12 ANGRY MEN  4.0***

 

This is a 1957 film portraying an excellent courtroom drama with a unique twist. Instead of following the trial itself, the viewer has a unique chance to observe the events behind the closed doors of a jury room. The film begins with the end of the trial and the judge’s final instructions to the jury.. The jurors retire to deliberate the case. A preliminary vote is taken and the result is 11:1 in favor of a guilty verdict. Eleven jurors have raised their hands to convict a young non-Caucasian man of killing his father. Only Juror No.8 (Henry Fonda) has doubts. At first even he does not truly believe the young man to be innocent but notes (rightfully) that the defense lawyer did a poor job  and that the boy might be given the benefit of a doubt. Since the boy is to be executed if found guilty his life is now in the hands of the jury and Juror No.8 reasons that the least they could do is talk about the case a bit. As time goes on some of the jurors begin to change their minds and find that there is perhaps enough reasonable doubt not to convict the young man after all. But not everyone is easy to convince.

 

The plot of the film is excellent and it is fascinating to see what little things can influence which way a verdict goes. But where this film really succeeds is in presenting the characters of the 12 jurors. The character of each of the jurors emerges through a wonderful mix of perfect casting, excellent dialogue and near-flawless acting.. The dialogue is astoundingly riveting right  up to the brilliant finale. I was quite impressed with the camera angles and lighting that made the film more suspenseful. Also the choice of using Black and White made the film all the more powerful.  All in all it succeeded in creating an experience  like you were really there in the jury room with them - and you can feel the tension built up as the movie proceeds.

 

Henry Fonda is eminently suitable and excellently believable as the dissenter who brings home the importance of a jury's duty to examine evidence thoroughly and without prejudice. Joseph Sweeney is delightful as Juror No. 9, the quiet but shrewd old man who misses nothing, while E.G. Marshall brings his usual firmness and authority to the role of Juror No. 4. All the actors shine but perhaps the best performance is that of Lee J. Cobb, Juror No. 3, who is a hard, stubborn, aggressive and vindictive man. Other cast members include: :Martin Balsam , John Fiedler, Jack Klugman, Edward Binns, Jack Warden,   Ed Begley, George Voskovec, and Robert Webber.

  

  Clark