Directed by:
Sidney LumetScreenplay:
Reginald RoseCinematography:
Boris KaufmanComposer:
Kenyon HopkinsCast:
Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall, Jack Klugman, Edward Binns, Jack Warden, Henry Fonda, Joseph Sweeney, Ed Begley, George Voskovec (more)VOD (3)
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The film begins at the end of a seemingly open-and-shut trial of a young Puerto Rican boy accused of murdering his father. The 12-man jury retires to their microscopic, sweltering quarters to decide the verdict. When the votes are counted, 11 men rule guilty, while one-played by Henry Fonda-feels that the boy may be innocent. Stressing the idea of 'reasonable doubt,' Fonda slowly chips away at the jury, who represent a microcosm of white, male society-exposing the prejudices and preconceptions that directly influence the other jurors' snap judgments. (Audio Ciné Films Inc.)
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Reviews (8)
A celebration and a critique of democratic principles all in one. The atmosphere is beautifully constructed, in which the tropical heat is just the basis. Lumet's attention to detail can be seen at every step, and with each passing minute, the thickening atmosphere of uncertainty forms beads of sweat on the actors' faces, drawing the viewer further into the unknown game where the logic of the screenplay is directly shaped by the compelling questioning of even the most unshakable court evidence. A claustrophobic thriller and courtroom drama have converged into a unique film that extracted the maximum from its own simplicity. Ninety-five minutes of excellent filmmaking that showcases the fickleness of human opinions under the weight of the societal climate and how challenging it is to go against the established prejudices of social nature. Indeed, even democracy has more colors than just black and white.
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It doesn't take much to make a top drama: one room, twelve great actors and brilliantly written dialogue. And I guarantee you that this film will grab your attention very quickly and you won't take your eyes off it. There was a color remake in the 1980s, I haven't seen it, but I doubt it would top this old masterpiece.
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One room and twelve white men from different walks of life, with different personalities and each with absolutely different origins. Their twelve different perspectives on one court case. Truth isn’t the issue here. It’s about whether the evidence is convincing enough to find somebody guilty on the basis of it, and send him to the gallows. Perfect dialogs, actors and rising tension in the atmosphere. But mainly the screenplay. Twelve Angry Men isn’t just one of many good court movies; it is one of the very best. A feature film debut not equaled by many.
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A breathtaking spectacle where truly amazing actors give perfectly convincing portrayals of characters with precisely defined personalities but with changing opinions and unpredictable psyches. Sidney Lumet simply directed a brilliantly gripping drama, where even a scene of imitating an elderly person's walk stretches the viewer to the breaking point. And the best thing about it is that the point is not whether the defendant is guilty or innocent, but whether it is possible to question his guilt.
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I didn’t expect it, but the result was superb. It was incredibly interesting to look into the minds of twelve absolutely ordinary people, to see how they gradually change their opinions and how they hold the fate of the accused boy in their hands. I have the feeling that even if the film had lasted an hour longer, it wouldn't have lost any of its quality and the actors would still have kept the viewer engaged with more great dialogue. If anyone has any prejudice about this film, perhaps because of its age, don't let it fool you and give 12 Angry Men a watch. It’s a brilliant piece of work, and not only in terms of filmmaking.
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Gallery (73)
Photo © 1957 United Artists / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
![12 Angry Men - Photos - Robert Webber, Edward Binns, Ed Begley, Jack Klugman, Joseph Sweeney, E.G. Marshall, Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden, John Fiedler](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/158/122/158122666_3052ab.jpg)
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