Contents
David Lean
Directing Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai and other expansive historical epics.
Brief Encounter · The Bridge on the River Kwai
- Born
- 25 March 1908
- Birthplace
- Croydon, United Kingdom
- Died
- 16 April 1991
More people
David Lean
David Lean began as an editor before directing intimate British dramas and internationally financed epics.
Early life
Quaker upbringing
Grew up in Croydon and attended Leighton Park School.
Camera enthusiast
An early interest in photography preceded a brief apprenticeship in accountancy.
Career
- 1927
Studio work
Entered Gaumont in a junior job and progressed towards editing.
- 1942
Directing debut
Co-directed In Which We Serve with Noël Coward.
- 1950s–1960s
International scale
Moved from British literary adaptations into major location-shot epics.
- 1984
Final feature
Returned after a long directing gap with A Passage to India.
Selected work
Brief Encounter
An everyday meeting becomes an impossible romance.
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Prisoners build a railway bridge during World War II.
Lawrence of Arabia
An epic portrait of T. E. Lawrence and the Arab Revolt.
Beyond work
Photography
Maintained a lifelong interest in still photography and travel.
Film institutions
Was a founding figure in the organisation that became BAFTA.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗British Film Institute: film and context ↗Photo: Harry Pot / Anefo. CC0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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