Sidney Lumet (1924-2011)

A truly great figure of American film died Friday. Sidney Lumet, director of such classics as Network, Dog Day Afternoon, and 12 Angry Men, died Friday of lymphoma at the age of 87.

In the many articles that have been written about him since his passing, all emphasize that he was a New York story-teller who made serious films on substantive issues. His career, which spanned 6 decades, is so vast and varied it is difficult to narrow down his 10 best films, but he will probably be best remembered for a decade of work from 1972-1982, when his career reached its critical and commercial peak.

One of the subjects he often returned to was corruption in the New York police department. This is the central theme of a trilogy including Serpico, Prince of the City, and Night Falls on Manhattan. In many ways, Prince of the City is perhaps his most controversial film at least measured by the wildly divergent reactions it has inspired. This is made abundantly clear by tributes to Lumet published this weekend by Entertainment Weekly. Martin Scorcese writes "he was a New York filmmaker at heart, and our vision of this city has been enhanced and deepened by classics like Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon and, above all, the remarkable Prince of the City". In the same issue Owen Gleiberman writes "I confess I’ve never had much patience for Prince of the City (1982), the Treat Williams cop epic that was supposed to be the director’s magnum opus of men in blue. To me, it’s convoluted and sterile."

I have got to say that I am with Scorcese on this one (not bad company to keep!). Lumet was nominated for an Oscar for Prince of the City, oddly as a screenwriter rather than director. It is a 2-hour and 47-minute portrayal of the tension that arises when a corrupt cop decides to get himself clean while protecting his former partners. This gut-wrenching dilemma is at the heart of the film, which also exposes the unsavory details of how the justice system uses undercover cops who attempt to root out corruption that they used to be a part of. Treat Williams gives a star-making lead performance as Danny Ciello, and Jerry Orbach (later of Law and Order fame) gives the best film performance of his career as Ciello's mentor. Prince of the City is based on a true story told in a novel by Robert Daley. Interestingly, one of the prosecutors who befriends Ciello (and threatens to resign when the Justice Department debates whether to prosecute their star witness for past transgressions) is based on Rudolf Giuliani, a then-rookie federal prosecutor who, of course, later became mayor of New York and Republican presidential candidate. If I were pressed on the subject, I would have to list Prince of the City as one on my top ten favorite films of any era.

Sidney Lumet's 10 best films

12 Angry Men  (1957)
Lumet's first film starring Henry Fonda. Action takes place exclusively within the confines of a jury deliberation room and centers on the rush to convict on scanty evidence. The success of this film made Lumet's career as a film director, though he had already been working successfully in television for years.
Fail-Safe  (1964)
One of the best Cold War dramas centers on an accidental U.S. nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. It is a serious version of Dr. Strangelove, which was released the same year. Henry Fonda stars again as the U.S. President seeking to avoid a global holocaust with mixed success.
Serpico  (1973)
Based on a true story, the first--and best-known--of Lumet's police corruption trilogy. Al Pacino stars as NY Detective Frank Serpico, who wants to expose corruption when no one wants to listen.
Murder on the Orient Express  (1974)
Arguably the best of the many Agatha Christie adaptations, this star-studded mystery showcases Lumet's talent outside of his usual New York setting.
Dog Day Afternoon  (1975)
An enormous hit, this story inspired by actual events portrays a failed bank robbery and hostage crisis. Al Pacino stars as the pathetic Sonny who needs the money for a sex change operation. John Cazale (Fredo in The Godfather) co-stars in his next-to-last film before his untimely death in 1978.
Network  (1976)
Lumet's most acclaimed film. I do not rank it as his best only because much of the credit goes to screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky. Network won Oscars for best actor and actress (Peter Finch--posthumous award, and Faye Dunaway) and best original screenplay. "I am mad as hell, and I am not going to take it anymore" has become an international catchphrase. Rocky swept the remaining Oscars that year.
Prince of the City  (1981)
See above. For my money, Lumet's best film and one of the best American films by anyone.
The Verdict  (1982)
Paul Newman stars as an aging, alcoholic, down-and-out ambulance chaser who gets the case of a lifetime. Containing great performances, it was nominated for Oscars in all major categories, but failed to win any.
Night Falls on Manhattan (1996)
The last of Lumet's police corruption films, Andy Garcia stars as a cop-turned-D.A. who must expose police corruption that reaches into his own family. James Gandolfini co-stars as a corrupt cop and Richard Dreyfus has a nice supporting role as a liberal defense attorney. This is an excellent film that failed to get much of an audience.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead  (2007)
Lumet's last film, completed when he was 83, is also one of his best. It is a classic crime drama in which bad deeds escalate beyond the control of the perpetrators and an entire family is destroyed. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke star. Marissa Tomei has a eye-opening role that began something of a comeback.