David Lean Directs Noel Coward: The Criterion Collection [DVD]

In the 1940s, a remarkable collaboration emerged between the sharp wit of playwright Noel Coward (known for Design for Living) and the exceptional craftsmanship of filmmaker David Lean (famed for Lawrence of Arabia). Together, with producing partners Ronald Neame and Anthony Havelock-Allan, they created some of cinema’s most memorable films. Their partnership began with the wartime military drama In Which We Serve, a project where Coward, Lean, Neame, and Havelock-Allan combined their talents to produce a series of literate, socially engaged, and deeply entertaining films. Their body of work spanned from domestic epics like This Happy Breed to whimsical comedies such as Blithe Spirit and poignant romances like Brief Encounter. These films not only solidified Coward’s artistic legacy but also introduced Lean’s visionary direction to audiences worldwide.

In Which We Serve (1942) was set against the backdrop of World War II and saw playwright Noel Coward enlist the help of a young film editor, David Lean, to bring his vision to life. The film, featuring Coward himself along with Bernard Miles from Great Expectations and John Mills from Ryan's Daughter, focuses on a group of Royal Navy sailors battling the Germans in the Mediterranean. Coward and Lean co-directed this ambitious project—a notable feat considering it was Coward’s sole directorial credit and neither had previously directed a feature film. In Which We Serve, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture, skillfully alternates between a major naval battle and the sailors' lives before they left home. The film stands as a poignant piece of propaganda and a significant breakthrough for both filmmakers. It runs for 114 minutes, is in black and white, has a monaural soundtrack, and is presented in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio.

David Lean brought Noel Coward’s sweeping domestic epic This Happy Breed (1944) to vivid life, portraying the lives of a working-class family in the London suburbs over two decades. Robert Newton, known for Oliver Twist, and Celia Johnson from Brief Encounter deliver moving performances as Frank and Ethel Gibbons, whose lives are touched by both joy and sorrow from the end of World War I to the onset of World War II. The film is a quintessential British domestic drama, blending politics with melodrama. It features subtly expressive Technicolor cinematography by Ronald Neame and boasts a notable supporting cast, including John Mills, Stanley Holloway from My Fair Lady, and Kay Walsh from The Horse’s Mouth. It runs for 111 minutes, is in color, has a monaural soundtrack, and is presented in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio.

In Blithe Spirit (1945), David Lean directed a charming film adaptation of Noel Coward’s theatrical hit, which had broken box-office records in London before reaching Broadway. The film stars Rex Harrison as a novelist who invites a medium, played by Margaret Rutherford, to his home for a séance, hoping for inspiration for his work. The séance unexpectedly summons the spirit of his deceased first wife, portrayed by Kay Hammond, creating complications for his current wife, played by Constance Cummings. The film uses Oscar-winning special effects to enhance Coward’s farcical play, resulting in a delightful supernatural comedy. It runs for 96 minutes, is in color, has a monaural soundtrack, and is presented in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio.

Brief Encounter (1945) tells the story of a chance encounter between a married doctor, portrayed by Trevor Howard from The Third Man, and a suburban housewife, played by Celia Johnson from This Happy Breed. Their brief but intense affair unfolds with evocative foggy settings, a swooning Rachmaninoff score, and remarkable performances—Johnson was nominated for an Oscar for her role. David Lean’s adaptation of Coward’s play Still Life delicately captures the thrill, pain, and tenderness of an illicit romance, leaving a lasting impact on cinema. The film runs for 86 minutes, is in black and white, has a monaural soundtrack, and is presented in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio.

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