Watch: Gritty Vintage Making-Of Featurette For 'Dog Day Afternoon' Goes Street Level

Sidney Lumet had the type of career that every director dreams about when they’re first starting out. By the time he made his feature film debut, “12 Angry Men,” he had already helmed 200 episodes of television. And after that, he directed nearly 50 features...in 50 years. His shoots were known for being very quick and efficient and, as a founding member of the New York Actors’ Studio, he was also famous for the close relationships he had with his actors. This combination of methods is best exemplified in the video below: a vintage behind-the-scenes featurette of one of his very best films, “Dog Day Afternoon.”

It’s funny how featurettes have evolved over the last couple decades. With “Dog Day Afternoon,” you are literally behind the scenes. There are no talking heads, the camera never leaves the set. You get a golden-voiced narrator who confirms everything that was said in the previous paragraph: Lumet is lighting quick on set, he gives his cast and crew very little time for a...