12 Angry Men

 

12 Angry Men 1957

• Director: Sidney Lumet
• Seen by this director: Running on Empty, Daniel, The Wiz, Dogday Afternoon, Serpico
• Based on the book: no
• Cast: Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, Lee J Cobb, E G Marshall, Jack Klugman, Edward Binns, Jack Warden, Henry Fonda, Joseph Sweeney, Ed Begley, George Voskovec, Robert Webber (count ‘em – twelve).
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Martin Balsam – The Octopus, Little Big Man, Catch 22, many TV series
• John Fiedler – TV series
• Lee J Cobb – The Exorcist, McKenna’s Gold, Death of a Salesman, Exodus, The Three Faces of Eve, On the Waterfront
• E G Marshall – Superman II, Billy Jack Goes to Washington, The Caine Mutiny
• Jack Klugman – TV series
• Edward Binns - TV series
• Jack Warden – Bulworth, While You Were Sleeping, The Aviator, Heaven Can Wait, TV series
• Henry Fonda – On Golden Pond, Gideon’s Trumpet, Spencer’s Mountain, The Grapes of Wrath and probably some westerns I don’t remember
• Joseph Sweeney – TV series
• Ed Begley - TV series
• George Voskovec - TV series
• Robert Webber - TV series
• Why? A classic
• Seen: As a child when it came out (I couldn’t have understood it, but I loved it). Now: 18 April 2021      

       Twelve jurors, all men, all white, different classes, must come to a verdict in a murder trial. The accused is a young, vaguely foreign-looking slum kid brought up with a lot of abuse. Most of the jury assume he’s guilty and want to make a quick job of it. The verdict must be unanimous, and a guilty verdict makes the death penalty mandatory.

       Eleven vote guilty. Only Juror 8 (Fonda) is uncertain and wants to discuss it. The others protest, more or less aggressively, more or less angrily. Prejudices abound. But one by one the jurors start thinking again.

       It’s brilliant. Just brilliant. The acting is superlative. I’m almost breathless with admiration. 

5 * of 5 (even though there are no women or people of colour).