Sir David Lean

Sir David Lean was a film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. During his extensive career he created some of the most respected and visionary films ever made.

His early career saw a collaboration with Nöel Coward, working on films including: This Happy Breed (1944), Blithe Spirit (1945) and Brief Encounter (1945) which is widely regarded as a Classic.

At home with the classics, his adaptations of Charles Dicken's, Great Expectations and Oliver Twist set new benchmarks for what was possible with black and white film and he used light like an artist's paint brush to create breathtaking and dramatic visuals.

It wasn't just black and white film where Lean excelled, his work on Bridge Over the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and Doctor Zhivago (1965) are all masterpieces of colour - with their wide angles and long shots. Lean had an enviable skill of not just expertly capturing the narrative but of also making every landscape and environment give Oscar worthy performances. 

In 1984 he made A Passage to India, a film he had pursued since 1960 and which was entirely shot on location. In addition to directing the film, he is also credited with writing and editing it.

His contribution and artistry within film was credited in 1953 when he was awarded with a CBE.

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