 T.E. Lawrence (qv) declined invitations to film his writings as  early as 1926, when Rex Ingram (II) (qv) suggested the idea.  Later, Alexander Korda (qv) tried to launch a version starring  Leslie Howard (I) (qv), written by John Monk Saunders (qv) and  directed by Lewis Milestone (qv). Over the years, such stars as  Robert Donat (qv), Laurence Olivier (qv), Cary Grant (qv),  Burgess Meredith (qv), and Alan Ladd (I) (qv) were all promoted  as leads. Screenwriter Michael Wilson (I) (qv) finally convinced  Lawrences brother to sell the film rights to Sam Spiegel (I) (qv)  by submitting his screenplay for approval in 1960.