After a struggle with cancer, Sidney Lumet, director of 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon and Network, has passed away aged 86 in his Manhattan home. Renowned for his technical knowhow and ability to extract Oscar-worthy performances out of his actor, he was also immensely influential, with the three previously mentioned movies in particular having a huge impact on the world of film.
Starting out as an actor on Broadway after serving during World War II, he began to direct for the stage in the early 1950s. That attracted the attention of CBS, who hired him to helm numerous episodes of their TV dramas. Lumet then made his feature-film debut with 12 Angry Men in 1957. The Henry Fonda movie became a classic, and displayed Lumet’s interest in dialogue heavy, social commentary, something which was present throughout his career.
While he stayed in TV for a while, Lumet’s film career soon took over in the 1960s, with movie such as adaptations of Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night and Chekhov’s The Sea Gull.
He is now classed as a major influence on the likes of Martin Scorsese and indeed when the New Hollywood began in the 1970s, his style of gritty social commentary mixed with years of training in the classical style found a willing audience. He mixed edgy films like Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon with lighter fare such as Murder On The Orient Express, while also slipping in great movies such as Equus and Network.
After the 70s, he saw far less success, other than with the excellent Paul Newman movie The Verdict in 1982, although kept directing up until a few years ago.
Sadly, despite the importance of 12 Angry Men and Dog Day Afternoon, he never won a competitive Oscar, but did get an honorary award in 2005. However showing how good he was with actors he directed 17 different people in Oscar-nominated performances (resulting in four wins).
Sidney Lumet – June 25th, 1924-April 9th, 2011 – RIP