This is not a courtroom drama but a jury drama done in the best way possible. It starts off where you see a young boy, who actually, to me anyway, looks innocent. The 12 jurors must now deliberate the fate of this young boy's life. All but one vote guilty. The 11 jurors are pissed that this one hold out has decided to vote innocent. We see these 12 men, suffering in the heat of summer (no a/c in that day) and becoming more heated. We become more involved in the lives of these men who are itching to leave so they can go to their baseball game, go home or just have this boy sent to the gas chamber. You become a witness yourself to a bigot, a lonely old man, a blowhart, and other joe schmos that you pass on the street every day and never look at them twice.
The acting is brilliant! Henry Fonda plays the lone hold-out but the other men are given the same justice on the screen and one can see how they love the words they are speaking. I do too and this is one of my favourite films. I don't care if there are no women because back in the day more men were picked for jury duty anyway and this should not even come into play.
If you like great writing and acting with great characters, watch this film. It is brilliant!
Great review! I watched this for the first time a couple of months ago, and I was really impressed! It was fascinating watching Henry Fonda's character try to bring everyone around.
ReplyDelete- Allie
I'm glad to know you love it, too. My daughter has been working her way through the old Twilight Zone and quite a lot of the 12 Angry Men cast make appearances. I'm glad she has the cultural reference.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteI did see this one and I agree, a very good movie. I was on a jury once involving a murder, the defendant didn't commit the murder but was there when it happened. Since it involved a robbery, he could be charged with felony murder. The case never went to deliberation as he took a plea deal, 17 years in prison, he was 18 at the time, but I often wonder how it would hsve turned out if we had gotten the case. I would have voted guilty because what was presented so far and in the defining of that law, he was sadly guilty.
ReplyDeleteBetty
It was great indeed. I just watched it last week at my sea. Thankfully I've never had to do jury duty haha
ReplyDeleteI saw that one years ago. The remake a few years ago was just as good.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen it-I'd like to. But, did most of them wear ties? You'd think, with no air conditioning...no WONDER they were angry.
ReplyDeleteThis was great writing--big time!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen 12 Angry Men but you did such a great job with this review that I want to see it now. :)
ReplyDeleteI saw a stage version if this a few months ago which was really good too. Tom Conti had the Henry Fonda part - not sure if he's known internationally, the others certainly wouldn't be.
ReplyDeleteThe Glasgow Gallivanter
I have heard of this movie- but I am sure you are shocked that I haven't seen it. I have lots of movies to get watching whenever I have my first snow day this year. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
I don't know if I've seen the whole thing. I've read it, though, in various English classes. Again, not the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteThat's an excellent movie. Henry Fonda was a great talent.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
It's been years since I've seen this brilliant movie. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteGood one
ReplyDeleteHappy new year !
http://shilpachandrasekheran.blogspot.in/?m=1
I know its a classic, but the subject matter depresses me, so I've never watched it except bits and pieces.
ReplyDeleteI remember this one.... oh how long ago was it! It's classic but the kind that left me feeling miserable for a couple of days *sigh*
ReplyDeletex Asha