henry Meinertzhagen CBE DSO was a British soldier, intelligence officer and ornithologist.- Background and youth :Meinertzhagen was born into a socially connected, wealthy British family...
(Jim Carter), another member of the Hejaz delegation. His sexual orientation is further suggested by his taking a bath in the officer's bath tub. Soon after A Dangerous Man was produced, however, Meinertzhagen's diary entries on Lawrence, including such alleged scenes as these, were proven to have been largely fabricated, and with malicious intent.
- HomageHomageHomage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
s: Although it does not possess the visual grandeur of the earlier Lawrence, the film refers to images from David Lean's movie. In a parallel to Lawrence's death by a road accident, he is shown driving a "borrowed" bike along a road and narrowly dodging two horse-riders. After Lawrence takes a bath, we see his face fading beyond the vapour on the mirror. This is similar to Peter O'ToolePeter O'ToolePeter Seamus Lorcan O'Toole is an Irish actor of stage and screen. O'Toole achieved stardom in 1962 playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, and then went on to become a highly-honoured film and stage actor. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and holds the record for most...
's last scenes in the original, where he is shown in a mirror image, behind a curtain and a car's windscreen.
External links
, IMDB- "Lawrence of Arabia" Website