When Steven Spielberg was endorsed by his filmmaking idol David Lean: “I suppose I see myself in him”
Steven Spielberg might be one of the greats, but many legendary artists wouldn’t be where they are without someone else’s inspiration. Whether it be Christopher Nolan’s undying love for Ridley Scott or Quentin Tarantino’s love for Sergio Leone, there are countless directors whose work has been indelibly touched by the work of other filmmakers, with many citing the sentiment of how good artists copy, but great ones steal.
However, many of these directors rarely receive feedback from their heroes on their films, with no one other than Steven Spielberg sharing the validating words he heard from someone he considers his ultimate inspiration.
Spielberg is a director who specialises in visual spectacles. Films like Jurassic Park, Jaws, and Saving Private Ryan are globally revered for their timeless stories that immerse audiences in the world he is creating. Whether it be a fictional world in which dinosaurs come back to life, the middle of the ocean, or a battlefield, the director commits to each of his visions, bringing a unique sense of authenticity to each one.
But while many see Spielberg as a trailblazer, with the director largely being attributed as being the creator of the blockbuster, the filmmaker has often discussed his love for one film in particular that most inspired him, with the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia being a crucial influence on his style.
However, the story does not end there, with Spielberg’s passion reaching David Lean himself, the infamous director of the film, who revealed he was also a fan of his work and recognised much of himself in Spielberg.
Lean first heard of Spielberg’s work through his lesser-known film Duel, a TV movie that was released in 1971. After watching it, the film made quite an impact on Lean, with the director saying he, “…immediately I knew that here was a very bright new director. Steven takes real pleasure in the sensuality of forming action scenes — wonderful flowing movements. He has this extraordinary size of vision, a sweep that illuminates his films. But then Steven is the way the movies used to be. He just loves making films. He is entertaining his teenage self — and what is wrong with that? I see Steven as a younger brother. I suppose I see myself in him. I have rarely felt so at ease with anyone. Curious thing, that.”
Considering how vocal Spielberg is about his love for David Lean, to be met with the ultimate stamp of approval by him is a massive honour, praising his ability to bring back the glory of old Hollywood and make films that are both curious and assertive in their vision.
It’s not an easy feat to achieve given the changes that were happening in Hollywood at the time, with directors like Peter Bogdanovich and Martin Scorsese looking to revolutionise independent cinema while Spielberg was looking to infuse elements of the past into the present. But while he was marching to the beat of his own drum and many doubted his early projects during production, it ultimately paid off, with Spielberg being met with the highest reward for his work.
