Lawrence of Arabia

Lawrence of Arabia, the 1962 David Lean classic is based primarily around the ideas of imperialism during World War II. Peter O'Toole's character is sent by the British army to Saudi Arabia to keep an eye on the growing conflict between the Turks and the Saudi Arabians. Not only does the film depict imperialistic ideas, but it also shows the degree of orientalism going on in Hollywood at the time.

The character of Lawrence is very much against imperialism throughout the film. He feels that the Turks are barbaric people who only use violence to get their way and don't consider any other ways of attaining it. The reason Lawrence is in Saudi Arabia in the first place is so that the British army can keep on eye on what's going on, and interfere if the situation seems to be taking a turn for the worst. This plot developement plays perfectly into the theme of orientalism in the film, as the British send in one of their own men to watch out for a situation that really has nothing to do with them. Lawrence is portrayed as being so much smarter then any of the Arabs. When he gives the first Arab he meets and is traveling through the desert with a gun, the man takes it tentavley, like he was afraid of it. Then when the Turk approaches them, the Arab acts irrationally and runs to get his gun which subsequently results in his death. Lawrence stays put and waits for the Turk to make the first move, therefore surviving in the end.

In the beginning of the film when Lawrence is getting his assignement, Lean uses deep focus to show how big the office of the general that Lawrence is meeting with really is. It's ornately decorated and all of the generals are decorated with medals. It is a vast contrast to the desert that Lawrence is sent to, which is also filmed in deep focus to show how much of nothing there is. It's a completely different world than the one he was in before, and therefore shows how much more advanced the Western world is then the East.

By sending Lawrence into Saudi Arabia, the British are shown as being imperialistic in the fact that they feel that if the situation gets out of hand, they could step in and help sort out matters for their own purposes, while also looking like the heroes. They are also shown as being orientalists because they feel that they are so much better and more advanced then anyone living in Saudi Arabia.