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David Lean

(1908-1991), Film director

Sir David Lean

Sitter in 23 portraits
Film director. Born in Croydon, London, he began in the film industry as a clapperboard boy working his way up to become an editor of news programmes and fictional features. His early directorial successes came about through collaboration with Noel Coward and the pair worked together on four films: In Which We Serve (1942), This Happy Breed (1944), Blithe Spirit (1945) and Brief Encounter (1945). Other early successes came with Great Expectations (1946) and Oliver Twist (1948). Later in his career he became identified particularly with big budget, strong narrative epics such as Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Dr Zhivago (1965), Ryan's Daughter (1970) and A Passage to India (1984).

Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below

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David Lean

by Sir David Low
pencil, 1949 or before
NPG 4529(208)

David Lean

by Sir David Low
pencil, 1949 or before
NPG 4529(209)

David Lean

by Sir David Low
chalk, 1949 or before
NPG 5769

David Lean

by Angus McBean
bromide print, circa 1961
NPG P900

David Lean

by David Gamble
toned bromide print, 1991
NPG P633

David Lean

by Baron (Sterling Henry Nahum), for Camera Press
bromide press print, circa 1946
NPG x194383

David Lean

by Bela Zola
gelatin silver print, 1947
NPG x198385

Sir David Low; David Lean

by George Courtney Ward
vintage print, 1949
NPG x135638

David Lean; Richard Addinsell

by Unknown photographer
bromide press print, circa 1949
NPG x184153

David Lean; Ann Todd

by Leslie H. Baker
gelatin silver print, 1949?
NPG x198429

Peter O'Toole, David Lean, Jack Hedley and Jack Hawkins on the set of 'Lawrence of Arabia'

by P.A. Reuter Photos Ltd
vintage print, 13 September 1959
NPG x194156

David Lean

by Leslie H. Baker
vintage print, 1960s
NPG x194281

David Lean; Leila Lean (née Matkar)

by Unknown photographer
gelatin silver print, July 1960
NPG x198430

David Lean, Peter O'Toole and Zia Mohyeddin on the set of 'Lawrence of Arabia'

by Associated Press
bromide press print, July 1961
NPG x184047

David Lean and Sarah Miles on the set of 'Ryan's Daughter'

by Unknown photographer
bromide press print, June 1970
NPG x184045

David Lean and Sarah Miles on the set of 'Ryan's Daughter'

by Unknown photographer
bromide press print, June 1970
NPG x184046

David Lean and Sir John Mills on the set of 'Ryan's Daughter'

by Unknown photographer
bromide press print, June 1970
NPG x184048

David Lean; Sarah Miles

by Ken Danvers
vintage print, 1970
NPG x194282

David Lean

by Frank Connor
colour print, 1984
NPG x76157

David Lean

by Cornel Lucas
bromide fibre print, 1985
NPG x87112

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Related People

Groups

Film-makers

Place

London

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Cornel Lucas: Shooting Stars

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David Lean