Films

Twelve Angry Men

Directed by Sidney Lumet

Cinematography by Boris Kaufman

Distibuted by United Artists

Cast: Peter Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, Ed Begley, Joseph Sweeney, E. G. Marshall, Jack Warden, John Fiedler, Robert Webber, Edward Binns, George Voskovec

Genre: drama

Rating: not rated (predates MPAA rating system)

Release date: April 13, 1957

Quotes

"No jury can declare a man gulity unless it's sure."

"He didn't change his vote; I did."

"This gentleman has been standing alone against us. Now, he doesn't say that the boy is not guilty; he just isn't sure. Well, it's not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others, so he gambled for support... and I gave it to him. I respect his motives. The boy is probably guilty, but - eh, I want to hear more. Right now the vote is 10 to 2..."

"I think that's possible "

"Not guilty."

Why it's a good film:

This movie talks about the power of one. If one person believes differently and stands their ground, who knows what could happen? A murder trial is taking place. A young man's life hangs in the balance. All of the jurors believe he is guilty -- except for one. Juror #8 (Henry Fonda) has resonable doubt about the conclusion the rest of the group has come to, and is thereby preventing the trial from coming to an end. What's most important about this film, I think, is that one man dared to think differently when it wasn't popular. He realuzes how much power he holds as a juror and takes it seriously.