Today I’m posting a very entertaining ten-minute behind the scenes doc of the making of ‘Dog Day Afternoon’, easily one of my favorite–if not the favorite–New York City movies. (Yesterday I posted a behind the scenes look at ‘Tootsie’, the first of a series of NYC movie shoots of the past). We see the terrifyingly energetic director Sidney Lumet in action–racing around the set with a bullhorn, dressing down extras and cops who aren’t listening carefully enough to his instructions, and in general dominating his set as few directors do. The film belongs to one of my favorite genres which I refer to as ‘fiasco flicks’. This is a movie about a crime that you know from the beginning is going to go disastrously awry but whose unraveling somehow makes for exciting and darkly humorous viewing. Other top examples of this genre would put ‘Fargo’, ‘Quick Change’ and ‘The Ladykillers’ high on the list. The New York City that this was shot in was beautifully captured in all its 1970s beat-up glory and the films non-stop pace and tight structure–it takes place in the afternoon and evening of the action–gives it immense power and unity. I’m not sure what this little reel was made for but its an invaluable document. And I’m quite sure I know what 1975 movie I’m going to be watching tonight…