The Directors: Sidney Lumet

Profiles of today's most acclaimed directors featuring extensive film clips and interviews with Hollywood's leading stars.

A Philadelphia native, Sydney Lumet grew up on New York's Lower East Side and became a child actor, appearing on Broadway by age 12. After serving in World War II, Lumet organized and directed an off- Broadway theater group, before going on to direct hundreds of shows during the early days of live television. His 1957 features film debut, 12 Angry Men, garnered Oscar nominations for both Best Picture and Best Director. Over the years, Lumet's amazing body of work has grown to include such celebrated motion pictures as Fail-Safe, Serpico, Murder on the Orient Express, Dog Day Afternoon, Network and The Verdict. Jack Lemmon, Christopher Walken, Melanie Griffith, Andy Garcia, Rod Steiger, Ossie Davis, Jacqueline Bisset, and Dyan Cannon offer their insight about working Lumet.