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David Lean 101
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2008 marked David Lean’s centenary. 2009, then, would be his 101st year — a fitting time to undertake a beginner’s course in his life and work, eh? The play-on-numbers is not my own, but borrowed from the staff of the Cleveland Cinematheque, which hosts a retrospective in January and February. The Cleveland Museum of Art will also show four Lean films in February and March.
David Lean was one of the leading filmmakers of the 20th Century. He directed only sixteen feature films, in a forty-year career, yet many of these appear regularly in critics’ and filmgoers’ polls of the greatest films of all time. Five of his films appeared in the top thirty of the BFI’s Top 100 Films, voted by the film industry in 1999 - Brief Encounter was placed at number two and Lawrence of Arabia at number three. Great Expectations was placed at number five.
British Film Institute
The BFI has put together some excellent resources on Lean and his work, and their restored prints of his early films are making a tour through the US & Canada.
I will also be reading Gene Phillips’ biography of Lean, and plan to update this main post as I learn more.
Over the next two months I will try to watch all of Lean’s feature films. I have seen embarrassingly little to date, for years ignoring his most lauded works. I approach the project having seen only Brief Encounter and Summertime years ago, plus the exquisite Passionate Friends shown last month as a preview.
For any possible locals, more information on Cinematheque/Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) screenings here and Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) screenings here.
4 Dec CIA The Passionate Friends (1949)
5 Jan CIA In Which We Serve (1942)
11 Jan CIA Brief Encounter (1945)
18 Jan CIA Great Expectations (1946)
18 Jan CIA Oliver Twist (1948)
25 Jan CIA The Sound Barrier (1952)
31 Jan CIA Summertime (1955)
8 Feb CIA The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
11 Feb CMA This Happy Breed (1944)
14 Feb CIA Dr Zhivago (1965)
18 Feb CMA Madeleine (1950)
22 Feb CIA Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
1 Mar CIA A Passage to India (1984)
4 Mar CMA Blithe Spirit (1945)
18 Mar CMA Hobson’s Choice (1954)
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Brief Encounter (1945) is a personal favorite of mine, that he did. But I also have admiration for Ryan’s Daughter (1970) with Robert Mitchum. I consider it an underrated masterpiece.
I too want to see more movies with him, especially, Passage to India (1984).
I think it really was Dr Zhivago (1965)and Lawrence of Arabia (1962) that made him one of my favorite directors.
Comment by The Maiden — 5 January 2009 @ 5 January 2009The Cleveland Museum of Art Film Series is also honoring the centenary of David Lean by showing four of his early films this February.
This Happy Breed
Wednesday, February 11, 6:45 p.m.
Directed by David Lean, with Robert Newton, Celia Johnson, and John Mills. Noel Coward wrote this well-acted chronicle of a London family from the inter-war years of 1919 to 1939.
Madeleine
Wednesday, February 18, 6:45 p.m.
Directed by David Lean, with Ann Todd and Leslie Banks. Lean’s then-wife Todd plays a woman accused of murdering her lover in this period drama set in Victorian Glasgow.
Blithe Spirit
Wednesday, March 4, 7:00 p.m.
Directed by David Lean, with Rex Harrison, Constance Cummings, and Margaret Rutherford. In this Oscar-winning comedy-fantasy written by Noel Coward, a novelist finds his happy second marriage haunted by the mischievous ghost of his long-dead first wife.
Hobson’s Choice
Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 p.m.
Directed by David Lean, with Charles Laughton and John Mills. This delightful comedy tells of an obnoxious, demanding bootmaker in 1890s Lancashire who gets his comeuppance when his oldest daughter rebels against him.
All films will be shown in the Morley Lecture Hall located at 11150 East Boulevard in University Circle. Admission prices to museum films are: general public $8, CMA member $, seniors 65 and over $5, students $4. Tickets are available through the Online Box Office at http://www.clevelandart.org, in person or over the phone at 1-888-CMA-0033.
Come out and see a film at CMA!
Comment by Laura Andrews — 6 January 2009 @ 6 January 2009Thanks, I appreciate the detailed information! I had been searching for the CMA schedule. I’m glad it has come to me.
With any luck I’ll be at them all!
Comment by Lauren — 6 January 2009 @ 6 January 2009I’d love to know your opinions on the other Lean films!
Comment by Katherine — 29 April 2009 @ 29 April 2009