If that is your cup of tea then I highly recommend a movie called The Sunset Limited starring Samuel L Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones. Two individuals conversing in a small apartment.
@@Qubie1 Good one. It's such a well written script. No wasted lines. Everything said gives insight into each person's character or something pertinent to the case. So well crafted.
Many people who have seen this film felt sorry for Juror 3 at the end. He made it clear that he was tortured by the estrangement of his son, that it was the source of his anger. When he finally broke down and bared his soul, no one in the jury said a word. They understood. He wasn't an evil man. He was just an angry and heartbroken man. Lee J. Cobb's greatest performance.
@@JWar- to me it seemed he wanted to punish his own son through the kid on trial, they had a similar story with a troublesome father-son relationship. If the kid was declared guilty then he could be in the right against his own son
What makes this movie timeless is that they never go into the detail who 'those people' are, because there will always be a group like 'those people'. A thousand years in the past or in the future, people will understand this movie.
Another thing left intentionally vague is the truth of the event. We never find out. They 100% establish reasonable doubt, and the boy should have been acquitted, but we never learn whether or not the boy actually stabbed his father.
@@derekfnord The other thing is that a lot of the jurors seemed to forget that they were there to determine whether or not there was reasonable doubt. They were divided between “guilty” and “not guilty” when like you said they would never find out whether he was or wasn’t. They were there to answer “Is there any doubt?” As soon as Juror 8 began presenting alternative possibilities they should have agreed with him and called it a day. 😆
I’m juror 4, all about the facts, logic, as soon as I’m convinced, then not guilty. I’d just be pissed at myself that I didn’t make some of the connections first.
Juror 4 is low key one of the more virtuous characters in the movie. You could tell he didn’t think much of his fellow holdouts. “He did an excellent job.”
@@Bfdidc Exactly. It was important to establish that he is arguably the most calm, logical, and intelligent of the jurors, so that as the movie wears on and the angry juror #3 for whom it personal, the selfish/apathetic juror #7 and the clearly prejudice Juror #10 are whittled down, his remaining on the side of guilty lends their side more credibility.
Ah but they do at times. The Sunset Limited is a masterpiece just the same but with two men in a room on edge. Samuel Jackson and Tommy Lee are fantastic in the movie.
@@JSabh TSL is a really good bottle movie but it's not a masterpiece "just the same" as 12 Angry Men. 12AM is a standout masterpiece. Thinking about bottle movies, I'd actually rate Locke and Rear Window a little higher than TSL, as good as it is.
For me, this is one of the best films ever made. No special effects, no breathtaking locations, only the story and the acting skills of those involved make this film what it is. If you can create an atmosphere in such a small setting that captivates an audience until the end, then you know that you have mastered your craft. Also, it's great that a 66 year old black and white film can still get such a strong reaction even now. It's the beauty of cinema.
I agree. This is real acting, like watching Babe Ruth play a baseball game. Those guys didn’t do the film for their multimillion dollar contracts. They did it to get paid sure, but mostly because acting was their passion. They did it because it’s what they live and breathed for. That’s how you can tell the difference between cinema of the past and now. Like what Apollo Creed said in Rocky III when he was talking about that look of hunger.
The thing I love most about this movie is that It's all about the dialogue.. There's no music (other than when they are excused from the courtroom to deliberate the case and at the closing credits) and no other sets, etc... It is all about the dialogue between "12 Angry Men"
One of the best movies ever made. No explosions. No car chases. No fistfights. No exotic locations. Just one room, and riveting dialog. There's also a lot of things to learn about camera angles and such by the film student. I am glad you chose this one.
John Fiedle was the actor, an excellent character actor who appeared in "The Twilight Zone" and one episode of Star Trek in which he played a man possessed by Jack the Ripper. He was cast precisely because he was so meek and mild mannered.
I'm 58 yrs old and I've always enjoyed older movies. It's great to see you guys open up to movies you wouldn't even think of watching before you started your reaction channel. This movie was great yet it was on on one set, no special effects. It was thought provoking and well acted.
I could picture the apartments, the hallway, the passing el-train, etc. All of it. None of this was shown, but done through some of the best dialogue ever put to film.
This movie is so well written and acted it still remains one of the top 10 movies of all time. I’m glad you chose to see it and to this day it’s promotes an excellent discussion.
Every reaction video I've watched on this movie (and I've watched a lot) pretty much goes the same way. It starts off nonchalant and then as the case is presented and the tension builds, the reactors start getting quieter and quieter and more focused. This masterpiece of art and storytelling just slowly but consistently sucks you in. And there's nothing you can do to escape it.
Juror # 3, the last juror, Lee J Cobb, played his part excellently. From the beginning, I hated him, which was his part to do. At the end, when he broke down and started crying and said, "Not guilty," broke down my hatred for him, as I started to feel sorry for him, when he tore his photo to pieces. And then to see Henry Fonda help him put his coat on, that really got to me. Yes, THIS IS A CLASSIC.
I served on a jury once that involved a man possibly going to jail for a car accident. But the evidence against him was VERY shaky and he had gotten roughed up by one of the traffic cops that arrested him. It took the jury foreman to open up our eyes that this guy was being set up by the plaintiff. But when you finally get to the verdict? It’s very intense! My heart was pounding. We found him not guilty. The guy cried, because his wife and baby were there.
It's a great story told extremely well. As far as the criminal justice system, just think of Blackstone's Ratio: "Better that ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer". It's not a great system, but it's the best one so far.
This is why the death penalty should be abolished. I think the kid probably did it, and would feel okay about sending him to prison for it. But sending him to his death is a completely different thing.
All these actors have been so famous or at least known in the 50s and 60s as "character actors," and if you look in on TV shows and movies from that era you'll see their faces again and again. Lee J Cobb (the last guy to say not guilty) had a terrific reputation for his acting back in the day. This is a classic filled with great writing and terrific actors.
From On the Waterfront and Death of a Salesman to The Exorcist, Lee J. Cobb has been woven into important films in the latter half of the 20th Century.
I pretend to believe that the actor who's in Oscar's poker game in The Odd Couple is the exact same character as he is here and they're in the same universe; easy since he's never named here and they're both set in New York City.
perfect play of explaining reasonable doubt. It's not about who's right and who's wrong, it's about discussing details and taking time, looking at every corner instead of just your preferable vision. Great acting, phenomenal direction and camera work, a true classic in every sense of the word. Loved your reaction!
My favorite part of this movie is how they filled in the blanks of the court case through jury conversation while they were deliberating. All filmed in one room. Absolute masterpiece for a film from 1950s
The thing i find fascinating about the movie is the fact that no one knows if the boy was guilty or not as there were good points made from both sides. Just 12 men in a room talking and it keeps you gripped for the whole duration, the screenwriting and acting was on another level and is one of the best movies ever made imo
In the 1997 Showtime version (and the revised stage play), Juror 8 speculates on the fact that the father had made a lot of enemies over the course of his life, with his penchant for gambling, drinking, and picking fights, so there was no shortage of other suspects.
Think about the fact that during the dialog, there was 0 music, and the entire movie took place in that one room with one other scene in a bathroom. A single room for an entire movie. Magic.
You know how they said the knife slipped out of the boy's pocket? I've always wondered if the knife the juror found at the pawn shop wasn't the kid's knife that someone found and pawned.
It's possible that the knife the boy bought WAS the knife used in the killing. It could've fallen out of his pocket in the apartment when he had the fight with his father and ran out (the boy didn't know exactly when he lost it between leaving the apartment and coming home, it fits the timeline). Father finds it on the floor, sits it on the table. All it takes then is for someone to have come to the apartment, get into an argument with the father, see the knife on the table, grab it, and stab him.
The single-take shot that starts the moment the jury enters the deliberation room and lasts almost eight minutes is one of the greatest in film history. That shot alone is worth a re-watch. This film is a masterpiece on so many levels.
It gets better the more times you see it. Character details. Acting choices. Staging. Cinematography. Pacing. The more times you watch it the more you realise how subtle but how incredible it is. Total powerhouse of a movie.
Jack Klugman, who played Juror 5 (the guy from the slums), said that the film was the only one that he enjoyed making. He was in awe of the fellow actors in the film. His favorite was Ed Begley, who was apparently quite the ladies man. The actors were paid $900 a week for 6 weeks. 😲
If you get a chance, see Aaron Sorkin’s brilliant stage adaptation of _To Kill a Mockingbird._ It’s different in a lot of ways (not just the dialogue), but I felt the differences elevated the story and the message.
Some of the greatest actors of their time. This is a timeless classic! And if you dive into the history and background of these actors there are so many ties to actors of today.. Great review!!!!
One of "them" - the kid is Puerto Rican or maybe Italian, it's never clarified. But puerto Rican slums existed in NYC then- see West Side Story from the same time frame. Central air conditioning was rare in 1957, especially in older buildings, which a courthouse would be.
The movie was set in NYC and women were allowed on juries. The last state to allow them was in the late 60s , if I remember right. West Side Story was set in NYC too around the same time and it also was about Puerto Ricans. Lots of Puerto Ricans came to the mainland after World War II, along with lots of European refugees ---- Like the one on the jury.
This movie was nominated for four Oscars, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Cinematography. It was Sidney Lumet's directorial debut in film. He was chosen by the screenwriter Reginald Rose (who adapted his TV teleplay) and Henry Fonda because he was well known as being terrific with actors and bringing productions in on time and at budget. The film was made on a shoestring of under $350,000. The cast is generally regarded as among the best ensemble casts ever assembled. The cast and screenplay and Lumet made a timeless classic.
23:42 My dad instilled this in me. I instantly remembered a conversation we had about [one of] the reasons his parents immigrated. I'm glad it hit you guys too.
I first saw this classic in 1989 when I was 17, and it's been a favorite of mine ever since. No stunts, no blood, no killing, no grandiose drama, but it's stood the test of time as a classic. It also introduced me the great Henry Fonda. According to what I read, Henry Fonda (the lead juror with the identical knife) once saw a Black man being lynched in his hometown when he was a boy. It sickened him, and that was reportedly one of the catalysts that set him on his path to fight against injustice. He was a legend of Hollywood, and at a time when it was unpopular for a White person to fight for civil rights, he did it. Made a lot of enemies, but he fought until his dying day in 1982 at age 77. He and Clark Gable were two of the first Hollywood Golden Age stars I ever heard of who went against the grain of the time and did their part for civil rights.
This was developed into a play that we read in school, somewhere around 7th or 8th grade. It, along with Shakespeare, Tom Sawyer, Animal Farm, and Lord of the Flies are part of what shaped the Boomer generation. Honorable mention to The Ransom of Red Chief. Also, all of these actors were well known, it must have been filmed during the Hollywood studio system, when the studios had actors under contracts so that the studios decided what movies the actors would be in. You would never get this many big name actors in one movie today.
Lee J Cobb’s turn as Juror 3 is my favorite portrayal of any role, by any actor, ever. I first saw this when I was 14, and I remember thinking that I finally understood what people meant by saying that a supporting actor "stole the show".
What an extraordinary film of forgiveness. When confronted, challenged, contradicted or tested we can all respond in a similar way; but if left unchallenged a dense scar forms, When our final man finally revealed the density and pain of his scar previously hinted at but now repented, Mr Fonda helped him put on his jacket, stand up and walk away from this without further scarring. The importance of never forgiving action is clear but always remembering if one of us asks for forgiveness, and we know they mean it, we have the unmeasurable power to progress, stand tall and move on, together.
This was a play, and has been performed at many high schools down through the years. It’s so excellent in the many lessons it teaches, including how easy it is to project your own problems onto a stranger. Great choice and reaction.
Yay this is one of my favorite movies :) a lot of reviewers seem to review much pre 80's and I'm glad y'all are watching older classics too. :) keep up the awesome work
This film immediately came to mind while I was watching DUNE. When the Fremen are said to be “dangerous and unreliable,” I sarcastically said, “Oh, there’re some GOOD things about ’em, too. I’ve known a COUPLE who were okay.”
When i began watching old movies, 12 angry men was among my first. I ended up watching movies that contained every one of these actors - this movie was so good.
Even the camerawork is incredible, It weaves between each individual and focuses on them in key moments perfectly. Thank god for physical media, It allows me to own and preserve many masterpieces like this.
Great Movie. The One Guy was Henry Fonda, Father Of Jane and Peter; Grandfather to Bridget. Another one of his great movies is Grapes of Wrath about the Depression and the Dust Bowl era.
This is one of my absolute favorite movies. It not only is a great courtroom drama, but it also talks about being open minded and feeling free to question things. Too often people take authority as truth rather than truth as authority. People need to work for the truth not just let it be handed to them.
Excellent movie. It was remade in the 90s with another great cast, which included a pre Sopranos James Gandolfini.😊 directed by William Friedkin, whom directed The Exorcist.
A lot of great actors! Its definitely hard to be on a jury, even if its not a murder case. Feeling that pressure as an adult is terrible. People getting $15 a day, missing work and just want to get it over with it. I never want to do it again. (Left me with an unsettling feeling about our system.) Thanks for watching with me you two!💙🌎
This is an important movie. Not just a great film. It teaches us about life and people. So-another IMPORTANT movie, that teaches us vital things, is 'Gandhi', 1982, based on real events & people.
I watched this movie and a month later was on a jury. I cannot stress how this opened up my mind to listen to both the prosecution and defense for all evidence and make the best possible judgment. Thank you for your videos. Cheers
This movie is an absolute classic! A key point to be made is that the kid's guilt or innocence is not established. We only have the verdict. This movie emphasizes the importance of the process and does so wonderfully.
Glad that you will be seeing classic movies from the 20th century! This film employed some of the finest stage/screen/tv actors of that time, led by the great Henry Fonda. In your future first-time reactions, I hope you also will comment upon the acting and the production values. As everybody writing here will tell you: Get ready to experience some wonderful times at the movies!
5:11 There's Women's Restroom on the right. 3:17 I believe that women in most states at this point could be part of a Jury. I think it was just uncommon for them to be a part of the jury pool at the time. For example, needing to opt-in or having "home responsibilities" like child care and such which would excuse them.
Great great film. In the end you even feel bad for the man who hasn't seen his son for two years. It's easy to surmise that he went on to talk to his son and be a father again. I knew you guys would love it. I been called twice to 6 person juries. It's not easy for sure. As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.
Great movie with an incredible cast. All of them gave fantastic performances. Lee J. Cobb's breakdown at the end is just a legendary performance from a legendary actor. I highly recommend Citizen Kane as another classic movie for you too watch. It's widely regarded as one of, in not the, best film ever made. A true masterpiece that invented a lot of what we see in modern cinema.
My favourite!!! It’s so quick but nothing is sacrificed in the dialogue or anything . The power is definitely in being swayed by the different characters as you go along with the points coming to light. Glad y’all enjoyed it so much ❤
Actually the imigrant jury George Vsockovic, or Jiří Voskovič is actually from Czech Republic. He was big movie star back here, but had to flee before the nazis overtook our country because of his ethnicity. It gives more depth to how he defenses the democracy. Greetings from Czechia
3:18 That's right. The movie was made and takes place in 1950s, and at that time period women and non-white people were excluded from jury service in some parts of the US. It's also set in... New York, I think?
I was a fan of the late great Jack Klugman, having watched the television series he played on, that was brilliantly done as a movie, with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon - The Odd Couple. Tony Randle also played lead in the TV series. I recommend seeing the movie. And if you two have time watch a few episides of the series (even if on your own).
One of the main reasons I've subscribed to your channel is that you take the time after watching the film to talk about your feelings watching it. You have wonderful insight in your comments about these films. I've seen this movie quite a few times but it is fun to watch your reactions to each film. You are both really lucky to be able to watch these movies for the first time.
This movie is a Masterpiece. The writing, the acting, the directing, the use of camera, everything was firing on all cylinders. All the characters were believable with 12 distinct personalities. You don't need a big budget to make a great movie. We had some character development. It was even great therapy for two of the characters. - The prejudice man caught some backlash right to his face - so he put himself in the corner to reflect on the ugliness he never knew was inside him. - Then we have the angry shouting father who came to terms with his own demons and broke down at the very end. We went through the movie disliking him. Once it was revealed how much bitter pain he had been living with over his own son we looked at him with pity, just like the other jurors did. - We had a nice callback with the "logical man who never sweats". When he was "interrogated" on the double feature movies he saw, suddenly there is a big drop of sweat rolling down his forehead.
This movie’s message was so ahead of it’s time. How often do you see people get mad about something on the internet and start harassing someone when they barely even know anything about what’s going on?
Oh you got a classic right here. I bet I’ve seen this movie 100 times in my 55 years. All star cast. I remember this being shown in my American government class in high school back in the 80’s. CLASSIC!!
The boy was from a particular, ethnic background, possibly Latino from the way he looks. The man was expressing his prejudice, and the rest of them weren’t having it.
One of the best films from way back! Movies can explore deep themes, and back then there were more of these. Miss them better Hollywood days. 😊 Henry Fonda shines as usual. Great choice to react to! 💜 Thanks guys!!!
Lots of very good actors from back in the day. Henry Fonda is one of my favorites. I’m so glad you’re watching this. It’s one of the best movies ever made, in my very humble opinion. Thanks for sharing!
Great job of editing and watching this drama so thoughtfully throughout. This is one of the best American films ever made, with great camera shots, an ensemble cast of the top actors of the day and a tight script. Lighting also plays a special role in black and white films and adds to the drama here.
12 actors, one room. No special effects. Master Class in screenwriting and acting. a truly timeless film.
This is one of the greatest American movies ever made =)
@@WarGamerGirl: The decision is unanimous.
If that is your cup of tea then I highly recommend a movie called The Sunset Limited starring Samuel L Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones. Two individuals conversing in a small apartment.
AN ABSOLUTE MASTERCLASS OF ACTING AND SCREENWRITING!!!
And directing by Lumet.
It also incorporated knowledge about how the legal system works. It’s why we have juries.
...and cinematography. 😊
- What are you so polite about?
- For the same reason you are not, it's the way I was brought up.
@@Qubie1 Good one. It's such a well written script. No wasted lines. Everything said gives insight into each person's character or something pertinent to the case. So well crafted.
Many people who have seen this film felt sorry for Juror 3 at the end. He made it clear that he was tortured by the estrangement of his son, that it was the source of his anger. When he finally broke down and bared his soul, no one in the jury said a word. They understood. He wasn't an evil man. He was just an angry and heartbroken man.
Lee J. Cobb's greatest performance.
Very well said.
And a man who was torn by his own guilt over his actions. He was projecting all his self-loathing onto the defendant.
Lee J. Cobb gave a serious performance.
He was sending another man to his death due to his own pain. Hurt people hurt people.
@@JWar- to me it seemed he wanted to punish his own son through the kid on trial, they had a similar story with a troublesome father-son relationship. If the kid was declared guilty then he could be in the right against his own son
What makes this movie timeless is that they never go into the detail who 'those people' are, because there will always be a group like 'those people'. A thousand years in the past or in the future, people will understand this movie.
Another thing left intentionally vague is the truth of the event. We never find out. They 100% establish reasonable doubt, and the boy should have been acquitted, but we never learn whether or not the boy actually stabbed his father.
@@derekfnord The other thing is that a lot of the jurors seemed to forget that they were there to determine whether or not there was reasonable doubt. They were divided between “guilty” and “not guilty” when like you said they would never find out whether he was or wasn’t. They were there to answer “Is there any doubt?” As soon as Juror 8 began presenting alternative possibilities they should have agreed with him and called it a day. 😆
Juror 4 (who didn’t sweat) telling juror 10 (the bigot) to sit down and shut up was one of the best scenes in a great movie
EG Marshall and Ed Begley. Great actors.
@@kathleenclark815 He does look like him, but that was actually another actor--Gunter Meisner
I’m juror 4, all about the facts, logic, as soon as I’m convinced, then not guilty. I’d just be pissed at myself that I didn’t make some of the connections first.
Juror 4 is low key one of the more virtuous characters in the movie. You could tell he didn’t think much of his fellow holdouts. “He did an excellent job.”
@@Bfdidc Exactly. It was important to establish that he is arguably the most calm, logical, and intelligent of the jurors, so that as the movie wears on and the angry juror #3 for whom it personal, the selfish/apathetic juror #7 and the clearly prejudice Juror #10 are whittled down, his remaining on the side of guilty lends their side more credibility.
A true classic.
They really DON'T make them like this anymore. 5/5
👍👍👍👍👍
Ah but they do at times. The Sunset Limited is a masterpiece just the same but with two men in a room on edge. Samuel Jackson and Tommy Lee are fantastic in the movie.
FACTS!!!
This is one case where they never did. It was a stand out film even back in it's day.
@@JSabh TSL is a really good bottle movie but it's not a masterpiece "just the same" as 12 Angry Men. 12AM is a standout masterpiece. Thinking about bottle movies, I'd actually rate Locke and Rear Window a little higher than TSL, as good as it is.
For me, this is one of the best films ever made. No special effects, no breathtaking locations, only the story and the acting skills of those involved make this film what it is. If you can create an atmosphere in such a small setting that captivates an audience until the end, then you know that you have mastered your craft.
Also, it's great that a 66 year old black and white film can still get such a strong reaction even now. It's the beauty of cinema.
The blocking, shot composition, lighting and overall cinematography in this is an absolute marvel. Lumet was a maverick, without question.
The modern remake was ... not as good. This was truly a masterpiece.
Also a good reason to watch movies involving submarines. Conflict in a confined space demands compelling story-telling and tight shots.
a masterclass of acting
I agree. This is real acting, like watching Babe Ruth play a baseball game. Those guys didn’t do the film for their multimillion dollar contracts. They did it to get paid sure, but mostly because acting was their passion. They did it because it’s what they live and breathed for. That’s how you can tell the difference between cinema of the past and now. Like what Apollo Creed said in Rocky III when he was talking about that look of hunger.
The final man who broke down & cried a "not guilty" made me feel his pain. What an actor.
Lee J. Cobb. An amazing actor.
I think he won 🏆 best supporting actor .
@@mic88ed And back when movie awards had value.
@@perfectq7206 definately rigged back then
@@salmaabdullahgb That was genuine acting. What are you talking about?
The thing I love most about this movie is that It's all about the dialogue.. There's no music (other than when they are excused from the courtroom to deliberate the case and at the closing credits) and no other sets, etc... It is all about the dialogue between "12 Angry Men"
Yes.. it WAS all about the dialogue.. but there was some subtle music when Fonda called for another vote. (14:12)
One of the best movies ever made. No explosions. No car chases. No fistfights. No exotic locations. Just one room, and riveting dialog. There's also a lot of things to learn about camera angles and such by the film student. I am glad you chose this one.
and not one F bomb!
Fun fact...the small man with the glasses was the voice of Piglet in the older Winnie the Pooh movies
Good get, that's him alright. And Klugman from the Odd Couple was great too
Juror #1 I think.
John Fiedle was the actor, an excellent character actor who appeared in "The Twilight Zone" and one episode of Star Trek in which he played a man possessed by Jack the Ripper. He was cast precisely because he was so meek and mild mannered.
@@cvonbarron Trivia: Fiedler was roommates with James "Scotty" Doohan early in their careers as poor starving actors.
He also played a murderer embodying the spirit of Jack the Ripper on Star Trek.
The scene where he helps him on with his jacket at the end says something so enormous I can't even put it into words....
I'm 58 yrs old and I've always enjoyed older movies. It's great to see you guys open up to movies you wouldn't even think of watching before you started your reaction channel. This movie was great yet it was on on one set, no special effects. It was thought provoking and well acted.
I could picture the apartments, the hallway, the passing el-train, etc. All of it. None of this was shown, but done through some of the best dialogue ever put to film.
This movie is so well written and acted it still remains one of the top 10 movies of all time. I’m glad you chose to see it and to this day it’s promotes an excellent discussion.
Every reaction video I've watched on this movie (and I've watched a lot) pretty much goes the same way. It starts off nonchalant and then as the case is presented and the tension builds, the reactors start getting quieter and quieter and more focused. This masterpiece of art and storytelling just slowly but consistently sucks you in. And there's nothing you can do to escape it.
It slowly sucks each and every one of them in, and I love it more than any other type of movie reaction.
Juror # 3, the last juror, Lee J Cobb, played his part excellently. From the beginning, I hated him, which was his part to do. At the end, when he broke down and started crying and said, "Not guilty," broke down my hatred for him, as I started to feel sorry for him, when he tore his photo to pieces. And then to see Henry Fonda help him put his coat on, that really got to me. Yes, THIS IS A CLASSIC.
I served on a jury once that involved a man possibly going to jail for a car accident. But the evidence against him was VERY shaky and he had gotten roughed up by one of the traffic cops that arrested him. It took the jury foreman to open up our eyes that this guy was being set up by the plaintiff. But when you finally get to the verdict? It’s very intense! My heart was pounding. We found him not guilty. The guy cried, because his wife and baby were there.
good story
This is an absolute Masterpiece in storytelling. It really opens your eyes to how we judge people, and how faulty the criminal justice system can be.
It's a great story told extremely well. As far as the criminal justice system, just think of Blackstone's Ratio: "Better that ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer". It's not a great system, but it's the best one so far.
This is why the death penalty should be abolished. I think the kid probably did it, and would feel okay about sending him to prison for it. But sending him to his death is a completely different thing.
I saw this movie on PBS around 1971 whilst staying home from school sick . I was riveted at age 10 !
That's a cool memory to have
I saw it when I was a child too. About 1978/79. Absolutely riveted as well. Does that make us weird? 🤭
@@kellieheald I hope so 😜
Me too. We must have been sick on the same day and the same age. 😂
I was watching Arthur, Cyber Chase, and Dragon Tales on PBS while I got assigned the book in 6th grade in ‘07. I’m the young buck here🤣
I'm glad you decided to watch this absolute masterpiece.
All these actors have been so famous or at least known in the 50s and 60s as "character actors," and if you look in on TV shows and movies from that era you'll see their faces again and again. Lee J Cobb (the last guy to say not guilty) had a terrific reputation for his acting back in the day. This is a classic filled with great writing and terrific actors.
From On the Waterfront and Death of a Salesman to The Exorcist, Lee J. Cobb has been woven into important films in the latter half of the 20th Century.
@@Divamarja_CA The exorcist too.
Famous? I never heard of this Henry Fonda or whatever his name is.
I pretend to believe that the actor who's in Oscar's poker game in The Odd Couple is the exact same character as he is here and they're in the same universe; easy since he's never named here and they're both set in New York City.
perfect play of explaining reasonable doubt. It's not about who's right and who's wrong, it's about discussing details and taking time, looking at every corner instead of just your preferable vision. Great acting, phenomenal direction and camera work, a true classic in every sense of the word. Loved your reaction!
My favorite part of this movie is how they filled in the blanks of the court case through jury conversation while they were deliberating. All filmed in one room. Absolute masterpiece for a film from 1950s
The thing i find fascinating about the movie is the fact that no one knows if the boy was guilty or not as there were good points made from both sides.
Just 12 men in a room talking and it keeps you gripped for the whole duration, the screenwriting and acting was on another level and is one of the best movies ever made imo
In the 1997 Showtime version (and the revised stage play), Juror 8 speculates on the fact that the father had made a lot of enemies over the course of his life, with his penchant for gambling, drinking, and picking fights, so there was no shortage of other suspects.
Think about the fact that during the dialog, there was 0 music, and the entire movie took place in that one room with one other scene in a bathroom. A single room for an entire movie. Magic.
You know how they said the knife slipped out of the boy's pocket?
I've always wondered if the knife the juror found at the pawn shop wasn't the kid's knife that someone found and pawned.
Good point.
It's possible that the knife the boy bought WAS the knife used in the killing. It could've fallen out of his pocket in the apartment when he had the fight with his father and ran out (the boy didn't know exactly when he lost it between leaving the apartment and coming home, it fits the timeline). Father finds it on the floor, sits it on the table. All it takes then is for someone to have come to the apartment, get into an argument with the father, see the knife on the table, grab it, and stab him.
The single-take shot that starts the moment the jury enters the deliberation room and lasts almost eight minutes is one of the greatest in film history. That shot alone is worth a re-watch. This film is a masterpiece on so many levels.
This movie is a classic,I probably seen this picture over a dozen times,it never gets old. Every actor was great.
It gets better the more times you see it. Character details. Acting choices. Staging. Cinematography. Pacing. The more times you watch it the more you realise how subtle but how incredible it is. Total powerhouse of a movie.
IT'S ABOUT FRIGGIN TIME YOU GUYS WATCHED THIS MOVIE. ONE OF MY TOP TEN ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE. FROM THE ACTORS TO THE WAY IT WAS SHOT.
Jack Klugman, who played Juror 5 (the guy from the slums), said that the film was the only one that he enjoyed making. He was in awe of the fellow actors in the film. His favorite was Ed Begley, who was apparently quite the ladies man.
The actors were paid $900 a week for 6 weeks. 😲
One of the best movies ever made! Now it's time to watch To Kill a Mockingbird, which is personally one of my favorite movies of all time.
Second that recommendation.
So agree. Similar in the various elements of prejudice, injustice, justice, redemption. Actually that is my favourite film of all.
If you get a chance, see Aaron Sorkin’s brilliant stage adaptation of _To Kill a Mockingbird._ It’s different in a lot of ways (not just the dialogue), but I felt the differences elevated the story and the message.
Voting anonymously on the second vote was key.
Some of the greatest actors of their time. This is a timeless classic! And if you dive into the history and background of these actors there are so many ties to actors of today.. Great review!!!!
One of "them" - the kid is Puerto Rican or maybe Italian, it's never clarified. But puerto Rican slums existed in NYC then- see West Side Story from the same time frame.
Central air conditioning was rare in 1957, especially in older buildings, which a courthouse would be.
He could even be Greek or Mexican! I like that they never specified the defendant’s ethnicity.
Thanks!
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Amazing what can be done with a one room set and good actors. No CGI, special effects, car chases, and explosions.
or nudity, or foul language
Loved your reaction and the look of rapt attention on your faces as you absorbed the writing, acting and directing of this movie. Great job!
The movie was set in NYC and women were allowed on juries. The last state to allow them was in the late 60s , if I remember right. West Side Story was set in NYC too around the same time and it also was about Puerto Ricans. Lots of Puerto Ricans came to the mainland after World War II, along with lots of European refugees ---- Like the one on the jury.
Twelve angry people just doesn't sound as good.
@@bluebird3281if it's a mixed cast, the play is called 12 Angry Jurors.
I thought it was set in Chicago because it said the L line
@@Andre_Hebert The web says NYC, but they probably didn't expect anyone to pick up on their use of stock footage. Good catch.
@@Andre_Hebertthey say the El train, short for Elevated Train.
Top 5 film of all time. Timeless and forever relevant.
This movie was nominated for four Oscars, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Cinematography. It was Sidney Lumet's directorial debut in film. He was chosen by the screenwriter Reginald Rose (who adapted his TV teleplay) and Henry Fonda because he was well known as being terrific with actors and bringing productions in on time and at budget. The film was made on a shoestring of under $350,000. The cast is generally regarded as among the best ensemble casts ever assembled. The cast and screenplay and Lumet made a timeless classic.
23:42 My dad instilled this in me. I instantly remembered a conversation we had about [one of] the reasons his parents immigrated.
I'm glad it hit you guys too.
A young Sonia Sotomayor watched this movie and decided to become a lawyer after seeing that scene.
I first saw this classic in 1989 when I was 17, and it's been a favorite of mine ever since. No stunts, no blood, no killing, no grandiose drama, but it's stood the test of time as a classic. It also introduced me the great Henry Fonda.
According to what I read, Henry Fonda (the lead juror with the identical knife) once saw a Black man being lynched in his hometown when he was a boy. It sickened him, and that was reportedly one of the catalysts that set him on his path to fight against injustice. He was a legend of Hollywood, and at a time when it was unpopular for a White person to fight for civil rights, he did it. Made a lot of enemies, but he fought until his dying day in 1982 at age 77. He and Clark Gable were two of the first Hollywood Golden Age stars I ever heard of who went against the grain of the time and did their part for civil rights.
I have always felt that the last juror reunited with his son after this experience
Maybe the most important movie ever made. It show's so much injustice in many layers. Classic!
Thanks guys. This is one of my favorite films, a genuine classic. Great writing, great acting, and great direction by Sidney Lumet.
One of the films that is perfect from start to finish
This was developed into a play that we read in school, somewhere around 7th or 8th grade. It, along with Shakespeare, Tom Sawyer, Animal Farm, and Lord of the Flies are part of what shaped the Boomer generation. Honorable mention to The Ransom of Red Chief.
Also, all of these actors were well known, it must have been filmed during the Hollywood studio system, when the studios had actors under contracts so that the studios decided what movies the actors would be in. You would never get this many big name actors in one movie today.
This was a television play first. It was developed into a screenplay by the author.
Now that's good schooling
Unless it’s an Avengers movie!
I remember reading all those in English as a Gen X. I was also in the play Ransom of Red Chief when I was in 8th grade😊
Ransom of Red Chief is great!!!
The kid was Puerto Rican and lived in the hood. It’s got to do with both race and class as far as the anger the guy has.
In the Russian version, it's a Chechen boy.
Lee J Cobb’s turn as Juror 3 is my favorite portrayal of any role, by any actor, ever. I first saw this when I was 14, and I remember thinking that I finally understood what people meant by saying that a supporting actor "stole the show".
What an extraordinary film of forgiveness. When confronted, challenged, contradicted or tested we can all respond in a similar way; but if left unchallenged a dense scar forms, When our final man finally revealed the density and pain of his scar previously hinted at but now repented, Mr Fonda helped him put on his jacket, stand up and walk away from this without further scarring. The importance of never forgiving action is clear but always remembering if one of us asks for forgiveness, and we know they mean it, we have the unmeasurable power to progress, stand tall and move on, together.
Well stated sir!
This was a play, and has been performed at many high schools down through the years. It’s so excellent in the many lessons it teaches, including how easy it is to project your own problems onto a stranger. Great choice and reaction.
Many, many famous actors
Guy arguing most is Lee J. Cobb. He played opposite Marlon Brandon (Oscar #1) in "ON THE WATERFRONT" EXCELLENT MOVIE!!!
Yay this is one of my favorite movies :) a lot of reviewers seem to review much pre 80's and I'm glad y'all are watching older classics too. :) keep up the awesome work
This movie changed my life! Jurer 8th is a true hero!
The worst type of person for me is the Jurer 7th who seeks the ball game.
I agree! 3 and 10 were nasty pieces of work but even they actually cared whether the kid was guilty. 7 didn't care about anything but leaving early.
This film immediately came to mind while I was watching DUNE. When the Fremen are said to be “dangerous and unreliable,” I sarcastically said, “Oh, there’re some GOOD things about ’em, too. I’ve known a COUPLE who were okay.”
I was raised watching classics like this! Thanks mom❤
When i began watching old movies, 12 angry men was among my first. I ended up watching movies that contained every one of these actors - this movie was so good.
Those actors make for a considerably wonderful filmography!
Even the camerawork is incredible, It weaves between each individual and focuses on them in key moments perfectly. Thank god for physical media, It allows me to own and preserve many masterpieces like this.
Very difficult to shoot, like Rear Window, which I read used scaffolding.
A true classic. I once saw this on stage at the Edinburgh Fringe with comedians playing the jury. Quite incredible.
Now that is wild
Great Movie. The One Guy was Henry Fonda, Father Of Jane and Peter; Grandfather to Bridget. Another one of his great movies is Grapes of Wrath about the Depression and the Dust Bowl era.
Best example of civil courage!!
This is one of my absolute favorite movies. It not only is a great courtroom drama, but it also talks about being open minded and feeling free to question things. Too often people take authority as truth rather than truth as authority. People need to work for the truth not just let it be handed to them.
Excellent movie. It was remade in the 90s with another great cast, which included a pre Sopranos James Gandolfini.😊 directed by William Friedkin, whom directed The Exorcist.
Which co-starred Lee J. Cobb!
@@Divamarja_CA Lt.Kinderman 😉
There was also a Russian version, just called 12, which was really good. The remakes are all good, but of course the original is the best of all.
A lot of great actors! Its definitely hard to be on a jury, even if its not a murder case. Feeling that pressure as an adult is terrible. People getting $15 a day, missing work and just want to get it over with it. I never want to do it again. (Left me with an unsettling feeling about our system.) Thanks for watching with me you two!💙🌎
This is an important movie. Not just a great film. It teaches us about life and people. So-another IMPORTANT movie, that teaches us vital things, is 'Gandhi', 1982, based on real events & people.
I watched this movie and a month later was on a jury. I cannot stress how this opened up my mind to listen to both the prosecution and defense for all evidence and make the best possible judgment. Thank you for your videos.
Cheers
This movie is an absolute classic! A key point to be made is that the kid's guilt or innocence is not established. We only have the verdict. This movie emphasizes the importance of the process and does so wonderfully.
Glad that you will be seeing classic movies from the 20th century! This film employed some of the finest stage/screen/tv actors of that time, led by the great Henry Fonda. In your future first-time reactions, I hope you also will comment upon the acting and the production values. As everybody writing here will tell you: Get ready to experience some wonderful times at the movies!
I can see you both really being pulled in by this film, more quiet and contemplative and I respect that, it's a fantastic movie from all angles
The acting talent in this cast is not likely to be seen in a single movie again.
Murder on the Orient Express (1974) is a great ensemble film of immense talent: Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, and Lauren Bacall, to name a few.
Honestly disagree
5:11 There's Women's Restroom on the right.
3:17 I believe that women in most states at this point could be part of a Jury. I think it was just uncommon for them to be a part of the jury pool at the time. For example, needing to opt-in or having "home responsibilities" like child care and such which would excuse them.
Plus, twelve angry people doesn't sound as good for some reason.
Great great film. In the end you even feel bad for the man who hasn't seen his son for two years. It's easy to surmise that he went on to talk to his son and be a father again.
I knew you guys would love it. I been called twice to 6 person juries. It's not easy for sure.
As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.
Lee J Cobb was the Detective in The Exorcist ♥️
Glad you both are reacting to this one. An all-time classic. A major all-star cast.
Great movie with an incredible cast. All of them gave fantastic performances. Lee J. Cobb's breakdown at the end is just a legendary performance from a legendary actor. I highly recommend Citizen Kane as another classic movie for you too watch. It's widely regarded as one of, in not the, best film ever made. A true masterpiece that invented a lot of what we see in modern cinema.
My favourite!!! It’s so quick but nothing is sacrificed in the dialogue or anything . The power is definitely in being swayed by the different characters as you go along with the points coming to light. Glad y’all enjoyed it so much ❤
Actually the imigrant jury George Vsockovic, or Jiří Voskovič is actually from Czech Republic. He was big movie star back here, but had to flee before the nazis overtook our country because of his ethnicity. It gives more depth to how he defenses the democracy. Greetings from Czechia
3:18 That's right. The movie was made and takes place in 1950s, and at that time period women and non-white people were excluded from jury service in some parts of the US. It's also set in... New York, I think?
I was a fan of the late great Jack Klugman, having watched the television series he played on, that was brilliantly done as a movie, with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon - The Odd Couple. Tony Randle also played lead in the TV series. I recommend seeing the movie. And if you two have time watch a few episides of the series (even if on your own).
Jack Klugman was also Quincy, ME.....
@@markmyers6472 a show I've watched often - each episode multiple times.
So glad you guys are watching this, its my absolute favorite movie and i genuinely love seeing people experience it for the first time💜
One of the main reasons I've subscribed to your channel is that you take the time after watching the film to talk about your feelings watching it. You have wonderful insight in your comments about these films. I've seen this movie quite a few times but it is fun to watch your reactions to each film. You are both really lucky to be able to watch these movies for the first time.
Juror 8 putting Juror 3's coat back on him at the end is one of the best scenes in the movie.
Our society lost a lot of those manners it seems.
Just some random FYI… that guy with the soft-spoken/higher pitched voice is the original voice actor for Piglet in Winnie the Pooh! 😂
I'm so glad you guys are reviewing this! It's one of the best films ever made.
Thank You Asia and Bj, there is quite a few black and white films that are priceless.
So glad y'all reviewed this. It's relevance to this chatroom-driven fight club world today is remarkable
This movie is a Masterpiece. The writing, the acting, the directing, the use of camera, everything was firing on all cylinders. All the characters were believable with 12 distinct personalities. You don't need a big budget to make a great movie.
We had some character development. It was even great therapy for two of the characters.
- The prejudice man caught some backlash right to his face - so he put himself in the corner to reflect on the ugliness he never knew was inside him.
- Then we have the angry shouting father who came to terms with his own demons and broke down at the very end. We went through the movie disliking him. Once it was revealed how much bitter pain he had been living with over his own son we looked at him with pity, just like the other jurors did.
- We had a nice callback with the "logical man who never sweats". When he was "interrogated" on the double feature movies he saw, suddenly there is a big drop of sweat rolling down his forehead.
This movie’s message was so ahead of it’s time. How often do you see people get mad about something on the internet and start harassing someone when they barely even know anything about what’s going on?
One of my all time favorite movies... the talent in that jury room is spectacular....
One of my all time favorites. Should be required viewing for anybody doing jury duty.
Oh you got a classic right here. I bet I’ve seen this movie 100 times in my 55 years. All star cast. I remember this being shown in my American government class in high school back in the 80’s. CLASSIC!!
Great choice. It's a classic for a reason.
The boy was from a particular, ethnic background, possibly Latino from the way he looks. The man was expressing his prejudice, and the rest of them weren’t having it.
One of the best films from way back! Movies can explore deep themes, and back then there were more of these. Miss them better Hollywood days. 😊 Henry Fonda shines as usual. Great choice to react to! 💜 Thanks guys!!!
This is one of the greatest movies ever made. I've been lucky enough to see the stage play a couple of times. It is brilliant.
AN Absolute masterclass of 12 men sitting around a table arguing!!!! MASTERCLASS!
Lots of very good actors from back in the day. Henry Fonda is one of my favorites. I’m so glad you’re watching this. It’s one of the best movies ever made, in my very humble opinion. Thanks for sharing!
Great job of editing and watching this drama so thoughtfully throughout. This is one of the best American films ever made, with great camera shots, an ensemble cast of the top actors of the day and a tight script. Lighting also plays a special role in black and white films and adds to the drama here.
If y'all want to see another clasic, try "Arsenic and Old Lace".
Yes! Fantastic comedy!