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Posted: 7/21/2024 4:56:41 PM EDT
| I tried googling his routes but can't seem to find them. In the movie when he first travels across the desert and goes back for the guy what's his start and stop. And then when they attack Aqaba, where did they start from? |
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Oh, that's helpful. I googled the heck out of this and couldn't find anything. Thanks for posting! Interesting - in the movie they said he 'crossed' the Nafud which kind of implies he started in the east in Kuwait maybe? That always confused me. If you are ever in Minneapolis, check out the Heights Theater. They show Lawrence of Arabia once a year. They have an organ that comes up through the stage and they play the theme. Cool event! |
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Great question. T.E. Lawrence's movements during the Arab Revolt are legendary, but Hollywood condensed and dramatized a lot in Lawrence of Arabia. Here's the real-world breakdown of his two major desert treks you're referencing: 1. The Nefud Crossing (the “going back for the guy” scene) Film scene: Lawrence, after guiding a small group across brutal desert terrain, famously turns back alone to rescue Gasim, a man who fell off his camel. Real events: Start: Al Wajh (on the Red Sea coast of modern Saudi Arabia) Desert crossing to: Wadi Sirhan region (towards the edge of the Nafud Desert, roughly near Al-Jauf) Return trip (rescue): Lawrence did go back for a missing man after a crossing near the Nafud Desert, but it's likely a composite story in the film. This dramatic act helped earn him legendary status among the Arabs. So, in short: Start: Al Wajh Crossed: The Nefud Desert Destination: Wadi Sirhan / Al-Jauf region Backtracked: to rescue a lost man (Gasim in the film) 2. The Attack on Aqaba Film scene: Lawrence leads a daring overland assault on the Ottoman-held port of Aqaba from the landward side, which was thought impossible. Historical route: Start: Wadi Sirhan region / Azraq area (modern-day Jordan) Crossed: The deadly Nefud Desert (again, though this was dramatized) Route passed through: Wadi Rum, the iconic desert valley where much of the film was shot End/target: Aqaba (present-day Jordan, on the Red Sea) This march covered hundreds of miles of arid, rugged terrain. The land approach was chosen precisely because the Ottomans didn't expect it. Summary of the Two Routes: Desert rescue scene Start: Al Wajh End: Al-Jauf / Wadi Sirhan Bonus: Returns alone to rescue Gasim Aqaba assault Start: Wadi Sirhan / Azraq End: Aqaba (via Wadi Rum) |