Its themes include Lawrence's emotional struggles with the personal violence inherent in war, his own identity, and his divided allegiance between his native Britain with its army and his new-found comrades within the Arabian desert tribes. The film depicts Lawrence's experiences in the Ottoman Empire's provinces of Hejaz and Greater Syria during World War I, in particular his attacks on Aqaba and Damascus and his involvement in the Arab National Council. The screenplay was written by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson. The film also stars Jack Hawkins, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quayle, Claude Rains, and Arthur Kennedy. The film stars Peter O'Toole as Lawrence with Alec Guinness playing Prince Faisal. It was directed by David Lean and produced by Sam Spiegel, through his British company Horizon Pictures, and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Lawrence and his 1926 book Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British epic historical drama film based on the life of T.