Guide Note

12 Angry Men is a dramatic 1957 American film adaptation of Reginald Rose's play of the same name.

Fast Facts

1. Director: Sidney Lumet
2. Released: April 13, 1957
3. Runtime: 96 min
4. Starring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall
5. Budget: $340,000
6. Released: April 13, 1957
7. Distributor: United Artists
8. The majority of the film takes place on one set
9. Filming took 21 days
10. Nominated for 3 Oscars
11. Won Golden Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival

Critically acclaimed upon its release, 12 Angry Men is considered a classic ensemble drama featuring Henry Fonda as a sole juror (Juror #8) who contests 11 other jurors over a trial that could sentence the defendant to death.

Over the course of the night, by acting out bits of testimony and discussing other scenarios, Juror #8 convinces the others that there is reasonable doubt the defendant is guilty, thereby saving the defendant from a murder he may not have committed.

In the process of proving his point, however, Juror #8 forces each of the other 11 jurors to confront their own personal prejudices and flaws, which make for several intense and suspenseful moments as they deliberated.

Manipulating the focal length of the camera lense, director Sidney Lumet visually closes in on the characters as the film progresses, providing a sense of claustrophobia to coincide with their emotional manifestations. His efforts earned him a "Best Director" Oscar nomination in 1957.