Sidney Lumet

The Profile

Sidney Lumet (1924–2011) was an American film director celebrated for socially engaged dramas and taut, actor-driven storytelling. He debuted with 12 Angry Men (1957) and went on to direct classics including Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, and Murder on the Orient Express.

Worked predominantly in New York; active for over five decades; received an Honorary Academy Award in 2005.

DeBaser’s reviewers celebrate Sidney Lumet’s sharp, socially charged cinema—from juries and cops to ratings and heists. 12 Angry Men, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, and Network draw the loudest praise, with acting showcases by Pacino, Finch, Fonda, Bergman, and more. A couple of titles divide opinions, but the overall verdict is glowing: tight direction, moral urgency, and timeless relevance.