Trivia

According to Roger Ebert, Lumet had a theory about why Marlon Brando's performances were so uneven. In a review of a bad film starring Brando, Ebert outlined this idea in detail: Lumet said that on the first scene he filmed for any director, Brando would do exactly two takes. In one of the takes, Brando would be putting technical skill and background research into his reading, and in the other he would simply recite his lines as blandly as possible. If the director used the bland take, Brando would proceed to sleepwalk though his performance for the entirety of filming.

After the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001 he caused some controversy by continuing to shoot his New York based series 100 Centre Street (2001) for the remainder of the day. Lumet said he told the crew that they could leave if they wanted but that no one did.

Had a reputation of bringing in films under budget and ahead of schedule.

It was Lumet's idea to make the characters Cuban and to include the 1980 Mariel harbor boat lift in the story in Scarface (1983).

Claimed that one of his habits to maintain energy on-set was to catch a nap at lunch. He would go to his trailer, quickly consume a small sandwich wrap in one bite, and lie down to sleep for the remainder of the break. He further claimed that his discipline over the years was such that he never had to set an alarm.

Directed 17 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Katharine Hepburn, Rod Steiger, Al Pacino, Ingrid Bergman, Albert Finney, Chris Sarandon, Faye Dunaway, Peter Finch, Beatrice Straight, William Holden, Ned Beatty, Peter Firth, Richard Burton, Paul Newman, James Mason, Jane Fonda and River Phoenix. Bergman, Dunaway, Finch and Straight won oscars for their performances in one of Lumets movies.

Roger Ebert says of Lumet's book "Making Movies" that it "has more common sense in it about how movies are actually made than any other I have read".

Lumet was often a favorite director for actors, encouraging the creative collaboration of his stars.

Given a lifetime achievement award by the Savannah College of Art and Design at the 2005 Savannah Film Festival. The same award was later found hidden in a patch of shrubbery at a three-point intersection in Brooklyn.

Three of his films are listed on the American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time. They are: Serpico (1973) at #84, The Verdict (1982) at #75, and 12 Angry Men (1957) at #42.

Former son-in-law of Lena Horne; was married to her daughter, the journalist and author Gail Lumet Buckley (nee Gail Jones).

He served the United States Army as a radar technician in the Far East during World War II.

He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director for 12 Angry Men (1957), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Network (1976) and The Verdict (1982) but never won the award.

He directed Sean Connery in five films: The Hill (1965), The Anderson Tapes (1971), The Offence (1973), Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and Family Business (1989).

Directed two of the American Film Institute's 100 Greatest Movies: Network (1976) at #64 and 12 Angry Men (1957) at #87.

Wanted to direct Death Wish (1974) with Jack Lemmon in the leading role.

Son of Baruch Lumet and Eugenia Wermus, both actors in the Yiddish Theatre. The family moved to New York City when he was a baby where they joined the Yiddish Art Theatre.

In the early 1970's, Lumet was offered the directing job for a new version of the best-selling novel "Marjorie Morningstar" and went to meet with the studio because he found the novel's take on the Jewish American experience fascinating. However, Lumet was disgusted when the studio executives made it clear they wanted him to "de-ethnic" the film and not cast any Jewish actors in the main roles. Lumet recounted in his book "Making Movies" that he was sarcastic about this plan and actually got fired from the project (which ended up never being made) less than an hour into the only meeting he attended.

Was voted the 42nd Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

According to Lumet, he was inspired by the work of Carl Dreyer, Jean Vigo, Jean Renoir, and Robert Bresson in particular.

Studied acting with Sanford Meisner.

He directed four members of the Redgrave family in his films: Michael Redgrave in The Hill (1965), his son Corin Redgrave in The Deadly Affair (1967), his daughter Lynn Redgrave in The Deadly Affair (1967) and The Last of the Mobile Hot Shots (1970) and his daughter Vanessa Redgrave in The Sea Gull (1968) and Murder on the Orient Express (1974).

Was the original director of Funny Girl (1968), but left the picture over differences with producer Ray Stark and star Barbra Streisand. He was replaced by William Wyler.

Ex-father-in-law of Bobby Cannavale and P.J. O'Rourke.

He directed his father Baruch Lumet in two films: The Pawnbroker (1964) and The Group (1966).

He directed his then son-in-law Bobby Cannavale in two films: Night Falls on Manhattan (1996) and Gloria (1999).

He has directed four films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: 12 Angry Men (1957), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Network (1976) and The Verdict (1982).

Children: sound editor Amy Lumet and actress Jenny Lumet.

His final resting place is New Mount Carmel Cemetery in Glendale, New York.

He has directed five films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: 12 Angry Men (1957), The Pawnbroker (1964), King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1969), Dog Day Afternoon (1975) and Network (1976).

He directed his daughter Jenny Lumet in three films: Deathtrap (1982), Running on Empty (1988) and Q & A (1990).

He directed Martin Balsam in three films: 12 Angry Men (1957), The Anderson Tapes (1971) and Murder on the Orient Express (1974).

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1982.

He lived in New York City and East Hampton, Long Island, New York.

Sidney Lumet adapted two novels written by Robert Daley, "Prince of the City" and "Tainted Evidence", into the films Prince of the City (1981) and Night Falls on Manhattan (1996), respectively.

He directed James Mason in four films: The Deadly Affair (1967), The Sea Gull (1968), Child's Play (1972) and The Verdict (1982).

He is survived by his wife, Mary Gimbel of New York City; stepdaughter, Leslie Gimbel; two daughters, Amy Lumet and Jenny Lumet, from his marriage to Gail Lumet Buckley; stepson, Bailey Gimbel; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Two of his films, 12 Angry Men (1957) and The Fugitive Kind (1960), are in the Criterion Collection.

One of the original Sidney Kingsley's "Dead End" kids, on Broadway. The play was later adapted as Dead End (1937) by William Wyler.

He was a Democrat.

Associated with New York based and themed films.

He directed Alan King in four films: Bye Bye Braverman (1968), The Anderson Tapes (1971), Just Tell Me What You Want (1980) and Prince of the City (1981).

Interviewed in Peter Bogdanovich's "Who the Devil Made It: Conversations With Robert Aldrich, George Cukor, Allan Dwan, Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, Chuck Jones, Fritz Lang, Joseph H. Lewis, Sidney Lumet, Leo McCarey, Otto Preminger, Don Siegel, Josef von Sternberg, Frank Tashlin, Edgar G. Ulmer, Raoul Walsh." NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1997.

Lumet was an assistant director or director on some 250 live TV programs.

He directed Henry Fonda in three films: 12 Angry Men (1957), Stage Struck (1958) and Fail Safe (1964).

He directed Beau Bridges in Child's Play (1972) and Lovin' Molly (1974) and his younger brother Jeff Bridges in The Morning After (1986).

He directed Henry Fonda in 12 Angry Men (1957), Stage Struck (1958) and Fail Safe (1964) and his daughter Jane Fonda in The Morning After (1986).

He was considered to direct Taxi Driver (1976).

He directed Christopher Plummer in Stage Struck (1958) and his daughter Amanda Plummer in Daniel (1983).

He directed Edward Binns in four films: 12 Angry Men (1957), Fail Safe (1964), Lovin' Molly (1974) and The Verdict (1982).