Film 88 Special - David Lean

From 29th March 1988

[@greyfriars6540]

Lean was in a class of his own. He knew every aspect of film making directing, lighting, camerawork, writing, editing. A master of his craft.

[@wavoconqueso]

I was still in high school when Dr. Zhivago came out and I thought David Lean was a master who knew what visual artistry was as much as Monet or Turner and as good a story teller as Pasternak could hope for. Then I learned that he did Great Expectations that I saw in Jr. high and also had an impact on me; and think his version is the best version. A great sensitive director with a passion for excellence that shows in the movies that stand up to the test of time.

[@habu179]

Well said.

[@sun131089]

There is genuine magic in his pictures

[@10Nat34]

Long before I knew what a director was, nor how movies are made, I met David Lean's The Great Expectations and was flabbergasted by its power and beauty. I did not speak English, but the film's impact on me did not need any linguistic skills to overwhelm me. It was 1947 and I was a 14-year old refugee kid in a displaced persons camp near the notorious Bergen Belsen in the then British Zone of post-war Germany. I have since seen all of Lean's films and although not always impressed with all, continued to think of his output as extremely important to the history and art of film-making. My favourite Lean movie is Bridge on the River Kwai. He was indeed a film master. and there are not many of his ncalibre working today.

[@ceciliaellis6721]

David Lean - a magical name in my memory. I thought him a genius.

[@TheJPSouza]

‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ and ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ will always be his masterpieces of cinema!

[@novistador9844]

I was disappointed by the bridge. But larry of arabia is a masterpiece

[@roberttownsend7397]

Ryan's Daughter is a really special film and the dramatic quality of the Irish landscape was never captured so beautifully before. In fact this film started what became a huge tourist industry in the far south west if Ireland (Dingle Peninsula) People still come from all over the world to see where the movie was shot (I live nearby) but all that remains now is the schoolhouse and that's in very bad condition. As a matter of interest Ryan's Daughter made back it's budget over four times during the first year of it's release and it must have made a massive amount since then. David Lean was undoubtedly a genius and also an old fashioned English gentleman, very few of which are still around today.

[@That_Random_Bloke]

I remember this being repeated when Sir David passed in 1991. Great director. Great interviewer. RIP Sir David and Barry

[@SRSM198]

David lean was by far a perfectionist, theres no doubt about that, he drove himself to exhaustion to capture the story in every detail, and the characters that were portrayed in his films.

[@user-ik4kh9lt6d]

A Passage to India is a masterpiece. Highly underrated.

[@latavarma6980]

I wish he had made more films and I'd have lived happily ever after.

[@apollonia6656]

My favourite director. " Great Expectations " and ' Lawrence of Arabia " are my top two films of all time. An honest man.

[@arricammarques1955]

Great Expectations superb B&W Cinematography.

[@bethelle9099]

Anything with John Mills is a , 'must see'. Lean should get a yearly Oscar in my book for, 'Hobson's choice'. SUPERB!!!!!!!!!

[@vintagebrew1057]

Yes, By Gum!

[@roundaboutKevin1]

With every question...... he gives a measured answer.

[@reelscreenwriting8940]

Got to give it up to this guy, one of a kind

[@bennyjazzful]

WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From a mad keen 75yo Aussie fan. Great interview of a brilliant film maker.

[@yingyang1008]

Insane how much TV has been dumbed down

[@DaboooogA]

Greatest British director there ever was

[@fidelmavahey8034]

Ryan's daughter was fantastic!!!!!!!!!!! 💜💜💜💜💜👏

[@arricammarques1955]

Vilified by the critics, sadly. Peerless direction.

[@m1lst3r89]

It's awful! Boring.

[@LOGOS422]

Excellent upload of a great film-maker.

[@speakingtruthuntopower138]

I love reading the comments because you learn SO MUCH that you didn’t know Greetings and Love 💕 to All KZbin Watchers !!! Don’t know what I’d do without KZbin!!! Namaste 🙏 And so it is

[@AntPDC]

He would have made a great actor too I think. Great, great man.

[@michaelbruns449]

David Lean has always been my favorite film director, ever since i first discovered movies around forty years ago and upon viewing a pristine clear restoration a few years ago, convinced me that Ryans Daughter is his most visually gorgeous motion picture. David Lean here in 1988 looks very much like Jimmy Page does now, minus the longer hair. Unique and fascinating footage > 30:08

[@marymoore8456]

He was the master & a genius. My favourite flim off all time is Dr Zhivago loved Omar & Julie together. It was a masterpiece.

[@DiferencialPV-vf4bn]

Ryan's daughter has a tremendous message. If you don't get that is because you are not sensitive.

[@Celestialrob]

What a lovely interview. The subject does not hurt.

[@jearnott]

I do miss Barry Norman!

[@citizen1163]

David Lean's films are more like fly on the wall documentaries than movies. So real.

[@moviola12]

A fly with a great eye, hey that rhymes.

[@citizen1163]

@@moviola12 imagery & poetry! 👏👏👏

[@Onmysheet]

Like Gaspar Noe

[@michaelbruns449]

No rear screen projection was used during his five epic masterpieces, all scenes filmed on location, thats definitely one major visual and emotional reason why.

[@slyeung6562]

Sir David Lean was the Greatest film Director ever !

[@josenivardoseijorodriguez8312]

El director más grande de todos los tiempos.

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

Ryan's Daughter is my favourite Lean film... I still have absolutely no clue why the critics attacked it.

[@whisperinstorytellerASMR]

Agree.....a stunning masterpiece... and one I always go back to over his others ...theres something raw and personal about the film despite its huge canvas

[@kentjensen4504]

Same here.

[@Tripp1993]

The most probable answer for it was that *_Ryan's Daughter_* came at what turned out to be the worst time in the film business. MGM was in a horrible state of production. They were dependent on re-releases to survive. *_The Graduate,_* *_Bonnie and Clyde,_* *_Easy Rider_* and *_Five Easy Pieces_* were successes in the box office and the world decided that films like that were more important now. Such a weird thing about this, some great works come at the worst possible time. Take Richard Kelly's *_Donnie Darko_* for example. It was released into theaters a month after the 9/11 attacks. That was a bad time for a film like *_that_* to be released, but it became a cult film over the years.

[@FlyingFocs]

I think because it came out around the new Hollywood era when big-scale romantic epics were falling out of fashion. Why it was EVISCERATED to the level it was is beyond me, but then again, I've heard classic rock bands like Queen and Led Zeppelin were trashed by critics in favor of the emerging punk rock. So maybe it's a need to look "of the moment" and "relevant."

[@Tripp1993]

You're not the only one to know and understand the obvious here. So, is it evident that, for many critics, David Lean was irrelevant in 1970 with the New Hollywood movement? Because of the punk rock period, Queen went in a less progressive rock direction with _News of the World_ and _Jazz,_ both having some of their best songs, "We Will Rock You," "We Are The Champions," "Fat Bottomed Girls," and finally, "Don't Stop Me Now," and Pink Floyd went into a much _darker_ direction with what should be known as Roger Waters' epic trilogy of albums, which consist of _Animals,_ _The Wall,_ and _The Final Cut._

[@ghazalkhazana3262]

He could not be better director if he wasn't editor , he was making great movies then without today's advanced technology. We are tired of watching special effects but nothing , RIP

[@DaveKarl]

26:19 - How could Barry even dare ask him such a ridiculous, ignorant and hurtful question?? David Lean movies say EVERYTHING about humanity.

[@APerson4889-g5f]

It was pretty insensitive, certainly.

[@m1lst3r89]

It was a pretty good question. For every director.

[@pete49327]

Fantastic, big thumbs up.

[@DoojeenDoonican]

Great upload - many thanks - I think I saw this when it went out but it's so long ago I can't be sure

[@savedfaves]

Barry Norman's voice comes in. Warm feelings.

[@JW-do2wc]

It was a shame that he quit directing because of the negativity from critics.

[@98999899]

A proof of how film critics are destroying movies.

[@Tripp1993]

This is why critics need to watch films multiple times, to understand what it means. To put it simply, in the words of Jim Broadbent's character in _Cloud Atlas,_ *_"What is a critic but one who reads quickly, arrogantly, but never wisely?"_* I love movies so this is the best way to put it. And don't forget, in the late-seventies he spent time trying to make a comeback film, which ended up being, _The Bounty,_ but directed by someone else. Shame, too. He was ready to go, but destiny got him on _A Passage to India._ Still, it's a good film. Not only was it his comeback, but it was his final film.

[@stevencassidy6982]

They don't make directors like this anymore?

[@johndelossantos7678]

Steven Cassidy the answer is yes

[@wp7187]

In the English speaking world at least, it’s doubtful whether any of his calibre have ever preceded or succeeded him. I’m not sure whether that’s a shame or a great compliment upon his exceptional talent.

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

27:11 - If I were Brian De Palma and I saw David Lean say that about my movie I MIGHT hang myself! 🤣🤣

[@shamimhuq2134]

I am so saddened that we don’t have someone similar to him. However he stands shoulder to shoulder with Akira Kurosawa and Sathyajit Ray.

[@prettytse7762]

DON'T SHOW OFF///JEALOUSY////

[@mtahirfilms]

Fantastic! It's a long time since I've seen it. Thanks for sharing it. If you can find the South Bank Show special on David Lean, that would be great.

[@valgag0]

A brief encounter is as good and as powerful as Casablanca

[@shamimhuq2134]

One of the greatest movie maker - Bridge on the River Kwai, Dr. Zhivago & Lawrence of Arabia...

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

Ryan's Daughter is a brilliant film too.

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

@Gabriel Sobre Have you even seen it? It's a magnificent film. The critics were wrong.

[@michaelbruns449]

A Passage To India.

[@ironmanjakarta8601]

Died 3 years later.

[@valgag0]

And the bridge on the river

[@cidvasconcelos6919]

Tradução de comentário crítico sobre David Lean escrito por David Thomson: magiadoreal.blogspot.com/2020/12/o-dicionario-biografico-de-cinema57-sir.html

[@walkermorgan1710]

pip pip cheerio!

[@mikemorgan7893]

Bridge On The River Kwai has a very confusing climax

[@novistador9844]

I fell asleep watching it

[@cinnamon4605]

26:48 👏👏

[@prettytse7762]

Ryan's daughter////

[@MilesBellas]

Nostromo wasn't made.

[@DaveKarl]

10:13 - No White women in it?

[@m1lst3r89]

I can imagine, now it's even worse. Studios are crap.

[@HS-sr2qb]

Brief Encounter is the most romantic film I've ever seen

[@garrison6863]

A Passage to India was really good. But Lawrence of Arabia is his best. Ryan's Daughter was a mistake.

[@bethelle9099]

Possibly the filming style and choice of female lead had something to do with it. Maybe Mitchum wasn't the best choice either. Casting is EVERYTHING!

[@BLTKellys]

Ryan’s Daughter is a masterpiece.

[@m1lst3r89]

Ryan Daughter is mistake for sure. He should better focused on a more closed, intimate film than big scale spectacle.

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

@@m1lst3r89I disagree. Rosie Ryan’s emotional life was perfectly express through the grandeur of the Irish coast.

[@m1lst3r89]

@@DeepScreenAnalysis that was wrong directorial choice.

[@moviola12]

27:11 he is so right The Untouchables is an awful film. Overacted and underwritten.

[@nikosvault]

Underacted and underwritten.

[@m1lst3r89]

You have no taste.

[@DiferencialPV-vf4bn]

People like to critic to open the mouth.

[@08CARIB]

How was this man a womanizer? So creepy...

[@ThatGingerCuntFromTerminator2]

08CARIB Whats creepy?

[@cinnamon4605]

The least numbers of women he slept around is thousands.

[@vishnuram4692]

He was married 6 times. Maybe he should have just shagged the cunts and left them. That would suit your description better.

[@vishnuram4692]

@@ThatGingerCuntFromTerminator2 Exactly.

[@m1lst3r89]

I guess many directors are.