Daily Dialogue — March 22, 2019

“No prisoners! No prisoners!”

— Lawrence of Arabia (1962), screenplay by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson (originally uncredited, credit restored by the WGA in 1978), based on writing by T.E. Lawrence

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: World War I.

Trivia: T.E. Lawrence declined invitations to film his writings as early as 1926, when Rex Ingram suggested the idea. Later, Alexander Korda tried to launch a version starring Leslie Howard, written by John Monk Saunders and directed by Lewis Milestone. Over the years, such stars as Sir Dirk Bogarde, Robert Donat, Sir Laurence Olivier, Cary Grant, Burgess Meredith, and Alan Ladd were all promoted as leads. Bogarde even suggested there was a club for actors once considered for the role. “We have even designed a tie. Dark background with motif of a burnoose and camel.” Screenwriter Michael Wilson finally convinced Lawrence’s brother to sell the movie rights to Producer Sam Spiegel by submitting his screenplay for approval in 1960.

Dialogue On Dialogue: A conflicted Lawrence finally gives into the vainglorious leader he has become.