As popular as the 1957 Boris Pasternak novel it is based on, Doctor Zhivago (1965) has meant many things to different audiences. It can be seen as the epitome of modern romantic fiction, a chronicle of disillusion with the Russian Revolution, and above all a monument, heroic or outdated depending on taste, to the heyday of the movie blockbuster. This aspect was proclaimed by the original MGM poster featuring the stars, Julie Christie and Omar Sharif, dwarfing the historical events that surround them. In this illuminating study of the film's production history, Ian Christie explores how it finally came about, largely in Spain, including recent revelations about the CIA's involvement in the novel's publication, and places particular emphasis on the contribution of production designer John Box to its spectacular and deeply evocative imagery. Tracing the film's reception across fifty years, Christie shows how it has had an enduring influence on film, music, fashion and popular culture. This special edition features original cover artwork by Michał Janowski.