The 1965 David Lean film starring Omar Sharif as a Russian doctor during the revolution is Doctor Zhivago.
Sharif plays Yuri Zhivago, a physician and poet whose life is transformed by World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the Russian Civil War. The film adapts Boris Pasternak’s 1957 novel and follows Zhivago’s difficult relationships with his wife, Tonya, and Lara Antipova, played by Julie Christie.
David Lean directed the epic after the success of Lawrence of Arabia. Sharif had hoped to play a supporting role, but Lean chose him for the title character. The production became known for its sweeping landscapes, Maurice Jarre’s memorable score, and elaborate recreations of revolutionary Russia, much of it filmed in Spain.
A common mix-up is confusing the film with Lawrence of Arabia, another David Lean epic featuring Sharif. In that earlier film, Sharif played Sherif Ali—not the central doctor. Doctor Zhivago won five Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.