- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- March 25, 1908
- Place of Birth
- Croydon, Surrey, England, UK
- Died
- April 16, 1991
David Lean
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 b…
Filmography
movieMaverick: The Epic Adventures of David Lean
2026 · Self (archive footage)
movieOmar Sharif: Citizen of the World
2020 · Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
movieE. M. Forster: His Longest Journey
2019 · Self (archive footage)
movieNice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
2019 · Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
movieNostromo: David Lean's Impossible Dream
2017 · Self (archive footage)
tvTalking Pictures
2013 · Self (archive footage)
movieDoctor Zhivago: A Celebration
2010 · Self (Archive Footage)
movieThe Making of Lawrence of Arabia
2001 · Self (archive footage)
The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio
movieThe Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio
1985 · Self
movieDavid Lean: A Life in Film
1985 · Self
movieA Passage to India
1984 · Director, Screenplay, Editor
movieLost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor
1979 · himself, Writer, Director
tvThe South Bank Show
1978 · Self
tvThe American Film Institute Salute to ...
1973 · Self
Film '72
tvFilm '72
1971 · Self
Ryan's Daughter Featurette
movieRyan's Daughter Featurette
1971 · Self
movieDavid Lean: A Self Portrait
1971 · Self
movieRyan's Daughter
1970 · Director
tvThe Dick Cavett Show
1968 · Self - Guest
tvOmnibus
1967 · Self
moviePasternak
1965 · Self (archive footage)
movieMoscow in Madrid
1965 · Self
movieDoctor Zhivago
1965 · Director
movieThe Greatest Story Ever Told
1965 · Second Unit Director
movieZhivago: Behind the Camera with David Lean
1965 · Self
David Lean's Film of Doctor Zhivago
movieDavid Lean's Film of Doctor Zhivago
1965 · Self
movieWind Sand and Star
1963
movieLawrence of Arabia
1962 · Motorcyclist by Suez Canal (uncredited), Director
movieThe Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giant
1958 · Self
movie...On Seeing Film
1958 · Self
movieThe Bridge on the River Kwai
1957 · Director
movieSummertime
1955 · Screenplay, Director
movieHobson's Choice
1954 · Director, Producer, Screenplay
tvReflets de Cannes
1954 · Self
tvThe Oscars
1953 · Self
movieThe Sound Barrier
1952 · Director, Producer
movieMadeleine
1950 · Director
movieThe Passionate Friends
1949 · Director, Adaptation
movieOliver Twist
1948 · Director, Screenplay
movieGreat Expectations
1946 · Screenplay, Director
movieBrief Encounter
1945 · Director, Additional Writing
movieBlithe Spirit
1945 · Director, Screenplay
movieThis Happy Breed
1944 · Director, Screenplay
movieIn Which We Serve
1942 · Director
movieOne of Our Aircraft Is Missing
1942 · Editor
movie49th Parallel
1941 · Editor
movieMajor Barbara
1941 · Assistant Director
movieSpy for a Day
1940 · Editor
movieFrench Without Tears
1940 · Editor
movieSpies of the Air
1939 · Editor
moviePygmalion
1938 · Editor
The Wife of General Ling
movieThe Wife of General Ling
1937 · Editor
movieDreaming Lips
1937 · Editor
movieAs You Like It
1936 · Editor
movieBall at Savoy
1936 · Editor
movieThe Crouching Beast
1935 · Editor
movieEscape Me Never
1935 · Editor
The King of Paris
movieThe King of Paris
1934 · Editor
movieTiger Bay
1934 · Editor
movieThe Secret of the Loch
1934 · Editor
movieDangerous Ground
1934 · Editor
movieThe Fortunate Fool
1933 · Editor
movieSong of the Plough
1933 · Editor
movieMoney for Speed
1933 · Editor
movieThe Ghost Camera
1933 · Editor
movieInsult
1932 · Editor
movieThese Charming People
1931 · Editor
movieThe Night Porter
1930 · Editor
Sailors Don't Care
movieSailors Don't Care
1928 · Assistant Camera
Quinneys
movieQuinneys
1927 · Production Runner