![LAWRENCE, T.E. Autograph letter signed ("T.E. Shaw"), to Robin [Buxton], discussing Alexander Korda's proposed film version of 'Revolt in the Desert,' and expressing concern over Alan Dawnay's health, Southampton, 7 June 1934. 2 pages, 4to, filing holes.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2004/NYR/2004_NYR_01348_0135_000(073444).jpg?w=1)
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LAWRENCE, T.E. Autograph letter signed ("T.E. Shaw"), to Robin [Buxton], discussing Alexander Korda's proposed film version of 'Revolt in the Desert,' and expressing concern over Alan Dawnay's health, Southampton, 7 June 1934. 2 pages, 4to, filing holes.
"I AM TOO RECENT TO MAKE A GOOD SUBJECT--TOO MUCH ALIVE, IN FACT..."
Lawrence complains of his agent to Buxton, who was one of the Trustees of Revolt in the Desert: "...Savage is a nuisance with his film-greediness; but I suspect that Korda will not play. I am too recent to make a good subject--too much alive, in fact. I warned Eliot that the Film Company might be ceded his and your rights in Revolt in the Desert.....but that I doubted if that would give them the power to put a lot of living people on the stage. They might be able to reproduce me...but you and Alan D. and Joyce and Feisal and all the Arabs...to each man his own right, I fancy. Better wait till we are all dead. Tell the Inland Revenue that too..."
The legendary head of London Films, Alexander Korda, purchased the film rights to Revolt in the Desert in late 1934 for an estimated £30,000. Lawrence was determined to stop the plan to film it and went to see Korda in late January 1935. He "found to his delight that Korda made no difficulty: 'He was quite unexpectedly sensitive...seemed to understand at once when I put to him the inconveniences his proposed film of Revolt would set in my path...and ended the discussion by agreeing that it should not be attempted without my consent...You can imagine how this gladdens me.'" (Wilson, p. 921).
"I AM TOO RECENT TO MAKE A GOOD SUBJECT--TOO MUCH ALIVE, IN FACT..."
Lawrence complains of his agent to Buxton, who was one of the Trustees of Revolt in the Desert: "...Savage is a nuisance with his film-greediness; but I suspect that Korda will not play. I am too recent to make a good subject--too much alive, in fact. I warned Eliot that the Film Company might be ceded his and your rights in Revolt in the Desert.....but that I doubted if that would give them the power to put a lot of living people on the stage. They might be able to reproduce me...but you and Alan D. and Joyce and Feisal and all the Arabs...to each man his own right, I fancy. Better wait till we are all dead. Tell the Inland Revenue that too..."
The legendary head of London Films, Alexander Korda, purchased the film rights to Revolt in the Desert in late 1934 for an estimated £30,000. Lawrence was determined to stop the plan to film it and went to see Korda in late January 1935. He "found to his delight that Korda made no difficulty: 'He was quite unexpectedly sensitive...seemed to understand at once when I put to him the inconveniences his proposed film of Revolt would set in my path...and ended the discussion by agreeing that it should not be attempted without my consent...You can imagine how this gladdens me.'" (Wilson, p. 921).