Mr. Dryden
Encyclopedia
Mr. Dryden is a major character in the film Lawrence of Arabia
(1962). He is portrayed by veteran actor Claude Rains
. He is a diplomat and political leader, the head of the Arab Bureau
, who first enlists T. E. Lawrence
(Peter O'Toole
) for work as a liaison to the Arab Revolt
, and manipulates Lawrence and the Arabs to ensure Allied dominion over the post-war Middle East. He is an amalgamation of several historical figures, mainly thought to be the British diplomatic adviser Colonel Sir Mark Sykes and the French diplomat François Georges-Picot
, authors of the controversial Sykes-Picot Agreement
.
(Donald Wolfit
) in his Cairo
office. He recognizes Lawrence's abilities and knowledge and manages to convince Murray that Lawrence is the "man for the job". He speaks briefly with Lawrence in his office (which is ornamented with Egyptian artifacts) and tries to convince Lawrence that the desert is a "burning, fiery furnace" despite Lawrence's claims of it being "fun". Dryden sums up his attitude by telling Lawrence:
Dryden reappears at the end of Act I in the office with General Allenby (Jack Hawkins
) and Colonel Harry Brighton
(Anthony Quayle
), as Lawrence recounts the Aqaba expedition, is promoted, and tries to convince Allenby he should be reassigned. Dryden says to Allenby of Lawrence's exploits:
Dryden sits in on Allenby's and Lawrence's military conference in the courtyard and tells Allenby that the question of British expansion in the Middle East is a "difficult question". At the end of the scene, he and Brighton debate Allenby's promise to provide Lawrence's Arabs with artillery:
Dryden reappears in Allenby's office in Jerusalem where he is meeting with Prince Feisal (Alec Guinness
). He informs Lawrence of the Sykes-Picot Agreement
, the Anglo-French plan to divide up the Ottoman Empire
, and coldly justifies his actions:
As the argument between Lawrence and Allenby escalates, Dryden notices a growing spot of blood on the back of Lawrence's uniform. Dryden draws Allenby's attention to it, and excuses himself. He is accosted by journalist Jackson Bentley
(Arthur Kennedy
), who demands to see Lawrence. Dryden dismisses him, describing the argument between Lawrence and Allenby:
Dryden reappears in Damascus
, convincing General Allenby to stand by and allow Lawrence and Feisal's "Arab Council" to collapse on its own, fearing that any interference with them would cause "a full-scale rising". At the end of the film, Dryden helps Allenby and Feisal hammer out a compromise as the Arab Council collapses, trying to save Arab face while handing power over to the British. Asked his opinion of the situation by Feisal, Dryden responds with his typical world-weariness:
, Dryden was an amalgamation of several historical figures. Robert Bolt
stated that the character was created to "represent the civilian and political wing of British interests, to balance Allenby's military objectives."
The most often cited predecessor for Dryden is Sir Ronald Storrs. Storrs was an intelligence officer with whom Lawrence first travelled to the Hejaz to meet with the Arab forces, and somewhat reluctantly assigned Lawrence as a liaison. Storrs headed the Arab Bureau and also became Governor of Jerusalem after its capture by Allenby.
Other sources for Dryden include D. G. Hogarth
, an archaeologist friend of Lawrence who also served as an intelligence officer; Henry McMahon
, the High Commissioner of Egypt who negotiated the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence which effectively trigged the Arab Revolt; and Mark Sykes, who helped draw up the Sykes-Picot Agreement
which co-divided the post-war Middle East. Lawrence's official biographer, Jeremy Wilson
, characterizes Sykes as "ambitious and... capable of wholly cynical manoeuvring when this would achieve some short-term goal", similar to the film's fictional Dryden.
Dryden is, as shown by the dialogue quoted above, an exceedingly cynical and unscrupulous individual who uses short-sighted pragmatism as his primary weapon. In an early scene with General Murray, he tells him that "The job of the moment is to win the war", showing that his concern is with the immediate rather than long-term consequences. He is aware of the consequences of his actions but does not seem concerned with them. He is also very intelligent, perceptive, and cultured (shown by his knowledge of the Middle East and his collection of archaeological findings in his office), referred to by Bolt as a "cultivated xenophile" in the script, and uses this knowledge to manipulate both Lawrence and the Arabs.
Lawrence of Arabia (film)
Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British film based on the life of T. E. Lawrence. It was directed by David Lean and produced by Sam Spiegel through his British company, Horizon Pictures, with the screenplay by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson. The film stars Peter O'Toole in the title role. It is widely...
(1962). He is portrayed by veteran actor Claude Rains
Claude Rains
Claude Rains was an English stage and film actor whose career spanned 66 years. He was known for many roles in Hollywood films, among them the title role in The Invisible Man , a corrupt senator in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington , Mr...
. He is a diplomat and political leader, the head of the Arab Bureau
Arab Bureau
The Arab Bureau was a section of the Cairo Intelligence Department during the First World War. According to a Committee of Imperial Defence paper from January 7, 1916 the Arab Bureau was established to "harmonise British political activity in the Near East...[and] keep the Foreign Office, the India...
, who first enlists T. E. Lawrence
T. E. Lawrence
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, CB, DSO , known professionally as T. E. Lawrence, was a British Army officer renowned especially for his liaison role during the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916–18...
(Peter O'Toole
Peter O'Toole
Peter Seamus Lorcan O'Toole is an Irish actor of stage and screen. O'Toole achieved stardom in 1962 playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, and then went on to become a highly-honoured film and stage actor. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and holds the record for most...
) for work as a liaison to the Arab Revolt
Arab Revolt
The Arab Revolt was initiated by the Sherif Hussein bin Ali with the aim of securing independence from the ruling Ottoman Turks and creating a single unified Arab state spanning from Aleppo in Syria to Aden in Yemen.- Background :...
, and manipulates Lawrence and the Arabs to ensure Allied dominion over the post-war Middle East. He is an amalgamation of several historical figures, mainly thought to be the British diplomatic adviser Colonel Sir Mark Sykes and the French diplomat François Georges-Picot
François Georges-Picot
François Marie Denis Georges-Picot , son of historian Georges Picot and grand-uncle of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, was a French diplomat who signed the Sykes-Picot Agreement during World War I, with the Englishman, Sir Mark Sykes, dividing up the Ottoman Empire into British, French and, later,...
, authors of the controversial Sykes-Picot Agreement
Sykes-Picot Agreement
The Sykes–Picot Agreement of 1916 was a secret agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom and France, with the assent of Imperial Russia, defining their respective spheres of influence and control in Western Asia after the expected downfall of the Ottoman Empire during World War I...
.
Synopsis
Dryden appears early in the film, discussing the military situation in the Middle East with General Archibald MurrayArchibald Murray
General Sir Archibald James Murray, GCMG, KCB, CVO, DSO was a British Army officer during World War I, most famous for his commanding the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from 1916 to 1917.-Army career:...
(Donald Wolfit
Donald Wolfit
Sir Donald Wolfit, KBE was a well-known English actor-manager.-Biography:Wolfit, who was "Woolfitt" at birth was born at New Balderton, near Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire and attended the Magnus Grammar School and made his stage début in 1920...
) in his Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
office. He recognizes Lawrence's abilities and knowledge and manages to convince Murray that Lawrence is the "man for the job". He speaks briefly with Lawrence in his office (which is ornamented with Egyptian artifacts) and tries to convince Lawrence that the desert is a "burning, fiery furnace" despite Lawrence's claims of it being "fun". Dryden sums up his attitude by telling Lawrence:
It is recognized you have a funny sense of fun.
Dryden reappears at the end of Act I in the office with General Allenby (Jack Hawkins
Jack Hawkins
Colonel John Edward "Jack" Hawkins CBE was an English actor of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:Hawkins was born at Lyndhurst Road, Wood Green, Middlesex, the son of master builder Thomas George Hawkins and his wife, Phoebe née Goodman. The youngest of four children in a close-knit family,...
) and Colonel Harry Brighton
Harry Brighton
Colonel Harry Brighton is a fictional character in the film Lawrence of Arabia . He is played by Anthony Quayle.- Film :Brighton first appears at T. E. Lawrence's funeral. He has the film's first line of dialogue: "He was the most extraordinary man I ever knew."Brighton is mentioned in early scenes...
(Anthony Quayle
Anthony Quayle
Sir John Anthony Quayle, CBE was an English actor and director.-Early life:Quayle was born in Ainsdale, Southport, in Lancashire to a Manx family....
), as Lawrence recounts the Aqaba expedition, is promoted, and tries to convince Allenby he should be reassigned. Dryden says to Allenby of Lawrence's exploits:
Before he did it, sir, I'd have said it couldn't be done.
Dryden sits in on Allenby's and Lawrence's military conference in the courtyard and tells Allenby that the question of British expansion in the Middle East is a "difficult question". At the end of the scene, he and Brighton debate Allenby's promise to provide Lawrence's Arabs with artillery:
Dryden: Are you really going to give them artillery, sir?
Brighton: I was wondering that, sir. Might be deuce difficult to get it back again.
Dryden: Give them artillery and you've made them independent.
Allenby: Then I can't give them artillery, can I?
Dryden: For you to say, sir.
Allenby: No, it's not. I've got orders to obey, thank God! Not like that poor devil - he's riding the whirlwind.
Dryden: Let's hope we're not.
Dryden reappears in Allenby's office in Jerusalem where he is meeting with Prince Feisal (Alec Guinness
Alec Guinness
Sir Alec Guinness, CH, CBE was an English actor. He was featured in several of the Ealing Comedies, including Kind Hearts and Coronets in which he played eight different characters. He later won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai...
). He informs Lawrence of the Sykes-Picot Agreement
Sykes-Picot Agreement
The Sykes–Picot Agreement of 1916 was a secret agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom and France, with the assent of Imperial Russia, defining their respective spheres of influence and control in Western Asia after the expected downfall of the Ottoman Empire during World War I...
, the Anglo-French plan to divide up the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, and coldly justifies his actions:
A man who tells lies, like me, merely hides the truth. But a man who tells half-lies, has forgotten where he's put it.
As the argument between Lawrence and Allenby escalates, Dryden notices a growing spot of blood on the back of Lawrence's uniform. Dryden draws Allenby's attention to it, and excuses himself. He is accosted by journalist Jackson Bentley
Jackson Bentley
Jackson Bentley was a fictional American journalist who appeared in the film Lawrence of Arabia ; he is portrayed by Arthur Kennedy. He is based on famed American journalist Lowell Thomas.- Overview :...
(Arthur Kennedy
Arthur Kennedy (actor)
Arthur Kennedy was an American stage and film actor known for his versatility in supporting film roles and his ability to create "an exceptional honesty and naturalness on stage" especially in the original casts of Arthur Miller plays on Broadway.- Early life and education :Kennedy was born John...
), who demands to see Lawrence. Dryden dismisses him, describing the argument between Lawrence and Allenby:
It's a little clash of temperament that's going on in there. Inevitably, one of them's half-mad. And the other—wholly unscrupulous.
Dryden reappears in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, convincing General Allenby to stand by and allow Lawrence and Feisal's "Arab Council" to collapse on its own, fearing that any interference with them would cause "a full-scale rising". At the end of the film, Dryden helps Allenby and Feisal hammer out a compromise as the Arab Council collapses, trying to save Arab face while handing power over to the British. Asked his opinion of the situation by Feisal, Dryden responds with his typical world-weariness:
Me, Your Highness? Well, on the whole, I wish I'd stayed in Tunbridge Wells.
Basis
Like Sherif Ali and Colonel BrightonHarry Brighton
Colonel Harry Brighton is a fictional character in the film Lawrence of Arabia . He is played by Anthony Quayle.- Film :Brighton first appears at T. E. Lawrence's funeral. He has the film's first line of dialogue: "He was the most extraordinary man I ever knew."Brighton is mentioned in early scenes...
, Dryden was an amalgamation of several historical figures. Robert Bolt
Robert Bolt
Robert Oxton Bolt, CBE was an English playwright and a two-time Oscar winning screenwriter.-Career:He was born in Sale, Cheshire. At Manchester Grammar School his affinity for Sir Thomas More first developed. He attended the University of Manchester, and, after war service, the University of...
stated that the character was created to "represent the civilian and political wing of British interests, to balance Allenby's military objectives."
The most often cited predecessor for Dryden is Sir Ronald Storrs. Storrs was an intelligence officer with whom Lawrence first travelled to the Hejaz to meet with the Arab forces, and somewhat reluctantly assigned Lawrence as a liaison. Storrs headed the Arab Bureau and also became Governor of Jerusalem after its capture by Allenby.
Other sources for Dryden include D. G. Hogarth
David George Hogarth
David George Hogarth was a British archaeologist and scholar associated with T. E. Lawrence and Arthur Evans.-Archaeological career:...
, an archaeologist friend of Lawrence who also served as an intelligence officer; Henry McMahon
Henry McMahon (diplomat)
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Arthur Henry McMahon, GCMG, GCVO, KCIE, CSI was a British diplomat and Indian Army officer who served as the High Commissioner in Egypt from 1915 to 1917. He was also an administrator in British India, and served twice as Chief Commissioner of Balochistan...
, the High Commissioner of Egypt who negotiated the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence which effectively trigged the Arab Revolt; and Mark Sykes, who helped draw up the Sykes-Picot Agreement
Sykes-Picot Agreement
The Sykes–Picot Agreement of 1916 was a secret agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom and France, with the assent of Imperial Russia, defining their respective spheres of influence and control in Western Asia after the expected downfall of the Ottoman Empire during World War I...
which co-divided the post-war Middle East. Lawrence's official biographer, Jeremy Wilson
Jeremy Wilson
Jeremy M. Wilson is a contemporary British historian, biographer, writer, editor, and fine-press publisher. He is also a business copywriter and editor working for major corporations....
, characterizes Sykes as "ambitious and... capable of wholly cynical manoeuvring when this would achieve some short-term goal", similar to the film's fictional Dryden.
Dryden is, as shown by the dialogue quoted above, an exceedingly cynical and unscrupulous individual who uses short-sighted pragmatism as his primary weapon. In an early scene with General Murray, he tells him that "The job of the moment is to win the war", showing that his concern is with the immediate rather than long-term consequences. He is aware of the consequences of his actions but does not seem concerned with them. He is also very intelligent, perceptive, and cultured (shown by his knowledge of the Middle East and his collection of archaeological findings in his office), referred to by Bolt as a "cultivated xenophile" in the script, and uses this knowledge to manipulate both Lawrence and the Arabs.