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12 ANGRY MEN (1957) (****)

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This film is the quintessential courtroom drama. Well, I guess jury room drama is more accurate. Besides a brief prologue and epilogue the entire film takes place in a jury room on the hottest day of the year. An 18-year-old "ethnic" boy is on trial for murdering his father. A preliminary vote shows that all but one juror would vote guilty right away, which would lead the boy to death row.

In a classic performance, Henry Fonda (GRAPES OF WRATH) plays Juror #8, the man who wants to talk about the case before he sends a boy to the electric chair. He's not convinced whether the defendant is guilty or not. As the 12 men discuss the facts of the case we see how "truth" is often shaded by pride, prejudice and cultural status. Juror #3 (Lee J. Cobb, THE EXORCIST) is the most bitter and seems to be putting his own personal problems onto the defendant. Juror #10 (Ed Begley, HANG 'EM HIGH) keeps talking about "those people" and at one point in the film goes on a racist rant, which even people who still think the boy is guilty get up from the table and turn their backs to him. Juror #4 (E.G. Marshall, NIXON) tries to look at the facts with pure logic and no emotion. Juror #7 (Jack Warden, THE VERDICT) seems more interested in getting to his ball game then really giving any real thought to which way he will vote.

Juror #1 (Martin Balsam, several memorable appearances on the TWILIGHT ZONE) is a high school football couch, who serves as foreman and tries to keep the debate flowing. Juror #2 (John Fielder, MIDNIGHT MADNESS, the voice of Piglet) is a nerdy weakling, who tries his hardest to stand-up to the more vocal members of the jury. Juror #5 (Jack Klugman, TV's THE ODD COUPLE) is a mild-mannered man, who uses his experiences living in the ghetto to lend some insight into the actions of the killer. Juror #6 (Edward Binns, PATTON) is working man, who sticks up for the meeker jurors when they get bullied around. Juror #9 (in an amazing last performance Joseph Sweeney, THE MAN IN THE GRAY FLANNEL SUIT) is the oldest juror, whose wise perceptions constantly move the debate into new directions. Juror #11 (George Voskovec, BUTTERFIELD 8.) is an emigrant, who respects the American judicial process. Juror #12 (Robert Webber, PRIVATE BENJAMIN) is a wishy-washy ad man who talks a lot.

I described each juror because each one plays a key role in the film and displays the dynamics that happen between the men. Few films have so many well-rounded individual characters as this one does. Director Sidney Lumet (NETWORK) made his feature film debut with this film and what a debut it was. For a film that, for the most part, takes place entirely in one room, the camera work is amazing. Lumet uses close-ups and camera angles to perfection. As the case is debated we see the subtle commentary at work on the whole judicial process — both its strengths and weaknesses. I feel this film should be required viewing for any jury before they go to deliberate. It deserves its place as a classic for good reason.

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Rick DeMott
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