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Sidney Lumet

Director

"I was an actor myself. The process of acting is extremely painful. I know that doesn't sound logical to most people, but all good work is self revelation. That’s true for performing artist as well  If I can help them to feel any more secure, and any more unafraid of releasing whatever part of themselves they have to, I understand that I can help them that way. They feel that. I don’t even have to articulate it."

About This Interview

Sidney Lumet was interviewed for three-hours in New York, NY. Mr. Lumet spoke of his work as an actor on the stage before he became a director in television.  He recalled his work on the television series Danger (1950-55), and You Are There (1953-57) both “live” dramatic shows of the time.  He discussed the use of blacklisted writers on these shows and how the material they wrote often reflected the era of McCarthyism. He also discussed other television dramatic anthology series he directed for including Omnibus, Goodyear Playhouse, The Alcoa Hour, Studio One, and Kraft Television Theatre.   He described his direction of the well-known television special The Sacco-Vanzetti Story and The Play of the Week: “The Iceman Cometh” both of which aired in 1960.  He spoke of his transition to a feature film director with “12 Angry Men” in 1957 and his work on such other feature films as the Paddy Chayefsky’s satire, “Network” (1976).  The interview was conducted by Dr. Ralph Engleman on October 28, 1999.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • Topics

Shows

  • Alcoa Hour, The
  • Danger
  • Kraft Television Theatre
  • Sacco-Vanzetti Story, The (1960)
  • You Are There

Topics

  • Technological Innovation
  • Television Industry
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  • Chapters
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics

Chapters

  • Chapter 1
  • Introduction
  • On his early years and influnces; on his early political awareness; on the start of his work ethic; on being a young actor; on his World War II military service; on being part of the Actors Studio
  • Chapter 2
  • On his experiences at Actors Studio; on his transition to directing; on joining CBS television as an assistant director; on the state of early television at the time; on his work on the series Danger; on the technical challenges of early television
  • Chapter 3
  • On the early technical challenges of live TV; on working on Danger and You Are There; on working with Charlie Russell; on working with actors; on his encounters with the Blacklist
  • Chapter 4
  • On his encounters with the Blacklist (continued); on directing theatre; on working on The Aloca Hour
  • Chapter 5
  • On directing for The Alcoa Hour; on Twelve Angry Men (the original television version vs. his feature film version); on Studio One; on the process of directing for television; on being known as "an actor's director"; on directing for Kraft Television Theatre
  • Chapter 6
  • On directing the television movie  The Sacco-Vanzetti Story; on the end of the "golden age" of televion sion; on directing feature films; on directing Network; on then-current television; on his advice to aspiring directors; on his legacy

Shows

  • Alcoa Hour, The
    • Sidney Lumet on directing for The Alcoa Hour anthology series (03m 13s)
  • Danger
    • Sidney Lumet on being assistant director on Danger; on the technical challenges of early live television (13m 33s)
    • Sidney Lumet on working on Danger and You Are There at CBS
  • Kraft Television Theatre
    • Director Sidney Lumet on working on Kraft Television Theatre teleplays (05m 00s)
  • Sacco-Vanzetti Story, The (1960)
    • Sidney Lumet on directing the two-part movie for television The Sacco-Vanzetti Story 
  • You Are There
    • Sidney Lumet on working on You Are There; on his encounter with the Blacklist

People

  • David Susskind
    • Director Sidney Lumet on working on Kraft Television Theatreteleplays
      (05m 00s)

Topics

  • Technological Innovation
    • Sidney Lumet on being assistant director on Danger; on the technical challenges of early live television (13m 33s)
  • Television Industry > Industry Crossroads > Hollywood Blacklist (ca. 1950s)
    • Sidney Lumet on working on You Are There; on his encounter with the Blacklist
    • Sidney Lumet on his encounters with the Blacklist (continued) (24m 21s)
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