This movie is proof that great storytelling doesn't require a multi million dollar budget or cgi to make a impact with the audience.... Just a well written script and great performances!
I show this in my criminology class every year. The students, at first, have a hard time getting them into it because of its age. But by the middle of the film they are invested. Shows you how the quality of the writing can carry a film even today
A philosophy professor showed this to my class 15 years ago in a discussion of barriers to rationality. Of course we had to then write a paper about it, but it really did contribute to the class.
Your students under went same transformation as the rest of the jurors throughout the film. In London, I once recommended this film to an inspiring actor. It was almost like I was unreasonable to say such a thing.
@@Zodroo_Tint But the point is that soon enough they got invested in it. Yes, sadly some younger generation are hesitant to try movies way before their time but once you get into them they'll become big fans, at least a good size of them will from my experience.
When I was a teacher, teaching middle school English, we would do a unit every year on Mob Mentality, and one year I decided to show a clip from this movie during the unit not thinking it would appeal to many students because it's old and black/white footage but it demonstrated a good lesson. To my surprise, the students freaked out when the clip ended and said they had to know what happened and asked if they could either watch the movie in class or get the name so they could go home and watch it. I decided to spend one day watching it in class and the students loved it. I showed the movie for years to come after that. Just goes to show how powerful good STORYTELLING can be even without all the typical Hollywood BS.
I first saw this film in my high school English class. It is one of the few pieces of media that was part of my formal education that actually stuck with me into adulthood. I appreciated it greatly and I'm sure your students did as well.
I had a professor in college years ago that did the same thing for his course on critical thinking. His class and this film transformed me. My debt of gratitude to him remains to this day.
We read the play as a 6th grade reading class, and I've never forgotten it. Thanks for giving your students smart and challenging material. We need more teachers like you.
I like how the film doesn’t paint Juror 8 as someone who absolutely believes the kid is not guilty, but someone who doesn’t know for sure and is asking reasonable questions based on what they’ve been given. It’s a masterful painting of mob mentality and how you should always ask questions before just immediately giving into a point of view.
It's been a while since I read the book or movie, but I'd say he never once believed the kid was guilty, he seemed dead set on convincing everyone he was innocent, that's my interpretation.
That's one of the interpretations. But it is also how you manipulate people to change their minds - you pretend to be neutral to prevent them from immediately getting wary and defensive, and you don't tell them outright their opinions are wrong, you just gradually push them into realizing their opinions might not be right.
Most of the time people just think you are a weirdo, an idiot and a bad person if you go against what the majority is saying or if you question things and think about things that most people just blindly accepts without really thinking about it.
I show 12 Angry Men to my 12th grade students every year. They're always skeptical at first, but ended up loving and appreciating this classic film! Must watch!
Thank you for showing this film to students. This movie can really open up the old synapsis. I remember in High School the first time I saw it. I now try to look at things with a point of view like this movie.
God bless you for showing this movie to young minds. It really helped me when I was younger when it comes to analytical thinking. Imagine a movie/play changing your point of view? Not something that'd happen nowadays. The art of subtlety is lost these days. Truly a classic in every sense of the word.
Nothing wrong with that! I don’t even lament modern filmmaking, too busy with the 180+ movies on my ever growing want to watch list. The Northman is first movie to get my into a theater on 5 year yet a “new movie” every week.
This is a fantastic film everyone needs to see. I remember being assigned to watch this film in my "Film 101" class in college. At the time, I wasn't as invested in movies and what they can do as I am now. As such, I wasn't really thrilled to be assigned to watch an old black and white movie from the 50's. However, after seeing it, I was shocked at how good it really was. It opened my eyes to how a well constructed narrative, tight script writing, and thoughtful cinematography can turn what sounds like a boring premise into an intense and gripping movie. That and you get to walk away with an ending that feels right and justified. The Drinker was 100% right that this movie will stay with you long after the credits roll. It's one of the rare movies that even though I haven't seen it in over 10 years, I can still remember it clearly after only one viewing. It left an impression on me and if you give it a chance, I bet it'll do the same for you.
They did a real number on writing the characters. You can't name any one of them, but their personalities are defined and delineated until they stand out on stark contrast to each other, all while sharing an un-air conditioned room and a table.
Funnily enough "The Man From Earth" is kind of similar in that it's basically just a guy telling a story to his friends in a cabin, and it's still quite an interesting movie
@@RatelHBadger The movie wouldn't be worse with more people of color in it. The message of the movie doesn't rely on them being white (only the one of course). It was just how movies were made those days. And I think you would need 12 men for the triggerin violent atmosphere in the room, so a woman would probably not fit into it. But anyway I guess if you make the accused murderer a woman you could add another layer of precudise into the movie for even more tension. If you have the rascist in the room, why not add a guy who hates women. It clearly works. Anyway thats all I got for... oh wait thats not my line.
This movie has been in my top 20 for ever. The absolute pinnacle of character development. And seeing how many parodies are made base off this film, It must be a top twenty of American Film making.
I dislike most everything Amy Schumer does but the episode "12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer" is one of the funniest things I've seen. And the acting is spectacular because she's almost not in it at all.
@@applesonaplatewithpeas27 In no strict order Blade Runner(82) Cool Hand Luke(67) Good, Bad and the Ugly(66) LA Confidential(97) Three Musketeers ( Lesters 73 version) The Sea Hawk (40) The Thing (Carpenter-82) The Big Lebowski(98) Yojimbo(61) Angels With Dirty Faces (38) Funny how no film made in this millennium would crack my top 20, challenged to crack my top 50.
12 Angry Men fascinates me because on paper, it doesn't seem that interesting: no action scenes, no fun locations, and the case itself is relatively low-key. Yet it's by far one of the most gripping films I've ever seen and a textbook example of how scaling down the scope of your story can make it more meaningful and intense. Juror 8 is one of my favorite fictional heroes despite the fact he does no fighting, is never in danger, and won't see any long-term consequences from his actions no matter how the verdict goes. The moment when he slams the second knife into the table doesn't have a word spoken and no one gets hurt or insulted, yet it's one of the single best moments of ownage in any story ever; I aspire to write a scene as good. While the Drinker talks about the film's themes of doing the right thing even under peer pressure, another understated theme is one of compassion: not just for the accused young man, but also for Juror 3, the last one to change his vote. We acknowledge he's wrong, but we can still understand where he's coming from and have sympathy for him. Frankly I think we need to see more of that sort of thing nowadays.
Davis. Juror 8 is Davis, the old man is McCardle. Those are the only names you get to know but I remember them clear as a bell. Ending scene, when they introduce each other. Rare is the movie where the characters name is only given in the last minutes. If not THE last minute.
Juror 8 could face serious consequences for doing his own research and sneaking outside evidence into the jury room. And if the judge found out he would probably declare a mistrial. The weird thing is that switchblades had only recently been made illegal, most of them would have been legally made in factories, so he didn't need to do that to cast doubt on the uniqueness of the knife. It should have been obvious.
Everytime i watch this movie, and everytime i watch other people's opinions on it, i develop a whole new level of respect and appreciation for this movie. On the surface, its a fairly simple concept but it is so deceptively layered, complex and utterly compelling. It is absolutely remarkable how they were able to actually flesh out 12 characters to that degree in 90 minutes when certain other movies can't do so with less characters and nearly twice the amount of time.
Not to mention that the cast is a who's-who of acting legends. One of my favorite classics. Well done Drinker for putting this on the radar of your viewers!
I could probably name 9 of them and give me 24 hours and I'd remember the other 3. Drinker has no clue - outside of Henry Fonda - who any of these actors are. That 'dickhead' is Ed Begley for a start.
One of the best films ever. Decades ago, a first-rate high school teacher of mine showed the class this film in connection with a lesson on the social and judicial reforms of the 1950s and 60s. It was an inspired choice - my classmates and I were fascinated by the movie and the lessons it imparts about social justice, basic decency, and moral courage live with me still.
I remember watching this in high school, still in my top 5 movies. It's so perfectly sculpted, like a dovetailed piece of carpentry. Also I found it very easy to forget it was a movie, it seems very real and gritty, you can imagine scenes like this transpiring in courthouses anywhere. I think I could probably call it a masterpiece of cinema. I have a tendency to play devil's advocate and I wonder how much of that may have been influenced by 12 Angry Men.
I rarely comment, but for this one it's a must: absolute masterpiece. Must watch, not only for movie enthusiasts, but everyone in these our days where short-sighted wins too often over rational thoughts. It also portrays perfectly that taking good decisions takes time and requires you to think beyond what you believe to be true.
and with the recent televising of trials for entertainment, it helps to have some idea of the actual tension between the facts of a case and what's presented. In our modern day we are not only rarely able to admit we are wrong, we tend towards violence if "our truth" is not fully affirmed.
I rewatched a few months ago … I really think the boy really did do it … everything they bring up is a hypothetical that has so many random outcomes that it would be impossible to ever reach a guilty verdict in any murder case . I really did not see how there was anything proving him innocent.
@@milestonowheres In the American legal system, innocence does not have proven - GUILT has to be proven, and proven "beyond a reasonable doubt" (which is a subjective thing, to be sure, but to me that means that if there's any key evidence that has any reason to be doubted, then you must vote 'not guilty')
@@crumbling1192 when I was this kids age , the OJ trial happened here in America. All my faith in the justice system was killed along with OJs wife . Here was the court system bowing down to money spent to confuse people not not believing reason . I loved this movie and I honestly watched it just a few months ago because i prefer old movies to new ones . But in this case the jury is really only swayed by the Prejudices of the George C Scott character . It’s their dislike of him that changes peoples minds and their votes .. the worse he git’s the more jurors switch over to not look prejudice along with him .. it changed my mind about the movie . I looked at it as a regular case and I seen nothing that said he wasn’t guilty . That is not from not thinking he was guilty first , Iv spent the last 35 years thinking the kid was innocent. Now that I’m older and wiser .. I see he was the killer and bleeding hearts let him free , like with OJ
One of the few movies I’ve seen where I actually stood up at certain points in sheer excitement or panic. Fantastic movie. Probably the most important movie ever made.
I had a teacher in high school who never used a video in class. Actually hated the ideal. Said he wanted us to think and most videos didn't help with that. But one day the TV was set up and he told us that this was the only video he would ever show us in class. We sat and watched 12 angry men. After it was over made us go home and break down every character and what their journey was. It changed our lives. Thank you Mr. Fabrizio, we miss you breeze.
After every single one of your Extra Shots I find myself googling, "Is x film streaming?" Either I haven't seen it and want to now, or I have seen it and want to see it again. Thanks Drinker!
My dad was cleaning up his collection recently and giving me his doubles, The Rocketeer was one and I couldn't have been more pleased since the Drinker had done a video on it relatively recently. I agree, definitely some great gems to either watch or re-watch.
One of my favourites of all time! It still surprises me that the simple setting of 12 people having a chat in a single room could be so captivating! Absolutely brilliant script and delivery. For those who enjoyed this one, I highly recommend Hitchcock's "Rope" for a similarly compelling viewing experience.
My father, who is now 94, used to tell me whenever I would stop long enough, that the writing in the movies of the 40’s and 50’s was so much better than my movies of the 60’s and 70’s. Now that I’m 62, I have changed my opinion about many of the movies he put forth in comparison to several of mine which haven’t aged nearly as well. BUT… both groups of films from the long ago past have much better writing than the majority of what I see now. My son however has totally bought into the CGI based movies today and couldn’t really be bothered to attend to a story based film. I guess growing old sucks in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I was young. In any case, thank you for discussing what an old man still thinks is a great film
@@flerbus I feel like the "average" was better in the 70s than in the 50s. But lots of B movies from the earlier era were better written than the alleged A movies of this one.
It seems to be a burden for every generation growing old, to watch the young ignore and spurn the advice of their elders while failing to appreciate what is there if only they would look. Instead they favour of whatever takes their fancy believing the hype of the time. Though i doubt in 40 years time people will look back on the fast and furious franchise as a classic that the young don't appreciate.
I only saw this movie as a kid, because my literature teacher showed it to us, watched it with us and gave a detailed explanation as to why the characters did what they did, and answered our questions. Then she made us write an essay about the story, but as if we were one of the jury members and we would have done and how would we have reacted in the different scenarios. Twelve Angry Men is on my list of my favorite movies of all time, because of it.🎥📽🎬
I had the same experience with my literature teacher. We watched it and had to write an essay along with a class discussion. Must’ve been part of the broad curriculum of the early 90s back then.
When I was a teenager, I got in an argument about this film with a close friend of mine. He insisted the movie stunk because it really only had one set. I decided, at that moment, to stop discussing movies with him. Twelve Angry Men is a classic film from an era when plot, themes and well developed characters were actually seen as important elements in a movie. Back before computer generated special effects existed to distract the audience from the fact that the dialog was garbage, the acting sub-par, and the plot nonsensical. This is one of my all time favorite movies. Thank you for shining a spotlight on a cinematic masterpiece.
This is a truly great film. Even though 99% of it takes place in one room, at no time do you lose interest. It's absolutely compelling throughout. I've seen it several times over the last few decades and will no doubt watch it again!
I remember being shown this movie in my high school law class. My favorite part was the "You don't really mean that, do you?" line. Even after so many decades this story still holds up so well, because it's lessons are universal. Definitely gotta try and find a hardcopy of this movie.
It also needs to be said that the cast for this film is top-notch: Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, E.G. Marshall....some of the absolute best actors of that era.
@Alexander Kerensky I can't think of any movie with such a quality ensemble cast that all interacted with one another throughout the movie. The number of Oscar and Emmy nomination between them was so many that I wondered how many were not nominated for something.
Great story check Great characters check Great performances check = In my humble opinion, one of the best movies ever made . Also, a very hard movie to make in this agenda, woke and the "message" driven era , sadly. Cheers Peter from the land of Oz 🇦🇺.
I'm surprised this isn't on your main channel, fellow Drinker. A film like this deserves all the attention it can get -- Literally one of the greatest movies of all time, and not so for small, superficial reasoning.
Thanks so much for reminding me of this movie. I saw it when I was young and it inspired me because it shows REAL heroism. REAL integrity. I got it as a kid and it has influenced me for my entire life. This is what the USA used to be about. This kind of courage.
@@KwisatzHaderach.22. some people collect stamps.. I'm a collector of experiences hahaha. I've never been with an Icelandic girl. Albino girl is also high on my list 🤣🤣🤣
I am so glad you mentioned the cinematography in this film, as it represents a master class in how the camera can be used as a way to enhance the storyline and affect the mood of the film. Cinematography is the director's right arm, and 12 Angry Men is an excellent example of that.
Yep, that's what I am also doing. Looking up favourite actors and seeing if they didn't star in something interesting I missed, looking up best movies of the year XX list (anything before 2015 is safe from The Message) or these drinker recommends video's
I remember watching this in school and got an appreciation for Henry Fonda. He has excellent delivery when airing thoughts in monologue or giving speechs. A lot of the best character actors of the time in that film. It's because of this movie I enjoy plots that lead to critical thought of actions and decisions.
I first saw this movie on TV when I was 9. It was such a compelling movie that I instantly loved it. So many scenes were packed with tension that it could easily keep a kid's attention.
This has been one of my favorite films for years now, every single actor kills it in this film. Who would’ve thought that a film that takes place in one room could be so suspenseful and compelling. An absolute masterpiece.
FWIW, it was remade back in the 97 with the sublime Jack Lemon in the Henry Fonda roll and a superb supporting cast. They didn't meddle with the original at all, so it remains a hugely worthwhile viewing experience if you get the chance.
My favorite part of this movie is we don't know if he did it or not. When this movie is unnecessarily remade I'm sure they'll have flashbacks showing what actually happened because we as the viewer aren't smart enough to draw our own opinions or conclusions.
Some years ago I began recommending movies like this and many others to my kids… my eldest and i have long engaging discussions about them… movies can bring people together and should never set them at odds. Well done drinker, well done!
Hey Drinker, don't know if you'll see this or not, don't care i'll Say it anyway. Thank you. Thank you for making me discover this film. Saw your vid at its release, added the film to my backlog and finally took the time to watch it. It glued me to my Seat, made my mom stop reading and my dad gardening, it got all three of us together and didn't let go until the end. It's a gem and again i thank you for making me discover it. Maybe in a day when you're down knowing you made my day, and my parents's by accident will help!
I often site the "Bigot's Speech"in this film when I argue that sunshine is the best disinfectant to kill bad ideas rather than censorship. It isn't until he finally gets to share his view without restrictions that even HE sees the emptiness of his position.
Says a lot about why governments prize censorship so much, doesn't it? How else can you create division among the masses so they fight each other, instead of you?
Not wise to refer to Hollywood for proof of reality. What you may call a bad idea may be the consensus of an entire community, no sunshine will kill that.
@@MALICEM12 Obviously not proof of reality - just a nice relatable allegory. In that regard one could site Henry Fonda's role in how open discourse addresses that "bad idea consensus" scenario. Two sides of the same coin in that regard.
The original was actually required watching in middle school. Great movie. I’m old, these days if someone played that movie in middle school half the parents would be sending death threats to the faculty.
Crushingly sad that you are correct. Anything that requires thought and more than view point is now heresy. Do you think we will get by this or will Putin just blow us all up. Whatever happens, we THOROUGHLY deserve whatever comes.
the man expressed his viewpoint, and only through seeing the reaction of his peers was he shamed and realized his bigotry. this is why censorship of "hate speech" is so wrong. if you remove his voice, his bigotry remains hidden and is allowed to fester. he will only express it openly when he is with other bigots thus reinforcing
I love when one of the jurors says "he don't even speak good English", and the immigrant juror corrects him "does not even speak good English" , it's the small details like this that really elevate this film from good to fukin superb, I will never tire of it.
Completely agree! I saw that and instantly subbed to his channel. The plague doctor makes a good case for 12 Angry Men. Just don't touch just goo jars :p
Thank you for giving me a steer here. I went and checked it out on your recommendation and you're absolutely right, it's a terrific video essay that points out so many subtleties in such a mesmerizing movie. For anyone else interested, here's the link ruclips.net/video/2yuk70UqRyY/видео.html
Oh man I can't believe you did this one. I'm a theater geek myself and just brought this up and a pitch meeting and pretty much have the go ahead to get her running and will most likely direct, which will be my first. I love this movie and would argue it's in the top five greatest films of all time. I'd take Drinker's review deeper and point out that there is no wasted shots. Watch when they leave the courtroom to deliberate the jurors that look back are the first to change their vote except 12 who looks back because the person in front of him does. The way 6 gets 9 a chair long before defending him. When 3,4, and 10 are the last hold outs 3 is the first to turn his back to 10's racist rant and 4 is the one to tell him to close his filthy mouth, while they all agree guilty 3 and 4 are not doing so because of the defendents race. 7 is a turd bucket that could care less about setting a guilty man free or an innocent man off to death he just wants to go to his ball game and even he looks completely indifferent to 10's rant because he's a dick for a different reason, in fact being a sports fan his favorite people are probably black or immigrants. This movie is a master piece in show don't tell. Even when two are talking the actions and gestures of the other ten are relevant, in other words there is no fat in this film and every scene is important. Also it reminds me a bit of the Ache conformity project. Juror 8 isn't Sean Spencer and deduces the whole thing by himself he just breaks the group think which gets the wheels of 9 turning then 5 and 10 etc. While some are dicks you would call stupid in an online argument none are actually stupid in the Websters definition of the word.
@@johngaltline9933 one of my greatest regrets was not doing it in high-school but I was very self conscious then. I didn't get into theater until I was in my 30's and landed the role of Brad Majors in Rocky Horror Picture Show my first time out. Been hooked ever since.
Funny how I saved this movie on my “films to watch” list on Tubi just a couple of days ago and then this is recommended to me. Thanks for the spoiler-free analysis, Drinker! Gotta watch this soon!
Couldn't agree more. This is a pretty excellent film: a simple concept, well thought out, well written, well shot and well acted. I would say it's also pretty timeless because of how it looks and how few (if any) plot points are decade specific. Could use this film to introduce someone to good, older movies that don't receive as much attention as they should.
Thanks for reviewing this movie, it has always been one of my favorites since I was a kid. My Mom was a movie lady, so I cut my teeth on stuff like this and "Arsenic and Old Lace" and to this day I'm a movie guy. You hit all the major points on this movie, but the one you missed that I think is very important especially in this cancel culture era is the very ending of the movie. At the end all but two of the jurors have left the room. Lee J. Cobb (the one who seemed to want the execution to happen for personal reasons) is still sitting at the table stunned and sobbing slowly after his emotional outburst. Henry Fonda who played Juror number 8 sees Cobb's suit jacket hanging in the closet. Instead of walking out of the room and ignoring the man he spent 2 hours arguing with he brings him his jacket and helps him put it on. They fought and it was over and it went back to normal, no victory dancing, no rubbing someones nose in it, no taunting. We had some words , we worked it out, lets move on. That is what we need to bring back in society the ability to disagree and not have it turn personal.
Check out "Arsenic and Old Lace" to see out how modern black and white comedy could be. It stars Cary Grant, Peter Lorre, and Boris Karlov. I don't want to ruin anything but frame for frame, sound byte for sound byte I will put Arsenic and Old Lace up against Trading Places, Ghost Busters, and Get Shorty for best comedy of all time. If the name Peter Lorre doesn't wring a bell he is the one you will recognize from the Bugs Bunny Cartoons. Everyone I show this movie too says the same thing "That cartoon character was based on a real guy? poor bastard" "Bringing up Baby" with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn is also a fucking amazing comedy but it is more mad cap, along the lines of its a mad mad mad mad world without the ensemble cast. They were not aloud to use an actual leopard in the movie so they used ocelots and called them leopards. Apparently every shot with Hepburn and/or Grant with the ocelot had three snipers on set waiting to kill the animals before they mauled the stars.
@@From-North-Jersey Boris Karloff wasn't in Arsenic and Old Lace. I think you're confusing him with Raymond Massey. There was a slight resemblance and their speech patterns were similar.
@@russelllangworthy8855 I thought the joke was Karlov played the older cousin because the plastic surgeon had just seen a Karlov movie before doing the surgery drunk. I never did read the credits. Sorry.
When I was 12-years-old back in my first year of high school, there were two movies my year 8 English teacher made us watch and analyze that gave me a lifelong love of classic movies; 12 Angry Men and To Kill A Mockingbird. We had to write numerous essays on each after watching them, going into pretty deep critical analysis for a bunch of 12 and 13 year old kids, and I loved it. We also watched a shit ton of James Bond movies, because she fucking loved Sean Connery. Good on you, Mrs Robertson.
My English teacher had us watch those in high school but also of mice and men. Good on you Mr. Haun. I hope there are still teachers like Mr. Haun and Mrs. Robertson
What I find so interesting about this movie is that everyone is so happy when Henry Fonda helps the defendant go free. What everyone fails to consider is that, because Henry Fonda is so charismatic and convincing, he may have very well let a murderer go free.
One of the greatest films by one of the greatest directors to ever work in the industry. I highly recommend Sidney Lumet's The Offense as it contains the greatest performance Sean Connery has ever put to film. Lumet was an original who at one point was turning out certified classic after certified classic. Definitely a talent whose filmography deserves a thorough exploration by any and all cinephiles out there.
Agreed Seamus; The offence was/is one serious film (also shoutout to Ian Bannen, a fantastic yet underrated actor) - well worth watching but remember: CONNERY AIN'T BOND in this one.....
Fun fact: If Juror 8 had brought the duplicate knife from outside in real life, the case would have been thrown out right then. But I quibble on what is basically a solid film. Amazing performances especially given we don’t get any names till the end!
Most likely a mistrial, which would mean they could still try him later. I always felt that the reason he didn’t bring it up in court was because the more he thought about it the more he saw the kid wasn’t getting a fair shake, even if he was guilty, and that he saw this as the only way to make sure he’d get a fair verdict, by talking it out and reasoning with the facts. This isn’t to say that he always felt he was innocent.
The thing is about this movie I think most people fail to see is that it points out just how jurors can be flawed in their thinking. How many people go to jail because of bad decisions by jurors? I think this movie really does shed light on innocent people going to jail.
C s Lewis, the Narnia author, talked about “chronological snobbery”. The idea that just because something is recent and newer, it’s better. Ben Hur aside, a lot of older films didn’t have huge budgets and had to rely on good writing and decent acting. Sure, I enjoyed Villeneuve’s Dune, but we know he can produce on the “epic” scale. I like to see him work on a limited budget with one set. Just to see what he could do.
You know, I'm actually kind of stunned to hear that older films from before the 1970's generally aren't respected anymore. Admittedly, I don't really watch newer movies, and generally favor older movies, so I might be a bit biased in my tastes. But to hear that a number of people say that old movies aren't good because they're old is pretty baffling to me, I didn't even know that was something people thought. Unfortunately, this does seem to be a trend in the "arts" world of today, institutionalized disdain for art of the past. On the other hand, it's worth noting how it can be easy to confuse the "opinions of the general public" with what are actually the opinions of a small group of vocal people (and then even from there, the majority can get influenced by this small group, further muddling what the genuine original opinions actually were in the first place).
One of my all time favorites. Was one of the first "old b&w films" I fell in love with despite it being old its more riveting than anything modern. Ive never been tempted to watch the remake.
I've loved this film for years. Its a masterclass of how to keep the setting in a single room whilst still keeping the tension using well crafted dialogue and fantastic acting. Gripping and thought provoking throughout
It's been 25 years since I saw this film, and I only saw it once--haven't thought of it in a long time and yet the story and dialogue still echo in my head to this day. Incredible characters and a great lesson in humanity. Thanks Drinker.
I saw this movie many years ago, when I was going down a list of the most legendary movies of all time. Some of those movies may not have really deserved the title… but yeah, this one really did.
I love this movie. but one thing i think you may have missed, its that a lot of movies from this era were based on stage plays. and shot accordingly. that could be why the character development is so succinct and on point.
Many, if not most Hollywood writers were from the stage, even today. It’s a great calling card to be able to apply for a screenwriter job and have a produced stage play. A lot of writers and actors came from New York and Chicago because of lots of theater.
I honestly feel that this is one of the very, very few films you could recommend to just about ANYONE and they would love it. Seriously, you could probably show this to a 12-year-old kid who's never had the slightest interest in black and white films and even they would find at least a significant amount of it absolutely gripping.
This was a rare case where the remake was almost as good. 12 Angry Men is everything you said it was, and more. The original, with Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb, and the kindly old man, I'm pretty sure was the voice of Piglet in the Winnie the Pooh cartoons. The remake had Jack Lemmon in the Henry Fonda role and George C. Scott played Lee J. Cobb's part. I remember Tony Danza was the sports guy, but I can't remember anyone else. Another thing that you never mentioned, none of them had names. They were only ever referred to as "Juror Number (X)" Only Henry Fonda gave his name at the end, when he shook hands with the old man, and I don't remember what it was, cause honestly, it's not important by then. You've just watched a master class in film making, that was little more than 12 guys in a small room for 90 minutes.
No disrespect to your oppinion but the remake was pure shit and I like many of those actors. Jack Lemmon was blank, George C. Scott overacted, Armin Mueller-Stahl played a german caricature, Edward James Olmos was boring, I saw the movie long time ago but if I remember correctly the whole movie had those "let's get over with it" feeling. It was like the director had his paper his intern wrote after watching the original and he checkmarked every square without thinking to much of it. Watch the two movie, one after the other. You can watch the remake first so if the original still has more effect on you you can clearly see the difference. I know what I'm talking about, I knew about the original but I saw the remake first and I liked it, but it is just a shadow of the original.
At the end, they all vanish into the crowd, alone, and no longer significant. Classic! They showed us this movie at Harvard Law School. We laughed at the poor reasoning even Henry Fonda's hero employed on occasion, but by the end we all got the larger points. Interestingly, My Cousin Vinnie was recommended by our evidence professor, Charles Nesson (one of five graduates of HLS with a perfect GPA in its history), as perfect for understanding the rules of evidence. Go figure.
Why did you feel Fonda's character employed poor reasoning? Asking out of curiosity? I thought his doubts were pretty well answered by the other Jurors, especially Juror #4 or rather these doubts were pretty well fleshed out only to lead more doubts.
During the first act of the film, Fonda's character is skeptical but cannot explain why in detail. It is only when he starts reenacting and getting the input of each juror in turn that he actually gathers enough evidence to provide reasonable doubt. Having doubts without evidence is poor reasoning. Then, there are his pronouncements about the law and demeanor evidence for which he has no evidence that are just as unreliable as the other jurors'. He is still heroic and a pillar for justice, but not without flaw.@@LetsbeHonest97
This is one of movies that caused my love of film and the judicial system. The ability to capture the dialogues of such diverse characters, capturing the way people rush to judgement, the inability/lack of desire to listen to other points of view and the strength of one person to stand in their truth and seek the right decision about someone’s life, and not falter. I have always tried to be the one who takes the time to listen to ALL the evidence. It may take more time, but it allows for at least seeming to come to the truth. Anyway, Sidney Lumet was a master of these films and I am glad the studios allowed for such characterizations and the tackling of such complex issues.
Easily in my top ten favorite movies and my go to on how to write characters and dialogue. This was before flashy special effects via CGI. When the writing was the only thing on display outside the performances.
I'm so glad you covered this one! It's an amazing piece I've enjoyed for a long time and it actually taught me not to take something at face value and dig deeper, and the different personalities of each man make it so much better.
I would recommend a film released the same year Timelock, simple premise Kid trapped in safe and people trying to get him out and i believe first appearance of Sean connery but i really loved that film and feel it needs more love
I watched this recently, along with: It's All About Eve and School for Scoundrels. Absolutely fantastic movies with a real upgrade to the dialogue of the characters over modern movies. They're a pretty good companion to the book 48 Laws Of Power, as the latter two movies are centred around a similar theme.
School for Scoundrels is an absolutely wonderful comedy film that holds up to this day. One of my favourites. Another of my old favourites is The Fortune Cookie.
All about Eve. OMG. Marilyn Monroe cameo basically playing herself. Inside the make it or break it theatre world. Hudsucker Proxy covers this in more detail but I don't think it's as good as All about Eve or 12 Angry Men.
@@main_stream_media_is_a_joke I'll check that one out, cheers. Yeah the old classics are so surprisingly educated in comparison to any movie made today. Dialogue is important.
This was an incredible timeless film. Captured perfectly what goes on during jury duty, the different types of people and how it takes one patient man to get everyone to the truth.
This is easily one of my all-time favorite films. What makes it work is how timeless the story is. It could be 1957, 1997, or even today, but the themes and subject matter will forever ring true.
I was showed this in my history class last year. It is now in my top ten movies of all time. I really love this movie, and I'm glad you made a review on it.
*"Jesus. It's hard to believe that an old black and white movie from the 1950's could be more intelligent, insightful, thought-provoking, and socially conscious than pretty much any of the ham-fisted garbage that's been shat out in the past 10 years, but there it is."* Just wanted to write out that quote from the video to highlight it.
It's amazing how you can make an excellent movie with 12 men in one room. Check out The Sunset Limited, it's just Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel Jackson having a conversation. Why not the Twilight Zone episode The Encounter? I guess check out Friedkin's remake, at least the cast is great as well. George C Scott did a great job playing the same character that Lee J Cobb played. Both actors played the same character in the Exorcist as well.
@@shakespeare4bears Damn you're right. We need a special edition. Throw in aliens, then have the football team show up and save the day because these 12 men are taking too long to make a decision. Don't forget the post-credit scenes: the Judge assembles a team.
This movie is simply brillant! The remake (1997) starring Jack Lemmon is good too! Another awesome black and white movie, from 1957: _Witness for the Prosecution_ , starring Marlene Dietrich
My 9th grade Government teacher showed my class this movie as well as an awesome T.V. series called Jericho 😎 I'm probably the only one from my class that remembers watching this, but I'll always be grateful for the insights and wisdom these films/shows gave us/me :)
This is one of the best movies ever made. My wife thinks so too. She is a 29 year old Filipina who was born and raised there. Just goes to show that good story telling reaches all over the world, and people are hungry for it.
One of my favorite movies ever. Once upon a time, it was possible to make an excellent character-driven movie that had something meaningful to say about a complex subject. With subtlety. Letting the story speak for itself. Not crassly bludgeoning you in the face with ghoulish remedial level Hollywood faketivist political indoctrination of THE MESSAGE. Not to mention how ugly, vicious and hateful the tone of movies has now become. We've lost so much. I no longer watch anything made in the last 20 to 30 years. Except a few British or other foreign movies. The South Koreans are doing some truly awesome zombie and other horror films currently. Some pretty amazing action and martial arts stuff coming out of Indonesia. Good movies are out there. But they cannot be made in the American Hollywood system anymore. That is now completely impossible. I'm happy to watch it die, and that's what it deserves for making terrible art.
Reading some of the comments here, interesting to note how few are from people working in the industry....which makes me wonder: What ARE the current idiots 'Writing' for Hollywood, actually watching in their spare time? Have they ever watched Classic Films? I ask because when you think about the appalling garbage Hollywood spews out on a daily basis...you have to ask...Why? Are modern screenwriters completely ignorant of films like this? Baffling.
I love when turner classic movies has this on, I’ve seen it at least 5 times but I always end up sitting down and watching it to completion every time it’s on. The book is amazing and the movie is just as good
I was forced to watch this movie in a communications class in college. Thought I'd find it boring but absolutely loved it. Have since bought the DVD. The only black and white film I own physically. For a movie about 12 dudes in a single room it really keeps you absolutely captivated from start to finish. Not at all boring, quite the opposite.
This movie is proof that great storytelling doesn't require a multi million dollar budget or cgi to make a impact with the audience.... Just a well written script and great performances!
THIS.
@Ralph Reilly You're right. Just look at some of the modern day classics like Pitch Perfect or Charlie's Angels.
The Man from Earth is one like that.
@@russelllangworthy8855 or Michael Bays body of work
You forgot directing
I show this in my criminology class every year. The students, at first, have a hard time getting them into it because of its age. But by the middle of the film they are invested. Shows you how the quality of the writing can carry a film even today
A philosophy professor showed this to my class 15 years ago in a discussion of barriers to rationality. Of course we had to then write a paper about it, but it really did contribute to the class.
And it’s an interesting take on the jurors your students may have to impress some day.
They have hard time getting into it? What a shame. Old means bad nowadays.
Your students under went same transformation as the rest of the jurors throughout the film.
In London, I once recommended this film to an inspiring actor. It was almost like I was unreasonable to say such a thing.
@@Zodroo_Tint But the point is that soon enough they got invested in it. Yes, sadly some younger generation are hesitant to try movies way before their time but once you get into them they'll become big fans, at least a good size of them will from my experience.
When I was a teacher, teaching middle school English, we would do a unit every year on Mob Mentality, and one year I decided to show a clip from this movie during the unit not thinking it would appeal to many students because it's old and black/white footage but it demonstrated a good lesson. To my surprise, the students freaked out when the clip ended and said they had to know what happened and asked if they could either watch the movie in class or get the name so they could go home and watch it. I decided to spend one day watching it in class and the students loved it. I showed the movie for years to come after that. Just goes to show how powerful good STORYTELLING can be even without all the typical Hollywood BS.
I first saw this film in my high school English class. It is one of the few pieces of media that was part of my formal education that actually stuck with me into adulthood. I appreciated it greatly and I'm sure your students did as well.
I first watched this movie at home in the 60's and then again in Middle School in the 70's
I had a professor in college years ago that did the same thing for his course on critical thinking. His class and this film transformed me. My debt of gratitude to him remains to this day.
We read the play as a 6th grade reading class, and I've never forgotten it. Thanks for giving your students smart and challenging material. We need more teachers like you.
Solid movie... That and inherit the wind.
I think 12 angry men is better, but inherit the wind was pretty enjoyable as well
I like how the film doesn’t paint Juror 8 as someone who absolutely believes the kid is not guilty, but someone who doesn’t know for sure and is asking reasonable questions based on what they’ve been given. It’s a masterful painting of mob mentality and how you should always ask questions before just immediately giving into a point of view.
It's been a while since I read the book or movie, but I'd say he never once believed the kid was guilty, he seemed dead set on convincing everyone he was innocent, that's my interpretation.
That's one of the interpretations. But it is also how you manipulate people to change their minds - you pretend to be neutral to prevent them from immediately getting wary and defensive, and you don't tell them outright their opinions are wrong, you just gradually push them into realizing their opinions might not be right.
yes question everything
Most of the time people just think you are a weirdo, an idiot and a bad person if you go against what the majority is saying or if you question things and think about things that most people just blindly accepts without really thinking about it.
I show 12 Angry Men to my 12th grade students every year. They're always skeptical at first, but ended up loving and appreciating this classic film! Must watch!
Thank you for showing this film to students. This movie can really open up the old synapsis. I remember in High School the first time I saw it. I now try to look at things with a point of view like this movie.
God bless you for showing this movie to young minds. It really helped me when I was younger when it comes to analytical thinking. Imagine a movie/play changing your point of view? Not something that'd happen nowadays. The art of subtlety is lost these days. Truly a classic in every sense of the word.
This is a movie that is a must-see for any cinema enthusiast. Funny, as the years go by, recommending movies becomes an exercise in archeology.
Nothing wrong with that! I don’t even lament modern filmmaking, too busy with the 180+ movies on my ever growing want to watch list. The Northman is first movie to get my into a theater on 5 year yet a “new movie” every week.
How long does a film have to be in order to be considered an "antique"?
@@texasbeast239 It has to have come out before 2015, when The Message™ started showing up.
Best Robin Hood was Errol Flynn... Back in 1938. Best gangster is James Cagney. Best detective is Bogart. Best bald king is Yul Brynner.
he oldest are the best, most precious gems get preserved the best :)
This is a fantastic film everyone needs to see. I remember being assigned to watch this film in my "Film 101" class in college. At the time, I wasn't as invested in movies and what they can do as I am now. As such, I wasn't really thrilled to be assigned to watch an old black and white movie from the 50's. However, after seeing it, I was shocked at how good it really was. It opened my eyes to how a well constructed narrative, tight script writing, and thoughtful cinematography can turn what sounds like a boring premise into an intense and gripping movie. That and you get to walk away with an ending that feels right and justified. The Drinker was 100% right that this movie will stay with you long after the credits roll. It's one of the rare movies that even though I haven't seen it in over 10 years, I can still remember it clearly after only one viewing. It left an impression on me and if you give it a chance, I bet it'll do the same for you.
Notice me senpai!
They did a real number on writing the characters. You can't name any one of them, but their personalities are defined and delineated until they stand out on stark contrast to each other, all while sharing an un-air conditioned room and a table.
Same here!
This desccription reminds me of "Chicago Cab".
As the Drinker said, its a masterclass. No explosions, no CGI, no exotic locations. If your writing and directing isn't top notch you can't hide it.
Twelve men talk in a room for an hour and a half, yet it's one of the most interesting and exciting movies in history.
lets hope the woke 10 part "12 angry women" is never made
@@stryyker9 "12 anti-men" you mean
@@stryyker9 12 angry colored and not a single man in sight
Oh god! don't even whisper that, they've managing to ruin too many great stories already
Funnily enough "The Man From Earth" is kind of similar in that it's basically just a guy telling a story to his friends in a cabin, and it's still quite an interesting movie
This movie needed to be shown in every single gender studies class.
Wouldn't happen. It stars too many white men.
@@RatelHBadger The movie wouldn't be worse with more people of color in it. The message of the movie doesn't rely on them being white (only the one of course). It was just how movies were made those days. And I think you would need 12 men for the triggerin violent atmosphere in the room, so a woman would probably not fit into it. But anyway I guess if you make the accused murderer a woman you could add another layer of precudise into the movie for even more tension.
If you have the rascist in the room, why not add a guy who hates women. It clearly works.
Anyway thats all I got for... oh wait thats not my line.
@@zidahya While I agree with you... However my point is, it would never fly in a gender studies class.
@@RatelHBadger We can agree on that one. But I guess mostly because there is not much to learn about the idea of gender.
Would defeat the point of "gender studies" class
This movie has been in my top 20 for ever. The absolute pinnacle of character development. And seeing how many parodies are made base off this film, It must be a top twenty of American Film making.
just watched it...never thought itd keep me glued to the screen for the whole run time...wow movies actually used to be good..
I dislike most everything Amy Schumer does but the episode "12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer" is one of the funniest things I've seen. And the acting is spectacular because she's almost not in it at all.
whats your top ten , boss ?
@@tnzwest I really enjoyed the Family Guy version, another one of those shows that are mostly misses, but occasionally home runs.
@@applesonaplatewithpeas27 In no strict order
Blade Runner(82)
Cool Hand Luke(67)
Good, Bad and the Ugly(66)
LA Confidential(97)
Three Musketeers ( Lesters 73 version)
The Sea Hawk (40)
The Thing (Carpenter-82)
The Big Lebowski(98)
Yojimbo(61)
Angels With Dirty Faces (38)
Funny how no film made in this millennium would crack my top 20, challenged to crack my top 50.
12 Angry Men fascinates me because on paper, it doesn't seem that interesting: no action scenes, no fun locations, and the case itself is relatively low-key. Yet it's by far one of the most gripping films I've ever seen and a textbook example of how scaling down the scope of your story can make it more meaningful and intense.
Juror 8 is one of my favorite fictional heroes despite the fact he does no fighting, is never in danger, and won't see any long-term consequences from his actions no matter how the verdict goes. The moment when he slams the second knife into the table doesn't have a word spoken and no one gets hurt or insulted, yet it's one of the single best moments of ownage in any story ever; I aspire to write a scene as good.
While the Drinker talks about the film's themes of doing the right thing even under peer pressure, another understated theme is one of compassion: not just for the accused young man, but also for Juror 3, the last one to change his vote. We acknowledge he's wrong, but we can still understand where he's coming from and have sympathy for him. Frankly I think we need to see more of that sort of thing nowadays.
So you're saying Uwe Boll would have never directed?
Davis. Juror 8 is Davis, the old man is McCardle. Those are the only names you get to know but I remember them clear as a bell. Ending scene, when they introduce each other. Rare is the movie where the characters name is only given in the last minutes. If not THE last minute.
Juror 8 could face serious consequences for doing his own research and sneaking outside evidence into the jury room. And if the judge found out he would probably declare a mistrial.
The weird thing is that switchblades had only recently been made illegal, most of them would have been legally made in factories, so he didn't need to do that to cast doubt on the uniqueness of the knife. It should have been obvious.
Everytime i watch this movie, and everytime i watch other people's opinions on it, i develop a whole new level of respect and appreciation for this movie. On the surface, its a fairly simple concept but it is so deceptively layered, complex and utterly compelling. It is absolutely remarkable how they were able to actually flesh out 12 characters to that degree in 90 minutes when certain other movies can't do so with less characters and nearly twice the amount of time.
Just goes to show what can be achieved with tight script writing, excellent acting and directing. If only modern day Hollywood could catch on.
Not to mention that the cast is a who's-who of acting legends. One of my favorite classics. Well done Drinker for putting this on the radar of your viewers!
Cast is Murderers Row of acting.
couldnt have been more thankful to him for the extremely enjoyable movie...how weird
definitely going to recommend it to everyone in the family
I could probably name 9 of them and give me 24 hours and I'd remember the other 3. Drinker has no clue - outside of Henry Fonda - who any of these actors are. That 'dickhead' is Ed Begley for a start.
One of the best films ever. Decades ago, a first-rate high school teacher of mine showed the class this film in connection with a lesson on the social and judicial reforms of the 1950s and 60s. It was an inspired choice - my classmates and I were fascinated by the movie and the lessons it imparts about social justice, basic decency, and moral courage live with me still.
I remember watching this in high school, still in my top 5 movies. It's so perfectly sculpted, like a dovetailed piece of carpentry. Also I found it very easy to forget it was a movie, it seems very real and gritty, you can imagine scenes like this transpiring in courthouses anywhere. I think I could probably call it a masterpiece of cinema. I have a tendency to play devil's advocate and I wonder how much of that may have been influenced by 12 Angry Men.
I rarely comment, but for this one it's a must: absolute masterpiece. Must watch, not only for movie enthusiasts, but everyone in these our days where short-sighted wins too often over rational thoughts. It also portrays perfectly that taking good decisions takes time and requires you to think beyond what you believe to be true.
and with the recent televising of trials for entertainment, it helps to have some idea of the actual tension between the facts of a case and what's presented.
In our modern day we are not only rarely able to admit we are wrong, we tend towards violence if "our truth" is not fully affirmed.
I rewatched a few months ago … I really think the boy really did do it … everything they bring up is a hypothetical that has so many random outcomes that it would be impossible to ever reach a guilty verdict in any murder case .
I really did not see how there was anything proving him innocent.
@@milestonowheres In the American legal system, innocence does not have proven - GUILT has to be proven, and proven "beyond a reasonable doubt" (which is a subjective thing, to be sure, but to me that means that if there's any key evidence that has any reason to be doubted, then you must vote 'not guilty')
@@crumbling1192 when I was this kids age , the OJ trial happened here in America. All my faith in the justice system was killed along with OJs wife . Here was the court system bowing down to money spent to confuse people not not believing reason .
I loved this movie and I honestly watched it just a few months ago because i prefer old movies to new ones . But in this case the jury is really only swayed by the
Prejudices of the George C Scott character . It’s their dislike of him that changes peoples minds and their votes .. the worse he git’s the more jurors switch over to not look prejudice along with him .. it changed my mind about the movie . I looked at it as a regular case and I seen nothing that said he wasn’t guilty .
That is not from not thinking he was guilty first , Iv spent the last 35 years thinking the kid was innocent. Now that I’m older and wiser .. I see he was the killer and bleeding hearts let him free , like with OJ
One of the few movies I’ve seen where I actually stood up at certain points in sheer excitement or panic. Fantastic movie. Probably the most important movie ever made.
I think I had to watch this in 8th grade or something, back in the 90s, and man...we were glued to it.
I had a teacher in high school who never used a video in class. Actually hated the ideal. Said he wanted us to think and most videos didn't help with that. But one day the TV was set up and he told us that this was the only video he would ever show us in class. We sat and watched 12 angry men. After it was over made us go home and break down every character and what their journey was. It changed our lives. Thank you Mr. Fabrizio, we miss you breeze.
After every single one of your Extra Shots I find myself googling, "Is x film streaming?" Either I haven't seen it and want to now, or I have seen it and want to see it again. Thanks Drinker!
My dad was cleaning up his collection recently and giving me his doubles, The Rocketeer was one and I couldn't have been more pleased since the Drinker had done a video on it relatively recently. I agree, definitely some great gems to either watch or re-watch.
One of my favourites of all time! It still surprises me that the simple setting of 12 people having a chat in a single room could be so captivating! Absolutely brilliant script and delivery. For those who enjoyed this one, I highly recommend Hitchcock's "Rope" for a similarly compelling viewing experience.
Dude, Rope is amazing!
My father, who is now 94, used to tell me whenever I would stop long enough, that the writing in the movies of the 40’s and 50’s was so much better than my movies of the 60’s and 70’s. Now that I’m 62, I have changed my opinion about many of the movies he put forth in comparison to several of mine which haven’t aged nearly as well. BUT… both groups of films from the long ago past have much better writing than the majority of what I see now. My son however has totally bought into the CGI based movies today and couldn’t really be bothered to attend to a story based film. I guess growing old sucks in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I was young. In any case, thank you for discussing what an old man still thinks is a great film
Tell your old man he's doing good.
this is true, but also remember you are seeing the cream of the crop from that era, plenty of shit was made as well
There was some right tripe in the 1970's.
@@flerbus I feel like the "average" was better in the 70s than in the 50s. But lots of B movies from the earlier era were better written than the alleged A movies of this one.
It seems to be a burden for every generation growing old, to watch the young ignore and spurn the advice of their elders while failing to appreciate what is there if only they would look. Instead they favour of whatever takes their fancy believing the hype of the time. Though i doubt in 40 years time people will look back on the fast and furious franchise as a classic that the young don't appreciate.
I only saw this movie as a kid, because my literature teacher showed it to us, watched it with us and gave a detailed explanation as to why the characters did what they did, and answered our questions. Then she made us write an essay about the story, but as if we were one of the jury members and we would have done and how would we have reacted in the different scenarios.
Twelve Angry Men is on my list of my favorite movies of all time, because of it.🎥📽🎬
Also saw it as a kid in English class. :-)
Me too. Maybe we were all in the same class.
@@jasonseipler2665 Maranatha High? ..class 93? Lol
I had the same experience with my literature teacher. We watched it and had to write an essay along with a class discussion. Must’ve been part of the broad curriculum of the early 90s back then.
@@jasonseipler2665 Dunno. I am Hungarian and never left the country during my school years.🤷♂
When I was a teenager, I got in an argument about this film with a close friend of mine. He insisted the movie stunk because it really only had one set. I decided, at that moment, to stop discussing movies with him. Twelve Angry Men is a classic film from an era when plot, themes and well developed characters were actually seen as important elements in a movie. Back before computer generated special effects existed to distract the audience from the fact that the dialog was garbage, the acting sub-par, and the plot nonsensical. This is one of my all time favorite movies. Thank you for shining a spotlight on a cinematic masterpiece.
Well technically it has two sets: the court room and the room they use to discuss. So your friend’s math needs some improvement. 😀
This is a truly great film. Even though 99% of it takes place in one room, at no time do you lose interest. It's absolutely compelling throughout. I've seen it several times over the last few decades and will no doubt watch it again!
I remember being shown this movie in my high school law class. My favorite part was the "You don't really mean that, do you?" line. Even after so many decades this story still holds up so well, because it's lessons are universal. Definitely gotta try and find a hardcopy of this movie.
It also needs to be said that the cast for this film is top-notch: Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, E.G. Marshall....some of the absolute best actors of that era.
"some of the absolute best actors." FIFY ;)
All they were missing was Raymond Burr.
and Lee J. Cobb
@@451whitworth4
Also a fine actor.
@Alexander Kerensky I can't think of any movie with such a quality ensemble cast that all interacted with one another throughout the movie. The number of Oscar and Emmy nomination between them was so many that I wondered how many were not nominated for something.
Great story check
Great characters check
Great performances check
= In my humble opinion, one of the best movies ever made .
Also, a very hard movie to make in this agenda, woke and the "message" driven era , sadly.
Cheers
Peter from the land of Oz 🇦🇺.
If they wanted to make it today it would have to be 11 Dopey White bigots and 1 courageous Black lesbian.
✌️ m8 ....
They would woke-ify it today. It did touch on racism subtly, and a 2020's remake would make it exclusively about white racism.
I'm surprised this isn't on your main channel, fellow Drinker. A film like this deserves all the attention it can get -- Literally one of the greatest movies of all time, and not so for small, superficial reasoning.
An absolute masterpiece..not only one of my favourite classics but one of my favourite movies. Period
Thanks so much for reminding me of this movie. I saw it when I was young and it inspired me because it shows REAL heroism. REAL integrity. I got it as a kid and it has influenced me for my entire life. This is what the USA used to be about. This kind of courage.
One of the best movies ever made. Absolutely incredible!
Any chance you might know any single Icelandic girls haha
@@drliamo9049 hehe sorry bruv
@@KwisatzHaderach.22. some people collect stamps.. I'm a collector of experiences hahaha. I've never been with an Icelandic girl. Albino girl is also high on my list 🤣🤣🤣
@LTNetjak But it didn't end in a mistrial. They found him not guilty.
@@drliamo9049 Sorry bruv. Can't recommend it enough, the Dottirs I've dated are some wild viking ladies 😊😊
I am so glad you mentioned the cinematography in this film, as it represents a master class in how the camera can be used as a way to enhance the storyline and affect the mood of the film. Cinematography is the director's right arm, and 12 Angry Men is an excellent example of that.
In obvious absence of good modern movies, young Will should look more often for ancient gems like this one. There are plenty of them in the archives.
There are Masterpieces awaiting. Don't waste time on dreck.
Yep, that's what I am also doing. Looking up favourite actors and seeing if they didn't star in something interesting I missed, looking up best movies of the year XX list (anything before 2015 is safe from The Message) or these drinker recommends video's
Peckinpah he needs to do a Peckinpah at some point
Citizen Kane next?
@@Jim87_36 personaly I prefer Touch of evil and I think that movie might be more The Drinker's taste as well
I remember watching this in school and got an appreciation for Henry Fonda. He has excellent delivery when airing thoughts in monologue or giving speechs. A lot of the best character actors of the time in that film. It's because of this movie I enjoy plots that lead to critical thought of actions and decisions.
I first saw this movie on TV when I was 9. It was such a compelling movie that I instantly loved it. So many scenes were packed with tension that it could easily keep a kid's attention.
This has been one of my favorite films for years now, every single actor kills it in this film. Who would’ve thought that a film that takes place in one room could be so suspenseful and compelling. An absolute masterpiece.
Mine too. Oh, and for an arguably also good movie with even less space: watch Phone Booth (2002). ;)
FWIW, it was remade back in the 97 with the sublime Jack Lemon in the Henry Fonda roll and a superb supporting cast. They didn't meddle with the original at all, so it remains a hugely worthwhile viewing experience if you get the chance.
Lifeboat (1944) is similar in that way and even more confined.
My favorite part of this movie is we don't know if he did it or not. When this movie is unnecessarily remade I'm sure they'll have flashbacks showing what actually happened because we as the viewer aren't smart enough to draw our own opinions or conclusions.
It's already been remade several times - none as good as the original clearly
@@cshaffrey3438 : There was a remake in the 90's that I thought was pretty good. But yeah, none as good as the original.
Some years ago I began recommending movies like this and many others to my kids… my eldest and i have long engaging discussions about them… movies can bring people together and should never set them at odds. Well done drinker, well done!
I watched this in High School. Excellent film! I still remember parts of it thirty years later.
Hey Drinker, don't know if you'll see this or not, don't care i'll Say it anyway. Thank you.
Thank you for making me discover this film. Saw your vid at its release, added the film to my backlog and finally took the time to watch it. It glued me to my Seat, made my mom stop reading and my dad gardening, it got all three of us together and didn't let go until the end. It's a gem and again i thank you for making me discover it.
Maybe in a day when you're down knowing you made my day, and my parents's by accident will help!
I often site the "Bigot's Speech"in this film when I argue that sunshine is the best disinfectant to kill bad ideas rather than censorship.
It isn't until he finally gets to share his view without restrictions that even HE sees the emptiness of his position.
Says a lot about why governments prize censorship so much, doesn't it? How else can you create division among the masses so they fight each other, instead of you?
That's the old phrase right?
"The truth will set you free"
Not wise to refer to Hollywood for proof of reality. What you may call a bad idea may be the consensus of an entire community, no sunshine will kill that.
@@MALICEM12 Obviously not proof of reality - just a nice relatable allegory. In that regard one could site Henry Fonda's role in how open discourse addresses that "bad idea consensus" scenario. Two sides of the same coin in that regard.
Just keep in mind that talking to a closed infobubble of people who share your views on youtube isn't sunshine.
The original was actually required watching in middle school. Great movie. I’m old, these days if someone played that movie in middle school half the parents would be sending death threats to the faculty.
@LonerlRelnol no clue. But I’m positive the next remake will be called “12 upset, equally diverse and strong women” though.
@@dr.chungusphd108 ...and it's only 5 minutes long because they all find him not guilty straight away.
@LonerlRelnol lol Rewrite it for the OJ trial. [Sometimes I just disgust myself.]
Crushingly sad that you are correct. Anything that requires thought and more than view point is now heresy. Do you think we will get by this or will Putin just blow us all up. Whatever happens, we THOROUGHLY deserve whatever comes.
The "turning the backs" scene is fkng stunning every time.
the man expressed his viewpoint, and only through seeing the reaction of his peers was he shamed and realized his bigotry.
this is why censorship of "hate speech" is so wrong. if you remove his voice, his bigotry remains hidden and is allowed to fester.
he will only express it openly when he is with other bigots thus reinforcing
@@flerbus well 'thank you' for explaining the scene "This channel doesn't have any content" ^&*$
Whenever I think about the best movies ever made, this is always on my list. A masterpiece.
I love when one of the jurors says "he don't even speak good English", and the immigrant juror corrects him "does not even speak good English" , it's the small details like this that really elevate this film from good to fukin superb, I will never tire of it.
I strongly recommend Fringy's (of EFAP fame) breakdown of the movie. He does an excellent job pointing out all kinds of juicy little details.
Completely agree! I saw that and instantly subbed to his channel. The plague doctor makes a good case for 12 Angry Men.
Just don't touch just goo jars :p
Thank you for giving me a steer here. I went and checked it out on your recommendation and you're absolutely right, it's a terrific video essay that points out so many subtleties in such a mesmerizing movie.
For anyone else interested, here's the link ruclips.net/video/2yuk70UqRyY/видео.html
frog daddy G
Oh man I can't believe you did this one. I'm a theater geek myself and just brought this up and a pitch meeting and pretty much have the go ahead to get her running and will most likely direct, which will be my first. I love this movie and would argue it's in the top five greatest films of all time.
I'd take Drinker's review deeper and point out that there is no wasted shots. Watch when they leave the courtroom to deliberate the jurors that look back are the first to change their vote except 12 who looks back because the person in front of him does. The way 6 gets 9 a chair long before defending him. When 3,4, and 10 are the last hold outs 3 is the first to turn his back to 10's racist rant and 4 is the one to tell him to close his filthy mouth, while they all agree guilty 3 and 4 are not doing so because of the defendents race. 7 is a turd bucket that could care less about setting a guilty man free or an innocent man off to death he just wants to go to his ball game and even he looks completely indifferent to 10's rant because he's a dick for a different reason, in fact being a sports fan his favorite people are probably black or immigrants. This movie is a master piece in show don't tell.
Even when two are talking the actions and gestures of the other ten are relevant, in other words there is no fat in this film and every scene is important.
Also it reminds me a bit of the Ache conformity project. Juror 8 isn't Sean Spencer and deduces the whole thing by himself he just breaks the group think which gets the wheels of 9 turning then 5 and 10 etc.
While some are dicks you would call stupid in an online argument none are actually stupid in the Websters definition of the word.
I remember seeing this on stage in London 2001, amazing
A fantastic stage play. I've wanted to put on a production since I was in High school, some 20 years ago.
@@johngaltline9933 one of my greatest regrets was not doing it in high-school but I was very self conscious then. I didn't get into theater until I was in my 30's and landed the role of Brad Majors in Rocky Horror Picture Show my first time out. Been hooked ever since.
Will you be doing Twelve Angry Men or Twelve Angry "Jurors"?
Good luck with directing this play! I'm an actor, and I've always wanted to be in a production of 12 Angry Men.
Funny how I saved this movie on my “films to watch” list on Tubi just a couple of days ago and then this is recommended to me. Thanks for the spoiler-free analysis, Drinker! Gotta watch this soon!
It's absolutely riveting. A true masterpiece.
Man, I am 36 and just discovered this gem, my brother in law recommended this to me saying that it's in his top top list of all time.
Watched this show a few years ago. It should be MANDATORY watching before every criminal jury trial.
Couldn't agree more. This is a pretty excellent film: a simple concept, well thought out, well written, well shot and well acted. I would say it's also pretty timeless because of how it looks and how few (if any) plot points are decade specific. Could use this film to introduce someone to good, older movies that don't receive as much attention as they should.
Thanks for reviewing this movie, it has always been one of my favorites since I was a kid. My Mom was a movie lady, so I cut my teeth on stuff like this and "Arsenic and Old Lace" and to this day I'm a movie guy. You hit all the major points on this movie, but the one you missed that I think is very important especially in this cancel culture era is the very ending of the movie.
At the end all but two of the jurors have left the room. Lee J. Cobb (the one who seemed to want the execution to happen for personal reasons) is still sitting at the table stunned and sobbing slowly after his emotional outburst. Henry Fonda who played Juror number 8 sees Cobb's suit jacket hanging in the closet. Instead of walking out of the room and ignoring the man he spent 2 hours arguing with he brings him his jacket and helps him put it on. They fought and it was over and it went back to normal, no victory dancing, no rubbing someones nose in it, no taunting. We had some words , we worked it out, lets move on. That is what we need to bring back in society the ability to disagree and not have it turn personal.
Check out "Arsenic and Old Lace" to see out how modern black and white comedy could be. It stars Cary Grant, Peter Lorre, and Boris Karlov. I don't want to ruin anything but frame for frame, sound byte for sound byte I will put Arsenic and Old Lace up against Trading Places, Ghost Busters, and Get Shorty for best comedy of all time.
If the name Peter Lorre doesn't wring a bell he is the one you will recognize from the Bugs Bunny Cartoons. Everyone I show this movie too says the same thing "That cartoon character was based on a real guy? poor bastard"
"Bringing up Baby" with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn is also a fucking amazing comedy but it is more mad cap, along the lines of its a mad mad mad mad world without the ensemble cast. They were not aloud to use an actual leopard in the movie so they used ocelots and called them leopards. Apparently every shot with Hepburn and/or Grant with the ocelot had three snipers on set waiting to kill the animals before they mauled the stars.
@@From-North-Jersey Boris Karloff wasn't in Arsenic and Old Lace. I think you're confusing him with Raymond Massey. There was a slight resemblance and their speech patterns were similar.
@@russelllangworthy8855 I thought the joke was Karlov played the older cousin because the plastic surgeon had just seen a Karlov movie before doing the surgery drunk. I never did read the credits. Sorry.
@@From-North-Jersey No problem. It's not really that important.
When I was 12-years-old back in my first year of high school, there were two movies my year 8 English teacher made us watch and analyze that gave me a lifelong love of classic movies; 12 Angry Men and To Kill A Mockingbird. We had to write numerous essays on each after watching them, going into pretty deep critical analysis for a bunch of 12 and 13 year old kids, and I loved it.
We also watched a shit ton of James Bond movies, because she fucking loved Sean Connery. Good on you, Mrs Robertson.
My English teacher had us watch those in high school but also of mice and men. Good on you Mr. Haun. I hope there are still teachers like Mr. Haun and Mrs. Robertson
What I find so interesting about this movie is that everyone is so happy when Henry Fonda helps the defendant go free. What everyone fails to consider is that, because Henry Fonda is so charismatic and convincing, he may have very well let a murderer go free.
I forget who said it, but there is the idea that it is BETTER to let a murderer go free than to KILL an innocent man.
One of the greatest films by one of the greatest directors to ever work in the industry. I highly recommend Sidney Lumet's The Offense as it contains the greatest performance Sean Connery has ever put to film. Lumet was an original who at one point was turning out certified classic after certified classic. Definitely a talent whose filmography deserves a thorough exploration by any and all cinephiles out there.
Agreed Seamus; The offence was/is one serious film (also shoutout to Ian Bannen, a fantastic yet underrated actor) - well worth watching but remember: CONNERY AIN'T BOND in this one.....
Fun fact: If Juror 8 had brought the duplicate knife from outside in real life, the case would have been thrown out right then.
But I quibble on what is basically a solid film. Amazing performances especially given we don’t get any names till the end!
It's an excellent film and story. Not one when it comes to legal issues I have been told.
Most likely a mistrial, which would mean they could still try him later. I always felt that the reason he didn’t bring it up in court was because the more he thought about it the more he saw the kid wasn’t getting a fair shake, even if he was guilty, and that he saw this as the only way to make sure he’d get a fair verdict, by talking it out and reasoning with the facts. This isn’t to say that he always felt he was innocent.
I always wondered how he got a knife in there and the risk if discovered. Even back then.
@@hebber1961 no metal detectors, no searches, no pat-downs, white male...
The thing is about this movie I think most people fail to see is that it points out just how jurors can be flawed in their thinking. How many people go to jail because of bad decisions by jurors? I think this movie really does shed light on innocent people going to jail.
C s Lewis, the Narnia author, talked about “chronological snobbery”. The idea that just because something is recent and newer, it’s better.
Ben Hur aside, a lot of older films didn’t have huge budgets and had to rely on good writing and decent acting. Sure, I enjoyed Villeneuve’s Dune, but we know he can produce on the “epic” scale. I like to see him work on a limited budget with one set. Just to see what he could do.
You know, I'm actually kind of stunned to hear that older films from before the 1970's generally aren't respected anymore. Admittedly, I don't really watch newer movies, and generally favor older movies, so I might be a bit biased in my tastes. But to hear that a number of people say that old movies aren't good because they're old is pretty baffling to me, I didn't even know that was something people thought. Unfortunately, this does seem to be a trend in the "arts" world of today, institutionalized disdain for art of the past.
On the other hand, it's worth noting how it can be easy to confuse the "opinions of the general public" with what are actually the opinions of a small group of vocal people (and then even from there, the majority can get influenced by this small group, further muddling what the genuine original opinions actually were in the first place).
I agree. Although, chronological snobbery can actually go both ways.
@@BazukinBelyugovich agreed, the 60's and 70's were a golden age of cinema.
Early Villeneuve films like Polytechnique and Incendies (or even Prisoners) had a limited budget - but they're great movies
Villeneuve is going to etch his name in the pantheon
One of my all time favorites. Was one of the first "old b&w films" I fell in love with despite it being old its more riveting than anything modern. Ive never been tempted to watch the remake.
One of my all time favorites. I watch it every year.
Man I miss movies like this. Smart, compelling, great acting and worth watching.
I've loved this film for years. Its a masterclass of how to keep the setting in a single room whilst still keeping the tension using well crafted dialogue and fantastic acting. Gripping and thought provoking throughout
It's been 25 years since I saw this film, and I only saw it once--haven't thought of it in a long time and yet the story and dialogue still echo in my head to this day. Incredible characters and a great lesson in humanity. Thanks Drinker.
I saw this movie many years ago, when I was going down a list of the most legendary movies of all time. Some of those movies may not have really deserved the title… but yeah, this one really did.
One of my all time favorite films.
One of my all-time favourites.
I love this movie. but one thing i think you may have missed, its that a lot of movies from this era were based on stage plays. and shot accordingly. that could be why the character development is so succinct and on point.
You’re absolutely right. This is, at its core, a masterfully filmed play.
Also on tv they showed plays into the 60s
Many, if not most Hollywood writers were from the stage, even today. It’s a great calling card to be able to apply for a screenwriter job and have a produced stage play. A lot of writers and actors came from New York and Chicago because of lots of theater.
I honestly feel that this is one of the very, very few films you could recommend to just about ANYONE and they would love it. Seriously, you could probably show this to a 12-year-old kid who's never had the slightest interest in black and white films and even they would find at least a significant amount of it absolutely gripping.
This was a rare case where the remake was almost as good. 12 Angry Men is everything you said it was, and more. The original, with Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb, and the kindly old man, I'm pretty sure was the voice of Piglet in the Winnie the Pooh cartoons. The remake had Jack Lemmon in the Henry Fonda role and George C. Scott played Lee J. Cobb's part. I remember Tony Danza was the sports guy, but I can't remember anyone else. Another thing that you never mentioned, none of them had names. They were only ever referred to as "Juror Number (X)" Only Henry Fonda gave his name at the end, when he shook hands with the old man, and I don't remember what it was, cause honestly, it's not important by then. You've just watched a master class in film making, that was little more than 12 guys in a small room for 90 minutes.
James gandolfini was the blue collar juror!
John Fiedler (#2, the bank clerk) was the voice of Piglet.
No disrespect to your oppinion but the remake was pure shit and I like many of those actors. Jack Lemmon was blank, George C. Scott overacted, Armin Mueller-Stahl played a german caricature, Edward James Olmos was boring, I saw the movie long time ago but if I remember correctly the whole movie had those "let's get over with it" feeling.
It was like the director had his paper his intern wrote after watching the original and he checkmarked every square without thinking to much of it.
Watch the two movie, one after the other. You can watch the remake first so if the original still has more effect on you you can clearly see the difference.
I know what I'm talking about, I knew about the original but I saw the remake first and I liked it, but it is just a shadow of the original.
At the end, they all vanish into the crowd, alone, and no longer significant. Classic! They showed us this movie at Harvard Law School. We laughed at the poor reasoning even Henry Fonda's hero employed on occasion, but by the end we all got the larger points. Interestingly, My Cousin Vinnie was recommended by our evidence professor, Charles Nesson (one of five graduates of HLS with a perfect GPA in its history), as perfect for understanding the rules of evidence. Go figure.
Why did you feel Fonda's character employed poor reasoning? Asking out of curiosity? I thought his doubts were pretty well answered by the other Jurors, especially Juror #4 or rather these doubts were pretty well fleshed out only to lead more doubts.
During the first act of the film, Fonda's character is skeptical but cannot explain why in detail. It is only when he starts reenacting and getting the input of each juror in turn that he actually gathers enough evidence to provide reasonable doubt. Having doubts without evidence is poor reasoning. Then, there are his pronouncements about the law and demeanor evidence for which he has no evidence that are just as unreliable as the other jurors'. He is still heroic and a pillar for justice, but not without flaw.@@LetsbeHonest97
I've read Lumet's book and wanted to give this a rewatch. But I had forgotten. Thank you for reminding me of this masterpiece friend.
This is one of movies that caused my love of film and the judicial system. The ability to capture the dialogues of such diverse characters, capturing the way people rush to judgement, the inability/lack of desire to listen to other points of view and the strength of one person to stand in their truth and seek the right decision about someone’s life, and not falter. I have always tried to be the one who takes the time to listen to ALL the evidence. It may take more time, but it allows for at least seeming to come to the truth. Anyway, Sidney Lumet was a master of these films and I am glad the studios allowed for such characterizations and the tackling of such complex issues.
Easily in my top ten favorite movies and my go to on how to write characters and dialogue. This was before flashy special effects via CGI. When the writing was the only thing on display outside the performances.
Seen the movie many years ago and it still has left a huge impression on me. Great review!
How I love this movie. PERFECT in everyway.
Couldn't have summed this film up better. Always liked this picture. A lot of solid acting in this movie, by a number of pros. Well done!
Saw this movie in 8th grade with one of the best middle school (junior-high) teachers I’ve ever met. I’ve got to rewatch it again!
I'm so glad you covered this one! It's an amazing piece I've enjoyed for a long time and it actually taught me not to take something at face value and dig deeper, and the different personalities of each man make it so much better.
I would recommend a film released the same year Timelock, simple premise Kid trapped in safe and people trying to get him out and i believe first appearance of Sean connery but i really loved that film and feel it needs more love
That sounds interesting. I’ll have to look for that one.
@@benarnold211 Check out the Offence, a very daring role for Sean Connery.
I love this movie. I saw it when I was 14 and it changed my life
I was so amazed by this movie ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I've read the "book" and saw the film. I actually cried when I saw the man bring out a picture of him and his kid, than crying after tearing it up.
I watched this recently, along with: It's All About Eve and School for Scoundrels. Absolutely fantastic movies with a real upgrade to the dialogue of the characters over modern movies. They're a pretty good companion to the book 48 Laws Of Power, as the latter two movies are centred around a similar theme.
School for Scoundrels is an absolutely wonderful comedy film that holds up to this day.
One of my favourites.
Another of my old favourites is The Fortune Cookie.
All about Eve. OMG. Marilyn Monroe cameo basically playing herself. Inside the make it or break it theatre world. Hudsucker Proxy covers this in more detail but I don't think it's as good as All about Eve or 12 Angry Men.
@@main_stream_media_is_a_joke I'll check that one out, cheers. Yeah the old classics are so surprisingly educated in comparison to any movie made today. Dialogue is important.
This was an incredible timeless film. Captured perfectly what goes on during jury duty, the different types of people and how it takes one patient man to get everyone to the truth.
This is easily one of my all-time favorite films. What makes it work is how timeless the story is. It could be 1957, 1997, or even today, but the themes and subject matter will forever ring true.
I was showed this in my history class last year. It is now in my top ten movies of all time. I really love this movie, and I'm glad you made a review on it.
*"Jesus. It's hard to believe that an old black and white movie from the 1950's could be more intelligent, insightful, thought-provoking, and socially conscious than pretty much any of the ham-fisted garbage that's been shat out in the past 10 years, but there it is."*
Just wanted to write out that quote from the video to highlight it.
I saw this movie years ago and it still resonates with me years later. One of the best dramas of it's time. Modern Hollywood, get a clue.
It's amazing how you can make an excellent movie with 12 men in one room. Check out The Sunset Limited, it's just Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel Jackson having a conversation. Why not the Twilight Zone episode The Encounter?
I guess check out Friedkin's remake, at least the cast is great as well. George C Scott did a great job playing the same character that Lee J Cobb played. Both actors played the same character in the Exorcist as well.
I might check that out
I remember that one. Thanks for leaving the name I loved that movie.
Quite frankly, if it doesn’t end with a battle with a CGI alien army and a giant sky beam, it’s just not a real movie.
There’s another movie kinda similar that’d I would recommend: Michael
Clayton(2007). It’s really good
@@shakespeare4bears Damn you're right. We need a special edition. Throw in aliens, then have the football team show up and save the day because these 12 men are taking too long to make a decision. Don't forget the post-credit scenes: the Judge assembles a team.
I had entirely forgotten that this movie exists. I loved it last time. Will re-watch. Thank you.
I remember watching this movies as kid at my grandmothers place and how suspensefull and captivating it was.
One of my all-time favorite movies. Should be required viewing in schools.
This movie is simply brillant!
The remake (1997) starring Jack Lemmon is good too!
Another awesome black and white movie, from 1957: _Witness for the Prosecution_ , starring Marlene Dietrich
Which do you prefer? Witness for the Prosecution or 12 Angry Men?
@@osmanyousif7849 BOTH awesome!
Fringy, of EFAP fame, has also made a video about the stellar character writing in this movie. You should give it a watch.
My 9th grade Government teacher showed my class this movie as well as an awesome T.V. series called Jericho 😎 I'm probably the only one from my class that remembers watching this, but I'll always be grateful for the insights and wisdom these films/shows gave us/me :)
This is one of the best movies ever made. My wife thinks so too. She is a 29 year old Filipina who was born and raised there. Just goes to show that good story telling reaches all over the world, and people are hungry for it.
From a time when you couldn’t rely on special effects and action sequences.
One of my favorite movies ever. Once upon a time, it was possible to make an excellent character-driven movie that had something meaningful to say about a complex subject. With subtlety. Letting the story speak for itself. Not crassly bludgeoning you in the face with ghoulish remedial level Hollywood faketivist political indoctrination of THE MESSAGE. Not to mention how ugly, vicious and hateful the tone of movies has now become. We've lost so much. I no longer watch anything made in the last 20 to 30 years. Except a few British or other foreign movies. The South Koreans are doing some truly awesome zombie and other horror films currently. Some pretty amazing action and martial arts stuff coming out of Indonesia. Good movies are out there. But they cannot be made in the American Hollywood system anymore. That is now completely impossible. I'm happy to watch it die, and that's what it deserves for making terrible art.
It's not completely impossible for modern Hollywood to make good movies, a few gems still come out, but your overall assessment is pretty accurate.
"I am happy to watch it die, and that's what it deserves for making terrible art"
the importance of this statement can't be stressed enough
Reading some of the comments here, interesting to note how few are from people working in the industry....which makes me wonder: What ARE the current idiots 'Writing' for Hollywood, actually watching in their spare time? Have they ever watched Classic Films? I ask because when you think about the appalling garbage Hollywood spews out on a daily basis...you have to ask...Why? Are modern screenwriters completely ignorant of films like this? Baffling.
I love when turner classic movies has this on, I’ve seen it at least 5 times but I always end up sitting down and watching it to completion every time it’s on. The book is amazing and the movie is just as good
I was forced to watch this movie in a communications class in college. Thought I'd find it boring but absolutely loved it. Have since bought the DVD. The only black and white film I own physically. For a movie about 12 dudes in a single room it really keeps you absolutely captivated from start to finish. Not at all boring, quite the opposite.
Consider adding Casablanca to your b&w collection. Or Citizen Kane. Or To kill a mockingbird.