Since employment and the search for
employment seems to be on so many people's minds, I wish to share
with you what I believe is one of the best "performance reviews" in
film. There are a few others, some more comical than this, but this is perhaps the best of the serious reviews. It may even have some basis in fact. That is less clear.
In this sequence, T. E. Lawrence, aka
Lawrence of Arabia, has just come out of the desert and announced
that he and the Arab Revolt have taken Aqaba. He is escorted into
the presence of his commanding general, General Allenby, who is many
levels above Lawrence's nominal chain of command.
Of course, this is from David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia (1962) starring Peter O'Toole as T. E. Lawrence.
The sequence is here, until Youtube
takes it down.
The Review
Allenby reviews his file, questions his
actions, promotes him, and builds up his morale to motivate him to go
back and continue his work. How many of us can say that we
have had as well-informed and insightful a review, or one designed to
help us do our best work?
Lawrence, who of course realizes he is
being manipulated, tells Allenby to his face, "Youre a clever
man, sir", and through his presentation makes it clear that he is accusing Allenby of doing something nasty by rewarding Lawrence and making him like it. I don't know about you, but I think that is pretty funny.
Allenby manipulates his employee by telling him he has done a good job, promoting him and buying him a drink. What a tricky, low down thing to do!
As background on the film, many of the key plot points in the movie are historical. Which is appalling when you think about it. Of course any detail or dialogue or colorful incident at an oasis or whatnot is certainly fiction, at least to some degree. I am not sure if Lawrence ever met Allenby or if Allenby invited him for a drink at the Officer's club. I would tend to doubt it, but I do not know. But I think that we can be certain that if they did meet, whatever they said to each other was different than what we see here.
The performance review:
Allenby: (reading from a file)
Undisciplined .... Unpunctual ... Untidy ... Several languages,
knowledge of music,
literature, knowledge of ... , knowledge of ... You're an
interesting
man, there is no doubt
about it. Who told you to take Aqaba?
Lawrence: Nobody.
Allenby: Sir.
Lawrence: Sir.
Allenby: Then why did you?
Lawrence: Aqaba is important.
Allenby: Why is it important?
Lawrence: Its the Turkish route to the
canal.
Allenby: Not anymore, they're coming
through Bathsheba.
Lawrence: But we've gone forward to
Gaza.
Alleny: So?
Lawrence: So, that left Aqaba behind
your right.
Allenby: True.
Lawrence: And it will be further behind
your right when you go for Jerusalem.
Allenby: Am I going for Jerusalem?
Lawrence: Yes.
Allenby: Very well, Aqaba behind my
right.
Lawrence: It threatened El Harish and
Gaza.
Allenby: Anything else?
Lawrence: Yes, Aqaba is linked with
Medina.
Allenby: Do you think we should shift
them out of Medina now?
Lawrence: No, I think you should leave
them there.
Allenby: You acted without orders you
know.
Lawrence: Shouldn't officers use their
initiative at all times?
Allenby: Not really. Its awfully
dangerous, Lawrence.
Lawrence: Yes, I know.
Allenby: Already?
Lawrence: Yes.
Allenby: I'm promoting you Major.
Lawrence: I don't think that's a very
good idea.
Allenby: I didn't ask you. I want you
to go back and carry on the good work.
Lawrence: No, thank you, sir.
See also:
The Arab Revolt
General Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby
Thomas Edward Lawrence
Lawrence of Arabia (1962) on
IMDB
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