A GLITTERING red carpet world premiere of the Dorset-shot movie about Lawrence of Arabia’s final years was held at Lighthouse, Poole.
Lawrence: After Arabia focuses on the events that led up to Lawrence of Arabia’s death following a motorcycle accident near Bovington Camp on May 13, 1935.
Crew, cast, extras, supporters and film fans gathered at the venue for the special screening of the low-budget biopic created by director, producer and writer Mark JT Griffin.
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The event raised money for Lighthouse’s continuing support of the arts across the region after the sector was hit hard by the pandemic.
The award-winning film’s premiere was also delayed several times by ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
The iconic Brough Superior SS100 motorcycle used in the film was the premiere’s star prop at the Lighthouse reception.
Gloucestershire-based Mark has had a lifelong passion for the Lawrence story after coming to Dorset as a boy.
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He said: “It is a project which has kept me occupied for many years. The film was made possible by my cast and crew who worked their socks off, stepping into any breech whenever needed.”
Shot on a tiny budget, the movie was filmed at locations across Dorset, including Lawrence’s home at Clouds Hill, near Bovington and St Nicholas Church in Moreton where he is buried.
Other locations were St Martin’s in the Wall Church in Wareham, where Lawrence’s effigy lies, the town’s Priory Hotel, Smedmore House, Compton Abbas Airfield, Herrison Hall at Charlton Down – and Thrashers Lane at Wytch, near Corfe Castle, where the fatal crash was filmed.
The film stars Tom Barber Duffy as Lawrence and features Hugh Fraser, Michael Maloney, Nicole Ansari Cox and the voice of superstar Brian Cox among a mainly local cast.
Many of the cast attended the premiere, although Brian and Nicole Ansari Cox were unable to travel from their New York home.
The compelling story of the last years of T.E. Lawrence’s life and his mysterious death following a motorcycle accident is fully examined in the film.
Mark is currently touring small venues across the county with one-off screenings and Q&A sessions.
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