12 Angry Men
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“Gentlemen, that's a very sad thing... to be nothing”
Overview
In Sidney Lumet’s take on Reginald Rose’s masterful chamber piece, a jury of twelve men gather to decide the fate of a teenager charged with murdering his father. If there is reasonable doubt, they must give a verdict of ‘not guilty’, otherwise the accused faces the electric chair. The evidence paints a pretty clear picture and all members are satisfied with a ‘guilty’ charge. All but one, Juror No.8 (Henry Fonda), who insists upon a second examination of the available evidence and a through critical assessment – a human life is at stake, after all.
Why You Should See This Film
Widely considered one of the greatest courtroom dramas of all time, 12 Angry Men remains a taut, powerful and utterly absorbing battle of words whose appeal to reason, compassion and justice is impossible to shake nearly 70 years on. For his very first feature film (would you believe it!), Lumet lifts this single-room Socratic whirlwind off the stage with an all-timer cast of shouty talents accentuated by some absolutely phenomenal staging and camerawork by the great Boris Kaufman. Believe the hype and see it the only way you should: in a small room next to strangers from all walks of life.
Required Viewing
This film screens as part of our Required Viewing series: a course of must-see masterpieces from some of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
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