David
Lean, Sam Spiegel, and the making of Lawrence of Arabia
Lean
and Spiegel have a confrontation.
Collection David Lean ©1962 Horizon Pictures (GB)
Sam Spiegel (1901-1985) was the man responsible for making a movie about T. E. Lawrence based largely on Lawrence's own writings in Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Spiegel's previous big productions included his first, The African Queen (1951) under the name S. P. Eagle, and On The Waterfront (1954) under his real name. However, it was Katharine Hepburn who was responsible for bringing Sam Spiegel and David Lean together. Friend to both men, Hepburn suggested Spiegel ask Lean to direct The Bridge On the River Kwai, and then convinced Lean to do it. Together, they created two of the greatest films to date -- thank you Katharine Hepburn!!!!!
Lean and Spiegel seemed to have a true love-hate relationship. Yet David admits he could never truly trust Sam. Though Lean agreed to direct Kwai, he needed a better script adaptation from Pierre Boule's novel. In the end, Lean wrote most of the screenplay and gives credit to Michael Wilson for some key parts. For some reason, Sam Spiegel credited the screenplay to Pierre Boule. And then the Oscar for best screenplay was awarded to Pierre Boule, and to Lean's astonishment, Spiegel accepted it on Boule's behalf!!
Albert Finney as Lawrence
Collection David Lean ©1962 Horizon Pictures (GB)
Somehow, the two decided to work again, this time on Lawrence of Arabia. The biggest problem was, of course, finding an actor to play T. E. Lawrence. The original choice had been 25-year-old Albert Finney, who resembled Lawrence. But he quit after four days, suggesting that he wasn't interested in becoming a star yet (though he soon did, by starring in Tom Jones, 1963). The next choice was Marlon Brando, but (thank God) he was still working on the set of The Bounty and so would be unavailable. Of course, the idea of an American (no way!!) playing Lawrence was not too popular either. Other actors considered for the role included Richard Burton and Anthony Perkins (now that would have been interesting to see). Then, miraculously, Katharine Hepburn plays another role in the fate of Lawrence of Arabia -- she suggests the young, little known Irish actor, Peter O'Toole. And Lean and Spiegel actually agreed that O'Toole would be the *perfect* Lawrence.
**These
images were scanned from Stephen M. Silverman's book, David Lean (1992);
Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York