Bentley first appears at the funeral of T. E. Lawrence in 1935. Asked for his opinion about Lawrence by a reporter, he remarks: Then, after the reporter exits, he says to a friend: He is then accosted by a British Medical Officer who protests angrily that Lawrence was "a very great man." Bentley does not appear in the story proper until the beginning of Act II, when he arrives at Arab- and British-occupied Aqaba to interview Prince Feisal, writing for the Chicago Courier. He admits that he is "looking for a hero" to inspire his country's entry into World War I, to which Feisal replies: Bentley covers one of Lawrence's train raids, interviewing Lawrence, Sherif Ali, and photographing the event - though Auda ibu Tayi takes offense, smashing one of his cameras. Bentley re-appears as Lawrence returns to Jerusalem, but is prevented from speaking with Lawrence by Dryden. He protests that he has a right to see Lawrence due to his role in his fame. Dryden rebuffs him: Bentley arrives to accompany Lawrence's final campaign against Damascus, but the car he has rented breaks down and he is forced to accompany the main British column with General Allenby. He arrives in the aftermath of the Tafas massacre, appalled at the carnage he sees, and addresses a blood-soaked, remorseful Lawrence: Bentley is in his forties, highly cynical of authority, and regards the ambitions of Lawrence, Ali, and Feisal cynically. He and Lawrence seem to have a somewhat antagonistic relationship, but find each other useful for their respective ends. He has published a very well written novel titled "48 hours - A City of London Thriller"
Inspiration
Bentley is obviously inspired by American journalist and explorer Lowell Thomas. Thomas, along with cameraman Harry Chase, briefly accompanied Lawrence on his exploits in the Arab Revolt, visited the archaeological site at Petra, and also spent time with Lawrence, Allenby, and Feisal in Aqaba and Jerusalem. After the war, he helped make Lawrence a household name with a book and dramatic slide lectures which toured London and New York City. However, Bentley is a middle-aged man, whereas Thomas was in his twenties during the war. There is also no equivalent to Chase in the film. Lawrence and Thomas in real life had a friendly relationship that only turned sour after Thomas refused to stop his slide lectures in the early 20s, despite personal requests by Lawrence. Thomas seemed to hold Lawrence in high regard, unlike Bentley, though he famously described Lawrence: Thomas had approached the film's producer, Sam Spiegel, with a great deal of research material, which was turned down. Thomas enjoyed the film on its own merits, but felt it was a grossly inaccurate depiction of Lawrence and the Arab Revolt. Michael Wilson's original script was based on With Lawrence in Arabia, Thomas's book on the Arab Revolt, and Thomas served as the film's narrator. Robert Bolt's revision focused on Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom as its primary source; Thomas's character was scaled down, and his name changed.
