12 Angry Men
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A great buy and oscar worth cast!!
  • A rare find!
  • Watch Justice being done!
  • One of the best American movies ever made.
  • Justice in a Small Room
12 Angry Men
Starring: Martin Balsam , John Fiedler , Lee J. Cobb , E.G. Marshall , and Jack Klugman
Director: Sidney Lumet
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
ClassicsClassics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
Class DifferencesClass Differences | By Theme | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
Social InjusticeSocial Injustice | By Theme | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
RedemptionRedemption | By Theme | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
Courtroom DramaCourtroom Drama | Crime | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
Balsam, MartinBalsam, Martin | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Begley, EdBegley, Ed | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Bond, RudyBond, Rudy | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Cobb, Lee JCobb, Lee J | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Fiedler, JohnFiedler, John | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Fonda, HenryFonda, Henry | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Kelly, JamesKelly, James | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Klugman, JackKlugman, Jack | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Warden, JackWarden, Jack | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Webber, RobertWebber, Robert | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Lumet, SidneyLumet, Sidney | ( L ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
MGM DVDs Under $20MGM DVDs Under $20 | MGM Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video
All MGM TitlesAll MGM Titles | MGM Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $9.99DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Drama | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:
  1. Inherit the Wind Inherit the Wind
  2. To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series) To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series)
  3. The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath
  4. Witness For the Prosecution Witness For the Prosecution
  5. Judgment at Nuremberg Judgment at Nuremberg

ASIN: B000056HEC
Release Date: 2001-03-06

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

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).

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A great buy and oscar worth cast!!.......2007-09-15

The movie takes place almost entirely in a jury room and that is fine by me its where the heart of the movie is at its best. The cast is superb and with top notch acting from the late E.G. Marshall to Henry fonda. This movie has all the making of a classic. The story keeps you in and the fonda rallies you to his side with every minute of the movie. I loved it and gladly watch it from time to time and stands as a classic among a sea of movies of old.

5 out of 5 stars A rare find!.......2007-09-05

The word "classic" is thrown around a lot these days; we're expected to like something simply because some jamoke with a film degree tells us it's a classic, whether the film itself is actually any good or not. So it's rare indeed to find a movie like 12 Angry Men that actually deserves to be called a classic.

Chances are good that you already know the plot, even if you've never seen the movie: Murder trial, 11 jurors think the kid's guilty, one thinks there's room for doubt, and he proceeds to spend the next couple of hours convincing the rest to see things his way. He wins out in the end against overwhelming odds, everyone goes home secure in the knowledge that justice has been served to the best of their ability, and the credits roll. I'm massively oversimplifying things, I admit, but that's the gist of it. So why does this movie deserve to be called a classic?

For one thing, it's one of the few films of the 1950's to address the issue of racism, and although it's addressed somewhat obliquely (the characters never actually come out and say the word "racism," relying instead on somewhat less volatile terms such as "their kind"), the fact that it's addressed at all is noteworthy, to say the least. Several of the jurors are convinced of the kid's guilt not because they seriously have reason to believe he did it, but because of their preconceived notions about his background: "He's a poor Puerto Rican kid from the wrong side of town, so he must be guilty. QED." Of course, other jurors reveal that they themselves came from exactly that sort of background, which forces the others--and, by extension, the viewing audience--to reexamine their world view. The message may seem a little heavy-handed by today's standards, but for the time it was a revolutionary notion. (It's also a message that bears repeating today; I'm reminded of the man--I use the term loosely--who was convicted of murder not long after 9/11, and his only defense was that "it's what every real American wants to do anyway." His victim was a gas station owner from India.)

More than any of that, though, the film succeeds because of the absolutely unpretentious performances of the actors, particularly Henry Fonda as the sole dissenting vote. He plays his character not as a man who is convinced that he's right and will fight to the death if he has to, but as a man who knows full well that "reasonable doubt" doesn't automatically mean the kid is innocent. He's always aware that the kid may indeed be guilty, and even says as much at one point; but his conscience will not let him condemn another human being to die simply because he's been bullied into it. The cause he's fighting for isn't just to protect the innocent, but to protect the sanctity of the process itself. On the other hand, his foil throughout much of the film, played by Lee J. Cobb, is his polar opposite, his moral compass colored as much or more by his emotions as his sense of logic and reason. He reveals early on that he's been estranged from his son for a number of years, and that estrangement (the defendant is around the same age his son was when they parted ways) drives his desire to find the defendant guilty even when he's presented with evidence that the kid might be innocent. When he finally breaks down at the film's end, the result is a performance that will leave even the most jaded viewer with a tear in their eye; in an era when boys were taught from an early age that men don't cry, such a performance would have been almost unheard of, but it's delivered with absolute candor and sincerity.

The DVD release doesn't include much in the way of extras, just the original trailer, but that doesn't matter. The film itself stands up so well on its own that anything else would just seem superfluous.

5 out of 5 stars Watch Justice being done!.......2007-08-24

This is one of the best movies of all time. The acting is superb, the storyline is gripping, and you really learn about the group dynamics at work when a jury deliberates.

It was inspiring to see people's prejudices begin to melt away as the discussion continued. People became angry as their presuppositions and their prejudices were being exposed (thus the title), and it was interesting to see how the prosecution's case came apart as further questions were asked and reasonable doubt was raised.

Everyone should see this film, especially those who are about to serve as jurors and those who are interested in the justice system.

Rev. Marc Axelrod

5 out of 5 stars One of the best American movies ever made........2007-07-25

I am using this as a guide to conflict management in our church. Right now I am presenting it to our Youth Group and hope to present it later on to others. It is very helplful in this regard.

5 out of 5 stars Justice in a Small Room.......2007-06-22

1957's "Twelve Angry Men" is the story of a jury confined to a small room on a hot, humid summer night to decide the fate of a young man accused of knifing his father to death. The jury's initial poll has eleven jurors for guilty, one for innocent. The ensuing drama revolves around the struggle by the dissenting juror, an architect played with characteristic understated determination by Henry Fonda, to convince the other jurors of the presence of reasonable doubt.

The outstanding cast, a collection of experienced 1950's movie and tv actors who may not be familiar to today's audiences, each bring their particular insights and prejudices to the debate. An elderly man, played by Joseph Sweeney, sides with the Henry Fonda character because he admires the younger man's grit. Lee J. Cobb has an outstanding role as an angry father who sees his estranged son in the actions attributed to the young man on trial. E.G. Marshall plays a confident businessman who gets a lesson in the limits of memory from the Henry Fonda character.

The confining atmosphere of the jury room adds to the tension. Sidney Lumet's brisk but deliberate direction allows each man a turn in the spotlight to examine his conscience as well as the case in front of the other jurors. The end result is a tense, insightful drama about the nature of man and justice.

This movie is highly recommended to viewers looking for an outstanding example of the movie art and a different slant on today's crime dramas.
12 Angry Men (1957)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A great buy and oscar worth cast!!
  • A rare find!
  • Watch Justice being done!
  • One of the best American movies ever made.
  • Justice in a Small Room
12 Angry Men (1957)
Starring: Martin Balsam , John Fiedler , Lee J. Cobb , E.G. Marshall , and Jack Klugman
Director: Sidney Lumet
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Balsam, MartinBalsam, Martin | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Begley, EdBegley, Ed | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Bond, RudyBond, Rudy | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Cobb, Lee JCobb, Lee J | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Fiedler, JohnFiedler, John | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Fonda, HenryFonda, Henry | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Kelly, JamesKelly, James | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Klugman, JackKlugman, Jack | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Warden, JackWarden, Jack | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Webber, RobertWebber, Robert | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Lumet, SidneyLumet, Sidney | ( L ) | Directors | VHS | Video
GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video
ClassicsClassics | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video
Class DifferencesClass Differences | By Theme | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video
Social InjusticeSocial Injustice | By Theme | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video
RedemptionRedemption | By Theme | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video
Courtroom DramaCourtroom Drama | Crime | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | VHS | Video
MGM Vintage ClassicsMGM Vintage Classics | MGM Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Specialty Stores | VHS | Video
All MGM TitlesAll MGM Titles | MGM Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Specialty Stores | VHS | Video
DramaDrama | Today's Deals in Video | Features | VHS | Video
Deals Under $8Deals Under $8 | Today's Deals in Video | Features | VHS | Video
All DealsAll Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:
  1. Inherit the Wind Inherit the Wind
  2. To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series) To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series)
  3. The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath
  4. Witness For the Prosecution Witness For the Prosecution
  5. Judgment at Nuremberg Judgment at Nuremberg

ASIN: 6301976061
Release Date: 1995-09-26

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:

4 out of 5 stars A great buy and oscar worth cast!!.......2007-09-15

The movie takes place almost entirely in a jury room and that is fine by me its where the heart of the movie is at its best. The cast is superb and with top notch acting from the late E.G. Marshall to Henry fonda. This movie has all the making of a classic. The story keeps you in and the fonda rallies you to his side with every minute of the movie. I loved it and gladly watch it from time to time and stands as a classic among a sea of movies of old.

5 out of 5 stars A rare find!.......2007-09-05

The word "classic" is thrown around a lot these days; we're expected to like something simply because some jamoke with a film degree tells us it's a classic, whether the film itself is actually any good or not. So it's rare indeed to find a movie like 12 Angry Men that actually deserves to be called a classic.

Chances are good that you already know the plot, even if you've never seen the movie: Murder trial, 11 jurors think the kid's guilty, one thinks there's room for doubt, and he proceeds to spend the next couple of hours convincing the rest to see things his way. He wins out in the end against overwhelming odds, everyone goes home secure in the knowledge that justice has been served to the best of their ability, and the credits roll. I'm massively oversimplifying things, I admit, but that's the gist of it. So why does this movie deserve to be called a classic?

For one thing, it's one of the few films of the 1950's to address the issue of racism, and although it's addressed somewhat obliquely (the characters never actually come out and say the word "racism," relying instead on somewhat less volatile terms such as "their kind"), the fact that it's addressed at all is noteworthy, to say the least. Several of the jurors are convinced of the kid's guilt not because they seriously have reason to believe he did it, but because of their preconceived notions about his background: "He's a poor Puerto Rican kid from the wrong side of town, so he must be guilty. QED." Of course, other jurors reveal that they themselves came from exactly that sort of background, which forces the others--and, by extension, the viewing audience--to reexamine their world view. The message may seem a little heavy-handed by today's standards, but for the time it was a revolutionary notion. (It's also a message that bears repeating today; I'm reminded of the man--I use the term loosely--who was convicted of murder not long after 9/11, and his only defense was that "it's what every real American wants to do anyway." His victim was a gas station owner from India.)

More than any of that, though, the film succeeds because of the absolutely unpretentious performances of the actors, particularly Henry Fonda as the sole dissenting vote. He plays his character not as a man who is convinced that he's right and will fight to the death if he has to, but as a man who knows full well that "reasonable doubt" doesn't automatically mean the kid is innocent. He's always aware that the kid may indeed be guilty, and even says as much at one point; but his conscience will not let him condemn another human being to die simply because he's been bullied into it. The cause he's fighting for isn't just to protect the innocent, but to protect the sanctity of the process itself. On the other hand, his foil throughout much of the film, played by Lee J. Cobb, is his polar opposite, his moral compass colored as much or more by his emotions as his sense of logic and reason. He reveals early on that he's been estranged from his son for a number of years, and that estrangement (the defendant is around the same age his son was when they parted ways) drives his desire to find the defendant guilty even when he's presented with evidence that the kid might be innocent. When he finally breaks down at the film's end, the result is a performance that will leave even the most jaded viewer with a tear in their eye; in an era when boys were taught from an early age that men don't cry, such a performance would have been almost unheard of, but it's delivered with absolute candor and sincerity.

The DVD release doesn't include much in the way of extras, just the original trailer, but that doesn't matter. The film itself stands up so well on its own that anything else would just seem superfluous.

5 out of 5 stars Watch Justice being done!.......2007-08-24

This is one of the best movies of all time. The acting is superb, the storyline is gripping, and you really learn about the group dynamics at work when a jury deliberates.

It was inspiring to see people's prejudices begin to melt away as the discussion continued. People became angry as their presuppositions and their prejudices were being exposed (thus the title), and it was interesting to see how the prosecution's case came apart as further questions were asked and reasonable doubt was raised.

Everyone should see this film, especially those who are about to serve as jurors and those who are interested in the justice system.

Rev. Marc Axelrod

5 out of 5 stars One of the best American movies ever made........2007-07-25

I am using this as a guide to conflict management in our church. Right now I am presenting it to our Youth Group and hope to present it later on to others. It is very helplful in this regard.

5 out of 5 stars Justice in a Small Room.......2007-06-22

1957's "Twelve Angry Men" is the story of a jury confined to a small room on a hot, humid summer night to decide the fate of a young man accused of knifing his father to death. The jury's initial poll has eleven jurors for guilty, one for innocent. The ensuing drama revolves around the struggle by the dissenting juror, an architect played with characteristic understated determination by Henry Fonda, to convince the other jurors of the presence of reasonable doubt.

The outstanding cast, a collection of experienced 1950's movie and tv actors who may not be familiar to today's audiences, each bring their particular insights and prejudices to the debate. An elderly man, played by Joseph Sweeney, sides with the Henry Fonda character because he admires the younger man's grit. Lee J. Cobb has an outstanding role as an angry father who sees his estranged son in the actions attributed to the young man on trial. E.G. Marshall plays a confident businessman who gets a lesson in the limits of memory from the Henry Fonda character.

The confining atmosphere of the jury room adds to the tension. Sidney Lumet's brisk but deliberate direction allows each man a turn in the spotlight to examine his conscience as well as the case in front of the other jurors. The end result is a tense, insightful drama about the nature of man and justice.

This movie is highly recommended to viewers looking for an outstanding example of the movie art and a different slant on today's crime dramas.
United Artists Cinema Greats Collection, Set 3 (12 Angry Men / A Bridge Too Far / Judgment At Nuremberg / Paths Of Glory)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    United Artists Cinema Greats Collection, Set 3 (12 Angry Men / A Bridge Too Far / Judgment At Nuremberg / Paths Of Glory)
    Starring: Henry Fonda , Kirk Douglas , Sean Connery , Michael Caine , and Laurence Olivier
    Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
    Bruce LeeBruce Lee | Action Stars | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
    Burt LancasterBurt Lancaster | Action Stars | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
    Kirk DouglasKirk Douglas | Action Stars | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
    Sean ConnerySean Connery | Action Stars | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
    GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
    Caine, MichaelCaine, Michael | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Cobb, Lee JCobb, Lee J | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Connery, SeanConnery, Sean | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Douglas, KirkDouglas, Kirk | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Fonda, HenryFonda, Henry | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Hackman, GeneHackman, Gene | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Lancaster, BurtLancaster, Burt | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Olivier, LaurenceOlivier, Laurence | ( O ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Tracy, SpencerTracy, Spencer | ( T ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Widmark, RichardWidmark, Richard | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    All MGM TitlesAll MGM Titles | MGM Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video
    Action & AdventureAction & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video
    DramaDrama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video
    ASIN: B00000F4X2
    Release Date: 2007-10-23

    Description

    Disc 1: Paths of Glory P&S Disc 2: Twelve Angry Men WS Disc 3: Judgment at Nuremberg WS Disc 4: A Bridge Too Far WS
    12 Angry Men
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • My favorite movie...
    • It's okay, but it doesn't top the original
    • One Angry Reviewer
    • This is good, so is the original.
    • Do NOT waste your time!..See the original 1957 version instead!
    12 Angry Men
    Starring: Courtney B. Vance , Ossie Davis , George C. Scott , Armin Mueller-Stahl , and Dorian Harewood
    Director: William Friedkin
    Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
    ProductGroup: Video
    Binding: VHS Tape

    Cronyn, HumeCronyn, Hume | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Danza, TonyDanza, Tony | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Davis, OssieDavis, Ossie | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Gandolfini, JamesGandolfini, James | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Harewood, DorianHarewood, Dorian | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Lemmon, JackLemmon, Jack | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Mcdonnell, MaryMcdonnell, Mary | McAnally to McWilliams | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Olmos, Edward JamesOlmos, Edward James | ( O ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Petersen, WilliamPetersen, William | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Scott, George CScott, George C | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Spain, DouglasSpain, Douglas | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Stahl, Armin MuellerStahl, Armin Mueller | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Vance, Courtney BVance, Courtney B | ( V ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Williamson, MykeltiWilliamson, Mykelti | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
    Friedkin, WilliamFriedkin, William | ( F ) | Directors | VHS | Video
    GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video
    TelevisionTelevision | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video
    Class DifferencesClass Differences | By Theme | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video
    Psychological DramaPsychological Drama | By Theme | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video
    Social InjusticeSocial Injustice | By Theme | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video
    Courtroom DramaCourtroom Drama | Crime | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | VHS | Video
    DramaDrama | Today's Deals in Video | Features | VHS | Video
    Deals Under $12Deals Under $12 | Today's Deals in Video | Features | VHS | Video
    All MGM TitlesAll MGM Titles | MGM Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Specialty Stores | VHS | Video
    All DealsAll Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
    Similar Items:
    1. 12 Angry Men 12 Angry Men
    2. Twelve Angry Men (Penguin Classics) Twelve Angry Men (Penguin Classics)
    3. Inherit the Wind (1999) Inherit the Wind (1999)
    4. Long Gone Long Gone
    5. Keep the Change Keep the Change

    ASIN: B00004Y86Z
    Release Date: 2000-11-07

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars My favorite movie..........2007-03-17

    Excellent, provocative. I loved it! Got me thinking for sure. I saw both this and the silver screen version. I loved this later version much better. Maybe because I could relate to the situation that was modernized some as I am from this era. The silver screen (old) version is kinda cheesy.

    2 out of 5 stars It's okay, but it doesn't top the original.......2007-01-09

    When I saw that 12 Angry Men had been remade with Jack Lemmon, I was very interested in seeing it. Not only do I like Jack Lemmon, but I wanted to see if more of a modern twist had been placed on the story. I finally saw the movie, and I must say that the other reviewers are correct. This version, while somewhat interesting, doesn't hold a candle to the original. Jack Lemmon looks tired and sulks a lot, and he just doesn't have the energy that made Peter Fonda such a great fit for the role in the original. George C. Scott does a nice job in his angry role. The great Ossie Davis has his talents wasted in a minor role. Tony Danza and James Gandolfini perform nicely, but in the end the original beats this one hands-down. Modernizing it didn't do much for the dialogue, the story, or the performances. Skip this and buy the original.

    1 out of 5 stars One Angry Reviewer.......2006-11-30

    No amount of money or updating can master the original 12 Angry Men masterpiece. Although I really like George C. Scott's role that Lee J. Cobb originated, I see nothing redeeming in this remake. Jack Lemon's talents are wasted in this film and he is actually a poor choice for the role. I would have preferred someone like Tom Hanks in Fonda's original role.

    In addition, the senseless foul language added to the original script does nothing for the film except "update" it a bit with how we speak today, but it still reeked as being unnecessary. William Friedkin is a very skilled director (The Exorcist, The French Connection, et. al.), but this is just not his genre at all and, therefore, his talents are wasted as much as everyone else's in this remake.

    2 out of 5 stars This is good, so is the original........2006-02-20

    George C. Scott is brilliant, his talent is obvious in this screen version of the play.

    1 out of 5 stars Do NOT waste your time!..See the original 1957 version instead!.......2005-12-13

    With all due respect to those of you who gave this a thumbs up, this 1997 version of "12 Angry Men" is at best a "passionless, passionate" remake of the 1957 original with Henry Fonda and Lee Cobb.

    Even with veteran actors like George C. Scott, Hume Cronyn, Ossie Davis, and Jack Lemmon, the acting was stiff and lifeless, and the pinnacle and critical moments of truth and revelation were totally lost or glossed over! (I knew as soon as I realized that Tony Danza was going to play the agitated baseball fan, this was NOT going to an Academy performance.) There is absolutely NO COMPARISON - either visually or performance-wise - between this version and the far superior original 1957 version.

    The newer version pretty much kept to the original but with a few updates. (Not necessarily a bad thing.) However, the producers felt it "necessary" to "boost the rating" of the newer version to PG-13 by adding swearing and cursing, which added nothing but foul language to a subpar performance. (The original had just one minor curse word.)

    Whereas, the newer version relied solely on raw emotion to draw you into the plot (which it failed miserably to do), the older version held you captive wtih rivoting performances and crucial character development and insight as each juror began to come to their own conclusions over the guilt or innocence of the defendant.

    An interesting sidenote. In the 1957 version: After the jury is dismissed from the courtroom, there is a 6-minute+ continuous camera shot, as all 12 jurors enter the room and get themselves situated before beginning the deliberation. Without a break, the camera moves from one group of jurors to another and the everyday (sometimes inane) dialogue conversations between the jurors is non-stop the whole time. I have NEVER seen this long of a shot duplicated in a modern movie. (If just one person misses their cue or forgets a line, the whole scene starts over.)

    I guess I don't have to reiterate that I didn't care for this version of "12 Angry Men" AT ALL! To me, to give it even a 1-star rating is being extremely generous. Big thumbs down! Forget this version and see the original!
    12 Angry Men [Region 2]
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • A great buy and oscar worth cast!!
    • A rare find!
    • Watch Justice being done!
    • One of the best American movies ever made.
    • Justice in a Small Room
    12 Angry Men [Region 2]
    Starring: Martin Balsam , John Fiedler , Lee J. Cobb , E.G. Marshall , and Jack Klugman
    Director: Sidney Lumet
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
    Balsam, MartinBalsam, Martin | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Begley, EdBegley, Ed | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Bond, RudyBond, Rudy | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Cobb, Lee JCobb, Lee J | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Fiedler, JohnFiedler, John | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Fonda, HenryFonda, Henry | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Kelly, JamesKelly, James | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Klugman, JackKlugman, Jack | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Warden, JackWarden, Jack | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Webber, RobertWebber, Robert | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Lumet, SidneyLumet, Sidney | ( L ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
    Similar Items:
    1. Inherit the Wind Inherit the Wind
    2. To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series) To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series)
    3. The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath
    4. Witness For the Prosecution Witness For the Prosecution
    5. Judgment at Nuremberg Judgment at Nuremberg

    ASIN: B000059L83

    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:

    4 out of 5 stars A great buy and oscar worth cast!!.......2007-09-15

    The movie takes place almost entirely in a jury room and that is fine by me its where the heart of the movie is at its best. The cast is superb and with top notch acting from the late E.G. Marshall to Henry fonda. This movie has all the making of a classic. The story keeps you in and the fonda rallies you to his side with every minute of the movie. I loved it and gladly watch it from time to time and stands as a classic among a sea of movies of old.

    5 out of 5 stars A rare find!.......2007-09-05

    The word "classic" is thrown around a lot these days; we're expected to like something simply because some jamoke with a film degree tells us it's a classic, whether the film itself is actually any good or not. So it's rare indeed to find a movie like 12 Angry Men that actually deserves to be called a classic.

    Chances are good that you already know the plot, even if you've never seen the movie: Murder trial, 11 jurors think the kid's guilty, one thinks there's room for doubt, and he proceeds to spend the next couple of hours convincing the rest to see things his way. He wins out in the end against overwhelming odds, everyone goes home secure in the knowledge that justice has been served to the best of their ability, and the credits roll. I'm massively oversimplifying things, I admit, but that's the gist of it. So why does this movie deserve to be called a classic?

    For one thing, it's one of the few films of the 1950's to address the issue of racism, and although it's addressed somewhat obliquely (the characters never actually come out and say the word "racism," relying instead on somewhat less volatile terms such as "their kind"), the fact that it's addressed at all is noteworthy, to say the least. Several of the jurors are convinced of the kid's guilt not because they seriously have reason to believe he did it, but because of their preconceived notions about his background: "He's a poor Puerto Rican kid from the wrong side of town, so he must be guilty. QED." Of course, other jurors reveal that they themselves came from exactly that sort of background, which forces the others--and, by extension, the viewing audience--to reexamine their world view. The message may seem a little heavy-handed by today's standards, but for the time it was a revolutionary notion. (It's also a message that bears repeating today; I'm reminded of the man--I use the term loosely--who was convicted of murder not long after 9/11, and his only defense was that "it's what every real American wants to do anyway." His victim was a gas station owner from India.)

    More than any of that, though, the film succeeds because of the absolutely unpretentious performances of the actors, particularly Henry Fonda as the sole dissenting vote. He plays his character not as a man who is convinced that he's right and will fight to the death if he has to, but as a man who knows full well that "reasonable doubt" doesn't automatically mean the kid is innocent. He's always aware that the kid may indeed be guilty, and even says as much at one point; but his conscience will not let him condemn another human being to die simply because he's been bullied into it. The cause he's fighting for isn't just to protect the innocent, but to protect the sanctity of the process itself. On the other hand, his foil throughout much of the film, played by Lee J. Cobb, is his polar opposite, his moral compass colored as much or more by his emotions as his sense of logic and reason. He reveals early on that he's been estranged from his son for a number of years, and that estrangement (the defendant is around the same age his son was when they parted ways) drives his desire to find the defendant guilty even when he's presented with evidence that the kid might be innocent. When he finally breaks down at the film's end, the result is a performance that will leave even the most jaded viewer with a tear in their eye; in an era when boys were taught from an early age that men don't cry, such a performance would have been almost unheard of, but it's delivered with absolute candor and sincerity.

    The DVD release doesn't include much in the way of extras, just the original trailer, but that doesn't matter. The film itself stands up so well on its own that anything else would just seem superfluous.

    5 out of 5 stars Watch Justice being done!.......2007-08-24

    This is one of the best movies of all time. The acting is superb, the storyline is gripping, and you really learn about the group dynamics at work when a jury deliberates.

    It was inspiring to see people's prejudices begin to melt away as the discussion continued. People became angry as their presuppositions and their prejudices were being exposed (thus the title), and it was interesting to see how the prosecution's case came apart as further questions were asked and reasonable doubt was raised.

    Everyone should see this film, especially those who are about to serve as jurors and those who are interested in the justice system.

    Rev. Marc Axelrod

    5 out of 5 stars One of the best American movies ever made........2007-07-25

    I am using this as a guide to conflict management in our church. Right now I am presenting it to our Youth Group and hope to present it later on to others. It is very helplful in this regard.

    5 out of 5 stars Justice in a Small Room.......2007-06-22

    1957's "Twelve Angry Men" is the story of a jury confined to a small room on a hot, humid summer night to decide the fate of a young man accused of knifing his father to death. The jury's initial poll has eleven jurors for guilty, one for innocent. The ensuing drama revolves around the struggle by the dissenting juror, an architect played with characteristic understated determination by Henry Fonda, to convince the other jurors of the presence of reasonable doubt.

    The outstanding cast, a collection of experienced 1950's movie and tv actors who may not be familiar to today's audiences, each bring their particular insights and prejudices to the debate. An elderly man, played by Joseph Sweeney, sides with the Henry Fonda character because he admires the younger man's grit. Lee J. Cobb has an outstanding role as an angry father who sees his estranged son in the actions attributed to the young man on trial. E.G. Marshall plays a confident businessman who gets a lesson in the limits of memory from the Henry Fonda character.

    The confining atmosphere of the jury room adds to the tension. Sidney Lumet's brisk but deliberate direction allows each man a turn in the spotlight to examine his conscience as well as the case in front of the other jurors. The end result is a tense, insightful drama about the nature of man and justice.

    This movie is highly recommended to viewers looking for an outstanding example of the movie art and a different slant on today's crime dramas.
    12 Angry Men (1957) (Twelve Angry Men) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ]
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      12 Angry Men (1957) (Twelve Angry Men) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ]
      Director: Sidney Lumet
      Manufacturer: MGM
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
      All MGM TitlesAll MGM Titles | MGM Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video
      Similar Items:
      1. 12 Angry Men 12 Angry Men

      ASIN: B000HKKYI6

      Product Description

      Australia released, PAL/Region 4 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), French (Dolby Digital 2.0), German (Dolby Digital 2.0), Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0), Dutch (Subtitles), English (Subtitles), French (Subtitles), German (Subtitles), Italian (Subtitles), Spanish (Subtitles), Swedish (Subtitles), SYNOPSIS: Blake Edwards' 10 stars Dudley Moore as George, a Mancini-type songwriter. Approaching middle age, George feels as if life is passing him by, especially his sex life. Despite the presence of longtime lady friend Sam (Julie Andrews) in his life, he becomes obsessed from afar with Jenny (Bo Derek), who is engaged to be married. Following her to Mexico without her knowledge, George arranges a meeting with Jenny by saving the life of her fiancé, David (Sam Jones). Once he has made her acquaintance, George suddenly finds himself faced with the realities of embarking on such an affair. Beyond renewing the popularity of Maurice Ravel's 'Bolero' and turning Bo Derek into a star, upon its release, 10 was one of the most financially successful Blake Edwards films in years. SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu,
      12 Angry Men [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg. 4 Import - New Zealnd ]
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • I'm not a fan of remakes, but...
      12 Angry Men [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg. 4 Import - New Zealnd ]
      Director: William Friedkin
      Manufacturer: Shock
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
      Similar Items:
      1. 12 Angry Men 12 Angry Men

      ASIN: B000E9U46W

      Product Description

      New Zealand released, PAL/Region 4 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. Languages: English (Dolby Digital 2.0) Synopsis: This 1997 cable-TV adaptation of 12 Angry Men presents the same plot as the two previous productions: the 1954 Studio One television version directed by Frank Schaffner and the 1957 film version directed by Sidney Lumet. Like the other two versions, it brings the viewer right into the jury room to watch the deliberators shout, plead, squirm, cajole, vote, then vote again and again until they reach a verdict in a case trying a young Hispanic for murder. Unlike the other versions, however, this one features a black racist (Mykelti Williamson) instead of a white racist to demonstrate that bigotry is not a whites-only disease. It also introduces other minority jurors, including black juror Ossie Davis and Hispanic juror Edward James Olmos, as well as a woman judge (Mary McDonnell) to reflect the changing times. Except for occasional profanity, the dialogue is essentially the same as in the previous versions, since all three are children of a script by playwright Reginald Rose. Generally, the actors perform well in this new adaptation. Aging Jack Lemmon portrays the pivotal juror who early on votes in opposition to the other 11 members, then plants doubts, saying, "Suppose we're wrong." Although he lacks the full acting vigor and depth displayed in earlier roles, he still has enough fire to ignite an argument. George C. Scott, Courtney Vance, Dorian Harewood, James Gandolfini, and the other cast members perform ably -- some as ranters and ravers, others as timid men of conscience who stand their ground -- as the jurors grudgingly bow to logic and gradually accept the possibility that they could be wrong. Well worth watching! Special Features: Interactive Menu Photo Gallery

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars I'm not a fan of remakes, but..........2007-03-19

      I don't typically find myself anxious to watch remakes. I'm afraid remakes are often less than the originals. That is not the case here. The excellent cast and incredible acting put it on the same level as the original with Henry Fonda and the rest of that great cast. I am a fan of William Petersen, and I think he does a wonderful job as a juror. The rest the cast including Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, Hume Cronyn, Edward James Olmos, Tony Danza, and Ossie Davis, are all outstanding. The story has only been slightly changed to make it more current with the times. Let's face it, it is a remarkable story to begin with and you wouldn't want to change much with a good thing. The mix is good again as in the first movie. A diverse group that has their own special interests. I highly recommend seeing this movie. I bought the VHS, but I would like to see this come out on DVD in region 1.
      SBC Companies Present....
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        SBC Companies Present....

        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

        GenresGenres | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
        DVDs Under $14.99DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
        Product Features:
        • Hit movies.

        ASIN: B000TZBDMU

        Product Description

        Three dvd's of hit movies: Fonda's "Twelve Angry Men" 1957, Letterbox 96 min. United Artists "The Birdcage" full screen 119 min. and MGM's "A Fish Called Wanda" full screen, 108 min.
        12 Angry Men [Region 2]
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • A great buy and oscar worth cast!!
        • A rare find!
        • Watch Justice being done!
        • One of the best American movies ever made.
        • Justice in a Small Room
        12 Angry Men [Region 2]
        Starring: Martin Balsam , John Fiedler , Lee J. Cobb , E.G. Marshall , and Jack Klugman
        Director: Sidney Lumet
        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

        GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
        Balsam, MartinBalsam, Martin | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Begley, EdBegley, Ed | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Bond, RudyBond, Rudy | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Cobb, Lee JCobb, Lee J | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Fiedler, JohnFiedler, John | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Fonda, HenryFonda, Henry | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Kelly, JamesKelly, James | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Klugman, JackKlugman, Jack | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Warden, JackWarden, Jack | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Webber, RobertWebber, Robert | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Lumet, SidneyLumet, Sidney | ( L ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
        Similar Items:
        1. Inherit the Wind Inherit the Wind
        2. To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series) To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series)
        3. The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath
        4. Witness For the Prosecution Witness For the Prosecution
        5. Judgment at Nuremberg Judgment at Nuremberg

        ASIN: B00005A7F9

        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:

        4 out of 5 stars A great buy and oscar worth cast!!.......2007-09-15

        The movie takes place almost entirely in a jury room and that is fine by me its where the heart of the movie is at its best. The cast is superb and with top notch acting from the late E.G. Marshall to Henry fonda. This movie has all the making of a classic. The story keeps you in and the fonda rallies you to his side with every minute of the movie. I loved it and gladly watch it from time to time and stands as a classic among a sea of movies of old.

        5 out of 5 stars A rare find!.......2007-09-05

        The word "classic" is thrown around a lot these days; we're expected to like something simply because some jamoke with a film degree tells us it's a classic, whether the film itself is actually any good or not. So it's rare indeed to find a movie like 12 Angry Men that actually deserves to be called a classic.

        Chances are good that you already know the plot, even if you've never seen the movie: Murder trial, 11 jurors think the kid's guilty, one thinks there's room for doubt, and he proceeds to spend the next couple of hours convincing the rest to see things his way. He wins out in the end against overwhelming odds, everyone goes home secure in the knowledge that justice has been served to the best of their ability, and the credits roll. I'm massively oversimplifying things, I admit, but that's the gist of it. So why does this movie deserve to be called a classic?

        For one thing, it's one of the few films of the 1950's to address the issue of racism, and although it's addressed somewhat obliquely (the characters never actually come out and say the word "racism," relying instead on somewhat less volatile terms such as "their kind"), the fact that it's addressed at all is noteworthy, to say the least. Several of the jurors are convinced of the kid's guilt not because they seriously have reason to believe he did it, but because of their preconceived notions about his background: "He's a poor Puerto Rican kid from the wrong side of town, so he must be guilty. QED." Of course, other jurors reveal that they themselves came from exactly that sort of background, which forces the others--and, by extension, the viewing audience--to reexamine their world view. The message may seem a little heavy-handed by today's standards, but for the time it was a revolutionary notion. (It's also a message that bears repeating today; I'm reminded of the man--I use the term loosely--who was convicted of murder not long after 9/11, and his only defense was that "it's what every real American wants to do anyway." His victim was a gas station owner from India.)

        More than any of that, though, the film succeeds because of the absolutely unpretentious performances of the actors, particularly Henry Fonda as the sole dissenting vote. He plays his character not as a man who is convinced that he's right and will fight to the death if he has to, but as a man who knows full well that "reasonable doubt" doesn't automatically mean the kid is innocent. He's always aware that the kid may indeed be guilty, and even says as much at one point; but his conscience will not let him condemn another human being to die simply because he's been bullied into it. The cause he's fighting for isn't just to protect the innocent, but to protect the sanctity of the process itself. On the other hand, his foil throughout much of the film, played by Lee J. Cobb, is his polar opposite, his moral compass colored as much or more by his emotions as his sense of logic and reason. He reveals early on that he's been estranged from his son for a number of years, and that estrangement (the defendant is around the same age his son was when they parted ways) drives his desire to find the defendant guilty even when he's presented with evidence that the kid might be innocent. When he finally breaks down at the film's end, the result is a performance that will leave even the most jaded viewer with a tear in their eye; in an era when boys were taught from an early age that men don't cry, such a performance would have been almost unheard of, but it's delivered with absolute candor and sincerity.

        The DVD release doesn't include much in the way of extras, just the original trailer, but that doesn't matter. The film itself stands up so well on its own that anything else would just seem superfluous.

        5 out of 5 stars Watch Justice being done!.......2007-08-24

        This is one of the best movies of all time. The acting is superb, the storyline is gripping, and you really learn about the group dynamics at work when a jury deliberates.

        It was inspiring to see people's prejudices begin to melt away as the discussion continued. People became angry as their presuppositions and their prejudices were being exposed (thus the title), and it was interesting to see how the prosecution's case came apart as further questions were asked and reasonable doubt was raised.

        Everyone should see this film, especially those who are about to serve as jurors and those who are interested in the justice system.

        Rev. Marc Axelrod

        5 out of 5 stars One of the best American movies ever made........2007-07-25

        I am using this as a guide to conflict management in our church. Right now I am presenting it to our Youth Group and hope to present it later on to others. It is very helplful in this regard.

        5 out of 5 stars Justice in a Small Room.......2007-06-22

        1957's "Twelve Angry Men" is the story of a jury confined to a small room on a hot, humid summer night to decide the fate of a young man accused of knifing his father to death. The jury's initial poll has eleven jurors for guilty, one for innocent. The ensuing drama revolves around the struggle by the dissenting juror, an architect played with characteristic understated determination by Henry Fonda, to convince the other jurors of the presence of reasonable doubt.

        The outstanding cast, a collection of experienced 1950's movie and tv actors who may not be familiar to today's audiences, each bring their particular insights and prejudices to the debate. An elderly man, played by Joseph Sweeney, sides with the Henry Fonda character because he admires the younger man's grit. Lee J. Cobb has an outstanding role as an angry father who sees his estranged son in the actions attributed to the young man on trial. E.G. Marshall plays a confident businessman who gets a lesson in the limits of memory from the Henry Fonda character.

        The confining atmosphere of the jury room adds to the tension. Sidney Lumet's brisk but deliberate direction allows each man a turn in the spotlight to examine his conscience as well as the case in front of the other jurors. The end result is a tense, insightful drama about the nature of man and justice.

        This movie is highly recommended to viewers looking for an outstanding example of the movie art and a different slant on today's crime dramas.
        12 Angry Men [Region 2]
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • A great buy and oscar worth cast!!
        • A rare find!
        • Watch Justice being done!
        • One of the best American movies ever made.
        • Justice in a Small Room
        12 Angry Men [Region 2]
        Starring: Martin Balsam , John Fiedler , Lee J. Cobb , E.G. Marshall , and Jack Klugman
        Director: Sidney Lumet
        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

        GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
        Balsam, MartinBalsam, Martin | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Begley, EdBegley, Ed | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Bond, RudyBond, Rudy | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Cobb, Lee JCobb, Lee J | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Fiedler, JohnFiedler, John | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Fonda, HenryFonda, Henry | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Kelly, JamesKelly, James | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Klugman, JackKlugman, Jack | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Warden, JackWarden, Jack | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Webber, RobertWebber, Robert | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Lumet, SidneyLumet, Sidney | ( L ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
        Similar Items:
        1. Inherit the Wind Inherit the Wind
        2. To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series) To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series)
        3. The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath
        4. Witness For the Prosecution Witness For the Prosecution
        5. Judgment at Nuremberg Judgment at Nuremberg

        ASIN: B00005AC3Q

        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:

        4 out of 5 stars A great buy and oscar worth cast!!.......2007-09-15

        The movie takes place almost entirely in a jury room and that is fine by me its where the heart of the movie is at its best. The cast is superb and with top notch acting from the late E.G. Marshall to Henry fonda. This movie has all the making of a classic. The story keeps you in and the fonda rallies you to his side with every minute of the movie. I loved it and gladly watch it from time to time and stands as a classic among a sea of movies of old.

        5 out of 5 stars A rare find!.......2007-09-05

        The word "classic" is thrown around a lot these days; we're expected to like something simply because some jamoke with a film degree tells us it's a classic, whether the film itself is actually any good or not. So it's rare indeed to find a movie like 12 Angry Men that actually deserves to be called a classic.

        Chances are good that you already know the plot, even if you've never seen the movie: Murder trial, 11 jurors think the kid's guilty, one thinks there's room for doubt, and he proceeds to spend the next couple of hours convincing the rest to see things his way. He wins out in the end against overwhelming odds, everyone goes home secure in the knowledge that justice has been served to the best of their ability, and the credits roll. I'm massively oversimplifying things, I admit, but that's the gist of it. So why does this movie deserve to be called a classic?

        For one thing, it's one of the few films of the 1950's to address the issue of racism, and although it's addressed somewhat obliquely (the characters never actually come out and say the word "racism," relying instead on somewhat less volatile terms such as "their kind"), the fact that it's addressed at all is noteworthy, to say the least. Several of the jurors are convinced of the kid's guilt not because they seriously have reason to believe he did it, but because of their preconceived notions about his background: "He's a poor Puerto Rican kid from the wrong side of town, so he must be guilty. QED." Of course, other jurors reveal that they themselves came from exactly that sort of background, which forces the others--and, by extension, the viewing audience--to reexamine their world view. The message may seem a little heavy-handed by today's standards, but for the time it was a revolutionary notion. (It's also a message that bears repeating today; I'm reminded of the man--I use the term loosely--who was convicted of murder not long after 9/11, and his only defense was that "it's what every real American wants to do anyway." His victim was a gas station owner from India.)

        More than any of that, though, the film succeeds because of the absolutely unpretentious performances of the actors, particularly Henry Fonda as the sole dissenting vote. He plays his character not as a man who is convinced that he's right and will fight to the death if he has to, but as a man who knows full well that "reasonable doubt" doesn't automatically mean the kid is innocent. He's always aware that the kid may indeed be guilty, and even says as much at one point; but his conscience will not let him condemn another human being to die simply because he's been bullied into it. The cause he's fighting for isn't just to protect the innocent, but to protect the sanctity of the process itself. On the other hand, his foil throughout much of the film, played by Lee J. Cobb, is his polar opposite, his moral compass colored as much or more by his emotions as his sense of logic and reason. He reveals early on that he's been estranged from his son for a number of years, and that estrangement (the defendant is around the same age his son was when they parted ways) drives his desire to find the defendant guilty even when he's presented with evidence that the kid might be innocent. When he finally breaks down at the film's end, the result is a performance that will leave even the most jaded viewer with a tear in their eye; in an era when boys were taught from an early age that men don't cry, such a performance would have been almost unheard of, but it's delivered with absolute candor and sincerity.

        The DVD release doesn't include much in the way of extras, just the original trailer, but that doesn't matter. The film itself stands up so well on its own that anything else would just seem superfluous.

        5 out of 5 stars Watch Justice being done!.......2007-08-24

        This is one of the best movies of all time. The acting is superb, the storyline is gripping, and you really learn about the group dynamics at work when a jury deliberates.

        It was inspiring to see people's prejudices begin to melt away as the discussion continued. People became angry as their presuppositions and their prejudices were being exposed (thus the title), and it was interesting to see how the prosecution's case came apart as further questions were asked and reasonable doubt was raised.

        Everyone should see this film, especially those who are about to serve as jurors and those who are interested in the justice system.

        Rev. Marc Axelrod

        5 out of 5 stars One of the best American movies ever made........2007-07-25

        I am using this as a guide to conflict management in our church. Right now I am presenting it to our Youth Group and hope to present it later on to others. It is very helplful in this regard.

        5 out of 5 stars Justice in a Small Room.......2007-06-22

        1957's "Twelve Angry Men" is the story of a jury confined to a small room on a hot, humid summer night to decide the fate of a young man accused of knifing his father to death. The jury's initial poll has eleven jurors for guilty, one for innocent. The ensuing drama revolves around the struggle by the dissenting juror, an architect played with characteristic understated determination by Henry Fonda, to convince the other jurors of the presence of reasonable doubt.

        The outstanding cast, a collection of experienced 1950's movie and tv actors who may not be familiar to today's audiences, each bring their particular insights and prejudices to the debate. An elderly man, played by Joseph Sweeney, sides with the Henry Fonda character because he admires the younger man's grit. Lee J. Cobb has an outstanding role as an angry father who sees his estranged son in the actions attributed to the young man on trial. E.G. Marshall plays a confident businessman who gets a lesson in the limits of memory from the Henry Fonda character.

        The confining atmosphere of the jury room adds to the tension. Sidney Lumet's brisk but deliberate direction allows each man a turn in the spotlight to examine his conscience as well as the case in front of the other jurors. The end result is a tense, insightful drama about the nature of man and justice.

        This movie is highly recommended to viewers looking for an outstanding example of the movie art and a different slant on today's crime dramas.

        DVD:

        1. A Place in the Sun
        2. American History X
        3. Angels in America
        4. Apollo 13 (Widescreen 2-Disc Anniversary Edition)
        5. Beckett on Film DVD Set
        6. Bewitched - The Complete Third Season
        7. Blow (Infinifilm Edition)
        8. Brotherhood of the Wolf
        9. Chinatown
        10. Citizen Kane

        DVD

        DVD