Saturday, April 9, 2011

RIP Sidney Lumet

Sidney Lumet, the award-winning director of "Network," "Serpico," and "Dog Day Afternoon" died last night. He was 86.

Per The Washington Post:

A Philadelphia native, Lumet moved to New York City as a child, and it became the location of choice for more than 30 of his films. Although he freely admitted to a lifelong love affair with the city, he often showed its grittier side.

Such dramas as "Prince of the City," "Q&A," "Night Falls on Manhattan" and "Serpico" looked at the hard lives and corruptibility of New York police officers. "Dog Day Afternoon" told the true-life story of two social misfits who set in motion a chain of disastrous events when they tried to rob a New York City bank on an oppressively hot summer afternoon.

"Dog Day Afternoon" is on of my all-time favorite films... (and if you've never seen the movie, then you may NOT want to watch this trailer... gives away a few too many plot points...)



Or how about "The Pawnbroker" from 1964 with Rod Steiger...

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7 comments:

  1. BabyDaveApril 9, 2011 at 2:54 PM

    Don't forget "12 Angry Men," a riveting movie, set almost exclusively in one room.

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  2. BBnet3000April 9, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    From the Times: "By the time he finished shooting “Night Falls on Manhattan” in 1996, Mr. Lumet had made 38 films, 29 of them on location in New York City."

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  3. marjorieApril 9, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    And he had a neighborhood connection. His parents were Yiddish theater vets. and according to Yiddishist and Klezmer singer Elizabeth Schwartz, Lumet's stage debut was as a small child in "Der Payets" at the Yiddish Art Theatre on Second Avenue. He sang the Yiddish song Papirosn ("cigarettes") -- at 11 he appeared in a short film with the same title.

    Dog Day Afternoon is amazing. I also love Network, Prince of the City and The Verdict. And FINE, Murder on the Orient Express! Shut up, it's awesome.

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  4. MarieApril 10, 2011 at 2:30 AM

    Another neighborhood connection - he often held his rehearsals/production meetings at the Ukrainian National Home on 2nd ave between 8th and 9th.

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  5. Atlanta RoofingApril 10, 2011 at 10:01 PM

    I've always liked Sidney Lumet's movies, and I've always liked the ideaof Sidney Lumet's movies, the elevation of sheer storytelling craft over self-indulgent personal expression. Lumet had plenty to express, all right, but he did it with a minimum of fuss and always with his full attention on entertaining the viewer in an intelligent way.He will be missed..RIP.

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  6. ShawnApril 11, 2011 at 12:41 AM

    He was best described as one of his movies "Prince of the City."

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  7. muslim marriage eventsApril 11, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    He was an incredible director who made some classic movies with great actors who won much acclaim

    ReplyDelete

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