Page "Lawrence of Arabia (film)" Paragraph 75

Previous films about T. E. Lawrence had been planned but had not been made.

In the 1940s, Alexander Korda was interested in filming The Seven Pillars of Wisdom with Laurence Olivier as Lawrence, but had to pull out due to financial difficulties.

David Lean himself had been approached to direct a 1952 version for the Rank Organisation, but the project fell through.

Also, at the same time as pre-production of the film, Terence Rattigan was developing his play Ross which centred primarily on Lawrence's alleged homosexuality.

Ross had begun life as a screenplay, but was re-written for the stage when the film project fell through.

Sam Spiegel grew furious and unsuccessfully attempted to have the play suppressed, furore at which helped to gain publicity for the film.

Dirk Bogarde had accepted the role in Ross ; he described the cancellation of the project as " my bitterest disappointment ".

Alec Guinness would play the role on stage.