ACTRESS REACTS to 12 ANGRY MEN (1957) *FIRST TIME WATCHING* THE BEST SCRIPT EVER WRITTEN?
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- čas přidán 31. 08. 2023
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My name is Clariss and welcome to my channel! I'm an actress, makeup artist, and aspiring filmmaker. I wanted to create a variety channel that allows me to explore and showcase my art. I hope you enjoy the video, I know I've had fun making it. Have a blessed day!ll - Zábava
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an excellent companion piece to this film is hitchcock's 1956 "the wrong man" which also stars henry fonda. i don't want to give away too much of the plot so i'll just say the title says it all. also, another fonda film of a similar theme is the 1943 western "the ox-bow incident" that examines the dangers of vigilante justice.
like films like "cool hand luke" and others, one reason "12 angry men" is so beloved by movie aficionados is for its superb, ensemble cast. most of whom went on to have long, successful careers in film and tv.
this was the first film by director sidney lumet who went on to direct many classics including "fail-safe" (1964), "dog day afternoon" (1975) and "network" (1976).
Courtroom dramas are my favourite genre. Great pre 70's movies in this genre are "Witness For The Prosecution" 1957 "Covenant With Death" 1967 "They Won't Forget" 1937
"The Naked Edge" 1961 and "The Young Philadelphians" 1959.
Have you seen these classics?
“To Kill A Mockingbird”
“Anatomy of A Murder”
“Inherit The Wind”
Next to It's a Wonderful Life this film was another masterpiece. I saw it was when I was 16 for the first time and I saw I dozens of times afterwards. People in one room, no special affects, fantastic performances!
Lee J. Cobb put on an acting clinic in that final monologue. He made all of your possible dislike of his character evaporate in literally 5 seconds as he tears up the picture of him and his son and you feel nothing but empathy for him.
I mean, maybe I'm just judgmental, but my empathy is quite blunted by the fact that he kept trying to murder a boy for reminding him of his own failures as a parent.
He should have got the oscar!
George C Scott played that part in the tv remake (it's on youtube) and he is just amazing in the part also...
@jimballard1186 all the 11 others did too at one point. It just took him more time because he clearly wasn't in a proper head space, that's why he broke down.
Would definitely recommend you check out Death of a Salesman to see how great of an actor he is.
This is a Masterclass of character. the long camera shots, the angles something lacking in a lot of todays movies
I think the most amazing thing about this movie is that I've seen it probably more than 25 times (no exaggeration), and I get just as caught up in it now, as I did when I first saw it at around age 12 or 13 (I'm 62 now). Given that the story hangs on whether or not the teenager will be acquitted, it's a triumph of filmmaking that it doesn't matter at all if you already know the outcome... it's just as riveting!
Wow that’s amazing. I’ve watched it once and it’s my favourite film but I’ll watch it again
I'm amazed by how great this movie is despite most of it only takingplace in one room. It proves you don't need a variety of amazing visuals, as long as the characters are really strong, and their all great.
What!? You don't think a few car chases and explosions would have improved it!?
It's black and white, barely has any music, takes place almost entirely in one room where 12 guys are just talking. That's it. They are just having a conversation, yet you as a viewer are engaged and invested in the story. It's like the production crew gathered together and thought "how could we make this even more challenging?"
Same with the movie Rope.
Exactly- and yet, as great as this movie is- and it gets "10 ratings consistently, even today, Hollywood just will not make intelligent films today- because the American public really is dumber than it used to be. If that weren't true, then they'd still be making intelligent movies today. But what Hollywood forgets is that there are still millions of us "smart" people out here, and yes, we'd flock to theaters if only there were something worth watching instead of the juvenile, comic book pablum they serve up by the bucketful.
@@user-sx7wo1yl7y " the American public really is dumber than it used to be."
This film bombed at the box office because the American people were dumb THEN.
Most if not all the actors in this film had iconic careers before and/or after this film. If the names are not recognizable, the faces are, as they were noticable in many films and TV shows of that era and beyond. Everything is perfect about this film. Truly the art form at its finest.
Apparently the size of the jury room was made slightly smaller and smaller as the story went on in order to give a sense of increasing tension and pressure. Apart from the brilliant acting and script, the technical and artistic quality of the cinematography was a major part of the film's quality. One of the truly greats!
The angles of the camera near the beginning are higher up (above eye level) and slowly work their way down and under as the movie progresses. Same thing with the zoom. We slowly go from wider angles into tight angles fixed on the actors' faces throughout. The script and acting is one thing, but the technical aspects of this movie are on another level as well.
This movie should be on the curriculum. It's a masterpiece of screenplay and characterisation.
It bombed at the box office.
It's used in law schools.
They showed this in Civics Class in Jr. High .... Yeah! They Taught Civics then, the 60's and American Government in High School!
@@jamesalexander5623 And subsequently the Republicans were successful on removing civics from public school, their goal being ignorant population and chaos, exactly as we're seeing from Republicans.
I saw it in a summer course I took at a local community college.
i just recently had this for my honors 10 ELA class lol
I love older movies like these, 12 Angry Men is one of my all time favorites, it’s truly incredible. Casablanca is another one of my favorites, it has an excellent ensemble cast and is part comedy, part thriller, part love story, part war drama, and somehow manages to make all of those work excellently :)
Have you seen Arsenic and Old Lace? It's another old one that I love.
Oh yes please react to Casablanca! You will probably love that screenplay as well. Black and white, beautifully shot, loaded with classic actors. A true masterpiece.
It never ceases to amaze me how incredibly well the movie aged despite being 66 years old and it can still be made today and that it’s a relatively simple concept and plot that could’ve easily been boring and forgotten from the first second but Sidney lumet manages to not only make it work really well but make it work on his first try in movies. he did television and theater before transition to movies. Plus some of the finest flawless writing I’ve seen in my life with relatable characters such as the jury because we definitely know someone like one of them or we ARE one of them
Of the many outstanding aspects of this film, one I particularly love is how the film doesn’t tell the audience at the end whether the boy is actually guilty, or not. This is because an real a jury seldom knows that with factual certainty either. Instead, real juries are tasked only with assessing whether a defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, as the film repeated reaffirms. Brilliant.
Hey, Clariss! This was originally a teleplay for a "Playhouse 90"-type show in the '50's which were basically filmed theatrical productions broadcast during the early days of American TV. Before formulaic sitcoms and dramas became TV staples, actual playwrights were tapped to provide original or adapted content of high quality. The story really works as a theatrical piece with 12 players in one setting. A few years later, the great Sidney Lumet (pronounced Loom-ET) directed it for film. Lumet is considered one of the quintessential New York directors like Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee. The film is considered one of the greatest courtroom dramas ever made.
It is my 11th favorite film of all time!
I like how Fonda's chief antagonists are fire and ice: the bombastic Lee J. Cobb and the coolly logical E.G. Marshall.
The cast was stacked with some of the best character actors of the day some of which had amazing careers like Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, E.G. Marshall, Jack Klugman, Jack Warden, Ed Begley and Robert Webber. However, it's live-wire Lee J. Cobb who steals the spotlight with his histrionics and rage!
When he has his breakthrough and realizes why he's rushed to judgment, his collapse is shattering and brings me to tears every time.
Henry Fonda's magnanimity as he helps him to his feet and gives him his coat is equally moving.
Foreigner George Voskovec and the elderly Joseph Sweeney were holdovers from the TV production.
A remake was made for cable TV with a black Mykelti Williamson portraying a reverse racist. Jack Lemmon had the Fonda role and George C. Scott had the Cobb role. Edward James Olmos played the foreigner, Tony Danza was the sports guy, Armin Mueller-Stahl was the logical stockbroker and James Gandolfini was the blue collar guy.
Another remake was considered by adding women to the mix. The project was abandoned because the inclusion of female energy would change the dynamic of the story and the energy of the room.
OMG I need to see the remake! That's a great cast!
Next, check out 'To Kill a Mockingbird." As a book, it was an instant best seller. The movie was produced only a couple of years later, and lacks only the length of the book. It's also a near-perfect movie, with Gregory Peck being forever known as an actor who permanently branded a role.
I was going to make this same recommendation.
I second this. or third it since someone beat me to it.
you can feel every minute of this movie. The writing assigns a personality to each person. Your job as an actor is to assume that personality. You react to the other personalities. The script just gives you a guide.. it's so well done and you feel every one of them. You can argue for each one.
It truly is one of the greatest movies! The perfect acting, camera work, story line and portrayal was superb. Everyone who see this for the first time has the same, in awe, response. Wow, just wow!!
No doubt about how fantastic this is ... Shown to attorneys for it's portrayals of how a jury goes about it's deliberations. Great reaction ❤
I've heard that more than once over the years, too. That, as part of the curriculum, this 1957 movie is commonly shown to the students in law schools.
Its deliberations.
@@Wellch someone is bored
A masterpiece. The cinematography is stunning, it's one of the best films told entirely in a single location, and easily the best film ever made that has a cast of 12 different characters yet each one is developed, rich human being.
My number one example to people why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, or a film by its age. Good writing transcends time and budget. No explosions or world ending stakes, but a story set in a single room with people working through a problem.
This is my favorite movie of all time. It's a shinning light of an example as to what's wrong with many modern movies. The most important thing for a good movie is great writing and great acting.
There's no CGI, no explosions, no car chases or fight scenes. Most of the movie takes place in a single basic location and it's not even in color - yet it's absolutely amazing to watch. Hollywood could learn so much from this movie.
Reginald Rose's "12 Angry Men" was originally a live television drama in 1954 before this movie version was made in 1957.
It has often been done as a stage play by community/amateur theater groups and has even been done on stage as "12 Angry Women"
The film is a classic for so many reasons. The performances are all so excellent and powerful. And to film almost the entire movie in that one room with little more than dialogue and subtle details--that's masterful. It also deals with important subjects using the vehicle of a jury deliberation, 12 men grappling with the fate of a young man accused of murder.
When you have movies that are focused on a single setting, where it focuses more on characters and dialog feels like you get some GREAT reactions.
For example, the movie "Phone Booth" (2002), another movie that focuses on characters and dialog. Definitely a worthwhile movie to watch if you haven't seen it yet.
When you have a great story, great actors and great cinematography, you can produce one of the greatest films of all time in just one room.
Love the "Classic" movies. The black and white films. The lighting and camera angles. Film Noir is also great. The Thin Man series is fantastic. Funny, sarcastic. Clariss giving her reaction is so good. Learning so much about film from her. Thanks.
the Thin Man is so fun
This film remains as effective (and relevant) as ever!
So much great character-work; it is almost as if you get 12-masterclasses in one! 😊
Fun reaction! Thanks!
Lee J. Cobb who plays the man who's angry at his son plays an entirely different role as the police detective in "The Exorcist." Martin Balsam, who plays the jury foreman, plays a private detective in "Psycho." That reminds me, could you try some Hitchcock? He's brilliant. Even other directors call him "the master."
I saw this when i was 13 on AMC (back when AMC and TCM were basically the same thing) I fell in love with it. I love dialogue heavy, thought provoking movies. ❤❤❤
Interesting that you cite this as one of the tightest scripts--it is based off of a stage play, so it probably wasn't that hard to adapt the script of the play into the script for the movie. And I totally agree; it's a fantastic movie.
In my country this movie was on HBO Max but they removed it from the catalog, The movie is perfect and it's even on the list of the best movies I've seen, How time flies hehe 😊
Yeah. This movie is as close to perfection as it gets. This whole cast is stacked with legendary actors; the more older movies you watch, the more you'll see of them. As a 70s/80s kid, I was a huge fan of Jack Klugman. He was in two great TV shows: Quincy, M.E. (where he plays a forensic medical investigator - - serious, interesting show) and a very funny sitcom called The Odd Couple (co-starring the great Tony Randall).
One of the things that makes this movie great is it can be applied today. Also check out another Sidney Lumet film, The Verdict with Paul Newman and one of the actors from this film. Fantastic.
Strongly second this, The Verdict is an absolute classic.
You really can't go wrong with Lumet at all. Prince of the City and Night Falls on Manhattan are particular favorites of mine.
Two of the actors from The Verdict (Jack Warden and Edward Binns) were in this film.
I really enjoyed your reaction here. This film is amazing because it relies on the actors to act. No big production, only 4 scenes, and camera work from the director. Happy to see someone appreciated this master work of a film
The movie is only filmed in 4-5 locations, you know no names until the two at the end, learn a ton about each character to where you are invested, no information is dumped on you until it actually matters and the dialogue is top notch. It's a masterclass of a movie and one of the best ever.
The juror with the glasses and who is very stern is my favorite character, he was one of the last few who still voted guilty but unlike the other two men left he did it with out bias and playing his part in the system like your supposed to. He was rational and changed his vote with pure reason and no emotion. It's like he and the angry guy were foils to the protagonist, one being opposite as in irrational and voting guilty and the other being a foil by being equally rational as the protagonist but still voting guilty. Great characters.
Watch it again ? That's the 3000th time I've watched it ! Get ready for a lifetime of rewatching this movie.
@23:04 _Here's how: Underhanded. Anyone who's ever used a switch knife wouldn't handle it any other way_
This means *the alleged murder weapon is brought into doubt.* It is shown now that the murder weapon is highly improbable to be *a switchblade* because of the stab downward angle.Remember also that the switchblade found was *found clean of fingerprints.* It is just assumed to be the murder weapon with no proof or based clues.
It makes me...beyond happy...that you reacted to this amazing movie. It is one of my favorites to revisit. I bought the DVD just to have as part of my collection. I recommend to everyone I can. Well done on the reaction 👏
Nominated for 3 Oscars including Best Picture, but lost to The Bridge On The River Kwai.
I *love* this movie. It's a masterpiece of film making, writing and acting. One thing that I always remember is that until the end of the movie you and they have no idea what any jurors name is.
Notice in the scene with the bigot that almost every juror got up and moved away and/or turned their back on him.
Out of all of the fantastic performances, Jack Klugman is still my favorite actors from this movie. I grew up watching him on The Odd Couple and Quincy M.E. on tv so I might be prejudiced. 😉
I, too, remember him from the very same programs. I miss the "Klugmeister" very much. ☺️
In the ’50s there was a lot of good drama being produced on Broadway. Some of them were made into films or like this film was originally a teleplay, (done first on those great shows like Kraft Theater and the like).
We need to get back to that type of storytelling and dedication to character development again. It’s so satisfying! Great reaction! ❤
Yes. Another is _Executive Suite_ (1954). A super-engaging drama about corporate board room politics, I believe written by Rod Serling of Twilight Zone fame.
The fact 12 Angry Men was a "made for TV movie" blows my mind!!! One of my top 3 movies ever!!! Each performance is absolutely, top notch acting!!! Sidney Lumet's direction was perfect!!! And... Lee J. Cobb... A beautiful performance... Utterly heartbreaking...
I ADORE this movie and always love watching others watch and discover it for the first time.
This is a mastpiece of movie making.. 12 Excellent actors ... great camera work.. fantastic pacing.. A Lumet treasure...
By the time I saw this in the late 70s I knew at least 10 of the actors playing the jurors.
I loved your reaction, it reminded me of the first time I watched this with my daughter when she was in high school. Most of her peers refuse to watch anything in black & white. You should watch Double Indemnity from 1944 starring Fred MacMurray & Barbara Stanwyck. I grew up watching Fred star in Disney movies & My Three Sons. I couldn't believed he portrayed a character like that.
It was very interesting to see you so speechless at being able to express yourself in the wrap up. It really shows how powerful this film was for you.
While maybe not as perfect at the suspense level of this one, I would like to recommend the 1970 film "Airport", which is based on the 1968 book of the same name. Especially since you've recently done a reaction to "Airplane!" I feel it has this same "old film style" of characters & story telling.
There's a brilliant moment in the script when the juror who wants to get to the baseball game says about the old man..."Walk, run, what's the difference? He got on, didn't he? I mean, he got there...." 'He got on' is a baseball term for when a batter reaches base by walking....
*"Inherit the Wind"* (1960), by Stanley Kramer, with Spencer Tracy, Gene Kelly, Harry Morgan and Fredric March. A court drama after real events.
*"Rope"* (1948), by Alfred Hitchcock, with James Stewart. Done in "real time" and with extreme long takes. Inspired by the real life Leopold/Loeb m_rder.
*"To K!ll a Mockingbird"* (1962), by Robert Mulligan, with Gregory Peck. A legal drama.
*"Guess who's coming to Dinner"* (1967), by Stanley Kramer, with Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Hepburn. A romantic dramedy.
*"In the Heat of the Night"* (1967), by Norman Jewison, with Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. A "neo-noir" drama.
*"To Catch a Thief"* (1955), by Alfred Hitchcock, with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. A thriller with some romance.
*"Wait until Dark"* (1967), by Terence Young, with Audrey Hepburn and Alan Arkin. A psycho-thriller.
There are so many great old movies out there...these are just the first that spring to my mind.
I've been on a 12 Angry Men reaction binge lately and I have to say, this has been one of my favourites. You're very perceptive and I love your enthusiasm.
Looking at the other things you've reacted to (and I'm definitely going to be watching some of your other videos), I'd recommend you give Cabin in the Woods a try. It's a bit like Scream but for the monster movie subgenre of horror rather than the slasher flick - self-aware and a bit meta, while still employing many of the tropes that made the genre so beloved. Would love to see your take on it.
What an ensemble of actors and the characters they played, the script is something that can be retold over and over again and never be irrelevant. At the end Lee J Cobbs character finally said to his son not guilty, not guilty for leaving and not wanting to come back with the kind of judgmental man his father is. And he finally realized it and at the same time helped save a boy’s life in the final moments of the film. Magnificent.
You'd be amazed at how many incredible movies were made before 1970.
Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) is an unbelievably witty and wicked black comedy featuring Alec Guinness as twelve murder victims.
The Thief of Bagdad (1940) will blow your mind. Not only is it an incredible fantasy, but it's proof that amazing special effects were possible even back then. It's in color, by the way.
Detective Story (1951) is almost entirely set in a single room, with an intensity of writing that will astonish you. It stars a young Kirk Douglas, and the topic is incredibly timely.
The Third Man (1949) features some of the greatest writing, acting, cinematography, and music that has ever been seen in cinema. It's classic film noir that was far ahead of it's time.
In the Heat of the Night (1967) is absolutely electrifying. It stars Sidney Poitier and you won't forget it.
Let's see... There's The Great Escape, Frankenstein, Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein, Casablanca, The Fly, To Kill A Mockingbird, Psycho, The Grapes of Wrath...
The thing that I love about the movie is that the ending is actually ambiguous, something at many films fail really hard at pulling. Because ambiguous endings only work if there's a point to them, when the answer to a particular question would detract from the theme of the story.
The reason the ambiguous ending to 12 Angry Men is ambiguous and works is because the focus isn't about whether the boy is guilty or not. The focus is about how people sticking to their convictions and opinions with or without evidence can at times be admirable, but also VERY DANGEROUS. Especially in matters like this. Because once a hint of doubt comes its way into one's mind, it can destroy the entire foundation of your beliefs. Therefore, despite the fact that they all vote not guilty, it’s made abundantly clear, including to Juror 8, that we don’t know for certainty whether the boy’s guilty or not. Because if we did, it'll defeat the purpose of the story.
Glad you two watched this movie.
Each actor added so much to this picture. Definitely an ensemble effort.
This was my first watch of one of your reactions. I am glad you got to see one of the best movies ever made. Your reaction was priceless. 😊
Director Sidney Lumet was a veteran of live television in the 1950's and insisted his cast be well rehearsed and letter perfect before a single frame of film was started. The show was shot in chronological order so the emotions were as real as they could be. If you noticed, the majority of the show was shot in long lens with extended run times and adequate lighting. The final act was in a darker environment with the close ups and quick cuts to accentuate the rising tensions of the narrative. The entire set was just four walls that could be broken down in mere minutes to facilitate camera angles that served the story. Masterful. And don't get me started on the acting! I watch this at least four or five times a year to rekindle my writing mojo. I may be no Reginald Rose but Clariss' reaction is something I would love to have happen to one of my books.
Probably the best "people talking in a room" movie ever! Outstanding performance by Henry Fonda. Another great movie with Henry Fonda you should check out is the Cold War drama "Fail Safe," where Fonda plays the president. There are only about five or six settings in the entire movie, but it is one incredibly tension-filled movie.
12 angry men is a masterclass of one location used right.
Some great movies have successfully done it, the immediate film in mind is Misery.
Lumet's framing and fluid camera makes sure you never get bored of what is essentially, 12 dudes talking for an hour and a half.
He does also an excellent job of establishing the personality and inner workings of each character very fast and very effectively so you immediately know who is who which makes it for an easier understanding of what's going on.
But all that would not work if it was not for the superior acting of all involved.
12 Angry Men truly is a classic that rightly deserves its place in every acting and directing school as the gold standard to learn from.
This shows how masterful acting can be
To an extent, _Reservoir Dogs_ fits that criterion too. And more recently, Sarah Polley's _Women Talking_ . Oh, and going back further, there's _My Dinner With Andre_ . And Hitchcock's _Rear Window_ , of course.
@@DavidAntrobus
If Hitchcock, Rope and Lifeboat also fit the bill.
@@davidmeir9348 True. And right after I posted, I thought of a kazillion more, including _127 Hours_ , _Misery_ , _Locke_ , _Gravity_ , _Funny Games_ , _The Breakfast Club_ , etc. So many! (Edited to add: oh, you mentioned _Misery_ already, but speaking of King stories, you could add _The Shining_ .)
@@DavidAntrobus
Yeah but Shinning isn't 'a room'
To fit the description, the movie must be the majority of the time in the same location and while The Shinning is in the Hotel, we do change rooms contantly.
Yes, there are many great 'single location' movies, but there is little doubt 12 Angry Men is the gold standard in this genre.
What gets lost is how epic this cast was. You had heavy weight actors and emerging heavy weights in the likes of Jack Klugman. I don't know how you get all the egos today to get the equivalent stars and talent today.
That movie didn't need any special effects or 20 locations; just intelligence and amazing acting.
Fantastic movie! I randomly watched it one night after hearing about it and I was so impressed and blown away by the acting 🔥
I wish they would make this movie or book mandatory reading. Kids should know what is expected if they ever become jurors. It is so important.
The small, light voiced man was the original voice of piglet in Winnie the Pooh
As of typing this, I have seen no mention of ''To Kill a Mocking Bird'' with Gregory Peck.
I am fascinated by the fact that Joseph Sweeney, the eldest juror, was born in 1884. So his father grew up during the US Civil War. Our parents (or grandparents) grew up during the final days of Sweeney. So we are just 1 or 2 generations away from the Civil War. Juror 2 was the voice of piglet. The bigot was the father of Ed Begley Jr. Sadly, all of the actors have passed on, including the 18 year old briefly shown in the beginning. Still, after some 67 years it remains a great film. Timeless.
I'm glad you pause it when inserting a longer commentary. This movie is just the greatest
The cinematography, shot composition and blocking choices in this are some of the greatest in American cinema.
This movie is a masterpiece. The only nitpicks I have is when Juror #8 shows the knife he bought. I would have liked if another juror asked "how did you get that past security?" and Juror #8 given a explanation...unless back in the 50s jurors were not searched entering the courthouse.
The other nitpick is with the glasses. I would have liked a few more lines like these:
Juror #9 to Juror #4: Do you get those marks on your nose from your glasses for wearing them too long?
Juror #4: Yes. I can't see too far away and I wear them all the time.
Another juror: My grandmother wears glasses, but are only for reading. She just puts them on to read bills and the newspaper. She doesn't wear them long enough to leave marks on her nose.
The impact of the scene is spectacular in the movie, but I would have liked to have made it clear that the woman was nearsighted (sees far away objects extremely blurry) since some people who wear glasses for reading have awesome far vision.
Such a 'noble' film, in the right way. So purposeful and direct. Like a homage to the importance of communicating respectfully. I miss that in most current films. One of my favourite films like this is A Streetcar Named Desire. I guess stage theatre is one of the best homes for this style of dialogue and honesty.
Lee j Cobb was possibly the most underrated actor in cinema history, his performance in this film was as good as it gets.
Came here after watching u react to one piece with Tim. Watching u get emotional when sanji said he good byes made me a fan of yours. I’m subscribing. Your my captain and I’m your first mate
The film lost money back in the day and is still one of the most thought provoking films ever made
Another movie that has a similar feel to this one is the 1966 "A Man For All Seasons". Directed by Fred Zinnemann. Length: 2 hrs.
Thank you for getting it so well!!
This has remained an absolute favorite of mine since I first saw it some 35 years ago as a teenager. Along with the first two Rocky films it's the one I most anticipate seeing young reactors engage with and get pleasantly surprised by. It's really satisfying to watch their growing immersion in the story and to end with a great appreciation for every aspect of the making of this gem. Well done Clariss, I loved your reaction and commentary and really felt for you as it seemed like your emotions started to get the better of you during your summation. Such supreme craftsmenship deserves such reverence. Thanks again. ☺
I used to do local directing for playhouses and such. Not a big deal but it was a fun thing to do for a while. I stopped because I got tired of dealing with the egos of the people involved who were trying to relive their high school drama glory days. I have been asked for years to come back and direct again as I guess I was decent at it for small time productions, and I have never been tempting in the slightest as it just seems silly. I have to say though, if I ever got the opportunity to direct 12 Angry Men I would jump at the chance. This is just one of the best pieces of writing ever made as far as I am concerned and this particular production of it was about as perfect as you can get when it comes to how it was acted and shot. I loved your reaction. It did me good to see a younger person fall in love with a classic like this and know that you will recommend it to other people. Thank you.
This is on my top 5 favorite movies, my dad and I used to watch it every time it was on, what I would give to sit down 1 last time and watch it with him
At least you picked the right version, from the director of Dog Day Afternoon. The remake isn't terrible and has a decent cast, but this is just a masterpiece of filmmaking. The way the camera work builds tension along with the performances with almost no music is really well done. For a film made in the 50s, to tackle something like racism and bigotry is really impressive. Nobody uses a racial slur, but the stereotypes are there and would have been recognizable to the audience back then. "Slum backgrounds" sounds a lot like Fox News calling black people "thugs." It's definitely in my top 5 greatest films of all time, along with 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Godfather 1 and 2 and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
the remake is good, but compared to this its only mediocre.
1943's "The Ox-Bow Incident" --also starring Henry Fonda, "in glorious B&W"--is a classic western with a stunning justice-related story that will also resonant well with anyone who appreciates this superb 1957 film "12 angry men."
You're 100% right that movies like this just aren't made any more. I joke with the thickest sarcasm that Hollywood can't make a movie where everything blows up. There's a place for action movies but seriously good movies don't have to be non-stop action. In fact, movies like The Godfather have the pacing so that the action, when it happens, is so much more real and meaningful.
Speaking of which, you must watch the Godfather if you haven't already. Not only a classic great film but widely considered a contender for the greatest American film ever made. The sequel is considered by some to be even better.
Thanks for sharing!
I am about to turn 72 and I am a big fan of movies, so I have seen many, including this one many times. This is most definitely one of the best movies I have ever seen.
Your reactions are amazing 👏🏼
I love this movie! One of the best cinematic works I've seen 👌🏻
The revised version is in the TV series " The Dead Zone " season 1 " Unreasonable Doubt "! One of the best series I've seen! The older one I think was " To Kill a Mockingbird " Oh I forgot there is another with Tom Cruise " A Few Good Men "!
In one of my two experiences as a juror, the trial took only four hours...but we deliberated for four days. We questioned the hell out of that four hours of testimony. Like this trial, our first vote was 11 to 1 for conviction...and after four days we wound up acquitting the defendant. I was the foreman and actually asked the judge to let us hang it...but the judge said, "No, go back in there and deliver a verdict." I was rather like the guy in this story who "never sweated," and was one of the last two jurors to change to "not guilty" when I realized the single piece of evidence I thought was solid...wasn't so solid after all. It was a moment like, "Well...fuck."
This is such a great film and your reaction and analysis was excellent. I love when people use both their intelligence and compassion when discussing a subject. Thanks for sharing.
Another good movie starring Henry Fonda is The Oxbow Incident it also has a great cast. The last juror to vote not guilty in this movie (Lee J. Cobb) was also the detective in The Exorcist.
This might have been called "12 Angry White Men," but that wouldn't have made it past studio censors. It was extremely unlikely in NY City, even back then, that you would have 12 men let alone 12 angry men in a jury. Yes, women were on juries in NY by then. But this was about the dynamics of different classes and categories of white men coming together to resolve something. The privilege and sense of entitlement; the bigotry; the emotional repression; the balance between reason and passion; certainty v. humility, etc. If you notice the "conservatives" (I'm using these terms in a very specific sense) pushed the "liberals" around in the early parts of the movie, but gradually as their convictions solidified the liberals pushed back. Bertrand Russell once said, "the problem is that the intelligent have doubt, while the stupid are always cocksure." Some notes about the movie - all of the actors were paid the same despite the fact that there were some big names in it. Henry Fonda, Lee Cobb (plays the main antagonist), and Ed Begley (plays the bigot - was a really sweet guy in real life) all accepted much less money than they were paid for in other movies. Lee Cobb had just been sent through the ringer by McCarthy and the House UnAmerican Activities Committee for his radical youth and while he admitted his own radical past he refused to provide names of his old friends - found himself blacklisted and in poverty until his attorney worked out a deal where he provided names they already had - performative to show his "loyalty" which is what those hearings were about more than any substance. He was quite bitter about it and poured it into this character (interesting that a socialist played such a convincing reactionary). The guy who played the immigrant, can't remember his name right now, was from Czechoslovakia. He had run a theater troupe which ran anti-Nazi plays and by the late 1930s he and others associated with the troupe had to flee the country. He would return after WWII, but he found that censorship under Stalin's rule wasn't much better, so he came to the U.S. permanently. Some of the other actors would become much more famous after this movie. Jack Klugman, who played the quiet guy from the slum, would become famous as Oscar Madison opposite Tony Randall in the Odd Couple series. There is a lot of additional history around this incredible film. Notice that for the first part of the movie the camera angle is above them, then for the middle part it's mostly even with their faces, then towards the end the cameras are below the faces. The use of camera angles to create moods was in its infancy at the time, and this movie represented one of the breakthroughs. Thanks for the great reaction!
The acting, the writing, the direction in this film are off the chart! Excellent? Guilty! (Nice reaction, too!)
You might want to compare this with The Oxbow incident, in which Fonda again talks angry men out off a rush to judgement. This time, he's talking to a vigilante mob who have caught their suspect, and have already thrown the rope over the tree limb to hang him.
What was so Amazing about it was that it didnt even look like the actors were acting
"I miss....movies like THIS"-- Have you seen 'All About Eve'? (1950) If so, don't walk, RUN and rectify that. I adore this film. In third grade our teacher had us read the play, and each day over the course of the few days allotted, she would assign a different 12 people each day to play the parts of the jurors. It was awesome and really ignited my love for plays/theater
Truly one of the best films of all time... we're still struggling with every aspect of it in the modern day, unfortunately.
Glad to see you enjoy one of my top 5.
I love how "into it" people get when watching this movie for the first time. A classic is a classic no matter when it was made or how simple the plot. There were three other courtroom movies made in a period between 1957 and 1960 that are among the best ever made of the genre - "Anatomy of a Murder", "Witness for the Prosecution" and "Inherit the Wind." All four are brilliant but this one is my favorite. Lee J. Cobb gave a masterclass on acting, especially that last speech. If you are looking for older, must-watch movies, allow me to recommend my favorite movie of all-time, 1949's "Kind Hearts and Coronets" starring Dennis Price and Alec Guinness (who plays eight different people). I never get tired of watching it.
This is an incredible story and so well written. I say story because I'm sure it's a riveting play as well. It's all acting,nothing else.... I'm so glad you like amazing older movies. For character work you might enjoy The Big Country which was made in the 60s.
"The Best Years of Our Lives" - 1946. Eight Oscars all well deserved. Different from this film but also in the same class of quality in writing and acting.
This movie is the shining example to movie makers , that you don't need big budgets, large sets or special effects. It demonstrates that you only need a good script and great actors to engage and captivate an audience. This movie NEVER gets old. There are remakes, and they are great. But the Original is awesome as it is timeless.
This era of film acting is so interesting. It’s not stage broad but it’s slightly more heightened than full naturalism.
If you want a really good courtroom drama, watch Anatomy of a Murder with Jimmy Stewart, Ben Gazzara, George C. Scott and Lee Remick.
Concur
As an actress you probably already know that this is not just one big star with a few extras. Every one of them has credits galore. But you would need an incredible cast to pull off this one room drama. No place to hide, you must stick the landing on every line.
The angle of the wound is probably the least important fact. Think of all the ways you might try to dodge a stab. You could pull back, you could duck, you could twist left or right, and who knows what else. The movies always make a big deal of "the angle" when in reality it tells little or nothing of the height, weight, handedness of the perpetrator.
Please watch Mr. Roberts, another great Henry Fonda film. Great actors, great writlng and great acting from some of Hollywoods best.
While I only recognize a couple of names in the cast, the one most familiar to me is juror #8, Jack Klugman. He played Oscar Madison in the original TV adaptation of "The Odd Couple" after having the same role on Broadway for a few years. He would later play the title role on "Quincy, M.E.".