
Person
David Lean
Directing · 1908–1991 · Croydon, Surrey, England, UK
Biography
Sir David Lean CBE (25 March 1908 – 16 April 1991) was an English film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Widely considered one of the most important figures in British cinema, he is best remembered for adapting the works of Charles Dickens and Noël Coward, and for his large scale period epics such as The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965), Ryan's Daughter (1970), and A Passage to India (1984). Acclaimed and praised by directors such as Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick, Lean was voted 9th greatest film director of all time in the British Film Institute Sight & Sound "Directors Top Directors" poll 2002. Nominated seven times for the Academy Award for Best Director, winning twice for The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia, he has seven films in the British Film Institute's Top 100 British Films (with three of them being in the top five).
Known for

The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest

Omnibus
Self

The South Bank Show
Self

The Oscars
Self

Talking Pictures
Self (archive footage)

Lawrence of Arabia
Motorcyclist by Suez Canal (uncredited)

Reflets de Cannes
Self

The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self

The Bridge on the River Kwai
Director

Doctor Zhivago
Director
Filmography
- 2026Maverick: The Epic Adventures of David LeanSelf (archive footage)
- 2020Omar Sharif: Citizen of the WorldSelf - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- 2019E. M. Forster: His Longest JourneySelf (archive footage)
- 2019Nice Girls Don't Stay for BreakfastSelf - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- 2017Nostromo: David Lean's Impossible DreamSelf (archive footage)
- 2013Talking PicturesSelf (archive footage)
- 2010Doctor Zhivago: A CelebrationSelf (Archive Footage)
- 2001The Making of Lawrence of ArabiaSelf (archive footage)
- 1985The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary StudioSelf
- 1985David Lean: A Life in FilmSelf
- 1984A Passage to IndiaDirector
- 1979Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchorhimself
- 1978The South Bank ShowSelf
- 1973The American Film Institute Salute to ...Self
- 1971Ryan's Daughter FeaturetteSelf
- 1971David Lean: A Self PortraitSelf
- 1970Ryan's DaughterDirector
- 1968The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest
- 1967OmnibusSelf
- 1965PasternakSelf (archive footage)
- 1965Moscow in MadridSelf
- 1965Doctor ZhivagoDirector
- 1965The Greatest Story Ever ToldSecond Unit Director
- 1965David Lean's Film of Doctor ZhivagoSelf
- 1965Zhivago: Behind the Camera with David LeanSelf
- 1963Wind Sand and Star
- 1962Lawrence of ArabiaMotorcyclist by Suez Canal (uncredited)
- 1958The Rise and Fall of a Jungle GiantSelf
- 1958...On Seeing FilmSelf
- 1957The Bridge on the River KwaiDirector
- 1955SummertimeScreenplay
- 1954Hobson's ChoiceDirector
- 1954Reflets de CannesSelf
- 1953The OscarsSelf
- 1952The Sound BarrierDirector
- 1950MadeleineDirector
- 1949The Passionate FriendsAdaptation
- 1948Oliver TwistDirector
- 1946Great ExpectationsDirector
- 1945Brief EncounterDirector
- 1945Blithe SpiritDirector
- 1944This Happy BreedDirector
- 1942In Which We ServeDirector
- 1942One of Our Aircraft Is MissingEditor
- 194149th ParallelEditor
- 1941Major BarbaraAssistant Director
- 1940Spy for a DayEditor
- 1940French Without TearsEditor
- 1939Spies of the AirEditor
- 1938PygmalionEditor
- 1937The Wife of General LingEditor
- 1937Dreaming LipsEditor
- 1936As You Like ItEditor
- 1936Ball at SavoyEditor
- 1935The Crouching BeastEditor
- 1935Escape Me NeverEditor
- 1934The King of ParisEditor
- 1934Tiger BayEditor
- 1934The Secret of the LochEditor
- 1934Dangerous GroundEditor
- 1933The Fortunate FoolEditor
- 1933Song of the PloughEditor
- 1933Money for SpeedEditor
- 1933The Ghost CameraEditor
- 1932InsultEditor
- 1931These Charming PeopleEditor
- 1930The Night PorterEditor
- 1928Sailors Don't CareAssistant Camera
- 1927QuinneysProduction Runner
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