"12 Angry Men" was Henry Fonda's sole foray
into film production. Unable to get the
studios to purchase the script, which he
liked considerably, he funded the production
himself. It was, after all, an inexpensive
film to make: no sets or costumes were
required. The entire film was shot on
location in New York City, with nearly all
of it taking place in an actual jury room.
Although critically praised, the film failed
at the box office. There was no action,
no romance, and little suspense, as Fonda's
moral superiority was certain to overcome.
The film's themes, which included racial
and class discrimination, were not of
dramatic interest to most filmgoers.
Fonda could at least bask in the critical
acclaim. It was nominated for Best Director
(Sidney Lumet), Best Adapted Screenplay
(Reginald Rose), and Best Picture. While
Fonda was not nominated for Best Actor, he
was nominated as co-producer.
The story, now familiar but then original,
has Fonda as the lone juror refusing to
convict a man accused of murdering his
father. The other eleven jurors, all
men of various ages, occupations and social
standings, are initially frustrated with
Fonda's intransigence.
A pattern emerges among the jurors. All
the jerks want to convict, while the
reasonable men have a reasonable doubt.
The jerks are led by Lee J. Cobb, who
declares that he would like to flip the
switch of the electric chair himself.
Among his strongest supporters are
racist Ed Begley, intellectual E. G.
Marshall, and disinterested Jack Warden,
who wants a quick conviction so that he
can attend a Yankees game that evening.
Fonda is slowly aided in his cause by
elderly Joseph Sweeney, mousey John
Fiedler, and sensitive Jack Klugman.
Martin Balsam plays the jury foreman.
"12 Angry Men" is surprisingly good,
considering that the film consists of
twelve men arguing in a room for ninety
minutes. The quality of the cast and
script helps, as does the dramatic storyline
(the defendant's life is at state).
The biggest complaint is with the
characters: Cobb rants and rages as
if he was back on the waterfront, while
Fonda is almost smug in the certainty
of his moral position.
"12 Angry Men" was re-made in 1997 as
a movie on Showtime, featuring Jack
Lemmon and George C. Scott. Reginald
Rose, who wrote the original 1957 screenplay,
revised it for the cable production. (67/100)
Sidney Lumet's directorial debut is a snapshot of the American judicial system in action. Twelve average New York males convene in a very small jury r...More at Family Video
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