A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia

If you're like me, the film LAWRENCE OF ARABIA always leaves you hungering for more viewing material about T.E. Lawrence. Since documentaries sadly don't seem to appeal to all tastes this outstanding telefilm may satisfy your apetite. The movie deals with Lawrence's activities at the Paris Peace Conference following World War One and the cast is wonderful. Appropriate for material based on real events the film avoids hype and melodrama, keeping the viewer riveted with it's mature, intelligent approach. No matter what your politics it's intriguing to watch this movie and reflect on "what might have been" regarding relations between the Western Democracies and the nations being formed from the remains of the Ottoman Empire. The closing scene between Lawrence and Feisal nicely summarizes the sense of a monumental lost opportunity.

Program this film as a second feature the next time you watch LAWRENCE OF ARABIA for a wonderful marathon viewing experience.

I have seen the film again, read the other reviews and I too consider this movie excellent in its own right, the stars are spot on and the acting very believable. It is a definite companion piece to Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia", I have the 2 DVDs side by side in my collection at home. It might not have the trainwrecks and the battles with the Turks, but the politics of the time are very important, also very interesting, emphasised more strongly in this film than "Lawrence of Arabia". History buffs will lean toward this film I feel, as I have done. You will not even notice it was made for TV, the story is so gripping. Ralph Fiennes is remarkable in the role of T.E.Lawrence, working as translator and for the Arab cause, King Feisal perfectly portrayed by the young actor Alexander Siddiq, the others the politicians including Michael Cochrane as Winston Churchill are first rate, Nicholas Jones as Lord Dyson is chilling. To sum up, extremely good, an important and interesting film (not dry as someone said, the translation scenes, the speeches for world leaders had me on the edge of my seat) One has to look back at history to understand what is going on today. In the main, all the historical facts are in place here, and therefore one can at least, partially understand the complex situation in the region in our present age as we tune in to the News. Comment from Malcolm in Toronto, May 27th 2007

This is an excellent film dealing with Lawrence's struggle to fulfill his promise to the Arabs to allow them independant rule in their own land. Acting, directing, everything about this film is superb.

Ralph Fiennes makes a very convincing impersonation of the enigmatical T.E.Lawrence with all the complications of his case, especially concerning his integrity and political departure from the public scene, Ever since he made his career that brought him world fame and interest, it has been wondered who he really was, he became an enigma from the start, and that enigma has never been solved, while the main result of this film is to add to the enigma. Alexander Siddig makes as memorable a figure of Prince Feisal as Omar Sharif did of Sherif Auda, while the characters of Curzon, Clemenceau, Churchill, Wilson and the others enrich the film with political interest. The main story of the film is the account of how everything went wrong in the peace conference of Paris as Lawrence and the Arabs got practically nothing as a result of their efforts but mainly only were driven over and Lawrence even practically driven into exile, at least forced into disappearing anonymity, The film is therefore most like a documentary and extremely interesting as such, since it is impartial, tells the truth and is meticulous about it. Nothing can vie with or excel the splendour of David Lean's great epic, but one almost feels inclined to regard Ralph Fiennes' characterisation of Lawrence as more real and convincing than Peter O'Toole's.

This film is a wonderful glimpse into the stiff and devious world of frock coated 1919 diplomacy. I agree with those who already have said it is a wonderful companion piece for the more well known film about T.E. Lawrence. Fiennes gives a very deep and effective interpretation of the complex Lawrence. The recreations of Clemenceau, Wilson and Lloyd George are powerful indeed. The Versailles treaty is almost ancient history even though it had much to do with shaping today's complicated world. This film brings it into the present (or maybe us into the past). Perhaps not everybody's cup of tea but well worth seeing if you like twentieth century history, good acting and fine British television.