From the Publisher
"This revealing and entertaining biography provides a sensitive look at one of Hollywood’s most humanistic and socially aware filmmakers." —Publishers Weekly
"Spiegel does a yeoman's job of telling those stories in this illuminating biography . . . . Essential reading for movie fans." —Booklist
"A likely definitive exploration of the director's distinguished career—of great interest to budding filmmakers and film enthusiasts." —Kirkus (starred review)
"An insightful biography, perfect for film buffs." —Library Journal
FEBRUARY 2020 - AudioFile
Kate Mulligan narrates this first biography of the renowned screenwriter and director Sidney Lumet. Her exceptionally precise enunciation is so much so that it can border on the obsessive, becoming distracting. The author’s extensive and thoughtful research, which included exclusive family interviews, yields a work that is carefully written. However, despite Mulligan’s appropriate pace, she may not have been the ideal narration choice. Her feminine timbre is often at odds with the highly masculine world of the Hollywood icon who directed, among other highly varied films, the original TWELVE ANGRY MEN. On balance, this Lumet portrait is insightful and entertaining. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2019-10-14
A well-grounded biography of the American director's expansive career.
Throughout a prolific career, Sidney Lumet (1924-2011) emerged as one of the most acclaimed directors of his time, recognized for his accomplishments in theater, TV, and, especially, film (Twelve Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, etc.). In this first significant biography of Lumet, Spiegel (Literature and Film/Columbia Univ.; co-author: The Breast Book: An Intimate and Curious History, 2002, etc.) offers a comprehensive study of this multifaceted filmmaker, thoughtfully examining the creative and personal forces that influenced his work. The author traces his early years as a child actor performing in Yiddish theater at age 5 through his work on Broadway as a teenager and his enlistment in the Army during World War II. After the war, Lumet's interest quickly shifted from acting to directing for the theater. In the early days of TV, he firmly hit his stride, mastering the quickly evolving technical craft of directing for live TV, which included directing diverse groups of actors while remaining mindfully efficient with tight schedules and budgets. These skills would benefit his later work on film. Spiegel comfortably weaves elements of Lumet's personal life into her narrative, touching on his complex relationship with his father, Baruch, also a theater actor in his day; his four marriages (Gloria Vanderbilt was his second wife); two children; and his expansive network of show business friends. Yet the author shines brightest in her illumination of Lumet's skills as a director. Beyond offering knowledgeable film summaries, she deftly examines the technical artistry he brought to each project. "Sidney never stopped experimenting," writes Spiegel. "He was constantly working with new actors, new equipment, new genres, and new techniques. Throughout his career he drew upon his earlier experiences in radio, theater, television, and film to expand beyond his comfort zones and break new ground as both an artist and a citizen."
A likely definitive exploration of the director's distinguished career—of great interest to budding filmmakers and film enthusiasts.
