History Creator / DavidLean

Lean was born to a Quaker family in Surrey and from very early in his career, he made films with a Brownie camera. He was TheMovieBuff as a young man who adored the films of Creator/KingVidor, Creator/WilliamWyler and Creator/JohnFord. He eventually worked in British film studios and found his calling as an editor, including the famous George Bernard Shaw adaptions of ''Pygmalion'' (1937) and ''Major Barbara'' (1941) as well as films with Creator/MichaelPowell and Emeric Pressburger. He edited ''49th Parallel'' and ''Film/OneOfOurAircraftIsMissing'' and Powell would consider Lean the best editor he worked with.

His first EpicMovie was ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'', which earned him an AcademyAward for Best Director; he won a second time for ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''. Both films were produced by Sam Spiegel and featured several of the same actors, including the ubiquitous Alec Guinness. They were box office hits and received generally positive reviews, becoming recognized as the high points of their genre.

Lean is regarded as one of the greatest film-makers of all time and counts the likes of Creator/MartinScorsese, Creator/StevenSpielberg, Creator/StanleyKubrick and others among his {{Big Name Fan}}s.

Sir David Lean CBE (25 March 1908 – 16 April 1991) is one of the greatest English film-makers of the 20th Century.

He is especially associated with the EpicMovie, and for good reason. He also pioneered location shooting, large-scale use of extras and visual extravagance common to the Hollywood genre but raised to a level of sophistication thanks to the deeper storytelling (resulting from Lean's collaboration with excellent screenwriters like Creator/RobertBolt), richer characterization and the use of landscape as part of the story and character (best shown through a WidescreenShot). A Lean epic is commonly associated with SceneryPorn, gorgeous landscape shots, incredible action set-pieces, technical brilliance and amazing performances.

Sir David Lean CBE (25 March 1908 – 16 April 1991) is one of the greatest English film-makers of the 20th Century. He is especially associated with the EpicMovie, and for good reason. He also pioneered location shooting, large-scale use of extras and visual extravagance common to the Hollywood genre but raised to a level of sophistication thanks to the deeper storytelling (resulting from Lean's collaboration with excellent screenwriters like Creator/RobertBolt), richer characterization and the use of landscape as part of the story and character (best shown through a WidescreenShot). A Lean epic is commonly associated with SceneryPorn, gorgeous landscape shots, incredible action set-pieces, technical brilliance and amazing performances.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sir_david_lean.jpg]]

Lean's career stalled temporarily in the '50s. He made several largely-forgotten vehicles starring his wife, actress Ann Todd, along with a well-received but unsuccessful adaptation of ''Hobson's Choice'' staring Creator/CharlesLaughton. His comeback came with ''Summertime'' starring Creator/KatharineHepburn, a transitional film between his small-scale melodramas and later epics (it was filmed on location in Venice).

* ''Film/InWhichWeServe''
* ''Film/BriefEncounter''
* ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai''
* ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''
* ''Film/DoctorZhivago''
* ''Film/RyansDaughter''
* ''Film/APassageToIndia''

Sir David Lean CBE (25 March 1908 – 16 April 1991) is one of the greatest English film-makers of the 20th Century, a two-time AcademyAward winner for ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'' and ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''. He is especially associated with the EpicMovie for good reason. He pioneered location shooting, large-scale use of extras and visual extravagance common to the Hollywood genre but raised to a level of sophistication thanks to the deeper storytelling (resulting from Lean's collaboration with excellent screenwriters like Creator/RobertBolt), richer characterization and the use of landscape as part of the story and character (best shown through a WidescreenShot). A Lean epic is commonly associated with SceneryPorn, gorgeous landscape shots, incredible action set-pieces, technical brilliance and amazing performances.

His first EpicMovie is ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'' for which he won an Oscar for Best Director, and then won a second Oscar for ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''. Both movies were produced by Sam Spiegel and featured several of the same actors, including the ubiquitous Alec Guinness. They were box office hits and received generally positive reviews, becoming recognized as the high points of their genre.

Sir David Lean CBE (25 March 1908 – 16 April 1991) is one of the greatest English film-makers of the 20th Century, a two-time AcademyAward winner for films like ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'' and ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''. He is especially associated with the EpicMovie for good reason. He pioneered location shooting, large-scale use of extras and visual extravagance common to the Hollywood genre but raised to a level of sophistication thanks to the deeper storytelling (resulting from Lean's collaboration with excellent screenwriters like Creator/RobertBolt), richer characterization and the use of landscape as part of the story and character (best shown through a WidescreenShot). A Lean epic is commonly associated with SceneryPorn, gorgeous landscape shots, incredible action set-pieces, technical brilliance and amazing performances.

-->-- an uncredited '''David Lean''' addressing T. E. Lawrence in''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''

->-- ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia'', addressed to Lawrence by an uncredited David Lean.

Sir '''David Lean''' CBE (25 March 1908 – 16 April 1991) is one of the greatest English film-makers of the 20th Century, a two-time Academy Award winner for films like ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'' and ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''. He is especially associated with the EpicMovie for good reason. He pioneered location shooting, large-scale use of extras and visual extravagance common to the Hollywood genre but raised to a level of sophistication thanks to the deeper storytelling (resulting from Lean's collaboration with excellent screenwriters like Creator/RobertBolt), richer characterization and the use of landscape as part of the story and character (best shown through a WidescreenShot). A Lean epic is commonly associated with SceneryPorn, gorgeous landscape shots, incredible action set-pieces, technical brilliance and amazing performances.

His production pace slowed to a halt after that and critics generally found that his later films lacked the spirit of these films, despite the fact that ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' was a box-office success. This was also a time where the EpicMovie went out of fashion. The scathing reviews accorded to ''Film/RyansDaughter'' reportedly discouraged Lean from making films for over a decade, though in reality he spent the '70s working on several failed projects, notably a remake of ''Film/MutinyOnTheBounty'' (which eventually mutated into ''Film/TheBounty'', a much smaller-scale project helmed by a different director).

In 1984, Lean's reputation was revived by ''Literature/APassageToIndia'', which received universal critical acclaim and respectable box office. The 1989 restoration and re-release of ''Lawrence of Arabia'' also enhanced his stature. In the final years of his life, he had planned a comeback with an adaptation of Creator/JosephConrad's ''Literature/{{Nostromo}}'', it took him several years to get the funding, cast and crew in place, [[ShootTheShaggyDog and then he died a few weeks before production began]].

Sir '''David Lean''' CBE (25 March 1908 – 16 April 1991) is one of the greatest English film-makers of the 20th Century, a two-time Academy Award winner for films like ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'' and ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''. He is especially associated with the EpicMovie for good reason. He pioneered location shooting, large-scale use of extras and visual extravagance common to the Hollywood genre but raised to a level of sophistication thanks to the deeper storytelling (resulting from Lean's collaboration with excellent screenwriters like Creator/RobertBolt), richer characterization and the use of landscape as part of the story and character. A Lean epic is commonly associated with SceneryPorn, gorgeous landscape shots, incredible action set-pieces, technical brilliance and amazing performances.

Lean made his directorial debut with the adaptation of Noel Coward's ''Film/InWhichWeServe'' and later found his BreakthroughHit with ''Film/BriefEncounter'' regarded as the quintessential British WartimeRomance and an instant classic. He later found fame with adaptations of Creator/CharlesDickens' ''Literature/GreatExpectations'' and ''Literature/OliverTwist'', his first films with favorite actor Creator/AlecGuinness. His first EpicMovie is ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'' for which he won an Oscar for Best Director, and then won a second Oscar for ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''.

Lean made his directorial debut with the adaptation of Noel Coward's ''In Which We Serve'' and later found his BreakthroughHit with ''Film/BriefEncounter'' regarded as the quintessential British WartimeRomance and an instant classic. He later found fame with adaptations of Creator/CharlesDickens' ''Literature/GreatExpectations'' and ''Literature/OliverTwist'', his first films with favorite actor Creator/AlecGuinness. His first EpicMovie is ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'' for which he won an Oscar for Best Director, and then won a second Oscar for ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''.

His production pace slowed to a halt after that and critics generally found that his later films lacked the spirit of these films, despite the fact that ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' was a box-office success. This was also a time where the EpicMovie went out of fashion. The scathing reviews accorded to ''Film/RyansDaughter'' reportedly discouraged Lean from making films for over a decade, though in reality he spent the '70s working on several failed projects, notably a remake of ''Film/MutinyOnTheBounty'' (which eventually mutated in ''Film/TheBounty'', a much smaller-scale project helmed by a different director).

His production pace slowed to a halt after that and critics generally found that his later films lacked the spirit of these films, despite the fact that ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' was a box-office success. This was also a time where the EpicMovie went out of fashion. The scathing reviews accorded to ''Film/RyansDaughter'' reportedly discouraged Lean from making films for over a decade, though in reality he spent the '70s working on several failed projects, notably a remake of ''Film/MutinyOnTheBounty'' (which eventually mutated in ''Film/TheBounty'', a much smaller-scale project helmed by a different director_.

Lean made his directorial debut with the adaptation of Noel Coward's ''In Which We Serve'' and later found his BreakthroughHit with ''Film/BriefEncounter'' regarded as the quintessential British WartimeRomance and an instant classic. He later found fame with adaptations of Creator/CharlesDickens' ''Literature/GreatExpectations'' and ''Literature/OliverTwist'', his first films with favorite actor Creator/AlecGuinness. His first EpicMovie is ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'' for which he won an Oscar for Best Director, and then won a second Oscar for ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''. His production pace slowed to a halt after that and critics generally found that his later films lacked the spirit of these films, despite the fact that ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' was a box-office success. This was also a time where the EpicMovie went out of fashion. In the final years of his life, he had planned a comeback with an adaptation of Creator/JosephConrad's ''Literature/{{Nostromo}}'', it took him several years to get the funding, cast and crew in place, [[ShootTheShaggyDog and then he died a few weeks before production began]].

Lean is regarded as one of the greatest film-makers of all time and counts the likes of Creator/MartinScorsese, Creator/StevenSpielberg, Creator/StanleyKubrick and others among his BigNameFan.

--> ''"Who are you?"''
-->-- ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia'', addressed to Lawrence by an uncredited David Lean.

Lean made his directorial debut with Noel Coward adaptation of ''In Which We Serve'' and later found his BreakthroughHit with ''Film/BriefEncounter'' regarded as the quintessential british WartimeRomance and an instant classic. He later found fame with Creator/CharlesDickens adaptations of ''Literature/GreatExpectations'' and ''Literature/OliverTwist'', his first films with favorite actor Creator/AlecGuinness. His first EpicMovie is ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'' for which he won an Oscar for Best Director, and then won a second Oscar for ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''. His production pace slowed to a halt after that and critics generally found that his later films lacked the spirit of these films, despite the fact that ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' was a box-office success. This was also a time where the EpicMovie went out of fashion. In the final years of his life, he had planned a comeback with an adaptation of Creator/JosephConrad's ''Literature/{{Nostromo}}'', it took him several years to get the funding, cast and crew in place, [[ShootTheShaggyDog and then he died a few weeks before production began]].

* Film/BriefEncounter
* Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai
* Film/LawrenceOfArabia
* Film/DoctorZhivago
* Film/RyansDaughter
* Film/APassageToIndia


----

Lean made his directorial debut with Noel Coward adaptation of ''In Which We Serve'' and later found his BreakthroughHit with ''Film/BriefEncounter'' regarded as the quintessential british WartimeRomance and an instant classic. He later found fame with Creator/CharlesDickens adaptations of ''Literature/GreatExpectations'' and ''Literature/OliverTwist'', his first films with favorite actor Creator/AlecGuinness. His first EpicMovie is ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'' for which he won an Oscar for Best Director, and then won a second Oscar for ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''. His production pace slowed to a halt after that and critics generally found that his later films lacked the spirit of these films, despite the fact that ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' was a box-office success. This was also a time where the EpicMovie went out of fashion.

Sir '''David Lean''' CBE (25 March 1908 – 16 April 1991) is one of the greatest English film-makers of the 20th Century, a two-time Academy Award winner for films like ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'' and ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''. He is especially associated with the EpicMovie for good reason. He pioneered location shooting, large-scale use of extras and visual extravagance common to the Hollywood genre but raised to a level of sophistication thanks to the deeper storytelling (resulting from Lean's collaboration with excellent screenwriters like Robert Bolt), richer characterization and the use of landscape as part of the story and character. A Lean epic is commonly associated with SceneryPorn, gorgeous landscape shots, incredible action set-pieces, technical brilliance and amazing performances.

Lean was born to a Quaker family in Surrey and from very early in his career, he made films with a Brownie camera. He was TheMovieBuff as a young man who adored the films of Creator/KingVidor, Creator/WilliamWyler and Creator/JohnFord. He eventually worked in British film studios and found his calling as an editor, including the famous George Bernard Shaw adaptions of ''Pygmalion'' (1937) and ''Major Barbara'' (1941) as well as films with Creator/MichaelPowell and Emeric Pressburger. He edited ''49th Parallel'' and ''Film/OneOfOurAircraftIsMissing'' and Powell would consider Lean the best editor he worked with. Lean made his directorial debut with Noel Coward adaptation of ''In Which We Serve'' and later found his BreakthroughHit with ''Film/BriefEncounter'' regarded as the quintessential british WartimeRomance and an instant classic. He later found fame with Creator/CharlesDickens adaptations of ''Literature/GreatExpectations'' and ''Literature/OliverTwist''. His first EpicMovie is ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'' for which he won an Oscar for Best Director, and then won a second Oscar for ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia''. His production pace slowed to a halt after that and critics generally found that his later films lacked the spirit of these films, despite the fact that ''Film/DoctorZhivago'' was a box-office success. This was also a time where the EpicMovie went out of fashion.

Lean was born to a Quaker family in Surrey and from very early in his career, he made films with a Brownie camera. He was TheMovieBuff as a young man who adored the films of Creator/KingVidor, Creator/WilliamWyler and Creator/JohnFord. He eventually worked in British film studios and found his calling as an editor, including the famous George Bernard Shaw adaptions of ''Pygmalion'' (1937) and ''Major Barbara'' (1941) as well as films with Creator/MichaelPowell and Emeric Pressburger. He edited ''49th Parallel'' and ''Film/OneOfOurAircraftIsMissing'' and Powell would consider Lean the best editor he worked with.