Lean, Sir David

Lean, Sir David, 1908–91, English film director, producer, and scriptwriter, b. Croyden, England. He entered the film industry in the 1920s, and had become one of Britain's most accomplished film editors before turning to directing. His early films include In Which We Serve (1942, with Noël Coward), Blithe Spirit (1945), and Brief Encounter (1946). Later films include forceful dramas adapted from literary works and lavish historically based epics. Of the former, Great Expectations (1946), Oliver Twist (1948), and Summertime (1955) stand out. Of the latter, The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), which is widely considered his masterpiece, and Dr. Zhivago (1965) are notable. After a 14-year hiatus, he returned with the well-received A Passage to India (1984), his last film. Lean was knighted in 1984.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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