A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Friday, August 31, 2012

For the Three Day Weekend: A Scene from Lawrence of Arabia at 50

This is the beginning of the three-day Labor Day weekend in the United States; I won't be back till Tuesday, barring major developments. For a diversion, note that this year marks the 50th Anniversary of David Lean's classic 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. It's a film that was banned in some Arab countries and it hardly provides a good guide to the history of the Arab revolt. I'll post more on the film at a later date. But it is still a superb film, and having posted about Faisal ibn al-Hussein just a week ago, and being convinced that Alec Guinness' portrayal of Faisal was brilliant (including looking like him), (and of course, Guinness is also the only real Obi-Wan Kenobe, which is why the Star Wars prequels don't count), I thought I'd share the scene in Faisal's tent. The "one of those desert-loving English" scene, as I think of it. Enjoy the three-day weekend.

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