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David Lean (I) (1908–1991)

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An important British filmmaker, David Lean was born in Croydon in 1908 and brought up in a strict Quaker family (ironically, as a child he wasn't allowed to go to the movies). During the 1920s he briefly considered the possibility of becoming an accountant like his father before finding a job in a cinema studio in 1927... See full bio »

Born:

in Croydon, Surrey, England, UK

Died:

(age 83) in London, England, UK
l to r: Freddie Young (in hat), unidentified crew member, David Lean, Pedro Vidal, Jonathan Burrows David Lean and Julie Christie David Lean Katharine Hepburn and David Lean in Summertime Still of Robert Mitchum, David Lean and Sarah Miles in Ryan's Daughter David Lean and Julie Christie in Doctor Zhivago
8 photos | 11 videos | 623 news articles »

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Won 2 Oscars. Another 29 wins & 24 nominations See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideEditor (28 titles)
1984 A Passage to India
 
1942 In Which We Serve (uncredited)
 
1942 One of Our Aircraft Is Missing
 
1941 49th Parallel
 
1941 Major Barbara
 
1940 Spies of the Air
 
1940 French Without Tears
 
1938 Pygmalion
 
1937 The Last Adventurers
 
1937 The Wife of General Ling
 
1937 Dreaming Lips
 
1936 With Pleasure, Madame
 
1936 As You Like It
 
1935 The Crouching Beast
 
1935 Escape Me Never
 
1935 Brewster's Millions (uncredited)
 
1935 Turn of the Tide (uncredited)
 
1934 Java Head
 
1934 Dangerous Ground
 
1934 The Secret of the Loch
 
1934 Tiger Bay
 
1933 Money for Speed
 
1933 Matinee Idol
 
1933 Song of the Plough
 
1933 The Ghost Camera
 
1932 Insult
 
1931 These Charming People
 
1930 The Night Porter (uncredited)
 
Show ShowDirector (19 titles)
Show ShowWriter (10 titles)
1984 A Passage to India (screenplay)
 
1979 Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor (TV short)
 
1955 Summertime (screenplay)
 
1954 Hobson's Choice (screenplay)
 
1949 The Passionate Friends (adaptation)
 
1948 Oliver Twist (screenplay)
 
1946 Great Expectations (adapted for the screen by)
 
1945 Brief Encounter (uncredited)
 
1945 Blithe Spirit (adapted for the screen by)
 
1944 This Happy Breed (adaptation)
 
1929 Sailors Don't Care (assistant director)
 
1929 High Treason (assistant director - uncredited)
 
1928 Balaclava (assistant director)
 
1928 The Physician (assistant director)
 
Show ShowActor (3 titles)
1962 Lawrence of Arabia
Motorcyclist by Suez Canal (uncredited)
 
1955 Summertime
Man at Café (unconfirmed) (uncredited)
 
1933 Money for Speed
Reporter (uncredited)
 
Show ShowProducer (3 titles)
1962 Lawrence of Arabia (producer - uncredited)
 
1954 Hobson's Choice (producer)
 
1952 Breaking the Sound Barrier (producer)
 
Show ShowMiscellaneous Crew (2 titles)
1941 Major Barbara (assistant to director)
 
1927 Quinneys (runner - uncredited)
 
Show ShowEditorial Department (2 titles)
1941 Major Barbara (montage)
 
1940 Spy for a Day (supervising editor)
 
Show ShowThanks (3 titles)
2012 Crossroad (acknowledgment to the works of)
 
2012 A Little Bit Zombie (acknowledgment to the works of)
 
1962 Lawrence of Arabia (special thanks - 1989 restoration / as Sir David Lean)
 
Show ShowSelf (18 titles)
1985-1990 The South Bank Show (TV series documentary)
Himself
– David Lean and Robert Bolt (1990) … Himself
– David Lean: A Life in Film (1985) … Himself
 
1990 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to David Lean (TV special)
Himself - Guest of Honor
 
1988 Film '72 (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 29 March 1988 (1988) … Himself
 
1985 The 57th Annual Academy Awards (TV special documentary)
Himself - Nominee: Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay & Best Film Editing
 
1985 The Golden Gong (TV documentary)
Himself-Interviewee
 
1979 Lost and Found: The Story of Cook's Anchor (TV short)
Himself
 
1971 Omnibus (TV series documentary)
Himself
– David Lean (1971) … Himself
 
1971 The Dick Cavett Show (TV series)
Himself
– David Lean and John Mills (1971) … Himself
 
1970 The David Frost Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #3.45 (1970) … Himself
 
1970 Film Night (TV series)
Himself
– We're the Last of the Travelling Circuses (1970) … Himself
 
1970 The 42nd Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Commenting on New Freedom and Trends in Film: Pre-Recorded
 
1966 Zhivago: Behind the Camera with David Lean (documentary short)
Himself
 
1965 Moscow in Madrid (documentary short)
Himself
 
1965 David Lean's Film of Doctor Zhivago (documentary short)
Himself
 
1965 Pasternak (documentary short)
Himself
 
1963 The 35th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Best Director Winner
 
1958 The 30th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Best Director Winner
 
1956 Korda Interviews (TV documentary)
Interviewee
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (14 titles)
2013 SK13 (documentary)
Himself
 
2011 The Story of Film: An Odyssey (TV series documentary)
 
2010 Doctor Zhivago: A Celebration (video documentary short)
Himself
 
2009 David Lean and His Dedicated Maniacs (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2009 David Lean in Close-Up (TV documentary)
Himself (archive sound)
 
2008 Il était une fois... (TV series documentary)
 
2004 The Ultimate Film (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2003 Arena (TV series documentary)
 
2003 The Making of 'Lawrence of Arabia' (video documentary)
Himself
 
2000 The Making of 'Lawrence of Arabia' (video documentary)
Himself
 
1998 The Best of Hollywood (TV documentary)
Interview
 
1995 'Doctor Zhivago': The Making of a Russian Epic (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1994 Wyatt Earp: Walk with a Legend (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1993 Great Performances (TV series)
 

Related Videos

Great Expectations -- A humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor. Lawrence of Arabia -- Clip: I will execute the law The Bridge on the River Kwai -- After settling his differences with a Japanese PoW camp commander, a British colonel co-operates to oversee his men's construction of a railway bridge for their captors - while oblivious to a plan by the Allies to destroy it.
See all 11 »
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Personal Details

Publicity Listings:

3 Biographical Movies  | 6 Print Biographies  | 5 Articles  | 1 Magazine Cover Photo  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Sir David Lean

Height:

6' 1" (1.85 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

[on the Academy Awards] "If you have no hope of getting one, they're despised. But it you have, they're very important." See more »

Trivia:

Frequently worked with Alec Guinness. When he recommended that Steven Spielberg direct Empire of the Sun, Spielberg ended up hiring Eve Mavrakis as a translator. Fittingly, Mavrakis would go on to marry Ewan McGregor, who succeeded Guinness in the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi. See more »

Trademark:

Often collaborated with composer Maurice Jarre See more »

Star Sign:

Aries