This film is part of Free
General Allenby's Entry into Jerusalem
A legend in the making: the first film glimpse of the man who would become Lawrence of Arabia
Overview
The name in the title of this newsreel belongs to General Allenby, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army's Egyptian Expeditionary Force and the man who led the conquest of Jerusalem, ending centuries of Ottoman rule. But there's no doubting the real star for us today: a then-unknown Thomas Edward Lawrence, later immortalised as Lawrence of Arabia. This is probably the first of Lawrence's very few appearances on film, and it would prove pivotal in building his legend.
That's despite the fact that hero of the Arab Revolt appears fleetingly just twice, in his British Army uniform. A man of modest height (1.66m), he's some way behind the leaders during the ceremonial march into the city (visible for about two seconds from 1:45). He's rather easier to spot in an earlier shot outside the city walls (from 1:34 to 1:46): in the middle distance towards the left of the frame, he twice looks directly at a camera that his comrades seem not to notice. The film was taken on 11 December 1917, two days after Jerusalem fell, and screened the following February as a special extended edition of Pictorial News (Official), Topical Budget. Lawrence obscurity was then almost absolute - but not for much longer.
Related
Nelson; The Story of England's Immortal Naval Hero Nelson; The Story of England's Immortal Naval Hero
Biopic 1918 126 mins Silent
Morale-boosting exploits intended to inspire war-weary citizens.
Trips and Tribunals (The Blunders of Mr. Butterbun) Trips and Tribunals (The Blunders of Mr. Butterbun)
Comedy 1918 25 mins Silent
Mr Butterbun presides over a tribunal dealing with cases of men presenting excuses to avoid the First World War draft.
Women's Work in Wartime Women's Work in Wartime
Documentary 1918 8 mins Silent
Who wears the trousers while the men are at war? The women of Britain, who pick up a surprisingly wide range of jobs
Battle Front in Britain Battle Front in Britain
Documentary 1918 24 mins Silent
Growing potatoes in Green Park plus some handy uses for your old tin cans – it’s all part of the war effort on the home front.
Scenes of the First World War Scenes of the First World War
Documentary 1918 5 mins Silent
Dramatic footage of Italian and British troops on the front line and airborne.
Haunted Hotel Haunted Hotel
Fantasy 1918 17 mins Silent
Guests find things that go bump in the night.
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.