David Lean by Kevin Brownlow

[Sgt Sunshine]

A massive work over 700 pages and packed with everything you could ever want to know about this genius.............I thoroughly recommend this fine piece of work to all............

Great pic on front cover showing him shielding some sort of lamp on a tripod, somewhere on a cliff in Ireland whilst filming "Ryans Daughter"

Any thoughts on this book (author or otherwise?)

Cheers

[TimR]

A massive work over 700 pages and packed with everything you could ever want to know about this genius.............I thoroughly recommend this fine piece of work to all............

Great pic on front cover showing him shielding some sort of lamp on a tripod, somewhere on a cliff in Ireland whilst filming "Ryans Daughter"

Any thoughts on this book (author or otherwise?)

Cheers

Thanks for posting this. I am looking for a biography of Lean.

[Sgt Sunshine]

Thanks for posting this. I am looking for a biography of Lean.

Thanks Tim for replying to my post........I was worried no one was interested

Its a great book, I think you'll enjoy it.........you should find it on amazon

Cheers

Sgt S

[TimR]

Thanks Tim for replying to my post........I was worried no one was interested

Its a great book, I think you'll enjoy it.........you should find it on amazon

Cheers

Sgt S

I just ordered it from interlibrary loan. I'm looking forward to it.

[Minafer]

I read it when it first came out and loved it. Very detailed and a nice assessment of both man and work.

[Rick C]

Have gone back for a more detailed second look at this thoroughly engaging narrative. It improves with every reading!



As a Quaker, I'm particularly impressed with the earlier accounts of David Lean's family comings and goings. Is there a million-to-one chance there is one other Friend on this website who might want to enter into a discussion? To my mind, this section is written with the passion that makes Quaker people Quaker!

[Reeldigger]

Thanks for giving me the heads-up on this. I located a local library last week and I'm enjoying it immensely. Lean comes off as a very complex man, outwardly very kind to everyone yet with the capacity to rather brutally cut off the people who loved him best. His wives and his son especially. But what a craftsman!

[TimR]

Thanks for giving me the heads-up on this. I located a local library last week and I'm enjoying it immensely. Lean comes off as a very complex man, outwardly very kind to everyone yet with the capacity to rather brutally cut off the people who loved him best. His wives and his son especially. But what a craftsman!

Well said - I'm reading it now and finding the same thing.



I read about the making of Ryan's Daughter first - couldn't resist. Fascinating. Brando was the first choice for the Christopher Jones role! The filming in Ireland and the ferocious response from critics and then Lean's traumatized response to the criticism have enough drama for a film.



Then I read about the making of Summertime.



Now I am back to the beginning and will read it properly.

[Reeldigger]

I didn't get to the Ryan's Daughter chapter yet but I recall reading about the production in Lee Server's excellent biography of Robert Mitchum. Interesting how Lean wanted to go back to the small-scale, rather intimate dramas he used to be known for but he just couldn't help himself. The film became longer and longer and finally epic!

[Film Man]

Another great biog on Lean is 'David Lean' by Stephen M Silverman with an intro by Kathahrine Hepburn...Plus the brilliant book on Ryan's Daughter by Michael Tanner entitled 'Troubled Epic On location with Ryan' Daughter'...So good I went to Dingle last year just to see the locations!

Film Man.

[TimR]

I didn't get to the Ryan's Daughter chapter yet but I recall reading about the production in Lee Server's excellent biography of Robert Mitchum. Interesting how Lean wanted to go back to the small-scale, rather intimate dramas he used to be known for but he just couldn't help himself. The film became longer and longer and finally epic!

I think that is why Ryan's Daughter didn't succeed. The epic production had no relation to the story, which was really just a fancy soap. The critics were much too harsh but its true that the film doesn't come off. I enjoy almost all epics and I did appreciate the visual beauty, but the story was not worth telling.



Also, it seems that Lean lost his talent for casting the right people for the roles. Sarah Miles and Christopher Jones were only acceptable in their roles. I would have liked to have seen Julie Christie or Vanessa Redgrave and Marlon Brando or Peter O'Toole in the parts.



I have just finished the book; it is one of the very few biographies that I could not put down. The separation of the book into chapters that are each devoted to the making of one film (with the exeption of his early years) works very well.

[Sgt Sunshine]

I think that is why Ryan's Daughter didn't succeed. The epic production had no relation to the story, which was really just a fancy soap. The critics were much too harsh but its true that the film doesn't come off. I enjoy almost all epics and I did appreciate the visual beauty, but the story was not worth telling.



Also, it seems that Lean lost his talent for casting the right people for the roles. Sarah Miles and Christopher Jones were only acceptable in their roles. I would have liked to have seen Julie Christie or Vanessa Redgrave and Marlon Brando or Peter O'Toole in the parts.



I have just finished the book; it is one of the very few biographies that I could not put down. The separation of the book into chapters that are each devoted to the making of one film (with the exeption of his early years) works very well.

I'm glad you enjoyed the book Tim

It took me 4 months to read........

Cheers

Sgt S