Narrative Structure
The film is presented in two parts, divided by an intermission.
It begins with an overture of 5 minutes, and it ends with Exit Music.
Part I
Scene:
In 1935, Lawrence dies in a motorcycle accident.
Scene:
At his memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral, a reporter tries, with little success, to gain insights into the remarkable if enigmatic man from those who knew him.
Flashback:
The story then moves back to the First World War.
Lawrence is a misfit British Army lieutenant who is notable for his insolence and education.
Over the objections of General Murray, Mr. Dryden of the Arab Bureau sends him to assess the prospects of Prince Faisal in his revolt against the Turks.
On the journey, his Bedouin guide Tafas is killed by Sherif Ali for drinking from his well without permission.
Lawrence meets Colonel Brighton, who orders him to keep quiet, make his assessment, and leave.
Lawrence ignores Brighton’s orders when he meets Faisal; his outspokenness piques the prince’s interest.
Brighton advises Faisal to retreat after a major defeat, but Lawrence proposes a daring surprise attack on Aqaba.
Its capture would provide a port from which the British could offload much-needed supplies.
The town is fortified against naval assault but lightly defended on the landward side. He convinces Faisal to provide 5y men, led by a pessimistic Sherif Ali.
Teenage orphans Daud and Farraj attach themselves to Lawrence as servants.
They cross the Nefud Desert, considered impassable by the Bedouins, and travel day and night on the last stage to reach water.
One of Ali’s men, Gasim, succumbs to fatigue and falls off his camel unnoticed during the night. When Lawrence discovers him missing, he turns back and rescues Gasim. Sherif Ali is won over.
Lawrence persuades Auda Abu Tayi, the leader of powerful local Howeitat tribe, to turn against the Turks.
Lawrence’s scheme is almost derailed when one of Ali’s men kills one of Auda’s because of a blood feud.
Since retaliation by the Howeitat would shatter the alliance, Lawrence declares he will execute the murderer himself. Lawrence is then stunned to discover that the culprit is Gasim, the man he risked his own life to save, but Lawrence shoots him anyway.
The next morning, the Arabs overrun the Turkish garrison. Lawrence heads to Cairo to inform Dryden and the new commander, General Allenby, of his victory.
While crossing the Sinai Desert, Daud dies when he stumbles into quicksand.
Although his report of Aqaba’s capture is disbelieved, Lawrence is promoted to major and given arms and money for the Arabs.
Deeply disturbed, he confesses that he enjoyed executing Gasim, but Allenby brushes aside his qualms. Lawrence asks Allenby whether there is basis for the Arabs’ suspicions that the British have designs on Arabia. pressed, Allenby states that there is none.
Intermission (Entr’acte)
Part II
Lawrence launches guerrilla war by blowing up trains and harassing the Turks.
American war correspondent Jackson Bentley publicizes Lawrence’s exploits and makes him famous.
On one raid, Farraj is badly injured. Unwilling to leave him to be tortured by the enemy, Lawrence reluctantly shoots him dead and then flees.
When Lawrence scouts the enemy-held city of Deraa with Ali, he is taken, along with several Arab residents, to the Turkish Bey.
Lawrence is stripped, ogled, and prodded.
Then, for striking out at the Bey, he is severely flogged before he is thrown into the street, where Ali comes to his aid.
The experience leaves Lawrence shaken. He returns to British headquarters in Cairo but does not fit in.
In Jerusalem, General Allenby urges him to support the “big push” on Damascus. Lawrence hesitates to return but finally relents.
Lawrence army recruits are more motivated by money than by the Arab cause. They sight a column of retreating Turkish soldiers, who have just massacred the residents of Tafas. One of Lawrence’s men is from Tafas and demands, “No prisoners!” When Lawrence hesitates, the man charges the Turks alone and is killed.
Lawrence takes up the dead man’s battle cry. The result is slaughter in which Lawrence himself participates, despite Ali’s protests. He regrets his actions thereafter.
Lawrence’s men take Damascus ahead of Allenby’s forces.
The Arabs set up a council to administer the city, but the British cut off access to the public utilities, leaving the desert tribesmen to debate how to maintain the occupation.
Despite Lawrence’s efforts, they bicker, and then abandon the city to the British.
Lawrence is promoted to colonel and immediately ordered back to Britain, as his usefulness to both Faisal and the British has ended.
As he leaves the city, his automobile is passed by a motorcyclist, who leaves a trail of dust in his wake.
