The young man on trial for murder appears onscreen only momentarily in 12 Angry Men, a courtroom drama that spends only its opening scene in the courtroom, and the entire remainder of the film in the jury room where 12 men must decide his fate. Their deliberations on a hot day in New York City make for one of the most intense and fascinating films ever to be set almost entirely in one room.
As was typical of juries in the U.S.A. up to the 1950s, this jury is 100 per cent male and 100 per cent white – not exactly a cross-section of America, even then. Within this narrow demographic, these men run the gamut from working class labourer to middle class watchmaker to upper middle class stockbroker and architect. When they sit down to deliberate, it first seems that this will be brief – an open and shut case – with 11 of the 12 convinced of the accused’s guilt.
But one man, juror number eight (Henry Fonda) isn’t prepared to rush into anything. He’s not willing to make a quick decision, given that a ‘guilty’ verdict would send the young man to the electric chair.
For 90 minutes, we watch the arguments and the human politics as these men hash out their decision. They are nameless (except for two who introduce themselves in the film’s final scene), but each of these characters is finely drawn. Every one of them is distinct – juror number 10 (Ed Begley) is boiling over with prejudice; number three (Lee J. Cobb) is poisoned by his domestic unhappiness; number five (Jack Klugman) is from the same social class as the accused, so is sensitive to others’ bigotry; number seven (Jack Warden) just wants to get to the Yankees game; and number 12 (Robert Webber) is more interested in chit-chatting about his job in advertising. The dynamic among these men evolves as they discuss the case, with juror number eight refusing to let them rush to quick judgement.
This is a fabulous film in which every element works. Reginald Rose’s script is tight as a drum, making the situation both plausible and fascinating, the dialogue sharp and the entire proceedings packed with meaning. Sidney Lumet’s efficient direction keeps things almost perfectly on track, with only a single scene coming across as ‘stagey’ – remarkable for a movie set almost entirely in a single room.
Best of all are the performances. You won’t find a cast of 12 that works together better than this. While Fonda and E.G. Marshall talk the most and Cobb and Begley deliver the largest dose of histrionics, all 12 – including the quieter performances by Klugman, John Fiedler, George Voscovec and Webber – are right on the mark.
12 Angry Men explores the predispositions of men and the good – or bad – that emerges when they’re tossed together and forced to reach a unanimous decision on the fate of another person. While the composition of juries might change over time, the issues and attitudes that are explored here are timeless, as is this classic film.
While the composition of juries might change over time, the issues and attitudes that are explored here are timeless, as is this classic film.- Brian Webster
