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Post by petrolino on Mar 10, 2024 5:26:57 GMT
'12 Angry Men' (1957 - Sidney Lumet)
'12 Angry Men, by Sidney Lumet, may be the most radical courtroom drama in cinema history. A behind-closed-doors look at the American legal system that is as riveting as it is spare, this iconic adaptation of Reginald Rose’s teleplay stars Henry Fonda as the dissenting member on a jury of white men ready to pass judgment on a Puerto Rican teenager charged with murdering his father. The result is a saga of epic proportions that plays out over a tense afternoon in one sweltering room. Lumet’s electrifying snapshot of 1950s America on the verge of change is one of the great feature film debuts.'
- Criterion
Legal Eagles : Sidney Lumet weighs in on '12 Angry Men' & 'The Verdict' [The American Film Institute]
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"For Sidney Lumet, born in 1924, "12 Angry Men" was the beginning of a film career that has often sought controversial issues. Consider these titles from among his 43 films: "The Pawnbroker" (the Holocaust), "Fail-Safe" (accidental nuclear war), "Serpico" (police corruption), "Dog Day Afternoon" (homosexuality), "Network" (the decay of TV news), "The Verdict" (alcoholism and malpractice), "Daniel" (a son punished for the sins of his parents), "Running on Empty" (radical fugitives), and "Critical Care" (health care). There are also comedies and a musical ("The Wiz"). If Lumet is not among the most famous of American directors, that is only because he ranges so widely he cannot be categorized. Few filmmakers have been so consistently respectful of the audience's intelligence."
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
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Post by politicidal1 on Mar 10, 2024 15:05:26 GMT
Terrific film. One of the great courtroom dramas.
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Post by Rufus-T on Mar 12, 2024 2:40:37 GMT
The first release of 12 Angry Men was before my time. I have always heard good thing about this movie, but did not finally get to see it, once, sometime in the mid 2000s. It might be the most engaging movie that basically had one setting throughout the whole movie. I did not realize it was an adaptation of a teleplay. I always thought it was adapted from a stage play, though I never look into it.
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Post by mattgarth on Mar 12, 2024 20:59:44 GMT
It was later adapted into a stage play. I saw one production in New Haven, Connecticut a few years back.
George Wendt ('Norm' on "Cheers") played Juror #1 (Martin Balsam's role in the original film).
The story's hero, Juror #8, was assumed by Richard Thomas ('John Boy' from "The Waltons").
One goof in the production I saw. At the dramatic moment when #8 stands up and produces a duplicate of the murder weapon knife, the switchblade refused to open. A frustrated Thomas frantically kept pushing the release a half-dozen times, and then just threw it unopened onto the table in disgust.
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Post by NJtoTX on Apr 2, 2024 23:54:32 GMT
I was in diapers.
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Post by Doghouse6 on Apr 3, 2024 0:55:45 GMT
It opened on my 4th birthday. I asked my parents to take me to see it, but they gave me a pogo stick instead. |
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Post by jeffersoncody on Apr 3, 2024 8:59:10 GMT
I wasn't born yet, so I had to wait to see it on video. It was worth the wait, it's an outstanding film which rocked my little world.
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Post by Captain Spencer on Apr 3, 2024 16:32:00 GMT
Wasn't born yet when it was first released, but I saw it on TV. Great movie.
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Post by mikef6 on Apr 3, 2024 17:33:19 GMT
I was 12-years-old when 12 Angry Men was released. It was not the kind of movie my family went to see (mainly westerns). Never got to it until 2014 even though I was well aware of its reputation.
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Pike
Pussy Galore
Posts: 33
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Post by Pike on Apr 5, 2024 3:14:19 GMT
oldest movie I recall seeing on initial release is THE ALAMO. So I missed 12 ANGRY MEN by a few years.
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Post by wmcclain on Apr 13, 2024 13:14:33 GMT
I was too young, although we did read the teleplay in school. Teacher asked "Who thought the accused was really guilty?" and I was the only one to raise my hand.
"So you would have voted to convict?"
"No, there was reasonable doubt. Thinking guilt is likely and voting to convict are different things".
Guy came up to me after class: "Thanks. I was too shy to raise my hand".
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Post by Isapop on Apr 13, 2024 15:05:31 GMT
I was too young, although we did read the teleplay in school. Teacher asked "Who thought the accused was really guilty?" and I was the only one to raise my hand. "So you would have voted to convict?" "No, there was reasonable doubt. Thinking guilt is likely and voting to convict are different things". Guy came up to me after class: "Thanks. I was too shy to raise my hand". I'd like to be in that jury room now. I would have changed Fonda's mind. |
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Post by wmcclain on Apr 13, 2024 18:58:12 GMT
By the way: I watch a few reaction channels on youtube of younger people watching (sometimes) older films. Anything b&w is antique to them.
Without exception they are astonished by the quality of the story, staging and acting in 12 Angry Men. They also swoon over Casablanca and It's a Wonderful Life.
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Post by Isapop on Apr 13, 2024 19:43:56 GMT
reaction channels on youtube of younger people watching (sometimes) older films. There is such a thing as that? |
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Post by wmcclain on Apr 13, 2024 20:09:03 GMT
reaction channels on youtube of younger people watching (sometimes) older films. There is such a thing as that?
Yes, it is a busy genre. On youtube for free you get edited versions, 30-50m usually, which is enough for me.
Channels I enjoy who have done 12 Angry Men include:
CineBinge, a non-couple in Canada:
Just Trust Ash, a salty London couple:
Popcorn in Bed; Cassie is a real sweetie and sometimes has her sister on:
-Bill
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