Lawrence of Arabia - Jake Lyon

Title/Year: Lawrence of Arabia, 1962
Director/DOB: David Lean, U.K., 1908
Budget: $15,000,000
Gross: $70,000,000
Synopsis: The story starts in 1935 when Lawrence is killed in a motorcycle accident. At his funeral, reporters try to solicit information about his life. Lawrence was stationed in Cairo as a British intelligence officer during World War One. On a mission to assess the progress of local tribes revolting against the Turks, Lawrence jumps rank, impressing a prince and convinces him to make a surprise attack on Aqaba. The attack is successful and Lawrence wins the respect of local tribes as a great warrior/leader. During the mission, in order to keep the peace between the tribes, Lawrence executes a tribesman for his role in a blood feud. During his return to Cairo, his commanding officer dies by getting trapped in quicksand. Lawrence is promoted to major and given money and weapons to help the Arabs. He becomes disturbed and admits he enjoys killing. Lawrence becomes world famous while launching a guerilla war on the Turks. On a re con mission, Lawrence is captured and tortured, then released. It is so traumatized by the incident that he abandons his military ambitions and insists he is just a man. The British general convinces him to take one more mission, an attack on Damascus. Lawrence recruits an army of mercenaries and proceeds with the attack. They ravage to city, taking no prisoners. Lawrence participates in massive bloodshed. Afterward, Lawrence is tormented by what he has seen and done. He receives a promotion and is sent back to England as a broken down, tortured sole.
Key Words: Arabia, desert warfare, arab tribes, civil war, execution, blood shed
Character Arc: Lawrence seems to be a very promising young officer. Smart, strong, and a keen sense of military strategy, Lawrence is believed to be a hero. Through out his exploits though, he experiences the worst side of humanity over and over. After participating in an execution, he feels his blood lust and it scares him. He is torn between his warrior instincts and compassion for his fellow man. The more blood he sheds the deeper his psychological stress goes. By the end, he is a beat up, tormented soldier who wants nothing more than a normal life.
Social/Political Commentary: The conquest for the middle east is the oldest war story in history and is still being written today. Lawrence of Arabia showed how intelligence tactics and bargaining with local tribes are used to advance the "civilized world's" agenda. Lawrence is a middle man, between the British military and the local tribes. This practice is still done today through out the world by intelligence agencies from many countries.