My favourite character in Lawrence (along with Lawrence, of course) - Sherif Ali. His famous entrance through the mirage is one of the all time greatest movie moments. And he's played by a young Omar Sharif (*sigh*) who gives an unforgettable performance in his first major English speaking role.

In Seven Pillars of Wisdom, as in Lawrence of Arabia, Lawrence first meets Sherif Ali ibn el Hussein while stopping at a well. Sherif Ali is described as "physically splendid... impertinent, headstrong, conceited; as reckless in word as in deed; impressive (if he pleased) on public occasions, and fairly educated for a person whose native ambition was to excel the nomads of the desert in war and sport"; both beautiful and barbaric, he is rarely mentioned in Seven Pillars except in association with some act of violence.

In the Bolt/Lean version, Ali becomes a compilation of several Arab characters from Seven Pillars, the first difference being his name, which is changed to Ali ibn el Kharish. The mutual attraction between Lawrence and Ali remians, and physically Omar Sharif resembles Lawrence's description, but that's where the similarities end. Far from displaying the violence and barbarity of the Ali of Seven Pillars, the then popular Western opinion of the Arabs as savages is contrasted with Lawrence's own simultaneous exaggerated horror and sado-masochistic love of bloodshed (after the bloodbath scene, in which we have just witnessed Lawrence indulge in a frenzy of killing, Ali says bitterly: "Does it surprise you, Mr Bentley? Surely you know the Arabs are a barbarous people, barbarous and cruel? Who but they?... Who but they?..."). In the words of Robert Bolt, the Ali of Lawrence of Arabia becomes Lawrence's "moral conscience."

It has been speculated the Ali is the mysterious "S.A" to whom Lawrence dedicated Seven Pillars of Wisdom. David Lean was interested in this possibility, and both Bolt and Lean wanted to portray Ali and Lawrence as having a deeply felt but unconsumated attraction.

Robert Bolt and Omar Sharif endow Ali with nobility, loyalty and courage. He is a character audiences can both admire and love, and he is important in influencing the audience's opinion and understanding of Lawrence.

Quote:

"If I fear him, who love him, how must he fear himself, who hates himself?"

Background Information:

David Lean's first choice for Ali was twenty-eight year old German actor Horst Buchholz, who had recently won popularity by playing a Mexican in The Magnificent Seven. Buchholz, however, could not be extricated from a commitment to a Billy Wilder film.

Without consulting Lean, producer Sam Spiegal cast French actor Maurice Ronet in the role. David Lean felt that he was wrong for the role, an added problem being his refusal to wear brown contact lenses over his blue eyes because of the sand whipped up by the wind in the desert (not to mention his French accent). Ronet was eventually taken of the picture, after having been paid his full fee plus the promise of two French pictures in compensation.

David Lean decided Omar Sharif, formerly a star in his native Egypt, was the actor to play Ali when he was flown in to screen test for a smaller role.