David Lean 1955, Lean began to make internationally co-produced films financed by the big Hollywood studios; in 1970, however, the critical failure of his film "Ryan's Daughter" led him to take a fourteen-year break from filmmaking, during which he planned a number of film projects which never came to fruition. In 1984 he had a career revival with "A Passage to India", adapted from E. M. Forster's novel; it was an instant hit with critics but proved to be the last film Lean would direct. Lean's affinity for striking visuals and inventive editing techniques has led him to be lauded by directors
A Passage to India (play) 1 as a part of the "Play of the Month" series. In 1981, David Lean was able to gain the rights to make a feature-film production of the play. Filmed in 1983, and released in 1984, from a script almost entirely re-written by Lean, the film received positive reception from critics. The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film won two awards. Peggy Ashcroft won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Mrs. Moore, and Judy Davis was nominated for Lead Actress. The film also won for Best Original Score. A