12 Angry Men
Category
Crime / Drama
Director
Sidney Lumet
Cast
- Henry Fonda
- Joseph Sweeney
- Martin Balsam
- John Fiedler
- E.G. Marshall
- Jack Klugman
- Ed Binns
- Jack Warden
- Ed Begley
- George Voskovec
- Robbert Webber
Release Date
13 April 1957
Synopsis
Hailed as one of the most symbolic films of all time about the American justice system, Lumet's "12 Angry Men" is a tale about twelve American jurors who were given a heavy task -- to decide on the faith of a young Hispanic man who was accused of killing his own father. Most of the scenes were shot inside a small room where the jury discussed their point of views and opinions regarding the case. The 12-member jury was composed of white, average class American men who had their own prejudices and personalities that could greatly affect the outcome of their decision. The jury members were not identified through their names but only through their numbers (juror #1, juror #2, and so on).
The first scene showed the pillars of the Manhattan Justice Hall, symbolizing the virtues of the American justice system. The next scene focused on a small and uncomfortably confined room where the jurors have to decide on the fate of the Hispanic suspect. The entire movie may seem stagnant because the shots were limited between the court room and the jury room. Nevertheless, it captured the workings behind an American jury driven by biases, opinions, experiences, and influences. An unforgettable scene that made this movie an instant classic is when one of the jurors re-enacted a part from the suspect's story.
Each of the juror was identified through his background, personal experience, opinions, and biases about how the judicial system should work. The claustrophobic environment of the room may seem static and unnerving but the process that each of these jurors underwent symbolized the social and cultural tendencies of the American society toward criminal suspects. The minimalist and simple shooting techniques used in this film is one characteristic that set it apart from other movies of the same genre. The black-and-white style used to tell the story also contributed to the movie's classic aura and to the claustrophobic environment depicted in many scenes.
It may have received mixed responses but it did earn several Oscar awards because of the simplicity and sheer beauty of the film coupled with outstanding performances by the actors who effectively portrayed the different characters of the twelve jurors.