Sidney Lumet Quotes

Suffice to say that the theme (the WHAT of the movie) is going to determine the style (the HOW of the movie).

Everything becomes creative if the person doing the job is

Over-length is one of the things that most often results in the destruction of the movie in the cutting room.

Dolby was in the driver's seat. "Surround Sound" was added. Now we had three speakers behind the screen, two more on the left side of the theater, and two on the right. A closely guarded secret about all this is that you hear the correct balance only if you're sitting in the center of the theater. On the left or right side, those speakers tend to dominate.

If I don't have a script I adore, I do one I like. If I don't have one I like, I do one that has an actor I like or that presents some technical challenge.

There's no such thing as a small part. There are just small actors.

There are no personal revelations other than feelings arising from the work itself

Good style, to me, is unseen style.

Don't let the difficulty of actually achieving a shot make you think that the shot is good.

While the goal of all movies is to entertain, the kind of film in which I believe goes one step further. It compels the spectator to examine one facet or another of his own conscience. It stimulates thought and sets the mental juices flowing.

In drama, the characters should determine the story. In melodrama, the story determines the characters.

All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to happen.

The varying physical characteristics of the actors may also necessitate changes. Sean Connery is six feet four. Dustin Hoffman isn't.

I don't know how to choose work that illuminates what my life is about. I don't know what my life is about and don't examine it. My life will define itself as I live it. The movies will define themselves as I make them. As long as the theme is something I care about at the moment, it's enough for me to start work. Maybe work itself is what my life is about.

For any director with a little lucidity, masterpieces are films that come to you by accident.

There are no minor decisions in movie making. Each decision will either contribute to a good piece of work or bring the whole movie crashing down around my head many months later.

I only said 'Titanic' is unwatchable because one can not watch it.

It's art. It's commerce. It's heartbreaking and it's fun. It's a great way to live.

All good work requires self-revelation.

There's a powerful magic about being a writer that I still marvel at.