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Product Description: Eleven jurors are convinced that the defendant is guilty of murder. The twelfth has no doubt of his innocence. How can this one man steer the others toward the same conclusion? It's a case of seemingly overwhelming evidence against a teenager accused of killing his father in "one of the best pictures ever made" (The Hollywood Reporter).System Requirements:Running Time: 96 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/FIGHTING THE SYSTEM Rating: PG UPC: 027616097101 Manufacturer No: M109710 Amazon.com essential video: Sidney Lumet's directorial debut remains a tense, atmospheric (though slightly manipulative and stagy) courtroom thriller, in which the viewer never sees a trial and the only action is verbal. As he does in his later corruption commentaries such as Serpico or Q & A, Lumet focuses on the lonely one-man battles of a protagonist whose ethics alienate him from the rest of jaded society. As the film opens, the seemingly open-and-shut trial of a young Puerto Rican accused of murdering his father with a knife has just concluded and the 12-man jury retires to their microscopic, sweltering quarters to decide the verdict. When the votes are counted, 11 men rule guilty, while one--played by Henry Fonda, again typecast as another liberal, truth-seeking hero--doubts the obvious. Stressing the idea of "reasonable doubt," Fonda slowly chips away at the jury, who represent a microcosm of white, male society--exposing the prejudices and preconceptions that directly influence the other jurors' snap judgments. The tight script by Reginald Rose (based on his own teleplay) presents each juror vividly using detailed soliloquies, all which are expertly performed by the film's flawless cast. Still, it's Lumet's claustrophobic direction--all sweaty close-ups and cramped compositions within a one-room setting--that really transforms this contrived story into an explosive and compelling nail-biter. --Dave McCoy Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-07
Fonda and the gang deliver flawlessly
In the thrilling drama 12 Angry Men, a young man has been accused of murder and his fate rests in the hands of the twelve jurors chosen to oversee the trial. The young man's lawyer doesn't seem to care about his guilt or innocence. The evidence seems condemning in the extreme. There does not seem to be any reason that the jury should be more than a few minutes in deciding his guilt and then...off to the electric chair he will go. Then one juror (Fonda) has the courage to voice his doubts about the case and the evidence presented. Standing firm against all opposition he exposes the faults in the case and attempts to convince the other men in the room of his sincerity...and the young man's innocence.
Henry Fonda plays a Doubting Thomas who must convince his eleven fellow jurors of the innocence, or reasonable doubt of guilt, of a young man accused of murder. In their deliberations he must expose the hateful (Lee Cobb), move the indifferent (Martin Balsam, Jack Warden, and Robert Webber), convince the reasonable (John Fiedler and Ed Binns), sway the coldly logical (E.G. Marshall), inspire the weak (Jack Klugman), shame the bigoted (Ed Begley), and return pride to men of honor (Joseph Sweeney and George Voskovec). This movie is a truly amazing example of character study, superb acting, and a flawless script. It features some of the most talented actors to ever grace the silver screen and it is a film for the ages. If you enjoy suspenseful courtroom drama then this movie is a must see. Five stars. Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-26
Enjoyable
There are so many versions of this movie that I figured that I'd start with the original-and I'm glad that I did. For it's time, I think this was probably a very gutsy movie. Strong performances and script. I can see why this has earned its classic status. Rating:
Date: 2008-06-24
BEST COURTROOM DRAMA
What a great movie
a treasure, no doubt about it
12 men with many differences discussing the fate of a 12 year old boy in a jury room.
if you like good cinema, spend 10$ in this treasure, you won't regret it Rating:
Date: 2008-05-18
One of the Best!
This is truly one of the all-time best movies featuring classic stars and a compelling plot. I use it for teaching argumentative writing and usually convert a few of my (college) students to this genre when they first view it. Excellent acting notwithstanding, the B/W adds to the intensity of the plot and serves to further showcase the characters. The "extra" footage and commentary are bonuses w/ this tribute edition. Rating:
Date: 2008-04-16
A Truly Brilliant Film, Extras Could Be Better
Take 12 great actors, a brilliant script, and basically 1 room. Shoot it in black and white on a $300,000 budget in 20 days, and you have one of the greatest films ever made. Half a century later, this movie stands up as good storytelling without the benefit of special effects, explosions, or a top-40 soundtrack.
I do wish the 50th anniversary DVD had more extras. It rightly should include the trailer that was on previous DVDs. The "courtroom" bonus video is pretty fluffy and actually has very little to do with the movie. But the "making of" bonus video is quite good and features interview footage of director Sidney Lumet and actor Jack Klugman. The feature-length commentary is informative, though I think the lack of a director commentary is a missed opportunity.
The DVD is a must-buy for classic film fans. Also a good choice for anyone interested in film in general. |
