Writer Reginald Rose wrote a screenplay based on his experiences serving jury duty that explored the drama that ensued. Rose was writing for the dramatic anthology series Studio One when his screenplay was sold to them for adaptation. In 1954, the screenplay was adapted for the show’s seventh season directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring Robert Cummings. The teleplay was a success, earning three Emmy awards for Best Writer (Rose), Best Director (Schaffner), and Best Actor (Cummings). Following its success, the screenplay was adapted to film, with Rose writing the script and co-producing with star Henry Fonda. They hired Sidney Lumet to direct what became his first feature film due to his work on television. With a low budget of roughly $337,000 and a relatively small cast, Lumet set out to direct this film adaptation. In 1957, Lumet’s adaptation of 12 Angry Men was released to theaters.
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Synopsis
An 18-year-old Hispanic man (John Savoca) is on trial for first-degree murder, having supposedly stabbed his father to death. After being read the details and shown the evidence, the jury is sent off to determine a verdict. The verdict must be unanimous, meaning all twelve members must decide on whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. Initially, all the jurors vote ‘guilty’ except for Juror #8 (Henry Fonda), who’s unsure if the defendant committed the murder. Over the course of the next few hours, the jurors go back and forth questioning the evidence and their votes. Tensions rise as the men argue with each other, compounded by the sweltering heat while confined in a single space. As time goes by, the vote sways towards ‘not guilty, much to the chagrin of some of the other jurors. Soon, the men will examine not only the case but on themselves.
Review
Although not a financial success at the time, 12 Angry Men has gone done in history as classic American cinema. This film absolutely deserves its status given how powerful the material is and the themes that are explored. First off, every member of the principal cast, namely the twelve jurors, each give an amazing and career-defining performance. Henry Fonda gives a very grounded and sympathetic performance as the outlier and the one who sets everything in motion. Lee J. Cobb also shines as the polar opposite of Fonda, determined to see the defendant get the chair. Watching him getting more and more frustrated while Fonda remains calm and collected is worth the price of admission alone. The rest of the cast, featuring Jack Warden, E. G. Marshall, Martin Balsam, and Jack Klugman amongst others also shine. There isn’t a single cast member who gives a subpar performance.
What also makes the film stand out is the direction from Sidney Lumet, who became a celebrated filmmaker later on. He keeps the action moving given it’s set primarily in one location with plenty of tracking shots and wide angles. Its single setting also helps make you feel like you’re right there with them as the heat gets to them. With a roughly 90-minute runtime, the film moves at a solid pace and never feels bogged down by unnecessary padding. The film explores plenty of issues that are still relevant, such as prejudice, bias, and coming together despite different backgrounds. The fact that none of the characters are given names also adds to the realism, like they could be anyone. It’s one of the most well-made, well-acted, and well-written American dramas of all-time that everyone should see at least once. Overall, 12 Angry Men is a classic of American cinema.
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