THE DIRECTOR AND THE FILM - DAVID LEAN

David Lean, in a discussion with actress Maureen Pryor, comments on some aspects of his work and introduces extracts from his films.

David Lean's distinctive and always dramatic 'visual' openings are characteristic of his work, and in this film Maureen Pryor uses the beginning of The Sound Barrier to open discussion. Other topics are Lean's use of sound and music illustrated by an extract from Brief Encounter. In the extract from Bridge on the River Kwai we have an excellent example of suspense cutting, whilst a further extract from Brief Encounter and a colour sequence from Summer Madness show David Lean's own personal favourites and gives the lie to his reputation as a 'cold stylist director'.