USA,
1957, 96 min
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)
Plots(1)
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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