#8 12 Angry Men

In Summary

The oldest film in the top 10, 12 Angry Men is no less relevant today.

Set in a cramp, sweaty, jury room after a murder trial, 12 Angry Men is about the meaning of the term 'reasonable doubt'.

All but one of the 12 jurors is ready to send a young man to death for the murder of his father. Not only does all the evidence point that way, but he's the wrong kind of kid from the wrong part of town. If he wasn't guilty for this, he'd probably be guilty for something else.

However, something doesn't quite all add up for one man, Juror No. 8 - almost none of the character's names are revealed during the film. The rest of the film is about how he challenges the preconceived notions of his fellow jurors and casts doubt upon the facts of the case.

The mastery of 12 Angry Men is that the audience follows the journey of the other jurors. It initially seems as if Juror No. 8 is being contrarian for the sake of it. However, what seems like damning evidence is slowly dismantled, piece-by-piece, by Juror No. 8's patience and calm logic.

As the facts of the case are taken apart, the film swings round to demonstrating how entrenched a person's convictions can be. There's not only the element of how preconceived notions can affect people's judgement, but how it can be difficult to climb down from an opinion that has proven to be wrong - whether that be in a courtroom in the 50s or on social media in the 2020s.

A Memorable Quote

Everything - *every single thing* that took place in that courtroom, but I mean everything - says he's guilty. What d'ya think, I'm an idiot or somethin'?

Things You May Not Know

• This was Sidney Lumet's directorial debut. He would go on to direct other classics such as Network, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon.
• Rehearsals for the film took two weeks, with the actors cramped in a single room for much of it in order to give them a sense of what it actually be like to be part of a deadlocked jury.
• This was the only film Henry Fonda produced, he was so dissatisfied with the process that he chose never to do so again. The film also failed to make a profit, meaning Fonda was not paid for this film. 

One of the Greatest of All Time?
While a courtroom drama, the power of 12 Angry Men is what it says about people. From how our own personal biases affect our judgement, our unwillingness to admit when we're wrong, to how that impacts upon a group dynamic.

12 Angry Men ends on the positive note that it is possible to change incorrect assumptions through the calm application of facts and logic, as well as the demonstration that being in the wrong doesn't equate to being a bad person. Which is perhaps something missing in the current day.

For a film made over 60 years ago, 12 Angry Men is not less relevant today. This is a film that everyone should watch.