Recently the great Sidney Lumet passed away, leaving behind a legacy of terrific and inspiring films such as "Network" "Dog Day Afternoon" and "The Verdict". For a while I have been a fan of his films, but had never seen the film that really started his career, 1957's "12 Angry Men". Fortunately, I had to watch it for a class.
From the moment the film began I knew I was in for something special. the film is about 12 jurors on a murder trial. The defendant is an 18 year old kid, accused of stabbing his father to death. The entire film takes place in the locked room where the jury decides this boys fate. Everyone in the room seems to unanimously agree that the kid was guilty, the trail seemed to leave them with no question, except for juror #8, played incredibly by Henry Fonda.
He doesn't know if the kid is guilty or not, he just has doubts, and doesn't feel like they can send a kid to the electric chair without discussion. All the other jurors (many big names throughout like Ed Begely, Jack Warden, Jack Klugman and Lee J. Cobb) are in a hurry to be done, one has a baseball game to get to, others just seem rushed. Nobody but #8 seems to think it needs discussion.
In a murder trial the vote has to be unanimous to send a person to the chair, and with #8's vote of not guilty, the discussion begins. As each presents their case to him about why the kid is guilty, he easily comes up with logical rebuttals. Slowly he convinces more and more of them to question their own beliefs and decide if the kid is really guilty.
As stated above the performance from Fonda is brilliant, it proves why he is a Hollywood legend. The emotion conveyed in his facial expressions, the morality his character portrays is just brilliant. This film puts him up there with the classic greats of Gregory Peck, Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. The rest of the jurors put in great performances as well.Jack Warden (While You Were Sleeping) plays the jokster, who just wants to be done so he can watch the ball game. Jack Klugman (TVs The Odd Couple) plays a quiet reserved man, who is also from the slums, just like the accused, who can't stand the social prejudices of some of the other jurors.
Like I said the entire film takes place in one room. But the script is razor sharp, leaving you riveted the entire film. The cast is electric, and the directing is perfect. The film was a glimpse at everything to come in Sidney Lumet's long and brilliant career as a master filmmaker. No matter how good he got though, I think its safe to say "12 Angry Men" is more than just the beginning of his career, it might have just been his best work period. Its the classic example of the cliche`d phrase, "They just don't make em like the used to!", they really don't.....
