David Lean was an English film director, producer, screenwriter and editor.
Widely considered one of the most influential directors of all time, Lean directed the large-scale epics The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965), and A Passage to India (1984). He also directed two adaptations of Charles Dickens novels, Great Expectations (1946) and Oliver Twist (1948), as well as the romantic drama Brief Encounter (1945).
He received various awards including eleven Academy Awards nominations winning twice for Best Director for Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962). He also received five Golden Globe Award nominations winning three awards for Best Director for The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and Doctor Zhivago (1964). He also received fourteen British Academy Film Award nominations winning six awards. In 1974 he won the BAFTA Fellowship for Outstanding British Contribution in Film.
Major associations Academy Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref. 1946 Best DirectorBrief Encounter Best Adapted Screenplay 1947 Best Director Great Expectations Best Adapted Screenplay 1955Best Director Summertime 1957 The Bridge on the River Kwai 1962 Lawrence of Arabia 1965 Doctor Zhivago 1984 A Passage to India Best Adapted Screenplay Best Film Editing
British Academy Film Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref. 1948 Best British Film Oliver Twist 1952 Best Film from any SourceThe Sound Barrier Best British Film 1954 Best Film from any SourceHobson's Choice Best British Screenplay 1955Best Film from any Source Summertime 1957 The Bridge on the River Kwai Best British Film 1962 Best Film from any SourceLawrence of Arabia Best British Film 1965 Best Film from any Source Doctor Zhivago 1970 Best Direction Ryan's Daughter 1975BAFTA Fellowship1984 Best FilmA Passage to India Best Adapted Screenplay
Golden Globe Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref. 1957Best Director The Bridge on the River Kwai 1962 Lawrence of Arabia 1965 Doctor Zhivago 1984A Passage to India Best Screenplay
Miscellaneous awards YearAwardFilmResult 1944 Silver Condor Award for Best Foreign Film In Which We Serve(shared with Noël Coward) 1954 Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear Hobson's Choice 1946 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix Brief Encounter 1949 The Passionate Friends 1966 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or Doctor Zhivago 1967 David di Donatello for Best Foreign Director 1958 Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing - Feature Film The Bridge on the River Kwai 1963 Lawrence of Arabia 1971 Ryan's Daughter 1985 A Passage to India 1974 Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Film Ryan's Daughter 1946 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation Blithe Spirit 1964 Nastro d'Argento for Best Foreign Director Lawrence of Arabia 1984 Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director A Passage to India 1964 Kinema Junpo Award for Best Foreign Language Film Lawrence of Arabia 1952 National Board of Review Award for Best Director The Sound Barrier 1957 The Bridge on the River Kwai 1962 Lawrence of Arabia 1984 A Passage to India 1985 National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director 3rd place 1942 New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director In Which We Serve 2nd place 1953 The Sound Barrier 3rd place 1955 Summertime 1957 The Bridge on the River Kwai 1965 Doctor Zhivago 2nd place 1984 A Passage to India 1948 Venice Film Festival Grand International Award Oliver Twist 1984 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay A Passage to India
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