Sidney Lumet.

Personally I really enjoy the specific director/film discussion oriented threads we have in this section of the Forum. As far as I am aware there have been no threads for discussing Sidney Lumet, so I have created one. If I am wrong, then merge away mods.

Well I don't proclaim him to be the most consistent of directors and he seems to have fallen off a bit in recent years. However in my opinion he has made a few excelent films Dog Day Afternoon, Network, Serpico and of course his ultimate masterpiece 12 Angry Men.

So I figure I'll just write up a bit about Dog Day Afternoon to get things going and then later if some hasn't already done it, I will deffinately write up something about 12 Angry Men.

Dog Day Afternoon:
Personally I love this movie. The first thing to note, most of all is the acting, Al Pacino and John Cazale are amazing. Of course Pacino steals the show in a role that to me is probably his greatest work, although I do think he was as good in The Godfather. His character is so real and well developed throughout the film. From the moment he begins the bank robbery, all the way until his phone conversation with his boyfriend and the conclusion Sonny is such an endearing and sympathisable character. The same thing applies to Sal(Cazale) who is played so pathetically, that the audience really feels sorry for him.

The realism in this film is so captivating, that when I saw this, I swear I didn't blink for 2 hours. The absolute lack of music really adds to this(Lumet has a single song play in the opening scene and that is it). The constant mistakes and screw ups from Sonny as a main character also make the film so engrossing as he becomes so much more endearing. I also find that there are few films that are able to capture empathy for a criminal character as well as this one did. The utter desperation of the situation and the main characters adds a real intensity to the film, as the audience knows that the situation will never end well.

The media aspects of the film and the way in which the crowd outside the bank treats Sonny as a hero is really interesting. The way in which all the press coverage creates an utter circus of such a disturbing event also helps ad to this.

I've always really enjoyed Lumet's films. I did mention him way back in the old "underrated director" thread (http://chasingthefrog.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2074&highlight=Sidney+Lumet). Aside from the ones you mentioned, The Verdict is a great film, and my personal choice for Paul Newman's bet performance. The Pawnbroker is another great film. Night Falls on Manhattan very good. Also, I really like the British films he did with Sean Connery, The Hill and The Offence. Deathtrap and Murder on the Orient Express are also a lot of fun.

I really like the British films he did with Sean Connery, The Hill and The Offence

Two little known/seen films but which both have a barnstorming performance from Connery...probably two of his best roles.

Yeah, the Hill was very good. Did anyone ever see Find Me Guilty? The trailer was released some time ago, but I don't believe it's been screened over here yet...

Yeah, the Hill was very good. Did anyone ever see Find Me Guilty? The trailer was released some time ago, but I don't believe it's been screened over here yet...
Yeah, it was barely in theaters over here, but you can get it on DVD. It wasn't bad. It was stylish and mildly funny. Diesel was a in a little over his head.

That's a shame...

For those of you here in the US, Fail-Safe (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058083/), Lumet's brink-of-nuclear-war thriller is on Turner Movie Classics this afternoon. Good movie . . . though it was almost immediately trumped by Kubrick's black comic treatment of a virtually identical scenerio, Dr. Strangelove (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/).

For those of you here in the US, Fail-Safe (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058083/), Lumet's brink-of-nuclear-war thriller is on Turner Movie Classics this afternoon. Good movie . . . though it was almost immediately trumped by Kubrick's black comic treatment of a virtually identical scenerio, Dr. Strangelove (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/).
Fail-Safe is really a terrific film, it played the scenario straight, and did a fantastic job with a great cast. I think it was really over-shadowed by Dr. Strangelove, it is really a pity they both came out at about the same time.

One Lumet film that deserves to be better known is The Deadly Affair, another of his British-made series. James Mason was never better as the tortured Intelligence Man Charlie Dobbs. Fine turns from stalwarts such as Harry Andrews, Roy Kinnear and Max Adrian. Also some precious scenes from an acclaimed production of Edward II with David Warner. I can't think why it isn't more cherished.

I don't think The Deadly Affair is available here in the US, some I doubt many of us have seen it.

Fail-Safe is really a terrific film, it played the scenario straight, and did a fantastic job with a great cast. I think it was really over-shadowed by Dr. Strangelove, it is really a pity they both came out at about the same time.

See stuff like this I find interesting because I have Dr. Strangelove as one of those movies I'm embarassed to admit I've never seen, but now I could watch Fail-Safe first and not be comparing it to something I've seen that's comparable in scope but more widely recieved or known...thanks, oz!

that would be the way to do it, yeah.

I don't think The Deadly Affair is available here in the US, some I doubt many of us have seen it.

Lobby your Congressman, then!
You won't regret it.

One Lumet film that deserves to be better known is The Deadly Affair, another of his British-made series. James Mason was never better as the tortured Intelligence Man Charlie Dobbs. Fine turns from stalwarts such as Harry Andrews, Roy Kinnear and Max Adrian. Also some precious scenes from an acclaimed production of Edward II with David Warner. I can't think why it isn't more cherished.I have seen that movie, it was a good spy story, I am such a fan of James Mason.

See stuff like this I find interesting because I have Dr. Strangelove as one of those movies I'm embarassed to admit I've never seen, but now I could watch Fail-Safe first and not be comparing it to something I've seen that's comparable in scope but more widely recieved or known...thanks, oz!You are most welcome Taps...

I suspect Sidney Lumet must be a seriously likeable guy, judging by how many actors keep coming back for more. Sean Connery, James Mason and Al Pacino most notably, but it's surprising how often actors from Twelve Angry Men keep turning up in his films. I'm thinking of Martin Balsam in Murder On The Orient Express and especially The Anderson Tapes. Also Jack Warden and Edward Binns in The Verdict.

Yeah, Lumet is definately actor-friendly. His father was an actor, and Lumet was doing professional theater by the age of five, so I think he's probably a very good director to work with.

Yeah, Lumet is definately actor-friendly. His father was an actor, and Lumet was doing professional theater by the age of five, so I think he's probably a very good director to work with.

I didn't know that, but now you tell me it makes sense. Must check out amazon.com for any books about him.

I remember Anthony Perkins enthusing about how Sid L. insisted on every actor having a say in how each movie was to be made. Kind of the opposite of Hitch****, if you like.

Lumet's own book, Making Movies, is worth checking out.


Also, speaking of Lumet, another one of his films, Prince of the City, is finally coming out on DVD here in the US on May 22nd.