by Kim Everett

Created on: August 26, 2008   Last Updated: September 09, 2008

The 1957 drama, "12 Angry Men," was deservedly nominated for four Academy Awards including one for Best Picture. One of the best things about this film is how clearly it illustrates how a person's preconceived notions and past experiences affect his/her opinions and judgments.

A young man is accused of murdering his father, and of the twelve middle-classed men on the jury, eleven believe from the beginning that the defendant is guilty. There is one juror, portrayed by the great Henry Fonda, who believes in the defendant's innocence, or at the very least has a reasonable doubt about his guilt. The film chronicles him trying to change the minds of the other eleven in order to save the young man who would face the death penalty if convicted.

As the movie moves along, it becomes a study of the jurors' personalities and character flaws as much as it is a courtroom drama. The jurors' differences become more and more apparent throughout the film. Some are compassionate and honorable while others are more worried about how much of their time is being taken up by the deliberations. One is worried that he will be unable to attend the baseball game for which he has tickets. Some are thorough and moved to make the correct judgment, while others are not as conscientious. There are self-absorbed, stubborn members as well as open-minded ones. Some are prejudiced, some are fair, and some are arrogant and others humble.

The fact that one's baggage is carried into every aspect of his/her life and that care must be taken not to let past experiences and hurts influence one's sound judgment is proven by this wonderful film. Racial prejudice, class division, and negative personal relationships can, and almost certainly do, cause verdicts to be swayed one way or the other.

Brilliantly, the jurors' names are not used until the end of the movie when they are leaving the courthouse, and even then, only the names of two jurors are revealed. The fact that they remain nameless during the deliberations adds to the dysfunction of several of the jury members. The trial and subsequent deliberations irrevocably changed each juror whether they knew they needed to change or not.

Sidney Lumet directed 12 Angry Men, and it stars Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, Martin Balsam, Jack Warden, E. G. Marshall, and Jack Klugman. Each of the actors portrayed his character, flaws and all, impeccably. Interestingly, this film was shot primarily using only one set, the jury deliberation room. It received critical acclaim, but did not enjoy success at the box office. It is considered one of the best movies of all time, and it is certainly one of the most thought-provoking films ever made.

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