Summertime is a vastly underrated romance story. It’s not epic, it’s not earthshaking but it’s an honest story of a mature love that no one does not enjoy. The use of color, set, and camera add to a remarkable performance from Katherine Hepburn.. It may not be the equal of his epics but it’s a super movie and should be rediscovered.
Lawrence of Arabia, Bridge on the River Kwai, Doctor Zhivago, and A Passage to India...amazingly great films. Look great, tell compelling stories and offer film-making expertise.
Lean's films of the 1940's and 50's were unremarkable? Great Expectations is said to be one of the best Dickens adaptations and Oliver Twist not far behind
Personally I think Oliver Twist is the better film, but agree with your basic point. Those late films are overblown and bombastic in comparison to the early works. Madeleine is a very film film indeed, and so is This Happy Breed and The Sound Barrior - none of which get a mention.
His visual eye is phenomenal, I personally love Oliver Twist first among his movies, followed by Lawrence Of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. A truly great Director.
I don't think that Lean's films of the 1940's and 50's were unremarkable. Please see Hobson's Choice (1954), Summertime (1955) and The passionate Friends (1949). I adore Hobson's for instance. These miss are especially relevant when you recommend films to people who has not watched any of his movies.
The six I would pick This Happy Breed, Brief Encounter, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. All would make my top 100 films (as would Hobson's Choice)
Honestly, since we all know the 5 epics that he did during the latter part of his career, I would have dropped Lawrence and Zhivago and added those 2 Charles Dickens adapations. Both excellent AND underrated.
@@kend1964 By that theory. they may not be familiar with any of his work-but if they seem interested in clicking on his name at all, they probably know those 2.
So, which were his six best films, then? This names more than that, more like ten. To dismiss his take on Great Expectations is frankly astonishing. This is generally said to be the best Dickens adaptation on film! No mean feat. The opening scene of Pip meeting Magwitch is outstanding! No other version comes close. A Passage to India wasn’t the success it might have been. The central event in the visit to the Caves is fudged, spoiling the subsequent court scenes, while Guiness as the Indian is utterly miscast in a surprising blackface misstep. I’m no fan of Brief Encounter, either, as the leads are so utterly downbeat in their roles. I find myself shouting at them to cheer up and show some positivity. They’re almost breaking down in tears at liking each other. David Lean is undoubtedly a great British director.
@@richardking3206 "Lawrence of Arabia." But not all Indians and Arabs are dark-skinned. Had he shown Guinness without makeup, it would have also been realistic.
Reading your comments about 'Brief Encounter' makes me wonder if you're British and, if so, how old you are. The film was made only 6 years before I was born and is very reminiscent of the world I grew up in. For a middle-class married woman to show any passion for a man other than her husband was deeply shocking at the time, and an adulterous doctor would be 'struck off' and unable to practise. Anyway, surely you've heard of 'British understatement'? It still is (just about) a thing, even today. Anybody who understands that society knows that they're lusting like crazy for each other.
@ I’m British. Born in the early 50s. Yes, understatement is a very British thing, and I probably use it as much as anyone does. So many Brits seem to have entitlement running through them as though they’re a stick of rock, which I hate. Certain films (like BE) do reflect this pathetic demeanour, but it’s not a good look, I feel. I don’t believe the nation was like that, only a few. It’s merely very difficult to watch. It’s like they’re saying ‘get a big stick and beat me thoroughly with it. I don’t deserve happiness’. Survivor’s guilt? I don’t know. Lean doesn’t use this approach to life in any other films, and certainly not his war films. Why in BE, then? To me, it’s a duff film, but I know lots like it. I think that plenty of others feel like me, but daren’t gainsay accepted opinion on it. This is true of many films I might mention.
Well, I own 5 of these six plus Oliver Twist and Great Expectations in my classic films library which I've been working on since 2007. I love them all and David Lean is certainly not under appreciated by me. But for me, and many others, Lawrence was the top in so many ways. Based on consensus of about 8 different sources my top three classic films are Casablanca, Lawrence, and On the Waterfront. Citizen Kane is in a category by itself and is almost a cult film of cinematic innovation. Anyhow, as directors go, I don't think anyone rates higher than David Lean during his era....at least for me.
The Noel Coward collaborations, In Which We Serve and This Happy Breed, are Lean’s greatest accomplishments. Next, there are the Dickens adaptations, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia are fifth and sixth. Brief Encounter and Doctor Zhivago leave me cold, I am afraid.
Brief Encounter is his best film followed by Great Expectations. Have not see Hobson's Choice. Kwai and Lawrence are snooze fests. Best way to see them in your pajamas with a glass of warm milk. Nice to look at but seriously lacking something deep at their cores.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS is in my opinion his finest film. Absolutely perfect in every way.
I don't think it was his greatest, but it belongs on this list. Instead of "Brief Encounter".
Summertime is a vastly underrated romance story. It’s not epic, it’s not earthshaking but it’s an honest story of a mature love that no one does not enjoy. The use of color, set, and camera add to a remarkable performance from Katherine Hepburn.. It may not be the equal of his epics but it’s a super movie and should be rediscovered.
saw summertime with a Belgian girl in Munich. I thought that it was interesting, but she cried all the way through.
I love this movie…I have it on DVD.
Lawrence of Arabia, Bridge on the River Kwai, Doctor Zhivago, and A Passage to India...amazingly great films. Look great, tell compelling stories and offer film-making expertise.
Hobson`s Choice is a great film too that should have been at least mentioned
yes
The best of his early works.
Lean's films of the 1940's and 50's were unremarkable? Great Expectations is said to be one of the best Dickens adaptations and Oliver Twist not far behind
Personally I think Oliver Twist is the better film, but agree with your basic point. Those late films are overblown and bombastic in comparison to the early works. Madeleine is a very film film indeed, and so is This Happy Breed and The Sound Barrior - none of which get a mention.
Watching Lawrence tonight. A yearly treat. Brilliant on every level.
Brief Encounter ❤❤❤
His visual eye is phenomenal, I personally love Oliver Twist first among his movies, followed by Lawrence Of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. A truly great Director.
"Hobson's Choice" was the best of his early films and one of his three best overall---the others are "The Bridge" and "Lawrence".
Totally agree. One of my all time favourite films.
Didn’t even mention Hobson’s Choice or This Happy Breed - both just wonderful.
I don't think that Lean's films of the 1940's and 50's were unremarkable. Please see Hobson's Choice (1954), Summertime (1955) and The passionate Friends (1949). I adore Hobson's for instance. These miss are especially relevant when you recommend films to people who has not watched any of his movies.
The six I would pick This Happy Breed, Brief Encounter, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. All would make my top 100 films (as would Hobson's Choice)
I love the films mentioned here eternally! But I don't believe that Lean was an underrated genius in any way.
Mentioning Ridley Scott along with Lean is laughable. Scott is not in the same league 😊
He is a Legend
Dr. Shivago was my fav. For many years. Why it is not on the list of some top 100 film is stramge
Honestly, since we all know the 5 epics that he did during the latter part of his career, I would have dropped Lawrence and Zhivago and added those 2 Charles Dickens adapations. Both excellent AND underrated.
People not of your era may not be familiar with Lawrence or Zhivago....hence "Beginner's Guide".
@@kend1964 By that theory. they may not be familiar with any of his work-but if they seem interested in clicking on his name at all, they probably know those 2.
So, which were his six best films, then? This names more than that, more like ten. To dismiss his take on Great Expectations is frankly astonishing. This is generally said to be the best Dickens adaptation on film! No mean feat. The opening scene of Pip meeting Magwitch is outstanding! No other version comes close. A Passage to India wasn’t the success it might have been. The central event in the visit to the Caves is fudged, spoiling the subsequent court scenes, while Guiness as the Indian is utterly miscast in a surprising blackface misstep. I’m no fan of Brief Encounter, either, as the leads are so utterly downbeat in their roles. I find myself shouting at them to cheer up and show some positivity. They’re almost breaking down in tears at liking each other. David Lean is undoubtedly a great British director.
Re: Guinness in "A Passage:" Were directors aware of racially-correct casting in 1984?
@ Yes. Lean was criticised for picking Guinness in the role at the time. Lean had used blackface in an earlier film when it was more commonly used.
@@richardking3206 "Lawrence of Arabia." But not all Indians and Arabs are dark-skinned. Had he shown Guinness without makeup, it would have also been realistic.
Reading your comments about 'Brief Encounter' makes me wonder if you're British and, if so, how old you are. The film was made only 6 years before I was born and is very reminiscent of the world I grew up in. For a middle-class married woman to show any passion for a man other than her husband was deeply shocking at the time, and an adulterous doctor would be 'struck off' and unable to practise. Anyway, surely you've heard of 'British understatement'? It still is (just about) a thing, even today. Anybody who understands that society knows that they're lusting like crazy for each other.
@ I’m British. Born in the early 50s. Yes, understatement is a very British thing, and I probably use it as much as anyone does. So many Brits seem to have entitlement running through them as though they’re a stick of rock, which I hate. Certain films (like BE) do reflect this pathetic demeanour, but it’s not a good look, I feel. I don’t believe the nation was like that, only a few. It’s merely very difficult to watch. It’s like they’re saying ‘get a big stick and beat me thoroughly with it. I don’t deserve happiness’. Survivor’s guilt? I don’t know. Lean doesn’t use this approach to life in any other films, and certainly not his war films. Why in BE, then? To me, it’s a duff film, but I know lots like it. I think that plenty of others feel like me, but daren’t gainsay accepted opinion on it. This is true of many films I might mention.
No no. _Brief Encounter_
Two strangers meet in a coffee shop and fall deeply in love.
❤️❤️
Well, I own 5 of these six plus Oliver Twist and Great Expectations in my classic films library which I've been working on since 2007. I love them all and David Lean is certainly not under appreciated by me. But for me, and many others, Lawrence was the top in so many ways. Based on consensus of about 8 different sources my top three classic films are Casablanca, Lawrence, and On the Waterfront. Citizen Kane is in a category by itself and is almost a cult film of cinematic innovation. Anyhow, as directors go, I don't think anyone rates higher than David Lean during his era....at least for me.
There were very very few American POWs in Thailand
And they really had to put a bunch of square-pegs into-round-holes to explain William Holden's place there.
Weren't the soldiers British, except for Holden?
@@kevinbergin9971 Yes he was supposed to be a planter and could have been
Planter?! No, Holder's character was a sailor on the US Navy cruiser Houston which was sunk off the coast of Java in early 1942.@jacktattis
@@AnthonyGentile-z2g Thanks
The Noel Coward collaborations, In Which We Serve and This Happy Breed, are Lean’s greatest accomplishments. Next, there are the Dickens adaptations, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia are fifth and sixth. Brief Encounter and Doctor Zhivago leave me cold, I am afraid.
Brief Encounter is his best film followed by Great Expectations. Have not see Hobson's Choice. Kwai and Lawrence are snooze fests. Best way to see them in your pajamas with a glass of warm milk. Nice to look at but seriously lacking something deep at their cores.
But not best actor for for Peter O'toole.