12 Angry Men [DVD] [1957]

To call a film the greatest ever made is a bold statement but 12 Angry Men is perfect, in every way. This film should be a lesson to modern day film makers that you don't need CGI, mega bucks budgets, death and destruction, sex or half arsed teen gonzo antics. Goddamit you don't even need colour! Sidney Lumet makes his cinematic debut here after having worked in TV and he brings a number of TV actors with him who would go onto become big movie actors such as Jack Warden, Jack Klugman, Edward Binns and Martin Balsam. They dovetail seamlessly with the established stars; Henry Fonda, Lee J Cobb, E G Marshall and Ed Begley and the lesser known names Robert Webber, John Fieldler, Joseph Sweeney and George Voskovic. The story is simple and is, perhaps, just a hook on which to hang the real purpose of the movie which is has justice, natural justice, matured in post-war America to the point were all men can expect a fair trial regardless of petty, or at times hard rooted, prejudices. From the outset this wouldn't have worked had the youth on trial being a white lad rather than being Hispanic. The film builds to a satisfying climax as juror number 4 (E G Marshall), the most rational of those voting guilty, finally cracks under the weight of evidence pointing to a reasonable doubt and leaving Lee J Cobb as the lone antagonist; a scene that literally makes one forget the surroundings of the jury room and draws you in as if you were really there. Apart from the opening and ending scenes and a couple of short sequences in the rest room everything takes place in just one room. As the narrative unfolds and the sultry weather becomes more and more oppressive so the camera seems to move ever closer to the actors, looking for any sign of a falsehood trying to be disguised as surety of guilt or exposing plain bitter hatred. Having said that this is not the case for juror number 7 (Jack Warden) whose ambivalence is so shocking just because he wants to vote guilty and get the trial over quickly so he doesn't miss a baseball game thus sending a potentially innocent man to the electric chair. But as the evidence given at trial is slowly dismantled so the jurors arguments and attitudes become more divisive and one side becomes so entrenched because of their long held prejudiced views until it finally explodes in a couple of incidents involving Lee J Cobb and Ed Begley. Despite the obvious message that this film emits, it has fallen largely on deaf ears. Black prisoners in American prisons make up a fair larger proportion to their general demographic. This is a film that everyone should see; I believe it should be shown in schools as part of the National Curriculum.

Great film! Arrived on time and in good condition.

This is a short heart warming story which it all takes place in 1 room in primarily using just 12 cast members and has a short running time of about 90 minutes. Yet this film is incredible, well shot,filled with great acting and a brilliant plot. I wat he'd this with my grandad when I was 14 about a year ago and suggest others should too. This story has strong racial themes but handles that in a completely child friendly manner without doing the, a disservice, it will relate with the older generation who remember Henry Fonda as well as please younger audiences with such a great plot. Amazing film that I highly recommend

One of the greatest movies all the time. I was in September at Court in Rotorua the case was a murder trial of my customer Q and the jury was 7 women 2 young males and 1 native and 2 average blokes and the defendant was found guilty. And I can tell you prosecution has got flimsy evidence and all were passing buck on Jury where females who are less intellectually discriminatory to facts than intellectually mature males where those females nailed that Q and everything was as if one flew over cock-eyed murder place. The evidence presented by NZ police it was just nail him and lets go home is All black series . It was Great to watch that jury and the bloke will spent life in jail It is unbelievable what this New Zealand Gulag represents now Justice Goddard was kicked from UK as she is racist and does not do good job in Parliamentary enquiry about sex clubs of British MPs.

A great film , safely delivered . Thank you .

Such a simple structure for a film: 11 men find the defendant guilty and 1, played by Henry Fonda, finds him not guilty. Basically, when they all get down to it they are doing the job that should have been done by the defense, but none of them accept that they are doing this. Lee J Cobb plays his part of a loud, belligerent bully of a man to utter perfection but each actor does exactly this in his individual part. Some are meek and mild, others timid and some harsh and disinterested in justice as there is a ball game starting soon. If you don't purchase this film you will be missing an introduction to real acting and great direction. Go on, enjoy.

One of the best films ever made, in fact it is definitely right up there in my top 10. One of those films you'll watch again and again. I have no qualms at all recommending this film, its brilliant, a real treat, buy it!

Absolutely brilliant watch , classic and can re watch every few years .. does age and is relevant as it was then , it deserves it classic status . Not seen any remakes and don't need too.

Does not work in regular DVD player

Davvero un film unico. Le inquadrature, la storia tutto eccellente.

Headline says it all!

When purchasing this product on Amazon it is not revealed that the DVD is a region 2 and will not play in the USA

Haven't watched yet but looks great