Sidney Lumet was one of the preeminent New Hollywood directors, responsible for classics like 12 Angry Men, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon. He was trained during the golden age of television in the 1950s, which shaped his energetic, collaborative filmmaking style and his preference for realistic storytelling. His movies are usually character studies or psychological dramas, frequently exploring themes of family life and justice, often involving the legal system and the media. He was also infatuated with New York City, using it as the setting for most of his films.