Rent 12 Angry Men (1957)

Behind That Locked Door - 12 Angry Men review by CH

“You can talk until your tongue is dragging on the floor!”

And talk they do, throughout Twelve Angry Men (1957). What can left to be said about this film version of Reginald Rose's play? It continues to hit one straight in the heart and in the forehead, which is what one of the jurors threatens to do to some of the others in that closed room. Even then, it sports a glugging watercooler whose paper conical cups ease their tempers as a humid summer's afternoon tacks towards a storm and an evening's verdict (despite which, many keep their ties in place).

What's more, one of them asks another, topically enough, “don't you ever sweat?”

This is a tale, in resonant black and white, told in retrospect as the diverse Jurors, each known only by their number, listen to architect Henry Fonda who elucidates his doubts about a murder which has happened three months ago in the midnight shadow of an elevated railway. Here is logic contending with prejudice, that social concern which was so often the mark of Sidney Lumet's films.

Mostly sporting ties and with ashtrays to hand upon their shared table, these men often lurch to contradict the others and have to be reminded that “we're talking about somebody's life here” (an ad man doodles and claims it helps him think).

One might wonder how it was filmed, for it does something interesting with time. These ninety-five minutes appear seamless, the stuff of one take, but daylight turns to dusk as the hours go by. A working definition of suspension of disbelief.

Lest it all appear technical, the dialogue includes such lines as the ad man's variant on run it up the flagpole: “let's put it out on the stoup and see if the cat laps it up.” As one of them sneezes, he is told, “your horn works, now try your lights!”

“He don't even speak good English.” “Doesn't speak.”

One could say more, but should not spoil it for those yet to see this masterpiece. Simply ignore Manny Farber's contemporary description which reduces it to Lumet's “bringing a hundred tiny details of schmaltzy and and soft-center 'liberalism' into a clean mosaic”. And Farber also derides it as “the shrill tingle of... couterfeit moviemaking”.

Watch this film and call upon others to bring a verdict upon Farber.

12 Angry Men - 12 Angry Men review by OL

Good example of Group behaviour where individuals can be influenced by others in a group to form opinions.

Wheres Ironman or Thor? - 12 Angry Men review by JD

5stars?

There is no opening action scene. So i was bored straight away.

Its actually in black and white so there no pretty colors flashing over the screen at all times. This made it hard to watch.

The cast is solely males. And if that wasnt bad enough, white males. I felt offended and triggered.

And, everyone could act, there were distinct characters (12!) who by the end you felt you knew personally, each having there own arc and path to conclusion.

Its an incredibly wholesome plot. In a system we only ever hear failing - this demonstrates success as it was meant. Wholesome stories are so old fashioned.

And worst of all, there was no scatter gun firing of humour during serious moments to spoil the mood.

All in all. This is no modern film.

But this is one seriously impressive film.