Sidney Lumet (1924-2011): director of muscular liberalism
12 Angry Men:
From the BBC’s online obituary:
In a directing career lasting more than half a century, Sidney Lumet enjoyed a reputation for examining justice and integrity in films ranging from 12 Angry Men to Dog Day Afternoon.
Born in Philadelphia in 1924, the child of two actors of the Yiddish Theatre, Lumet had trod the boards himself at a tender age, moved from stage school to Broadway and formed a theatre group that included the actors Yul Brynner and Eli Wallach.
After wartime service in the Pacific and study at Columbia University, Lumet served his directing apprenticeship in the 1950s factory of live television drama.
His lifelong mission to see justice upheld was demonstrated during the McCarthy era when he helped to protect the identity of blacklisted writers.
New York Times obit here
single muslim said,
April 11, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Lumet was actually my first favorite director. I remember seeing Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon as a freshman in Highschool and just losing my mind.
jim denham said,
April 11, 2011 at 6:16 pm
A neglected Lumet masterpiece, ‘The Pawnbroker’ (1964) with Rod Steiger: