Lean, Sir David

Lean, Sir David, 1908–91, English film director, producer, and scriptwriter, b. Croyden, England. He was one of Britain's most accomplished film editors before turning to directing. His early films include In Which We Serve (1942), Blithe Spirit (1945) and Brief Encounter (1946). Later films include forceful literary dramas 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), and Dr. Zhivago (1965) are notable. After a 14-year hiatus, he returned with the well-received A Passage to India (1984). Lean was knighted in 1984.

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

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