The Criterion Collection announced 4 new David Lean releases as part of their David Lean Directs Noel Coward box set. This set includes all new digital transfers pulled from the BFI Archives and will include Brief Encounter, In Which We Serve, This Happy Breed, and Blithe Spirit. Collection will be available in DVD and high-definition Blu-Ray on March 27, 2012.


Box Set Feature Includes:
- New high-definition digital transfers of the BFI National Archive’s 2008 restorations, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-ray editions
- Audio commentary on Brief Encounter by film historian Bruce Eder
- New interviews with Noël Coward scholar Barry Day on all of the films
- Interview with cinematographer-screenwriter-producer Ronald Neame from 2010
- Short documentaries from 2000 on the making of In Which We Serve and Brief Encounter
- David Lean: A Self Portrait, a 1971 television documentary on Lean’s career
- Episode of the British television series The Southbank Show from 1992 on the life and career of Coward
- Audio recording of a 1969 conversation between Richard Attenborough and Coward at London’s National Film Theatre
- Trailers
- PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by Ian Christie, Terrence Rafferty, Farran Smith Nehme, Geoffrey O’Brien, and Kevin Brownlow


This is terrific news and a long-time coming!!

The digital restoration of The Bridge On The River Kwai will appear in New York on September 24 - 30 at the Film Forum. Don’t miss the chance to see this incredible restoration in the theatre. More information and tickets here.

As I reported earlier, The Castro theatre in San Francisco is currently screening the restored digital version of the The Bridge on the River Kwai on its large screen. I had a chance to view it last night and I can tell you it looks remarkable! They’ve done an absolutely stunning job. Although I’ve seen the film a number of times in theaters, I felt like it was the first time I as actually seeing the picture. The richness of the photography and the clarity of the sound combined to present the definitive presentation of this film The Blu-Ray will hopefully looks just as impressive

Although I have been unable to find it listed on the official web site, in70mm.com is reporting that “Lawrence of Arabia” will be presented in its original 70mm format on September 25 & 26th at the Museum of Civilisation in Quebec. If the listing is accurate, and you have the opportunity to see it, make the effort. Seeing Lawrence in 70mm on a large screen is THE only way to see it.

UPDATE: I was finally able to track down some information regarding this very special screening (and series). You can read more about it by going to the Lost Dominion blog. There is also a mention that Robert Harris (who was personally involved in the restoration) may be on hand for a Q&A, though the website does not list when/where/time. I’ll update once I can confirm this event.

UPDATE 2:Thanks to some readers of the site, I’ve been able to find out where you can get additional information on the 70mm presentation of Lawrence. Thanks to all those who wrote me.

Along with Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now), Jean-Luc Goddard (Breathless), and Eli Wallach, Kevin Brownlow will be receiving an Honorary Academy Award on November 13th. As David Lean fans already know, Mr. Brownlow has written what many consider the definitive biography on Lean and has also been a celebrated film historian who was instrumental in reviving Abel Gane’s “Napoleon.”

On a personal note, Brownlow was also extremely helpful to me in helping with my “David Lean: Interviews” book, providing me with unedited transcripts of his many hours of interviews with Lean.

Congrats, Kevin!!

Following the El Paso presentation, The Bridge on the River Kwai will be shown at the famous Castro Theatre in San Francisco. The showings are from September 10th - 16th. This is a great theatre to see this classic film. More info here.

On August 8th, the Plaza Theatre in El Paso Texas premiered the brand new digital print of “The Bridge on the River Kwai.” To accompany this show, the El Paso Times posted an interesting article on its third reconstruction and digital scanning process. Interesting reading.

DavidLean.com now has a Twitter account where you can add us and find out all the latest information on David Lean and his films. You can follow us by clicking here.

An article on “The Independent” has announced that Sarah Miles is writing a new screenplay, a sequel to Lean’s “Ryan’s Daughter.” Whether it will make it to the big screen is impossible to predict, but it’s an interesting idea. Read more here.

Turner Classic Movies will be showing a number of David Lean films on June 26 including some rarely shown features. Get your Tivo’s ready to record!!

6:00 AM	Madeleine (1950)
	A beautiful young woman stands trial for poisoning her lover. Cast: Ann Todd, Norman Wooland, Leslie Banks. Dir: David Lean. BW-115 mins, TV-PG
8:00 AM	Passionate Friends, The (1949)
	A married woman has one last fling with her childhood sweetheart. Cast: Ann Todd, Claude Rains, Trevor Howard. Dir: David Lean. BW-91 mins,
10:00 AM	Great Expectations (1946)
	A mysterious benefactor finances a young boy's education. Cast: John Mills, Valerie Hobson, Finlay Currie. Dir: David Lean. BW-118 mins, TV-G, CC
12:00 PM	Brief Encounter (1945)
	Two married strangers meet in a train station and fall in love. Cast: Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway. Dir: David Lean. BW-86 mins, TV-PG, CC
1:30 PM	Doctor Zhivago (1965)
	Illicit lovers fight to stay together during the turbulent years of the Russian Revolution. Cast: Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Rod Steiger. Dir: David Lean. C-200 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format, DVS
5:00 PM	Bridge On The River Kwai, The (1957)
	The Japanese Army forces World War II POWs to build a strategic bridge in Burma. Cast: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Sessue Hayakawa. Dir: David Lean. C-162 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format

It is with tremendous sadness that we report that Maurice Jarre, the composer of Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, Ryan’s Daughter, and A Passage to India (as well as many other non-Lean films) passed away today at the age of 84. His remarkable work, however, will live on for all to enjoy.

During the first week in March, The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston will be showing three of David Lean’s earlier films: Madeleine, The Sound Barrier, and Hobson’s Choice. All three films are from the BFI restoration project that was completed last year and has been touring the world. Tickets are available now for purchase.

More information found here.

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC is presenting a retrospective of David Lean’s earliest films. The retrospective runs December 19 - 28th. For more information visit their site: http://www.nga.gov/programs/film/davidlean.shtm