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 (2)
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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 breathtaking spectacle with truly amazing actors who perfectly convincingly portray characters with precisely defined personalities but with changing opinions and unpredictable psyches. 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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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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Once again, I didn't believe in the movie and I had to see it with my own eyes to find out if it's really as great as people say. Well, let's face it, it's excellent. The way a one and a half hour long film, set in one place, manages to captivate is almost unbelievable. Excellent actors who portrayed this story perfectly.
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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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Gallery (73)
Photo © 1957 United Artists / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
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