Review of 12 Angry Men (1957) by Jacob M — 29 Jul 2013

When you think of an idea like 12 Angry Men, you think, well, if it's just a bunch of old men arguing in one room for 90 minutes, then the film would bore easily, right? Wrong. In reality, 12 Angry Men is one of Hollywood's most, powerful, compelling, and suspenseful films of all-time, and without my knowledge of it, I wouldn't be the film critic I am today.

12 Angry Men is about 12 jurors who must decide the fate of a Puerto Rican teen who's accused of killing his father with a knife. 11 of the men vote guilty, except one: Juror #8 (Henry Fonda), who's not convinced that a poor boy from the slums would kill his father like that. Since the vote must be unanimous, #8 must use some heavy persuasion in order to end this debate.

Martin Balsam plays Juror #1, the leader of the jury, John Fielder plays #2, an awkward man, Lee J. Cobb plays #3, the juryman hardest to deal with due to his strained relationship with his son, EG Marshall plays #4, a tough negotiator, Jack Klugman plays #5, a shy man from the slums like the accused, Edward Binns plays #6, a painter, Jack Warden plays #7, a man who only wants to attend a ball game and has a thing against foreigners. Joseph Sweeney plays #9, an older fellow with points of his own, Ed Begley plays #10, with as much attitude as #3, George Voskovec plays #11, a foreigner who has concerns about the jury system, and last but not least, Robert Webber plays #12, an advertising man.

If you've read my recent blog about the importance of classic films, then you probably know that this was the film that got my interest in classic films, and is the reason why I'm reviewing on RT today. 12 Angry Men shows a compelling look at America's jury/court system just as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a well-made look inside Congress.

The acting here is superb. At the time the film first came out, Henry Fonda was the only well-known actor in this. The other 11, despite being unknown at the time, act brilliantly, especially Joseph Sweeney as #9 and Lee J. Cobb as #3. As for Henry Fonda, it's one of his best roles and was perfectly cast.

12 Angry Men is filled with suspense all around. I wanted to know whether the boy was guilty or not. While the ending leads suspicion, I was convinced at the arguments and story wise, believe the kid to be not guilty. Why, you ask? Well, watch the film and find out.

12 Angry Men was a groundbreaking idea back in 1957, and is still as compelling today. It shows the complexity of the jury system, especially now in times of controversial court cases, like the recent George Zimmerman trial and the Casey Anthony trial. 12 Angry Men is powerfully acted, compelling in themes of justice and prejudice, and suspenseful to the limit. I became a fan of classic films thanks to 12 Angry Men. If you haven't seen this before, now's the time to do so.