Whimsory used to make skit videos about a typical working class family and their friends/boyfriends. She played every role, and edited it all herself. It's why I sometimes call her "Pumpkin", because the youngest character was basically her as a little girl and was called "Pumpkin".
One of the best movies ever made, an American civics lesson, a seminar in conflict resolution, and on and on…. Thank you as ever for a great review and brining some of the greatest movies, old and new, to a younger audience. I also suggest Maltese Falcon.
the irony of juror number 3 hating the kid because he compares him to how his own son, who he thinks doesn't respect his elders, When you remember that he himself started not respecting the old guy, Juror number 9 in the beginning of the film. Talking down to him so much that Juror number 6 literally steps in and says that he will lay him out if he talks to him in a disrespectful tone again. The writing in this film is utter genius, with so much being said that you can even notice things you've never noticed after seeing it dozens of times like I have.
I wasnt born anywhere near 1950....and this is one of the best movies I have ever seen. That list is fine , dont listen to knucklehead trolls. This is a masterpiece of a movie.
The list is great if you look at it as an approximation and not set in stone. That’s how Whimsory is doing it, but the detractors want to argue specifics.
@@NemeanLion- I agree. In the top 100 maaaaaybe but certainly not 3. I hate to say it but it profits massively from the death of Heath Ledger. But it´s probably a natural and healthy reaction to it. Great movie though and Heath Leadger is phenomenal in it.
Henry Fonda was the Tom Hanks of the 1940s - he was a highly acclaimed star who was known for playing these Everyman roles. He won an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe for this film. And virtually all of the others were veteran character actors who had appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows of the period. The acting talent in that little room was incredible.
Whimsory posts another great movie from the list she sometimes uses. I know that no matter how many times I’ve seen this, and how much I read by Ebert and others about its history, I know she’s gonna notice stuff I never saw, and her outro will teach me tons more stuff about it than I knew. Whimsory is the queen of movie channels.
There is so much fantastic black and white cinema out there. The Third Man, Double Indemnity, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Some Like It Hot, The Maltese Falcon, Citizen Kane, Ikiru (To Live), Seven Samurai, The Seventh Seal, Modern Times, The Great Dictator, and so many more I can't think of right now. Luckily most of these are in the IMDb Top 250 list.
This is your best video yet. Also, I'm glad you noticed how bored the judge was at the very beginning of the film: it was important to set the scene for how literally nobody gave a shit about this kid.
No CGI, no blazing gun battles, no hand to hand combat, no cheesy one liners, no multiple location shots. Just 12 men in one room deciding the fate of a young man. Some of the best writing in a movie.
Also worth considering that 12 Angry Men is basically a play. And yes, I'm aware that the screenwriter did also adapt the script as a play, but that's not my point. The film could easily be made as a play with very little change.
@@cmlemmus494 Agree. Some of my favorite movies started as plays, such as _Doubt, A Few Good Men_ . I'm here for intelligent dialog, and that's what a play has.
Thank you for reacting to one of my top 5 favorite movies. One of the brilliant things I think the writer did was to have juror use the term "Them" while displaying his prejudice. I think for the time and place of this movie juror number 10 was probably referring to Puerto Ricans. However, by using the word 'them', Juror number 10 could represent anyone's prejudice against all sorts of groups of people.
When I first watched this movie I was in high school and my film studies teacher made us watch it. All my classmates didn’t want to watch it because it was old af, but in the first 15 minutes everybody’s eyes couldn’t leave the screen. If Gen Z kids who are used to watching crappy movies can watch this and enjoy it than it’s a good ass movie!
Some movies are called classics because you can find ways to relate to the characters even if the film is 20, 30, even 60 years old. The power of good direction, great acting, and damn good writing.
You're a national treasure, Whimsory. Thank you for your sense of humor and also for being the charter member of your generation's Martin Balsam Fan Club. I imagine you would be the perfect audience for great directors because you pick up on all the subtleties, humane moments, and deeper themes of these excellent films. Just keep going!
I am always really happy to see young people checking this one out for the first time...especially my favorite reactors. Sidney Lumet is one of the great directors of all time, and this is his first movie and also one of his best. Another movie by Lumet that I always recommend is Fail Safe from 1964...it also stars Henry Fonda. Other older movies that I suggest that were not made by Lumet are...To Kill a Mockingbird(1962), Inherit the Wind(1960), and Judgement at Nuremberg(1961)...all three are highly renowned courtroom dramas filmed in black and white.
There is really no better film to watch people react to. It's just so solid and surprising, and it holds up today and probably will for another 70 years. Thanks for doing it!
And now you know why "12 Angry Men" is near the top of the IMDB list of best movies. I loved, loved, loved your post-watch analysis! You said something at the end about going on for far too long, but I enjoyed the entire thing. Thanks! The movie was set in New York City. They never said what despised group the defendant was a member of, but he was probably Puerto Rican. A lot of Puerto Ricans live in New York, and there has always been prejudice against them. Sidney Lumet began the movie using camera angles above the jurors' heads, and slowly moved it downwards. He also used more close-ups as the movie went on. The result was an increasing feeling of being in a small space. Juror 8 (the first one to vote not guilty) was played by Henry Fonda, father of Jane and Peter Fonda, and grandfather of Bridget Fonda. He was in many well-regarded films, including "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Once Upon a Time in the West." Juror 10 (the bigot) was played by Ed Begley, father of Ed Begley, Jr., whom you may have seen in "Young Sheldon," "Better Call Saul," and "Arrested Development." I don't think it was just luck on Sidney Lumet's part that he directed such a fine film. He went on to direct many other great movies, including "The Pawnbroker," "Fail Safe," "Serpico," "Murder on the Orient Express," "Dog Day Afternoon," "Network," "The Verdict," and "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead." "Dog Day Afternoon" is a favorite of mine. I'd love for you to react to it. Did you notice that Juror 10 (the bigot) didn't speak a word after Juror 4 (the cool-headed juror) told him not to open his mouth again. Even when casting his final vote, he did it by shaking his head. One thing I like about this movie is how the different characters bring their own experience and perspectives into the jury room with them. The old man understood why another old man would testify the way he did. The guy who lived in a slum knew about how switchblades were used in actual fights. The smallest juror who brought up the question of the kid stabbing downward while being so much shorter than his father. Thanks!
Dog Day Afternoon is a favorite of mine, too. I've seen others react to it and it's still just as good to modern audiences. The Seventies were a great time for American cinema.
I love how Juror number 4 says he never sweats, but then he starts sweating when he gets asked about him and his wife going to the movies and can't say who was staring in the second feature.
"Don't you ever sweat?" "No." LOL, the funniest line from the show. I've seen E. G. Marshall in probably 20 movies and TV shows and he always plays this same character. Love seeing him.
For the breakdown, you got yourself a subscriber Whimsory, not to mention I rarely sub a channel. You got 1 from me. Good luck and keep doing that. Loved it.
From Juror #3's position, this trial is a representation of who is 'Guilty' in he and his son's current estrangement. He is desperate to place the Guilt on his son, but by the end he has to accept that he is the Guilty one.
I think Juror Number 4 is my favorite character in this movie. The way he always seems vaguely disgusted to be on the same side as 3 and 10 is a nice addition to his performance, and adds so many layers to what could have been a flat, straightforward role.
This is one of the best movies ever made and I'm so glad you did a reaction to it as I love when people do. It is a classic example of how all you need is good writing and cast to make a perfectly compelling movie, that even though it's in black and white can still grip audiences to this day whilst covering such important topics like discrimination and racial prejudice. I LOVE THIS FILM + You Whimsory for covering it, keep up the great work cutie!
Whimsory, I frequently lament the lack of frequency of your videos, and I hope you recognize that as an appreciation of the fine quality of your reactions and commentary. Did you realize that over 50% of this video is your commentary? To get your audience to stick around through that, you have to have demonstrated time and again that hearing your take on it is worth it. It’s also rewarding to see you recognize actors you’ve seen in other films, and I’ll be watching in your future reactions to hear you say, ‘Hey, he was in 12 Angry Men!’. This reaction was thoughtful, well-researched, smart, funny, and above all enjoyable. Thank you for what you do.
I believe the reason why, when juror #9 is speaking, the camera goes to a closeup, increasingly so as the movie progresses, is because it has been established, by the statements of the others as well as his identification with the old man on the witness stand, that most people don't care what he has to say. The closeups underscore the fact that he does indeed have some important things to say.
"Why do I feel bad for him?" Because he gave an amazing performance and it was a perfect twist that reinterpreted every thing Juror #3 had said up to that moment.
"Them" means Puerto Ricans. At that time there was a lot of tension around the influx of Puerto Ricans moving to New York City. Another movie that touched on these tensions was WEST SIDE STORY.
It was pretty genius actually to leave it non specific. That junior could be any American who holds a prejudice. Like believing a whole group of people are eating cats and dogs. . .it could be anyone at any point in our history.
Hi Whimsory, about Juror #9, I think those intense close ups were used because he is the most self - revelatory of all the jurors. When the camera goes close on him it shows the deep self reflection he has undergone and is about to reveal to everyone . The scene where he sizes up the old man witness, the juror is in the exact same circumstance. He is ignored, written off, taken for granted. He also has not been singled out for recognition. He understands why the old witness would seek attention by creating a scenario that everyone wants to hear. He has been tempted to do it himself. The only other juror who is as self revelatory is the Lee J. Cobb character. But that builds up throughout, and then he explodes at the end.
btw, pay no mind when people are extra rude to whatever reason. I'm talking about the people being rude with you about the list, but that applies to anything, just ignore them and do your thing. And yes, that list is as good as anything when it comes to subjectivity, so just go with it.
The IMDb list is a fine starting point. You just need to understand that their system is based on a weighted average of regular IMDb voters. The demographics of this group are not representative of the entire population. IMDb used to give the gender and age breakdown of the voters. Now, the only breakdown is by country. The other info may be available from IMDBPro. When the info was available, you could see the majority of the voters were young men. That's why you don't see many chick flicks in the top 250, and movies that appeal to young men may seem overrepresented and rated higher than they should be.
_Twelve Angry Men_ was originally made for television in 1954 as part of the “Westinghouse Studio One” anthology series. Joseph Sweeney, juror 9, the old man, is the only actor from the tv version to appear in the film. The full version is available on RUclips.
Juror #11, the watchmaker, is the same actor too. I have The Criterion Collection copy of this, and the original “Studio One” episode is a bonus on the blu-ray.
Great reaction and analysis to a fantastic movie. Absolutely blew me away on first watch and never get tired of reactions to it. Love your quirkiness and ranking of the jurors - it really warms the heart when a younger person can appreciate a classic movie that's so old to them, kinda gives me some hope for the future.
Hello W. You've mentioned more than once that The Lord of the Rings is your favorite. I realize that you have already seen them, but would you consider reacting to a second viewing of the trilogy? You have great insight and a unique perspective. I think a second viewing would be entertaining. Thanks for considering. (BTW... Theatrical Version please) ~Don
Not sure how old you are, but if you are 25 or younger, you are wise beyond your years and very enchanting to watch and listen to. Way to go, your synopsis was fantastic!!!
I wached this in 2005 when I was 17 and it became my favorite film of all time. People always assume that I'm an "art film guy" for suggesting it, but the WHOLE POINT of suggesting and old movie is because it has stood the test of time. Do people seriously think that every single piece of classical music is still played today? nope, most of it was forgotten.
I really appreciate your reactions, Whimsory. It’s very different from the other channels I watch, and I’m very impressed with how much work, time, and effort you put into your videos. I can’t imagine how long it takes you to do everything that you do just to put out one movie reaction like you do, especially with the things you have to do in your personal life as well. I just wanted to say that I admire all of the things you do to make your content for each video, and I hope you continue to do these very well edited, very thorough, very thought out and extremely informative reactions.
Hi Whimsory, it's always a good day when you post a reaction, you have a real comedic talent and are so likeable. Like all good art it doesn't matter when it was created and this film is a gem. You are really switching it up with these reactions, including extra content in your outros is very creative and fun.
This is a remarkably well-done review (not just a reaction). You're very smart, very observant, and have great empathy -- even for the characters that barely deserve it.
Thank goodness for the algorithm leading me here because this was a phenomenal reaction. On top of that the outro was in-depth, well thought out, and quite interesting. This is one of those movies that stays with you after you watch it. The acting and writing were both top tier. It essentially takes place in a single room, with long drawn out shots, and the actors fire off their lines one after the other and it sounds organic. It doesn't sound like they're regurgitating lines and this movie would be completely different if you take a single one of them away. Subscribing was a no-brainer after watching this. I'd also recommend "To Kill a Mockingbird" after having seen this. I feel it goes really well with this movie. Great job and I can't wait to see what's next in store.
I’ve probably said this before, but I’ll say it again - this is the smartest film review channel on the internet. And (in character of Lee J Cobb) nothing anybody says is going to change my mind about that! 🙂
You are as entertaining as any reactor on the internet. Plus your in depth analysis is first rate. I would point out that you have 17k views on this one. So there is definitely an audience for classic movie reviews.
This is one of your longer outros, and I'm happy for it. Most of us have seen these films and have our thoughts. We watch to see yours. You obviously did a lot of post work and didn't just wing it...keep up the great work.
Good choice! I watched this on tv when I was in my early teens. At the time I was very much into action, big stunts, shoot-em-up type movies but this film (and some others) got me into watching more reality dramas. I still enjoy watching action films but the older I get the less I've watched them. Yep, this right here is a very good choice. Thanks for the upload.
This movie is a perfect movie. People always say citizen kane is the non plus ultra, but there are so many pacing issues in that one. 12 angry men…nothing can be taken out, nothing can be added, acting, score, camera work, everything is spot on. Doesn’t have to be anyones favourite film, but it sure is flawless
As a guitarist, I can draw a comparison between Citizen Kane and Jimi Hendrix. They both redefined their respective art forms so profoundly that in their time contextually it’s hard not to call them the greatest, but compared to everything that followed they can be considered less impressive, however blasphemous some may consider it to point out any weaknesses.
@@stevesheroan4131 nice comparison indeed. I mean, Citizen Kane did heaps and loads for visual effects and camera techniques and in that regard is still a masterpiece. But pacing wise...
Sidney Lumet, in my opinion a very under-appreciated director. You can't go wrong with any Sidney Lumet movie..."The Verdict", "Prince of the City," "Serpico", but Whimsory - I highly recommend you watch "Fail Safe" the ending will shock you.
Thanks, Whimsory! ⚖ I knew you'd love this one! The writer, as you noted, was Reginald Rose; the director was Sidney Lumet. Rose also wrote Season 4 Episode 15 of THE TWILIGHT ZONE entitled "The Wonderful World of Horace Ford" (1963). Lumet did one of my all-time favorites, a mystery/comedy/drama DEATHTRAP (1982), which I highly recommend.
oh yea she def will love Death trap and the nice twists and then the GREAT ending. THe Play on broadway lasted over 1700 performances, and she would really love it
I was really looking forward to you tackling this movie as it has always been one of my favorite movies of all time. And you are really good at what you are doing and I thought this movie should be right down your alley. Let's just say you did not disappoint :)
Angry Juror 3 waving his finger with one eye shut is without a doubt the Shot of the Film. What a gripping moment...the man is waving his finger in total self-righteous rage, ready to condemn all who oppose him....and seconds later, he collapses in defeat and sobbingly reveals the source of his rage. Elite level acting.
Juror 3 is a hidden tragedy. Early on in the movie, he mentions that he sat on MANY JURIES BEFORE. By the end of the movie, we see that he sees himself as an executioner, and it's only reasonable to assume that the other juries he sat on didn't have their own Henry Fonda. There's no way to know for sure, but there's a high probability that he showed the same amount of personal bias on the other cases too. It's possible that he has blood on his hands. And that's what he puts together when he rips the picture of his son.
George C Scott crushes it as the bigoted #3. The way he focuses his anger on the external, the 'other', instead of dealing with his own life is so well written and Scott's simmering anger is brilliantly performed until he boils over and shows his true face before giving in to "Not guilty..." I still don't think he believes it, but can't argue with the facts Fonda is holding over him.
So good, one of the best ever made, all the way back in 1957, but doesn't get mentioned or watched anywhere near as much as the others at the top of the list. Under valued
@@YvesFey when people watch it, it seems to have a really positive impact on most people. But I think hardly any people have heard of it or know much about it, especially compared to the other films high on the imdb list. Shawshank, Godfather, Dark Knight, Lord of the Rings, Schindlers List, Pulp Fiction, etc. - most people have a level of awareness of these, which 12 Angry Men doesn't have
this is one of the very few movies, that no matter when I click into it, beginning, middle or near the end, I will watch it to the end, for a movie shot almost entirely one room it's astounding, don't listen to the knuckle draggers that dis your list...great awards rofl
NOT ALOT OF DEMAND!?!? This might be one of the greatest cinematic master pieces of all time! It's amazing, and its done soooo well. It's why none of the remakes ever hit nearly as hard!
Thank you. A wonderful reaction and review as usual. I'm so glad you got to experience this classic. Films from the 30's to the 70's generally have better scripts and acting. I hope you get to see more of them, including World cinema. Your cat was a bonus.
Sidney Lumet has an incredible body of work. This film, Network, Dog Day Afternoon, Fail Safe, Serpico, The Verdict, the list goes on. Also, he wrote a book titled "Making Movies" that I would recommend to anyone that is interested in films.
I've been on multiple juries and never picked a jury foreman randomly, they're voted on. Since most juror's don't want to be the jury foreman there's usually just one candidate to vote for. Any other jurors out there? What was your experience?
I love this movie for so many reasons but I have a special place in my heart for movies where the entire film takes place in one room. To be able to pull that off and be this captivating is something special.
Glad you enjoyed that so much Whimsory. I had a hunch you would be fascinated by this one. You've got a natural knack for insightful observation, and these characters provide LOADS of opportunity for that. Great analysis. Always impressed! 👍😁
This must be the most lucid, concise and insightful analysis of the individual characters I've ever heard. Good for you! These actors were some of the best of the best for their time. For all time, Jack Klugman, who was the juror who grew up in the slum, did three wonderful episodes of "The Twilight Zone" (and one mediocre one). His dramatic performances were as good as it gets. John Fiedler did a scary episode of Star Trek TOS. On the other hand, I recommend the film that Bob Gale and Bob Zemeckis did while they were writing "Back to the Future", the hilarious "Used Cars". In it we see what happens between Kurt Russell and Jack Warden (juror #7) are told by the director that they can swear as much as they want.
First, as usual I enjoyed your reaction. Second, nearly everybody on YT reacts to this movie, so seriously, no need to apologize. It's a classic and deservedly so. Even if you didn't react to it on your channel, it's worth watching. Third, big shout-out to those classic actors who honed their skills on stage. They were craftsmen of the highest order and it shows in this three-room set.
Just recently watched this with my wife and 9 year old grandson, neither had watched it before. Even the 9 year old was glued to the screen. Said it was a really good movie. Your analysis is fantastic and amazing, great job. Movies like this prove that you can have a great drama without a lot of explosions, violence, graphic language, special effects or just any action at all.
The "them" that Ed Begley's Juror #10 was so prejudiced against were Puerto Ricans. Its never stated outright in the movie, but the original script for the teleplay did. One of the greatest performances ever given by John Fiedler was as a serial killer, specifically because you think "How can *he* be a serial killer?"
I love that this young lady has patrons and can make her "silly little videos." The time and effort she puts into them is obvious and appreciated.
For me the best reaction channel there is and wasn't I so broke ...
Whimsory used to make skit videos about a typical working class family and their friends/boyfriends. She played every role, and edited it all herself. It's why I sometimes call her "Pumpkin", because the youngest character was basically her as a little girl and was called "Pumpkin".
Could not agree more 😊
@@PsychedelicChameleon Where is this hidden gem????!?
One of the best movies ever made, an American civics lesson, a seminar in conflict resolution, and on and on…. Thank you as ever for a great review and brining some of the greatest movies, old and new, to a younger audience. I also suggest Maltese Falcon.
OMG!! Thank you so much!! 🤗
the irony of juror number 3 hating the kid because he compares him to how his own son, who he thinks doesn't respect his elders, When you remember that he himself started not respecting the old guy, Juror number 9 in the beginning of the film. Talking down to him so much that Juror number 6 literally steps in and says that he will lay him out if he talks to him in a disrespectful tone again. The writing in this film is utter genius, with so much being said that you can even notice things you've never noticed after seeing it dozens of times like I have.
I wasnt born anywhere near 1950....and this is one of the best movies I have ever seen.
That list is fine , dont listen to knucklehead trolls.
This is a masterpiece of a movie.
1952 here, and I agree.
The film is a masterpiece but the rankings are a joke. The Dark Knight is the #3 greatest movie of all time? It’s a good film but come on.
The list is great if you look at it as an approximation and not set in stone. That’s how Whimsory is doing it, but the detractors want to argue specifics.
@@NemeanLion-that stuck out to me too. 😂
@@NemeanLion- I agree. In the top 100 maaaaaybe but certainly not 3. I hate to say it but it profits massively from the death of Heath Ledger. But it´s probably a natural and healthy reaction to it. Great movie though and Heath Leadger is phenomenal in it.
Henry Fonda was the Tom Hanks of the 1940s - he was a highly acclaimed star who was known for playing these Everyman roles. He won an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe for this film. And virtually all of the others were veteran character actors who had appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows of the period. The acting talent in that little room was incredible.
Has Hanks ever played someone as against type as Frank in Once Upon a Time in the West?
@@KithKanan64 took me a few seconds to connect the dots, him being such a good guy in this movie, but...omg was he a bad guy there...
@@KithKanan64Hanks is pretty far from his baseline in Road to Perdition, but his character is still pretty sympathetic.
@@KithKanan64 Yea Fonda's char killed a child in that movie! would never happen today!
@@KithKanan64 ... Hanks has played a jerk comedian in "Punchline" and a jerk advertising exec in "Nothing in Common" (with Jackie Gleason).
Whimsory posts another great movie from the list she sometimes uses. I know that no matter how many times I’ve seen this, and how much I read by Ebert and others about its history, I know she’s gonna notice stuff I never saw, and her outro will teach me tons more stuff about it than I knew.
Whimsory is the queen of movie channels.
yea and I know she likes to keep her privacy, but I'd like to hear her 1st name at least. Just for fun im gonna guess Susan or Linda
Yeah totally agreed ...
@@michaelceraso1977 First name Whim, last name Sory
Long live the queen!
"In the Heat of the Night", "To Kill a Mockingbird", "Night of the Hunter", "Casablanca"... all great, old movies you'd love!
There is so much fantastic black and white cinema out there. The Third Man, Double Indemnity, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Some Like It Hot, The Maltese Falcon, Citizen Kane, Ikiru (To Live), Seven Samurai, The Seventh Seal, Modern Times, The Great Dictator, and so many more I can't think of right now. Luckily most of these are in the IMDb Top 250 list.
On the Waterfront, Key Largo, It Happened One Night, and many more...
Sullivan s travels, his girl Friday, the awful truth
Brother Orchid, My Man Godfrey
The Apartment, The General (a Buster Keaton silent film), the 1947 Miracle on 34th Street...
I'm shocked to see your commitment to seeing older masterpieces that fly under the "current day" radar! Well done!
Whimsory, by experiencing this great film, you have now reached a new level of Film Connoisseurship! 🏆🏆🏆
Never seen anyone have a crush on Martin Balsam as much as Whimsory 😂 How cute!
He's got a good "everyman" quality about him.
You'll find him in every movie such as Cape Fear, Psycho, Catch-22, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Murder on the Orient Express and All the President's Men.
Count me in on “Team Balsam” - great actor and has an off-beat sex appeal.
I'll add Twlight Zone to the list, he's the lead
Love that!!!! Nothing wrong with that; Martin Balsam is great!!
This is your best video yet.
Also, I'm glad you noticed how bored the judge was at the very beginning of the film: it was important to set the scene for how literally nobody gave a shit about this kid.
The addition of the Tier List in the review section was unique and fun. Great reaction and commentary insights as always. Cheers!
and great research into 50's culture as well :)
No CGI, no blazing gun battles, no hand to hand combat, no cheesy one liners, no multiple location shots. Just 12 men in one room deciding the fate of a young man. Some of the best writing in a movie.
This!
Also worth considering that 12 Angry Men is basically a play. And yes, I'm aware that the screenwriter did also adapt the script as a play, but that's not my point. The film could easily be made as a play with very little change.
@@cmlemmus494 Agree. Some of my favorite movies started as plays, such as _Doubt, A Few Good Men_ . I'm here for intelligent dialog, and that's what a play has.
"The Man From Earth" has same features. I love that movie. Both are great in their ways.
Thank you for reacting to one of my top 5 favorite movies. One of the brilliant things I think the writer did was to have juror use the term "Them" while displaying his prejudice. I think for the time and place of this movie juror number 10 was probably referring to Puerto Ricans. However, by using the word 'them', Juror number 10 could represent anyone's prejudice against all sorts of groups of people.
Thank you so much!! 😊
When I first watched this movie I was in high school and my film studies teacher made us watch it. All my classmates didn’t want to watch it because it was old af, but in the first 15 minutes everybody’s eyes couldn’t leave the screen. If Gen Z kids who are used to watching crappy movies can watch this and enjoy it than it’s a good ass movie!
I started watching this film when I was 18 and I got so hooked on it!
Some movies are called classics because you can find ways to relate to the characters even if the film is 20, 30, even 60 years old. The power of good direction, great acting, and damn good writing.
Whimsory, this is your best Outro ever. 👍👍
You're a national treasure, Whimsory. Thank you for your sense of humor and also for being the charter member of your generation's Martin Balsam Fan Club.
I imagine you would be the perfect audience for great directors because you pick up on all the subtleties, humane moments, and deeper themes of these excellent films. Just keep going!
I am always really happy to see young people checking this one out for the first time...especially my favorite reactors.
Sidney Lumet is one of the great directors of all time, and this is his first movie and also one of his best. Another movie by Lumet that I always recommend is Fail Safe from 1964...it also stars Henry Fonda.
Other older movies that I suggest that were not made by Lumet are...To Kill a Mockingbird(1962), Inherit the Wind(1960), and Judgement at Nuremberg(1961)...all three are highly renowned courtroom dramas filmed in black and white.
you have my vote for "To Kill a Mockingbird" great film like this one
_Fail Safe_ was so good. And shocking.
There is really no better film to watch people react to. It's just so solid and surprising, and it holds up today and probably will for another 70 years. Thanks for doing it!
And now you know why "12 Angry Men" is near the top of the IMDB list of best movies.
I loved, loved, loved your post-watch analysis! You said something at the end about going on for far too long, but I enjoyed the entire thing. Thanks!
The movie was set in New York City. They never said what despised group the defendant was a member of, but he was probably Puerto Rican. A lot of Puerto Ricans live in New York, and there has always been prejudice against them.
Sidney Lumet began the movie using camera angles above the jurors' heads, and slowly moved it downwards. He also used more close-ups as the movie went on. The result was an increasing feeling of being in a small space.
Juror 8 (the first one to vote not guilty) was played by Henry Fonda, father of Jane and Peter Fonda, and grandfather of Bridget Fonda. He was in many well-regarded films, including "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Once Upon a Time in the West."
Juror 10 (the bigot) was played by Ed Begley, father of Ed Begley, Jr., whom you may have seen in "Young Sheldon," "Better Call Saul," and "Arrested Development."
I don't think it was just luck on Sidney Lumet's part that he directed such a fine film. He went on to direct many other great movies, including "The Pawnbroker," "Fail Safe," "Serpico," "Murder on the Orient Express," "Dog Day Afternoon," "Network," "The Verdict," and "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead." "Dog Day Afternoon" is a favorite of mine. I'd love for you to react to it.
Did you notice that Juror 10 (the bigot) didn't speak a word after Juror 4 (the cool-headed juror) told him not to open his mouth again. Even when casting his final vote, he did it by shaking his head.
One thing I like about this movie is how the different characters bring their own experience and perspectives into the jury room with them. The old man understood why another old man would testify the way he did. The guy who lived in a slum knew about how switchblades were used in actual fights. The smallest juror who brought up the question of the kid stabbing downward while being so much shorter than his father.
Thanks!
Dog Day Afternoon is a favorite of mine, too. I've seen others react to it and it's still just as good to modern audiences. The Seventies were a great time for American cinema.
That list is pretty dumb tbh. Dark Knight top 3 all time? Yeah ok lmao maybe of it's decade at best
I love how Juror number 4 says he never sweats, but then he starts sweating when he gets asked about him and his wife going to the movies and can't say who was staring in the second feature.
"Don't you ever sweat?" "No."
LOL, the funniest line from the show. I've seen E. G. Marshall in probably 20 movies and TV shows and he always plays this same character. Love seeing him.
"The most seductive moment" 😂
You're a genius, Whimsory 😀
The spicy, sordid, past of Oscar Madison and/or Quincy, M.E. Scandalous! 🤣
“Quincy” would have loved to hear him be given the “most seductive” 😂
For the breakdown, you got yourself a subscriber Whimsory, not to mention I rarely sub a channel. You got 1 from me. Good luck and keep doing that. Loved it.
From Juror #3's position, this trial is a representation of who is 'Guilty' in he and his son's current estrangement. He is desperate to place the Guilt on his son, but by the end he has to accept that he is the Guilty one.
I think Juror Number 4 is my favorite character in this movie. The way he always seems vaguely disgusted to be on the same side as 3 and 10 is a nice addition to his performance, and adds so many layers to what could have been a flat, straightforward role.
Whimsory never goes on long enough. Love her outros.
Great outro. Thanks for putting so much effort into it. It’s appreciated.
Love when people give this one a try. I haven’t seen anyone be disappointed by the end.
Wanted to randomly add that your awards for this video are so amazing.
This is one of the best movies ever made and I'm so glad you did a reaction to it as I love when people do. It is a classic example of how all you need is good writing and cast to make a perfectly compelling movie, that even though it's in black and white can still grip audiences to this day whilst covering such important topics like discrimination and racial prejudice. I LOVE THIS FILM + You Whimsory for covering it, keep up the great work cutie!
Whimsory, I frequently lament the lack of frequency of your videos, and I hope you recognize that as an appreciation of the fine quality of your reactions and commentary. Did you realize that over 50% of this video is your commentary? To get your audience to stick around through that, you have to have demonstrated time and again that hearing your take on it is worth it. It’s also rewarding to see you recognize actors you’ve seen in other films, and I’ll be watching in your future reactions to hear you say, ‘Hey, he was in 12 Angry Men!’. This reaction was thoughtful, well-researched, smart, funny, and above all enjoyable. Thank you for what you do.
Whimsory, you never fail to delight us with your reactions!
I believe the reason why, when juror #9 is speaking, the camera goes to a closeup, increasingly so as the movie progresses, is because it has been established, by the statements of the others as well as his identification with the old man on the witness stand, that most people don't care what he has to say. The closeups underscore the fact that he does indeed have some important things to say.
That’s the best analysis of this film I’ve ever seen.
I'm 75 yrs old. I've loved this movie my entire life. As a set piece film, it's exquisite.
"Why do I feel bad for him?"
Because he gave an amazing performance and it was a perfect twist that reinterpreted every thing Juror #3 had said up to that moment.
I was almost mad at myself for feeling bad for him when i watched it the first time 😂
"Them" means Puerto Ricans. At that time there was a lot of tension around the influx of Puerto Ricans moving to New York City. Another movie that touched on these tensions was WEST SIDE STORY.
By leaving it somewhat vague "Those people" can be any prejudice.
Ahh I always assumed them was Italians. You know what big drinkers they are and wham someone is lying in the gutter dead.
It was pretty genius actually to leave it non specific. That junior could be any American who holds a prejudice. Like believing a whole group of people are eating cats and dogs. . .it could be anyone at any point in our history.
neither here nor there but I think the film takes place in Chicago..
Hi Whimsory, about Juror #9, I think those intense close ups were used because he is the most self - revelatory of all the jurors.
When the camera goes close on him it shows the deep self reflection he has undergone and is about to reveal to everyone . The scene where he sizes up the old man witness, the juror is in the exact same circumstance. He is ignored, written off, taken for granted. He also has not been singled out for recognition. He understands why the old witness would seek attention by creating a scenario that everyone wants to hear. He has been tempted to do it himself. The only other juror who is as self revelatory is the Lee J. Cobb character. But that builds up throughout, and then he explodes at the end.
Great commentary
btw, pay no mind when people are extra rude to whatever reason. I'm talking about the people being rude with you about the list, but that applies to anything, just ignore them and do your thing. And yes, that list is as good as anything when it comes to subjectivity, so just go with it.
The IMDb list is a fine starting point. You just need to understand that their system is based on a weighted average of regular IMDb voters. The demographics of this group are not representative of the entire population. IMDb used to give the gender and age breakdown of the voters. Now, the only breakdown is by country. The other info may be available from IMDBPro. When the info was available, you could see the majority of the voters were young men. That's why you don't see many chick flicks in the top 250, and movies that appeal to young men may seem overrepresented and rated higher than they should be.
The list is silly ngl. Dark Knight top 3 all time? Yeah ok lmao
_Twelve Angry Men_ was originally made for television in 1954 as part of the “Westinghouse Studio One” anthology series. Joseph Sweeney, juror 9, the old man, is the only actor from the tv version to appear in the film.
The full version is available on RUclips.
Juror #11, the watchmaker, is the same actor too. I have The Criterion Collection copy of this, and the original “Studio One” episode is a bonus on the blu-ray.
@@aaronhusk Thanks for the info. I hadn’t noticed that before.
IMO a top 5 all-time movie. That single shot opening scene is a thing of beauty.
One of the very few i gave a 10/10
Great reaction and analysis to a fantastic movie. Absolutely blew me away on first watch and never get tired of reactions to it. Love your quirkiness and ranking of the jurors - it really warms the heart when a younger person can appreciate a classic movie that's so old to them, kinda gives me some hope for the future.
It would be interesting to see a jury of 12 angry Whimsories.
Wonderful outro! Great reaction! I’m always amazed at how in-depth you go into your reactions.
Fun Fact: The director moved the walls of the set closer together as the film progressed to increase the tension in the room 🤯
I had never heard that before, but that’s pretty brilliant.
Hello W. You've mentioned more than once that The Lord of the Rings is your favorite. I realize that you have already seen them, but would you consider reacting to a second viewing of the trilogy? You have great insight and a unique perspective. I think a second viewing would be entertaining. Thanks for considering. (BTW... Theatrical Version please) ~Don
I knew that they had to film all the scenes separately because the room was too small. I didn't know that the director actually closed the walls.
I think what they did really was change the aspect ratio on the cameras.
@@chardtomp The aspect ratio never changes though.
You should get a lot of views for this. It's considered one of the greatest movies of all time
Not sure how old you are, but if you are 25 or younger, you are wise beyond your years and very enchanting to watch and listen to.
Way to go, your synopsis was fantastic!!!
I wached this in 2005 when I was 17 and it became my favorite film of all time. People always assume that I'm an "art film guy" for suggesting it, but the WHOLE POINT of suggesting and old movie is because it has stood the test of time. Do people seriously think that every single piece of classical music is still played today? nope, most of it was forgotten.
Good point
I really appreciate your reactions, Whimsory. It’s very different from the other channels I watch, and I’m very impressed with how much work, time, and effort you put into your videos. I can’t imagine how long it takes you to do everything that you do just to put out one movie reaction like you do, especially with the things you have to do in your personal life as well.
I just wanted to say that I admire all of the things you do to make your content for each video, and I hope you continue to do these very well edited, very thorough, very thought out and extremely informative reactions.
I love that we never actually find out if he did it or not, just that it's possible that he didn't.
What an excellent review and reaction. I also loved the extra time you took at the end to analyse all the characters and their acting performance.
Hi Whimsory, it's always a good day when you post a reaction, you have a real comedic talent and are so likeable. Like all good art it doesn't matter when it was created and this film is a gem.
You are really switching it up with these reactions, including extra content in your outros is very creative and fun.
This is a remarkably well-done review (not just a reaction). You're very smart, very observant, and have great empathy -- even for the characters that barely deserve it.
Another great movie reaction. I hope you have great weekend Whimsory, thank you brighten up our day once again 😊
Terrific reaction to and analysis of an American classic. Keep up the great work! 😊
Thank goodness for the algorithm leading me here because this was a phenomenal reaction. On top of that the outro was in-depth, well thought out, and quite interesting. This is one of those movies that stays with you after you watch it. The acting and writing were both top tier. It essentially takes place in a single room, with long drawn out shots, and the actors fire off their lines one after the other and it sounds organic. It doesn't sound like they're regurgitating lines and this movie would be completely different if you take a single one of them away. Subscribing was a no-brainer after watching this. I'd also recommend "To Kill a Mockingbird" after having seen this. I feel it goes really well with this movie. Great job and I can't wait to see what's next in store.
I’ve probably said this before, but I’ll say it again - this is the smartest film review channel on the internet. And (in character of Lee J Cobb) nothing anybody says is going to change my mind about that! 🙂
You are as entertaining as any reactor on the internet. Plus your in depth analysis is first rate. I would point out that you have 17k views on this one. So there is definitely an audience for classic movie reviews.
This is one of your longer outros, and I'm happy for it. Most of us have seen these films and have our thoughts. We watch to see yours. You obviously did a lot of post work and didn't just wing it...keep up the great work.
This is definitely one of the best movies ever made. The level of acting talent in that room isn't likely to be seen again.
The best outro for a movie yet!
What a wonderful and thoughtful reaction. I loved every minute of it. Thank you!
Great reaction! Excellent commentary and analysis. 👍🏆
Good choice!
I watched this on tv when I was in my early teens. At the time I was very much into action, big stunts, shoot-em-up type movies but this film (and some others) got me into watching more reality dramas. I still enjoy watching action films but the older I get the less I've watched them.
Yep, this right here is a very good choice. Thanks for the upload.
This movie is a perfect movie. People always say citizen kane is the non plus ultra, but there are so many pacing issues in that one. 12 angry men…nothing can be taken out, nothing can be added, acting, score, camera work, everything is spot on.
Doesn’t have to be anyones favourite film, but it sure is flawless
As a guitarist, I can draw a comparison between Citizen Kane and Jimi Hendrix. They both redefined their respective art forms so profoundly that in their time contextually it’s hard not to call them the greatest, but compared to everything that followed they can be considered less impressive, however blasphemous some may consider it to point out any weaknesses.
What pacing issues? I don't see any
@@clarkness77 in citizen kane I was saying. Not in this one
@@stevesheroan4131 nice comparison indeed. I mean, Citizen Kane did heaps and loads for visual effects and camera techniques and in that regard is still a masterpiece. But pacing wise...
I was interested in why u think Kane has pacing issues?
you spend so much time and effort on your movies that i would watch you talk about anything. on the other hand this is one of my favorite movies.
One of the greatest films ever made, and appreciated nowhere near enough.
Sidney Lumet, in my opinion a very under-appreciated director. You can't go wrong with any Sidney Lumet movie..."The Verdict", "Prince of the City," "Serpico", but Whimsory - I highly recommend you watch "Fail Safe" the ending will shock you.
12 Angry Men should be in high demand. This is a great movie.
Thanks, Whimsory! ⚖ I knew you'd love this one! The writer, as you noted, was Reginald Rose; the director was Sidney Lumet. Rose also wrote Season 4 Episode 15 of THE TWILIGHT ZONE entitled "The Wonderful World of Horace Ford" (1963). Lumet did one of my all-time favorites, a mystery/comedy/drama DEATHTRAP (1982), which I highly recommend.
oh yea she def will love Death trap and the nice twists and then the GREAT ending. THe Play on broadway lasted over 1700 performances, and she would really love it
@@michaelceraso1977 Thanks, Michael! 🥂
Great reaction for a great movie. Just added you to my list good going Whimsory. Cheers!
Darlin you are a bright ray of sunshine in a very shadowed world..
I was really looking forward to you tackling this movie as it has always been one of my favorite movies of all time. And you are really good at what you are doing and I thought this movie should be right down your alley. Let's just say you did not disappoint :)
There is a reason we are still watching it nearly 70 years after it was made.
I really like your reactions, Whimsory.
"them" is Puerto Ricans, or possibly Cubans because the baseball juror says something like "They come seeking protection and then ..."
Angry Juror 3 waving his finger with one eye shut is without a doubt the Shot of the Film.
What a gripping moment...the man is waving his finger in total self-righteous rage, ready to condemn all who oppose him....and seconds later, he collapses in defeat and sobbingly reveals the source of his rage. Elite level acting.
Juror 3 is a hidden tragedy. Early on in the movie, he mentions that he sat on MANY JURIES BEFORE. By the end of the movie, we see that he sees himself as an executioner, and it's only reasonable to assume that the other juries he sat on didn't have their own Henry Fonda. There's no way to know for sure, but there's a high probability that he showed the same amount of personal bias on the other cases too. It's possible that he has blood on his hands. And that's what he puts together when he rips the picture of his son.
George C Scott crushes it as the bigoted #3. The way he focuses his anger on the external, the 'other', instead of dealing with his own life is so well written and Scott's simmering anger is brilliantly performed until he boils over and shows his true face before giving in to "Not guilty..."
I still don't think he believes it, but can't argue with the facts Fonda is holding over him.
@@LordVolkov I haven't seen the '97 version but he's an excellent choice for a role like that.
What an amazing analysis! Your reaction videos are always a delight.
So good, one of the best ever made, all the way back in 1957, but doesn't get mentioned or watched anywhere near as much as the others at the top of the list. Under valued
Actually, I've seen a lot of rave reviews of this!
@@YvesFey when people watch it, it seems to have a really positive impact on most people. But I think hardly any people have heard of it or know much about it, especially compared to the other films high on the imdb list. Shawshank, Godfather, Dark Knight, Lord of the Rings, Schindlers List, Pulp Fiction, etc. - most people have a level of awareness of these, which 12 Angry Men doesn't have
Wow. Very impressed with your thoughtful and insightful reaction.
Fantastic reactrion! I'm so glad you loved this great movie and you did a great job breaking down the characters. Thanks for this.
this is one of the very few movies, that no matter when I click into it, beginning, middle or near the end, I will watch it to the end, for a movie shot almost entirely one room it's astounding, don't listen to the knuckle draggers that dis your list...great awards rofl
Same here, whenever its on at whatever point I watch it.
NOT ALOT OF DEMAND!?!? This might be one of the greatest cinematic master pieces of all time! It's amazing, and its done soooo well. It's why none of the remakes ever hit nearly as hard!
Thank you. A wonderful reaction and review as usual. I'm so glad you got to experience this classic. Films from the 30's to the 70's generally have better scripts and acting. I hope you get to see more of them, including World cinema. Your cat was a bonus.
Sidney Lumet has an incredible body of work. This film, Network, Dog Day Afternoon, Fail Safe, Serpico, The Verdict, the list goes on. Also, he wrote a book titled "Making Movies" that I would recommend to anyone that is interested in films.
Another great courtroom drama from around that time period is To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
I've been on multiple juries and never picked a jury foreman randomly, they're voted on. Since most juror's don't want to be the jury foreman there's usually just one candidate to vote for. Any other jurors out there? What was your experience?
Out of the one's I've been on it's usually the oldest one.
I love this movie for so many reasons but I have a special place in my heart for movies where the entire film takes place in one room. To be able to pull that off and be this captivating is something special.
"Rope" is another one
It works because it was originally a stage play so the dialogue needs to grip you
I never get tired of watching this film. A work of art.
Glad you enjoyed that so much Whimsory. I had a hunch you would be fascinated by this one. You've got a natural knack for insightful observation, and these characters provide LOADS of opportunity for that. Great analysis. Always impressed! 👍😁
I've said it before and I'll say it again, best react channel on YT.
This is such a great movie. It’s one of my favorite movies and yes, it is about a trial, but it’s also a wonder display of human behavior.
This must be the most lucid, concise and insightful analysis of the individual characters I've ever heard. Good for you! These actors were some of the best of the best for their time. For all time, Jack Klugman, who was the juror who grew up in the slum, did three wonderful episodes of "The Twilight Zone" (and one mediocre one). His dramatic performances were as good as it gets. John Fiedler did a scary episode of Star Trek TOS. On the other hand, I recommend the film that Bob Gale and Bob Zemeckis did while they were writing "Back to the Future", the hilarious "Used Cars". In it we see what happens between Kurt Russell and Jack Warden (juror #7) are told by the director that they can swear as much as they want.
First, as usual I enjoyed your reaction. Second, nearly everybody on YT reacts to this movie, so seriously, no need to apologize. It's a classic and deservedly so. Even if you didn't react to it on your channel, it's worth watching. Third, big shout-out to those classic actors who honed their skills on stage. They were craftsmen of the highest order and it shows in this three-room set.
It’s Whimsory day!
"Them" refers to the substantial post-WW2 emigration of Puerto Ricans to New York City.
Very thoughtful analysis. Quite refreshing. Thank you!
Just recently watched this with my wife and 9 year old grandson, neither had watched it before. Even the 9 year old was glued to the screen. Said it was a really good movie. Your analysis is fantastic and amazing, great job. Movies like this prove that you can have a great drama without a lot of explosions, violence, graphic language, special effects or just any action at all.
The "them" that Ed Begley's Juror #10 was so prejudiced against were Puerto Ricans. Its never stated outright in the movie, but the original script for the teleplay did.
One of the greatest performances ever given by John Fiedler was as a serial killer, specifically because you think "How can *he* be a serial killer?"