The juror with the glasses was my favourite of the hold outs. He stuck with his conclusion of "guilty" because he thought it made sense, not because of prejudice or emotion. When the majority had swung to "not guilty" he didn't change his position out of peer pressure either, he argued his points until he was presented with good counter arguments, then he changed his mind.
@@stuartwald2395 The Defenders was one of my mother's all time favorite tv shows E G Marshall one of her favorite actors. Same with Jack Krugman as she watched Quincy faithfully
This is a master class of acting, most viewers won't recognize the majority of these actors but each of them are top shelf performers in their own right.
It is a bit bittersweet. Try grabbing 12 of the best actors and characters actors today and you would recreate this cast. Time has gone by and modern audiences probably couldn't even name 3 of them.
Agreed! They each embraced their roles so well, you get lost in the story…and revel in each line they deliver. I love how you think it’s about the murder, then slowly realize that you’re getting to know each juror more than anything. I enjoy that plot twist. 🖤
@@kissmy_butt1302 They remade this as a TV movie in 1997, 40 years after this was made. I recognize 6 of the jurors and another 3-4 are in the "they look familiar" camp. (and one "Oh, he's the barbarian's voice in Diablo 3?") So even with 25 years distance, some are already slipping into obscurity.
Lee J. Cobb put on an acting clinic in that final monologue. He made all of your possible dislike of his character evaporate in literally 5 seconds as he tears up the picture of him and his son and suddenly you feel nothing but empathy for him.
Lee Cobb played the main antagonist, and he was amazing in this. He had been raked through the coals by the House UnAmerican Activities Committee for refusing to name his friends who had attended radical meetings and his career had almost been ruined. He was angry and bitter about it and he channeled it through in this part. Ed Begly, who played the bigot, was the dead opposite in real life - really nice guy who kept bringing his nieces to the set to introduce to everyone. All of the actors were paid the same, which was really cool of the bigger stars. Please consider watching Henry Fonda in The Oxbow Incident in another movie about a rush to judgment.
always like Cobb's roles in the movies, never knew this about him, thanks for educating me on him. Elia Kazan - who was a great (one of the greatest IMO) was a sellout and sold out his friends sadly. It in no way make his movies less, his movies are top tier, but the man behind the movie less so. I'd like to think that such a man that had the tallant to make great movies was great in his core and not only sold his friends out, but sold himself out in the end. I can never walk in another's shoes, and so will not try to with Kazan, but I am sad about what he did - and assume he did so out of cowardice rather than malice. Only God know what i would have done were i in his shoes - I would hope to follow Cobb's example, but I might have pussed out and played Kazan instead. ;-/.
@@gaffo7836 Cobb eventually did provide some names that the FBI already had just as a matter of survival ritual. He needed to feed his kids. This is from Wiki: Later, Cobb explained why he "named names", saying: When the facilities of the government of the United States are drawn on an individual it can be terrifying. The blacklist is just the opening gambit-being deprived of work. Your passport is confiscated. That's minor. But not being able to move without being tailed is something else. After a certain point it grows to implied as well as articulated threats, and people succumb. My wife did, and she was institutionalized. The HUAC did a deal with me. I was pretty much worn down. I had no money. I couldn't borrow. I had the expenses of taking care of the children. Why am I subjecting my loved ones to this? If it's worth dying for, and I am just as idealistic as the next fellow. But I decided it wasn't worth dying for, and if this gesture was the way of getting out of the penitentiary I'd do it. I had to be employable again. - Interview with Victor Navasky for the 1980 book Naming Names (a great book by the way!) Arthur Miller had a falling out with Kazan over it all and sent Kazan a copy of his play "A View from the Bridge" saying "I wanted to let you know what I think of stool-pigeons." He was blacklisted himself and thought that someone like Kazan could have broken the blacklists, the way Kirk Douglass did a few years later with the Spartacus project. They did reconcile later in life according to Navasky. But he had nothing against Cobb, and told Cobb he was honored when Cobb asked to play the main part in Death of a Salesman.
@@Kunsoo1024 Thanks for reply and education on those 3-4 men, who's names I know of, but not the particulars. Codd was right - but not quite as dark as it can get when gov., is allowed to have full power and are smart about using it - they would not threaten his life, but the life of his family (of course even the most evil gov germany of the 30-40's and Stalins of the same time - did not kill members of the familiy, just the offending memeber (but other gov may have - and I don't know if they did - but knowing history - suspect PolPot's gov did so, and prob, the Hutu one in the 90's during the civil war agaisn the Tutsi (as well as the Serbians) - I don't know this personally, just suspect so and would not be surprised if they did. We all know the German's did so with families of the Jews and Gypies (but out of habit, so no offense by a Patriach was even need for them!). As for Kirk Douglas, I used to like his persona (seeing him on talk shows decades ago - as an Actor thought he was a bit "overacter" (sort of like Shatner and Heston (Shatner aways seemed a dick to me per what i saw in interviews - Heston seemed like a nice man (I'm a liberal, but my best buddies are mostly conservatives, they are not be buddies due to them being conservative, but due to their character and mine aligning - so I don't give a crap per political leanings who I call my friends). I'm digressing here, anyway, last year I ran across a YT channel that talk about Natalie Wood and Kirk Douglas - and it basically said Douglas raped Wood, then Douglas told her to keep her trap shut or you will loose your future acting career. And knowing the nature of power and status (Catholic Bishops anyone? - esp in Canada and Boston) - I'll side with Wood on this one. I'm MGTOW BTW, so not "progressive" in any way and have issues with women personally. just laying out my perspective on the matter here. again, God bless Cobb (he was in many great 50's movies - "Theives Highway" was one for sure - seems utterly forgotten today - he played a Martian in a 50's era TV episode of "Tales of Tomorrow",(they even made an X-Minus One Radioplay of the same story in the 50's - great radiodrama BTW /as is the old TV show BTW - so ya Cobb was great! and thanks for reply Sir! ;-).
I've watched a LOT of people react to this movie, people that are very different from me and my way of thinking. What I find the most amazing is when J Lee Cobb, the last juror to come around, finally says "not guilty", not a single reactor is smug, or has a "yessss!" moment. It hurts when he finally lets go and can be truthful. We all hurt when we see him break. This is an amazing movie, acted and directed on a level few other films can match, but I think the reactions of people to it are even more impressive: this is a glimmer of hope for us all, in my humble opinion. Thank you, Madison, for this one, and for continuing to give me reason to be glad I found your channel.
A lot of people overlook E.G. Marshall's performance (the man with the glasses), but he did a really great job. "I did. Now sit down and don't open your mouth again." is one of the great lines of cinema. Incidentally, they only give the names of two of the jurors at the end. Otherwise they're all just numbers! ...which reminds me of a show you might like, The Prisoner. There were only 17 episodes made, but it's a cult classic. A secret agent resigns, is gassed in his home and wakes up in a weird village where everyone is referred to as a number. He keeps trying to escape, and they keep trying to break him. It's great!
@@stormhawk3319 Exactly! You could see him getting annoyed with his "allies" when they put the discussion off track. And that's what made his shutdown of Juror #10 so epic. It's worth mentioning that E. G. Marshall was also the long-time host of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater, some episodes of which can be found on RUclips.
TRIVIA!! John Fiedler, who played Juror #2 (the meek bank teller), was the voice of Piglet in the Winnie the Pooh cartoons. 👍 He was also in a classic Star Trek episode "Wolf In The Fold", where he played a man possessed by an alien entity (aka Jack the Ripper).
The cast in this film is extraordinary. I have seen almost every one of these actors in many great films and TV shows. Martin Balsam as Juror 1, the jury foreman; a calm and methodical assistant high school football coach. John Fiedler as Juror 2, a meek and unpretentious bank teller who is easily flustered, but eventually stands up for himself. Lee J. Cobb as Juror 3, a hot-tempered owner of a courier business who is estranged from his son; the most passionate advocate of a "guilty" verdict. E. G. Marshall as Juror 4, an unflappable, conscientious, and analytical stockbroker who is concerned only with facts, not opinions. Jack Klugman as Juror 5, a Baltimore Orioles fan who grew up in a violent slum, and is sensitive to bigotry towards "slum kids". Edward Binns as Juror 6, a tough but principled house painter who objects to others, especially the elderly, being verbally abused. Jack Warden as Juror 7, a wisecracking salesman who is more concerned about the Yankees game he is missing than the case. Henry Fonda as Davis, Juror 8, a humane, justice-seeking architect and father of three; initially, the only one to question the evidence and vote "not guilty". Joseph Sweeney as McCardle, Juror 9, a thoughtful and intelligent elderly man who is highly observant of the witnesses' behaviors and their possible motivations. Ed Begley as Juror 10, a pushy, loud-mouthed garage owner who is bigoted toward slum-life people. George Voskovec as Juror 11, a polite European watchmaker and naturalized American citizen who demonstrates strong respect for democratic values such as due process. Robert Webber as Juror 12, an indecisive and easily distracted advertising executive.
I was really happy to see our actor Jiří (George) Voskovec as "Juror 11" in this great movie. He immigrated to the USA in 1948 with the onset of the National Socialist and Stalinist regimes, respectively, in Czechoslovakia.
I remember walking by Lincoln Center in NY (March, '77) and seeing Voskovec's name on the billboard outside, appearing in a production of Chekov's "The Cherry Orchard"; "Hey, it's Juror #11" I said to myself. I wish I had bought a ticket to actually see him live....one of the most respected stage actors of the era.@@nar_by_marek300
I watched this in High School as part of my Social Studies class in the 90s. Most of us, myself included, were not looking forward to it. It's been one of my favorite movies ever since.
"This is just an outdated boring film. Doesn't mean anything to us!" - Begins listening to the dialogue. Step-by-step. Becomes enraptured. "This is such an important film!" - Most by the end. If only juries deliberated this seriously.
@@jmsmys13ify I have been on more than one jury and in fact, was the foreman on a jury in a murder case, and I can tell you that, in my experience, most took their deliberations very seriously. In the aforementioned murder case, there was no doubt as to the guilt of the defendant, we were all agreed on that, but we spent six hours in that jury room debating the degree of guilt. Much like the movie, emotions ranged from the disinterested to the passionate. Once that door is closed behind you and you're left with only the evidence and your collective thoughts, most become very serious about their deliberations.
I'm so elated that you got a little teary-eyed when Lee J Cobb breaks down at the the "Not guilty..."(sobs) part near the end. I thought I was the only one who did.
He spoke for the father who had been murdered (by whomevern) and he felt like payback was in his reach, as another father who had been attacked by his son. He must have realized the mistakes he made and that his son did not deserve this. After all, he believed that a father's duty was to make a man out of his son and he failed in that.
I first saw this in the 70s on a school movie-theatre excursion with a busload of rowdy middle-school tech kids at the height of Star Wars mania and Saturday Night Fever. Ten minutes in you could hear a pin drop, and a bunch of introspective young men filed out of the venue that day, a little older and wiser for the experience. Such is the power of a good script well-executed,
same. I was in a high school business class in the late 90s. started out rolling our eyes at a black and white movie, by the end of the movie we were a bunch of ghetto kids with our jaws on the floor, almost applausing. it was amazing
Henry Fonda’s Juror 8 is one of cinema’s greatest heroes. Doesn’t kill the bad guy, no romance with a heroine (no women in this film), just wants justice for a kid he doesn’t know nor will the kid ever know that it was he alone who saved him from execution, and at the end just walks out of the courthouse as an anonymous member of the public. Brilliance.
In reality, however, the knife he brought into the jury room would be enough for a mistrial, and Fonda could be jailed for contempt. The knife is not in evidence.
Lee J Cobb made his bones as a great stage actor. Playwright Eugene O'Neil loved the man in his plays. After Cobb had a stroke Frank Sinatra hired an ambulance that took Mr. Cobb to Sinatra's estate in Palm Springs, Cobb had never met Sinatra and wondered why he was being honored by Frank in Palm Springs. Sinatra answered, "I like how you act".
My favorite part was the very end, when the last juror finally said "not guilty", Madison gave this sigh of, "OK, I actually feel sorry for you."
Год назад+2
Just after she said he was "entitled", which I don't agree with. He was in fact, in a great personal conflict and sorrow that manifested itself in a very bad way.
It's an over-used word but I think this film is a work of genius, its ability to portray the human condition in all its despair and humility and anger and prejudice and eventually empathy and love is remarkable and all in one room.
What makes this movie so powerful and great is its subtlety and fairness to both sides. No cardboard characters, but fully rounded human beings; none of the guilty side saying things about the defendant that really apply to themselves; no shots of the judge looking bored or uninterested and the defendant looking like a 13 year old angel. No, none of that. No agendas at all...
This is one of my all time favorite black and white classic movies. Right up there with It's a Wonderful Life. Movies back then were real works of art and often on shoestring budgets.
i love the scene at the end where he hand him his jacket... people often forget these days that someone can have a very different opinion on some topics but that doesnt mean they are a bad person and they still deserve to be treated with respect.
The three angles are fantastic. 1- The script, the dialogue. 2- The actors performance. 3- The making of it (camara angles and shots capturing the story). also, the production of it: a room, 20 actors, the camaras (genius). Brilliant masterpiece.
Congratulations Madison. Another great reaction to a great movie. I saw this at my grandparents house when I was a kid and even then was struck by just how good and how powerful it is. Sadly the quality of writing, acting, and sheer depth of character on display seems to be a rarity these days, as you alluded to in your review.
Madison, the director of this movie, Sidney Lumet, wrote a book, "Making Movies" in which he uses this movie to describe the process of film making. Each chapter is devoted to a different aspect of the film and the choices he made: the lighting, sets, score, camera placement, closeups, script, actors, etc. You should read the book since you obviously love movies. Worth the time, I promise. Good commentary!!
This is one of my all-time favorite movies. It is an example of a large cast that all gets just the right amount of screen time. They are all important and impact the story. And the fact that this takes place in a single room is amazing and shows how great the script and delivery both were. And the long shots in this are some of the best you'll ever see. Even if it's just guys having small talk, but if you notice when they focus on someone in the foreground, in the background the others are all interacting and doing whatever before settling down. Nobody is distracting in a negative way. They look the way you'd expect people to be when first introduced to each other in a tiny hot room. And this movie just does such a fantastic example setting up everyone's little arc via side conversations. You have an advertisement guy, a high school coach, a laborer, a watch maker, etc, etc. They're all so different and come from different backgrounds/social classes, but in that room they are all equal. Everyone's opinion is worth the exact amount as the man sitting next to them. Ahh...I just love this movie so much. It's a masterpiece in my eyes.
Lee J. Cobb created the persona of Willy Loman in one of America's greatest plays, Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman." Miller won 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. It's been revived on Broadway and around the world many times. (Film version 1951). He also co-starred in "On the Waterfront" with Marlon Brando.
Great reaction... I especially appreciate your editing, you managed to catch almost all the salient moments in the movie. Great job by writer, director and actors... and terrific job by the reactor! Thank you!
I just re-watched this reaction, and I really noticed the smart analysis you gave at the end. I can tell you're an author. You really understand the mechanics of the story as well as having an actual human reaction. It's a wonderful combination for someone doing a reaction to films. I saw this in high school for a film studies class back int he 70s. It's funny that it seemed like an old film to me so very long ago. Now when I'm older it seems closer to me. It's weird how aging works. Characters like Henry Fonda's always spoke to me, and it reaffirmed my belief that integrity is such a strong yet undervalued human characteristic. I've always felt that integrity was my own personal test. Do my actions and beliefs have integrity. THAT's always been my go-to reflection. Anyway, you are an insightful and delightful reactor. I'm sorry I can't give another thumbs up.
You have just watched one of the greatest movies of all time. And , it's so good we forget the whole thing is shot in one room. Brilliant film making by Sidney Lumet. His first feature film. Many others to follow.
12 actors, 1 room,no action not even colour. but still your eyes and ears are glued to the screen ,trying not to miss a single word and getting totally excited how this is gonna end.great movie and great reaction.
It should be no surprise that this WAS a stage play before it was a movie. Congratulations on 20K Madison, a great achievement. I appreciate you observations and analysis very much.
@@macroman52 I looked it up, and you're right. It was a tv play in 1954, then adapted for the stage. After that came the movie. So... you're both right!
Reginald Rose was inspired by his jury duty experience in NYC in a manslaughter case when he recognized the conflicts and dynamic elements of the jury process would make a great setting for a teleplay, which he wrote for the Legendary 60-minute TV Anthology, Studio One and won an Emmy. Based on this success, he wrote and fleshed out a broadway stage play which became a hit and finally wrote the Oscar nominated screenplay for this movie.
Great analysis Madison. Now it's time for "Witness for the Prosecution" by Agatha Christie and starring Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich. Another awesome courtroom drama.
Such a great reaction, Madison. This is an excellently crafted film, great story, great ensemble acting, the claustrophobic atmosphere adding to the heat increasing the over all sense of tension, a masterpiece of cinema.
Hey, Madison! This was originally a teleplay for a "Playhouse 90"-type show in the '50's which were basically filmed theatrical productions. The story really works as a theatrical piece with 12 players and one setting. A few years later, the great Sidney Lumet directed it for film. It is considered one of the greatest courtroom dramas ever made. It is my 11th favorite film of all time! I like how Fonda's chief antagonists are fire and ice. The bombastic Lee J. Cobb and the coolly logical E.G. Marshall. The cast was stacked with some of the best character actors of the day some of which had amazing careers like Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, Robert Webber, Ed Begley, E.G. Marshall and Jack Warden. However, it's live-wire Lee J. Cobb who steals the spotlight with his histrionics and rage! When he has his breakthrough and realizes why he's rushed to judgment, his collapse is shattering and brings me to tears every time. Henry Fonda's magnanimity as he helps him to his feet and gives him his coat is equally moving. A remake was made for cable TV with a black Mykelti Williamson portraying a reverse racist. Jack Lemmon had the Fonda role and George C. Scott had the Cobb role. Edward James Olmos played the foreigner, Tony Danza was the sports guy, Armin Mueller-Stahl was the logician and James Gandolfini was the blue collar guy. Another remake was considered by adding women to the mix. The project was abandoned because the inclusion of female energy would change the dynamic of the story and the energy of the room.
Without doubt one of my favourite films of all time. The minimalistic setting, with profound themes/character moments. I enjoyed your analysis of the film.
Rope is a perfect follow up to this movie. It's a an experimental Hitchcock film that he didn't love at first, but it influenced a lot of films afterwards.
Congratulations on 20,000 subscribers due to your intelligent and insightful reactions. This is a classic and I watch everyone who reacts to it. There is so much to the script, the drama, the acting, the camera shots and direction. It is a brilliant study of human nature and justice.
Another great reaction and sum up Madison, good stuff. As a companion piece to 12 Angry Men I highly recommend Akira Kurosawa's "Rashomon (1950)". Both films should be required viewing for all who enter law enforcement. Two of the best ever made.
Agreed. Rashomon does pair nicely with 12 Angry Men, on a few levels. Random mention for Redbeard, one of my favorite Kurosowa films that doesn't get enough love, in my opinion. Think that one also pairs nicely with 12 Angry Men, in the sense that they both have strong themes of change.
These old films relied on scripts, actors and sets - not special effects - to tell compelling stories. I can rattle off dozens that deserve a watch. For two more classic courtroom dramas, try "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Anatomy of a Murder" (a particular favorite that was based on a true story and was filmed here in my hometown). A good runner up would be "Inherit the Wind".
I first watched this movie on a Sunday night when I was in the 8th grade. It came on at 10:30, so I only saw part of it. The next day in English class, we discussed it. Mrs. McCalla was a great teacher!!
As has been stated, it was originally written as a play. Nearly every man in that room went on to become an award winning actor. For example, the angry juror was George C. Scott, who later went on to win an Oscar for playing Patton. ... A personal favorite of staging was how the other jurors reacted to the bigoted man. By the end of his rant, when someone else told him to be quiet, everyone else in the room had turned their back on him.
My favorite parts of this perfect movie is E.G. Marshall saying, "I'm convinced. Not Guilty!" And Henry Fonda snatching the paper when a couple jurors are playing tic-tac-toe, "THIS AIN'T A GAME!" 11 stars out of 10. Better than perfect film.👍
For me, the great moment was when he says "No, nobody sleeps with glasses" (or something to that effect). He is truly focused on truth, to the point where he is willing to provide facts that he knows would help his opponents.
This movie is such a great study into group dynamics. It doesn't take a whole lot of people resisting what might become a mass formation, they just need to be resilient and reasonable and that can change everything.
Joseph Sweeney, the eldest juror, was born in 1884. His father grew up during the Civil War. The actor who voiced Piglet was juror #2. The racist juror was the father of a known actor of today, Ed Begley Jr. Sidney Lumet locked the actors in that room for a few hours and had them run lines, no camera. In that way he made the tension become real for the players. Thanks for sharing your reaction to a great film. ❤
I love when the last guy ripped the sons photo and said not guilty how her reaction went from mad at that guy to feeling sorry for him. Just like most of us I bet. You can tell she is a good person.
I think the title is interesting as it implies all the jury members are angry even though they start out voting 11 to 1. Maybe the message of this film is that a righteous anger can exist as well as a blind stupid anger. Henry Fonda is angry at the apathy of the other jurors. The rest of them are angry at what they have become. A unique twist on the good versus evil plot. With good winning of course.
As incredibly brilliant as this film is, and it's a masterpiece of direction, blocking and filming, my favorite moment is the brief moment of humanity shown to the character played by Lee J. Cobb by Mr. Davis, by helping him into his coat. Cobb was as good in that character as anybody could be, and he eventually fell apart when the demons of his fight with his son finally smacked him in his face. Davis made a small gesture of grace, and I can only think it would aid in the character's healing. Had there been no "forgiveness" for his holding out against the facts, I don't think it would carry the breathtaking weight that it did. The essence of humanity caught on celluloid for us to see and feel. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and reaction, Madison.
It's so hard to find RUclips reactors who concentrate on "classic" movies. I love American movies from the silents up until about 1980, so I'm always on the lookout for RUclipsrs who react to older movies! Some of my favorite directors are Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, Howard Hawks, John Ford, Vincente Minnelli, George Cukor, and the "new" Hollywood mavericks like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich and Robert Altman.
Funny, I just had the thought of suggesting this movie to you, and VOILÀ, here it is! One thing this classic certainly shows is that you don't necessarily need a big special effects budget to create a superb movie. Great line you had about people "operating on autopilot" instead of the more difficult process of truly thinking things through. So true.
The character development was extraordinary in this film. There were so many personalities. The last juror ends up being the most sympathetic character in the film.
Congratulations! You picked a great movie to celebrate with. This one is such a great example of how important riveting dialogue is in a movie. No beautiful scenery, elaborate sets, fancy wardrobe, or flashy visual effects. Yet the movie is absolutely fascinating, thanks to the thought-provoking and relatable interactions between the characters.
"12 Angry Men" was originally a television play. Probably written without any great expectations, but it turned out great & really took off when made as a full blown movie a few years later.
Directed by the great Sidney Lumet and written by Reginald Rose, who also adapted the screenplay. It was broadcast initially as a television play in 1954. The following year it was adapted for the stage.
You mentioned "Sweatiest movie of all time." I haven't seen the sitcom Cheers in a long time, but I remember they had a bar room discussion about that very topic. Cool Hand Luck (1967) came up, but also Body Heat (1981). So, I guess if you want to settle it, you'll have to watch that contender as well.
IMDB has this consistently ranked as the 5th greatest film of all time (with a 9.0 rating). And with good reason. 12 of the finest performances ever in cinema, a compelling plot (which is a feat considering it's 12 men in one room), with a plethora of themes underpinning it. The script is so on point, its been used as an example of confirmation bias in psychology classes. You're the first reactor I've seen that understood Lee J. Cobb's motivation. His breakdown at the end is one of the finest performances ever imo. 100% classic cinema. Subbed!
I am stunned! Just before you said "Cool Hand Luke" I said it!..Lol!..My favorite movie, btw...I actually saw it when it came out, with my older brother. A double feature with "Wait Until Dark." Another great movie. (wish someone would react to that one)...Guess I'm showing my age.
A couple other dialog heavy films are The Odd Couple (1968) and Stalag 17 (1953). The jury room reminds me of some public schools, city offices, banks, and businesses from the 1980s that hadn't been "modernized" yet. Wooden furniture, floors, doors, all metal fans, high ceilings, tall windows, no air conditioning. I could feel that room the first time I saw it about 35 years ago.
This is one of the best movies I've ever seen. It rings true too. I was once a jury foreman on a murder trial. It was a real challenge to get the jurors to stay on topic and to follow the directions of the presiding judge. It was clear that some of the jurors had their own agendas, making statements that were not at all linked to the facts as presented. But in the end, we were all able to reach the same conclusion. Soon after, I gave our collective verdict to the judge in open court. A very solemn experience--unforgettable...
Classic movies need this attention. They aren't talked about and so they don't exist in most people's minds. When selected carefully they often go far beyond anything created today and show that our best gems are behind us. An excellent analysis by the way, you suggest that this is mainly about confirmation bias and how much that rules most of us. I hadn't considered that aspect as much but you are quite right. Thank you.
Try another Henry Fonda classic from the 60`s Madison, called `Fail Safe`. It`s an uncomfortable watch at times, but has some wonderful claustrophobic scenes and great acting. A under appreciated gem in my humble opinion.
15:26 One of the jurors in 12 Angry Men was the late character actor John Fiedler, who was better known as the voice of Piglet in the Winnie the Pooh cartoons. He remained the voice until he died I believe. If you listen to one of the actors, you can identify which one he was by his voice. The one with the glasses.
Just rewatched this reaction and it confirms to me that this is one of the most honest and heartfelt reactions I have ever seen on RUclips. Well done, Madison!
I remember seeing this movie when I was too young to understand all of it. A couple of key scenes and an overall impression stuck with me for the intervening sixty years until recently watching a couple of these reactions. As an adult I recognize all the jurors from other roles except #9 and #11. Great writing, great acting, great directing, and great cinematography all come together for a great movie.
I served as a jurer on a capital murder trial. After rewatching this movie afterwards it had even a more profound impact on me. Deciding whether a man lives or dies was one of the hardest things i have ever faced.
One of my all time favorite movies. Undoubtedly one of the biggest reason I started writing back in high school. Good job on picking all the key moments to show.
Watched this in High School in the 90’s. Usually we would slack off when the teacher played movies, but every kid in the class sat quietly and watched. And Henry Fonda was sitting in a courtroom and jury chambers with a switchblade in his pocket? 😮
Always one of my must watch movies. It moves you with every viewing. First time i watched this i thought this is what great movie making is. Great writing and great acting. Thanks Madison you always provide great insights
The juror with the glasses was my favourite of the hold outs. He stuck with his conclusion of "guilty" because he thought it made sense, not because of prejudice or emotion. When the majority had swung to "not guilty" he didn't change his position out of peer pressure either, he argued his points until he was presented with good counter arguments, then he changed his mind.
No wonder he later became a defense attorney! (joke, E.G. Marshall would star in "The Defenders").
@@stuartwald2395 The Defenders was one of my mother's all time favorite tv shows E G Marshall one of her favorite actors. Same with Jack Krugman as she watched Quincy faithfully
@@stuartwald2395 He prosecuted in The Caine Mutiny first.
He was also the President in Superman II
This is a master class of acting, most viewers won't recognize the majority of these actors but each of them are top shelf performers in their own right.
If you check out their IMDB entries, most of them have a long history with acting.
But I do, but then again I am 69 years old
It is a bit bittersweet. Try grabbing 12 of the best actors and characters actors today and you would recreate this cast. Time has gone by and modern audiences probably couldn't even name 3 of them.
Agreed! They each embraced their roles so well, you get lost in the story…and revel in each line they deliver. I love how you think it’s about the murder, then slowly realize that you’re getting to know each juror more than anything. I enjoy that plot twist. 🖤
@@kissmy_butt1302 They remade this as a TV movie in 1997, 40 years after this was made. I recognize 6 of the jurors and another 3-4 are in the "they look familiar" camp. (and one "Oh, he's the barbarian's voice in Diablo 3?") So even with 25 years distance, some are already slipping into obscurity.
Lee J. Cobb put on an acting clinic in that final monologue. He made all of your possible dislike of his character evaporate in literally 5 seconds as he tears up the picture of him and his son and suddenly you feel nothing but empathy for him.
Lee Cobb played the main antagonist, and he was amazing in this. He had been raked through the coals by the House UnAmerican Activities Committee for refusing to name his friends who had attended radical meetings and his career had almost been ruined. He was angry and bitter about it and he channeled it through in this part. Ed Begly, who played the bigot, was the dead opposite in real life - really nice guy who kept bringing his nieces to the set to introduce to everyone. All of the actors were paid the same, which was really cool of the bigger stars. Please consider watching Henry Fonda in The Oxbow Incident in another movie about a rush to judgment.
Lee Cobb was such an amazing character actor
@@PhilCarson-ge8nd He was. Did a great job as the gangster in On the Waterfront. Apparently won some kind of award on stage for Death of a Salesman.
always like Cobb's roles in the movies, never knew this about him, thanks for educating me on him. Elia Kazan - who was a great (one of the greatest IMO) was a sellout and sold out his friends sadly. It in no way make his movies less, his movies are top tier, but the man behind the movie less so. I'd like to think that such a man that had the tallant to make great movies was great in his core and not only sold his friends out, but sold himself out in the end. I can never walk in another's shoes, and so will not try to with Kazan, but I am sad about what he did - and assume he did so out of cowardice rather than malice. Only God know what i would have done were i in his shoes - I would hope to follow Cobb's example, but I might have pussed out and played Kazan instead. ;-/.
@@gaffo7836 Cobb eventually did provide some names that the FBI already had just as a matter of survival ritual. He needed to feed his kids. This is from Wiki:
Later, Cobb explained why he "named names", saying:
When the facilities of the government of the United States are drawn on an individual it can be terrifying. The blacklist is just the opening gambit-being deprived of work. Your passport is confiscated. That's minor. But not being able to move without being tailed is something else. After a certain point it grows to implied as well as articulated threats, and people succumb. My wife did, and she was institutionalized. The HUAC did a deal with me. I was pretty much worn down. I had no money. I couldn't borrow. I had the expenses of taking care of the children. Why am I subjecting my loved ones to this? If it's worth dying for, and I am just as idealistic as the next fellow. But I decided it wasn't worth dying for, and if this gesture was the way of getting out of the penitentiary I'd do it. I had to be employable again.
- Interview with Victor Navasky for the 1980 book Naming Names (a great book by the way!)
Arthur Miller had a falling out with Kazan over it all and sent Kazan a copy of his play "A View from the Bridge" saying "I wanted to let you know what I think of stool-pigeons."
He was blacklisted himself and thought that someone like Kazan could have broken the blacklists, the way Kirk Douglass did a few years later with the Spartacus project. They did reconcile later in life according to Navasky. But he had nothing against Cobb, and told Cobb he was honored when Cobb asked to play the main part in Death of a Salesman.
@@Kunsoo1024 Thanks for reply and education on those 3-4 men, who's names I know of, but not the particulars. Codd was right - but not quite as dark as it can get when gov., is allowed to have full power and are smart about using it - they would not threaten his life, but the life of his family (of course even the most evil gov germany of the 30-40's and Stalins of the same time - did not kill members of the familiy, just the offending memeber (but other gov may have - and I don't know if they did - but knowing history - suspect PolPot's gov did so, and prob, the Hutu one in the 90's during the civil war agaisn the Tutsi (as well as the Serbians) - I don't know this personally, just suspect so and would not be surprised if they did. We all know the German's did so with families of the Jews and Gypies (but out of habit, so no offense by a Patriach was even need for them!).
As for Kirk Douglas, I used to like his persona (seeing him on talk shows decades ago - as an Actor thought he was a bit "overacter" (sort of like Shatner and Heston (Shatner aways seemed a dick to me per what i saw in interviews - Heston seemed like a nice man (I'm a liberal, but my best buddies are mostly conservatives, they are not be buddies due to them being conservative, but due to their character and mine aligning - so I don't give a crap per political leanings who I call my friends). I'm digressing here, anyway, last year I ran across a YT channel that talk about Natalie Wood and Kirk Douglas - and it basically said Douglas raped Wood, then Douglas told her to keep her trap shut or you will loose your future acting career. And knowing the nature of power and status (Catholic Bishops anyone? - esp in Canada and Boston) - I'll side with Wood on this one. I'm MGTOW BTW, so not "progressive" in any way and have issues with women personally. just laying out my perspective on the matter here.
again, God bless Cobb (he was in many great 50's movies - "Theives Highway" was one for sure - seems utterly forgotten today - he played a Martian in a 50's era TV episode of "Tales of Tomorrow",(they even made an X-Minus One Radioplay of the same story in the 50's - great radiodrama BTW /as is the old TV show BTW - so ya Cobb was great! and thanks for reply Sir! ;-).
All of these men have been great character actors for over 50 yrs I've seen all of them in many movies
I've watched a LOT of people react to this movie, people that are very different from me and my way of thinking. What I find the most amazing is when J Lee Cobb, the last juror to come around, finally says "not guilty", not a single reactor is smug, or has a "yessss!" moment. It hurts when he finally lets go and can be truthful. We all hurt when we see him break. This is an amazing movie, acted and directed on a level few other films can match, but I think the reactions of people to it are even more impressive: this is a glimmer of hope for us all, in my humble opinion.
Thank you, Madison, for this one, and for continuing to give me reason to be glad I found your channel.
Wow. Madison said “Anger is a confession of pain.” I’m going to remember that. Thanks for that bit of wisdom, and for a great reaction. Well done!
Well, men weren't, or aren't, allowed to admit to experiencing any pain directly, so it comes out as anger.
The source of all humor is anger. Anger is a defense against pain; but behind it is fear; fear of pain.
Anger is a confession of fear as well.
Fear leads to anger.
Anger leads to hate.
Hate leads to suffering and then death.
It's also born from frustration and injustice.
Yup, that's a quote, aand a particularily poetic one =)
A lot of people overlook E.G. Marshall's performance (the man with the glasses), but he did a really great job. "I did. Now sit down and don't open your mouth again." is one of the great lines of cinema. Incidentally, they only give the names of two of the jurors at the end. Otherwise they're all just numbers!
...which reminds me of a show you might like, The Prisoner. There were only 17 episodes made, but it's a cult classic. A secret agent resigns, is gassed in his home and wakes up in a weird village where everyone is referred to as a number. He keeps trying to escape, and they keep trying to break him. It's great!
He was great in the early 60s TV show The Defenders. I also like his stern line and look "I have a reasonable doubt now."
The Prisoner would really be a deep dive. A great but very unorthodox series
He was good in Oliver stones nixon too
Juror 4 kept order throughout on the guilty side, not swayed by personal emotion like 3 or flat out bigotry like 10.
@@stormhawk3319 Exactly! You could see him getting annoyed with his "allies" when they put the discussion off track. And that's what made his shutdown of Juror #10 so epic.
It's worth mentioning that E. G. Marshall was also the long-time host of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater, some episodes of which can be found on RUclips.
TRIVIA!! John Fiedler, who played Juror #2 (the meek bank teller), was the voice of Piglet in the Winnie the Pooh cartoons. 👍
He was also in a classic Star Trek episode "Wolf In The Fold", where he played a man possessed by an alien entity (aka Jack the Ripper).
Fiedler was also in some episodes of the Bob Newhart Show in the 1970s as one of Dr. Hartley's patients.
This movie has been used as a textbook example of how to persuade people to your point of view in business classes since the 1970's.
The cast in this film is extraordinary. I have seen almost every one of these actors in many great films and TV shows.
Martin Balsam as Juror 1, the jury foreman; a calm and methodical assistant high school football coach.
John Fiedler as Juror 2, a meek and unpretentious bank teller who is easily flustered, but eventually stands up for himself.
Lee J. Cobb as Juror 3, a hot-tempered owner of a courier business who is estranged from his son; the most passionate advocate of a "guilty" verdict.
E. G. Marshall as Juror 4, an unflappable, conscientious, and analytical stockbroker who is concerned only with facts, not opinions.
Jack Klugman as Juror 5, a Baltimore Orioles fan who grew up in a violent slum, and is sensitive to bigotry towards "slum kids".
Edward Binns as Juror 6, a tough but principled house painter who objects to others, especially the elderly, being verbally abused.
Jack Warden as Juror 7, a wisecracking salesman who is more concerned about the Yankees game he is missing than the case.
Henry Fonda as Davis, Juror 8, a humane, justice-seeking architect and father of three; initially, the only one to question the evidence and vote "not guilty".
Joseph Sweeney as McCardle, Juror 9, a thoughtful and intelligent elderly man who is highly observant of the witnesses' behaviors and their possible motivations.
Ed Begley as Juror 10, a pushy, loud-mouthed garage owner who is bigoted toward slum-life people.
George Voskovec as Juror 11, a polite European watchmaker and naturalized American citizen who demonstrates strong respect for democratic values such as due process.
Robert Webber as Juror 12, an indecisive and easily distracted advertising executive.
Terrific profiles - Thank you.
I was really happy to see our actor Jiří (George) Voskovec as "Juror 11" in this great movie. He immigrated to the USA in 1948 with the onset of the National Socialist and Stalinist regimes, respectively, in Czechoslovakia.
I remember walking by Lincoln Center in NY (March, '77) and seeing Voskovec's name on the billboard outside, appearing in a production of Chekov's "The Cherry Orchard"; "Hey, it's Juror #11" I said to myself. I wish I had bought a ticket to actually see him live....one of the most respected stage actors of the era.@@nar_by_marek300
A fantastic performance by Lee J. Cobb (the angry father).
I watched this in High School as part of my Social Studies class in the 90s. Most of us, myself included, were not looking forward to it. It's been one of my favorite movies ever since.
Same
"This is just an outdated boring film. Doesn't mean anything to us!" - Begins listening to the dialogue. Step-by-step. Becomes enraptured. "This is such an important film!" - Most by the end. If only juries deliberated this seriously.
@@jmsmys13ify I have been on more than one jury and in fact, was the foreman on a jury in a murder case, and I can tell you that, in my experience, most took their deliberations very seriously. In the aforementioned murder case, there was no doubt as to the guilt of the defendant, we were all agreed on that, but we spent six hours in that jury room debating the degree of guilt. Much like the movie, emotions ranged from the disinterested to the passionate. Once that door is closed behind you and you're left with only the evidence and your collective thoughts, most become very serious about their deliberations.
Interesting comment. Thanks
Same story in my business school
I'm so elated that you got a little teary-eyed when Lee J Cobb breaks down at the the "Not guilty..."(sobs) part near the end. I thought I was the only one who did.
"Arena" has always been one of my favorite S.T. episodes..😉
He spoke for the father who had been murdered (by whomevern) and he felt like payback was in his reach, as another father who had been attacked by his son. He must have realized the mistakes he made and that his son did not deserve this. After all, he believed that a father's duty was to make a man out of his son and he failed in that.
@Vlasko60 Absolutely, the grandfather must have been even worse.
I first saw this in the 70s on a school movie-theatre excursion with a busload of rowdy middle-school tech kids at the height of Star Wars mania and Saturday Night Fever. Ten minutes in you could hear a pin drop, and a bunch of introspective young men filed out of the venue that day, a little older and wiser for the experience. Such is the power of a good script well-executed,
same. I was in a high school business class in the late 90s. started out rolling our eyes at a black and white movie, by the end of the movie we were a bunch of ghetto kids with our jaws on the floor, almost applausing. it was amazing
Both of these comments are testimonies to the power of this great film.@@rosgill6
Henry Fonda’s Juror 8 is one of cinema’s greatest heroes.
Doesn’t kill the bad guy, no romance with a heroine (no women in this film), just wants justice for a kid he doesn’t know nor will the kid ever know that it was he alone who saved him from execution, and at the end just walks out of the courthouse as an anonymous member of the public.
Brilliance.
In reality, however, the knife he brought into the jury room would be enough for a mistrial, and Fonda could be jailed for contempt. The knife is not in evidence.
I'm 55 and only just watched this movie for the first time last year. I was blown away! Excellent movie!
One trick the director used was he moved the walls inward as the movie progressed. It made the room smaller as the tension increased.
Lee J Cobb made his bones as a great stage actor. Playwright Eugene O'Neil loved the man in his plays. After Cobb had a stroke Frank Sinatra hired an ambulance that took Mr. Cobb to Sinatra's estate in Palm Springs, Cobb had never met Sinatra and wondered why he was being honored by Frank in Palm Springs. Sinatra answered, "I like how you act".
Francis Albert winked at my mom at a show in Buffalo. He knew how to make people feel special.
My favorite part was the very end, when the last juror finally said "not guilty", Madison gave this sigh of, "OK, I actually feel sorry for you."
Just after she said he was "entitled", which I don't agree with. He was in fact, in a great personal conflict and sorrow that manifested itself in a very bad way.
Proof that a strong script is always the most important thing.
Strong script + Strong acting = Greatness
Yep! No CGI, car crashes, gratuitous sex and violence, political correctness, etc. Amazing isn't it?
That's a lesson that Hollywood forgot and refuses to relearn.
More like great acting makes a decent script come alive!
@@PeterMaranci Unfortunately even if you don’t forget, that doesn’t mean you get good scripts. Talented writers are rare.
It's an over-used word but I think this film is a work of genius, its ability to portray the human condition in all its despair and humility and anger and prejudice and eventually empathy and love is remarkable and all in one room.
And it's terribly funny as well
What makes this movie so powerful and great is its subtlety and fairness to both sides. No cardboard characters, but fully rounded human beings; none of the guilty side saying things about the defendant that really apply to themselves; no shots of the judge looking bored or uninterested and the defendant looking like a 13 year old angel. No, none of that. No agendas at all...
This is one of my all time favorite black and white classic movies. Right up there with It's a Wonderful Life. Movies back then were real works of art and often on shoestring budgets.
i love the scene at the end where he hand him his jacket... people often forget these days that someone can have a very different opinion on some topics but that doesnt mean they are a bad person and they still deserve to be treated with respect.
The three angles are fantastic.
1- The script, the dialogue.
2- The actors performance.
3- The making of it (camara angles and shots capturing the story).
also, the production of it: a room, 20 actors, the camaras (genius).
Brilliant masterpiece.
Congratulations Madison. Another great reaction to a great movie. I saw this at my grandparents house when I was a kid and even then was struck by just how good and how powerful it is. Sadly the quality of writing, acting, and sheer depth of character on display seems to be a rarity these days, as you alluded to in your review.
Madison, the director of this movie, Sidney Lumet, wrote a book, "Making Movies" in which he uses this movie to describe the process of film making. Each chapter is devoted to a different aspect of the film and the choices he made: the lighting, sets, score, camera placement, closeups, script, actors, etc. You should read the book since you obviously love movies. Worth the time, I promise. Good commentary!!
This is one of my all-time favorite movies. It is an example of a large cast that all gets just the right amount of screen time. They are all important and impact the story. And the fact that this takes place in a single room is amazing and shows how great the script and delivery both were. And the long shots in this are some of the best you'll ever see. Even if it's just guys having small talk, but if you notice when they focus on someone in the foreground, in the background the others are all interacting and doing whatever before settling down. Nobody is distracting in a negative way. They look the way you'd expect people to be when first introduced to each other in a tiny hot room. And this movie just does such a fantastic example setting up everyone's little arc via side conversations. You have an advertisement guy, a high school coach, a laborer, a watch maker, etc, etc. They're all so different and come from different backgrounds/social classes, but in that room they are all equal. Everyone's opinion is worth the exact amount as the man sitting next to them. Ahh...I just love this movie so much. It's a masterpiece in my eyes.
One of the most rewatchable movies of all time. I've seen it at least 15 times. It's crazy.
Great script and wonderful cast , Lee J Cobb was amazing in this movie incredibly underated actor , never tire of watching this movie.
Lee J. Cobb created the persona of Willy Loman in one of America's greatest plays, Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman." Miller won 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. It's been revived on Broadway and around the world many times. (Film version 1951). He also co-starred in "On the Waterfront" with Marlon Brando.
Great reaction... I especially appreciate your editing, you managed to catch almost all the salient moments in the movie. Great job by writer, director and actors... and terrific job by the reactor! Thank you!
Yes, Madison, thanks for not talking over the dialogue. Too many reviewers do this and spoil some of the most salient points of the movie.
I just re-watched this reaction, and I really noticed the smart analysis you gave at the end. I can tell you're an author. You really understand the mechanics of the story as well as having an actual human reaction. It's a wonderful combination for someone doing a reaction to films. I saw this in high school for a film studies class back int he 70s. It's funny that it seemed like an old film to me so very long ago. Now when I'm older it seems closer to me. It's weird how aging works. Characters like Henry Fonda's always spoke to me, and it reaffirmed my belief that integrity is such a strong yet undervalued human characteristic. I've always felt that integrity was my own personal test. Do my actions and beliefs have integrity. THAT's always been my go-to reflection. Anyway, you are an insightful and delightful reactor. I'm sorry I can't give another thumbs up.
You have just watched one of the greatest movies of all time. And , it's so good we forget the whole thing is shot in one room. Brilliant film making by Sidney Lumet. His first feature film. Many others to follow.
12 actors, 1 room,no action not even colour. but still your eyes and ears are glued to the screen ,trying not to miss a single word and getting totally excited how this is gonna end.great movie and great reaction.
It should be no surprise that this WAS a stage play before it was a movie. Congratulations on 20K Madison, a great achievement. I appreciate you observations and analysis very much.
I think it was a TV play, not a stage play. Back in the day they did broadcast live TV plays.
@@macroman52 I looked it up, and you're right. It was a tv play in 1954, then adapted for the stage. After that came the movie. So... you're both right!
Reginald Rose was inspired by his jury duty experience in NYC in a manslaughter case when he recognized the conflicts and dynamic elements of the jury process would make a great setting for a teleplay, which he wrote for the Legendary 60-minute TV Anthology, Studio One and won an Emmy. Based on this success, he wrote and fleshed out a broadway stage play which became a hit and finally wrote the Oscar nominated screenplay for this movie.
Finally a reactor who understands that juror #3 wasn't angry at his son, he was angry at himself, that he himself is guilty, he drove his son off...
An absolute classic. A lot of faces that you'd see on TV and in movies for the next 20 - 30 years.
This was first a successful play on Broadway. You can imagine that the play probably took place completely in the jury room.
Great analysis Madison. Now it's time for "Witness for the Prosecution" by Agatha Christie and starring Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich. Another awesome courtroom drama.
Any Charles Laughton film is a good watch. He often played variations on a blubbery, hapless slob, but he was so charismatic.
Yes yes yes Witness for the Prosecution is AWESOME
Glad it won the poll. I'm bad a quantifying lists of best off, but to me this is easily one of the best movies I've ever seen. An easy masterpiece
If you like one shot takes and masterpiece movies you need to do yourself a favor and watch 'children of men'
What a cast! Filmed in one room just like the play. A classic that cannot be remade.
Such a great reaction, Madison. This is an excellently crafted film, great story, great ensemble acting, the claustrophobic atmosphere adding to the heat increasing the over all sense of tension, a masterpiece of cinema.
Hey, Madison! This was originally a teleplay for a "Playhouse 90"-type show in the '50's which were basically filmed theatrical productions. The story really works as a theatrical piece with 12 players and one setting. A few years later, the great Sidney Lumet directed it for film. It is considered one of the greatest courtroom dramas ever made.
It is my 11th favorite film of all time!
I like how Fonda's chief antagonists are fire and ice. The bombastic Lee J. Cobb and the coolly logical E.G. Marshall.
The cast was stacked with some of the best character actors of the day some of which had amazing careers like Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, Robert Webber, Ed Begley, E.G. Marshall and Jack Warden. However, it's live-wire Lee J. Cobb who steals the spotlight with his histrionics and rage!
When he has his breakthrough and realizes why he's rushed to judgment, his collapse is shattering and brings me to tears every time.
Henry Fonda's magnanimity as he helps him to his feet and gives him his coat is equally moving.
A remake was made for cable TV with a black Mykelti Williamson portraying a reverse racist. Jack Lemmon had the Fonda role and George C. Scott had the Cobb role. Edward James Olmos played the foreigner, Tony Danza was the sports guy, Armin Mueller-Stahl was the logician and James Gandolfini was the blue collar guy.
Another remake was considered by adding women to the mix. The project was abandoned because the inclusion of female energy would change the dynamic of the story and the energy of the room.
Without doubt one of my favourite films of all time. The minimalistic setting, with profound themes/character moments. I enjoyed your analysis of the film.
Rope is a perfect follow up to this movie. It's a an experimental Hitchcock film that he didn't love at first, but it influenced a lot of films afterwards.
Excellent, Madison! This has been near the top of my list ever since i first saw it over 30 years ago. You really nailed the reasons why.
Congratulations on 20,000 subscribers due to your intelligent and insightful reactions. This is a classic and I watch everyone who reacts to it. There is so much to the script, the drama, the acting, the camera shots and direction. It is a brilliant study of human nature and justice.
You could say he went outlaw for justice!
Another great reaction and sum up Madison, good stuff. As a companion piece to 12 Angry Men I highly recommend Akira Kurosawa's "Rashomon (1950)". Both films should be required viewing for all who enter law enforcement. Two of the best ever made.
Agreed. Rashomon does pair nicely with 12 Angry Men, on a few levels. Random mention for Redbeard, one of my favorite Kurosowa films that doesn't get enough love, in my opinion. Think that one also pairs nicely with 12 Angry Men, in the sense that they both have strong themes of change.
"Anger is a confession of pain." So true, Madison. Great reaction. Congratulations on 20K subs.
These old films relied on scripts, actors and sets - not special effects - to tell compelling stories. I can rattle off dozens that deserve a watch. For two more classic courtroom dramas, try "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Anatomy of a Murder" (a particular favorite that was based on a true story and was filmed here in my hometown). A good runner up would be "Inherit the Wind".
I first watched this movie on a Sunday night when I was in the 8th grade. It came on at 10:30, so I only saw part of it. The next day in English class, we discussed it. Mrs. McCalla was a great teacher!!
As has been stated, it was originally written as a play. Nearly every man in that room went on to become an award winning actor. For example, the angry juror was George C. Scott, who later went on to win an Oscar for playing Patton.
... A personal favorite of staging was how the other jurors reacted to the bigoted man. By the end of his rant, when someone else told him to be quiet, everyone else in the room had turned their back on him.
You are thinking of the 1970s teleplay. In this version, it's Lee J. Cobb. Famous in both television and cinema, though more for television.
My favorite parts of this perfect movie is E.G. Marshall saying, "I'm convinced. Not Guilty!" And Henry Fonda snatching the paper when a couple jurors are playing tic-tac-toe, "THIS AIN'T A GAME!" 11 stars out of 10. Better than perfect film.👍
For me, the great moment was when he says "No, nobody sleeps with glasses" (or something to that effect). He is truly focused on truth, to the point where he is willing to provide facts that he knows would help his opponents.
This movie is such a great study into group dynamics. It doesn't take a whole lot of people resisting what might become a mass formation, they just need to be resilient and reasonable and that can change everything.
This movie makes my top 25 movies of all time. Your right. everyone needs to watch this movie at least once.
This is a masterpiece in every way, but the camerawork and ESPECIALLY the blocking are elements to be marveled.
Joseph Sweeney, the eldest juror, was born in 1884. His father grew up during the Civil War. The actor who voiced Piglet was juror #2. The racist juror was the father of a known actor of today, Ed Begley Jr. Sidney Lumet locked the actors in that room for a few hours and had them run lines, no camera. In that way he made the tension become real for the players. Thanks for sharing your reaction to a great film. ❤
I love when the last guy ripped the sons photo and said not guilty how her reaction went from mad at that guy to feeling sorry for him. Just like most of us I bet. You can tell she is a good person.
I think the title is interesting as it implies all the jury members are angry even though they start out voting 11 to 1. Maybe the message of this film is that a righteous anger can exist as well as a blind stupid anger. Henry Fonda is angry at the apathy of the other jurors. The rest of them are angry at what they have become. A unique twist on the good versus evil plot. With good winning of course.
As incredibly brilliant as this film is, and it's a masterpiece of direction, blocking and filming, my favorite moment is the brief moment of humanity shown to the character played by Lee J. Cobb by Mr. Davis, by helping him into his coat. Cobb was as good in that character as anybody could be, and he eventually fell apart when the demons of his fight with his son finally smacked him in his face. Davis made a small gesture of grace, and I can only think it would aid in the character's healing. Had there been no "forgiveness" for his holding out against the facts, I don't think it would carry the breathtaking weight that it did. The essence of humanity caught on celluloid for us to see and feel. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and reaction, Madison.
It's so hard to find RUclips reactors who concentrate on "classic" movies. I love American movies from the silents up until about 1980, so I'm always on the lookout for RUclipsrs who react to older movies! Some of my favorite directors are Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, Howard Hawks, John Ford, Vincente Minnelli, George Cukor, and the "new" Hollywood mavericks like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich and Robert Altman.
Funny, I just had the thought of suggesting this movie to you, and VOILÀ, here it is! One thing this classic certainly shows is that you don't necessarily need a big special effects budget to create a superb movie. Great line you had about people "operating on autopilot" instead of the more difficult process of truly thinking things through. So true.
The character development was extraordinary in this film. There were so many personalities. The last juror ends up being the most sympathetic character in the film.
Congratulations! You picked a great movie to celebrate with. This one is such a great example of how important riveting dialogue is in a movie. No beautiful scenery, elaborate sets, fancy wardrobe, or flashy visual effects. Yet the movie is absolutely fascinating, thanks to the thought-provoking and relatable interactions between the characters.
"12 Angry Men" was originally a television play. Probably written without any great expectations, but it turned out great & really took off when made as a full blown movie a few years later.
This should be right up Madison's alley. She should really appreciate the writing.
The jury foreman was the private investigator Arbogast from Psycho…
Directed by the great Sidney Lumet and written by Reginald Rose, who also adapted the screenplay. It was broadcast initially as a television play in 1954. The following year it was adapted for the stage.
You mentioned "Sweatiest movie of all time." I haven't seen the sitcom Cheers in a long time, but I remember they had a bar room discussion about that very topic. Cool Hand Luck (1967) came up, but also Body Heat (1981). So, I guess if you want to settle it, you'll have to watch that contender as well.
Body Heat is great. Kathleen Turner and William Hurt in a noir, psychological thriller. Plus plenty of sweat. 🙃
In fact it was the pilot episode, and once Sumner (Diane's boyfriend) mentioned Cool Hand Luke the bar all agreed.
IMDB has this consistently ranked as the 5th greatest film of all time (with a 9.0 rating). And with good reason. 12 of the finest performances ever in cinema, a compelling plot (which is a feat considering it's 12 men in one room), with a plethora of themes underpinning it. The script is so on point, its been used as an example of confirmation bias in psychology classes. You're the first reactor I've seen that understood Lee J. Cobb's motivation. His breakdown at the end is one of the finest performances ever imo. 100% classic cinema. Subbed!
You are watching the best of the best of male "character" actors of Hollywood in the 50's. The list of films these actors appeared in is staggering.
I am stunned! Just before you said "Cool Hand Luke" I said it!..Lol!..My favorite movie, btw...I actually saw it when it came out, with my older brother. A double feature with "Wait Until Dark." Another great movie. (wish someone would react to that one)...Guess I'm showing my age.
Ooh yes you might REALLY like Wait Until Dark. Audrey Hepburn in an unforgettable role.
A masterpiece. I don't believe this is something a person watches. I'm glad you, experienced it.!
As we say here in Texas; Y'all be safe.
This is my top 5 all time favorite movies. I think everyone has the same feeling after they view this movie. Just in awe!
A couple other dialog heavy films are The Odd Couple (1968) and Stalag 17 (1953).
The jury room reminds me of some public schools, city offices, banks, and businesses from the 1980s that hadn't been "modernized" yet. Wooden furniture, floors, doors, all metal fans, high ceilings, tall windows, no air conditioning. I could feel that room the first time I saw it about 35 years ago.
One of the greatest pieces of art ever recorded on film.
One of the best movies ever!
Lee j cobbs verbal delivery & diction is beautiful.His control to command the centre is hypnotic.
This is one of the best movies I've ever seen. It rings true too. I was once a jury foreman on a murder trial. It was a real challenge to get the jurors to stay on topic and to follow the directions of the presiding judge. It was clear that some of the jurors had their own agendas, making statements that were not at all linked to the facts as presented. But in the end, we were all able to reach the same conclusion. Soon after, I gave our collective verdict to the judge in open court. A very solemn experience--unforgettable...
“A Few Good Men” and “Conspiracy” are also good plays committed to film with great actors.
Classic movies need this attention. They aren't talked about and so they don't exist in most people's minds. When selected carefully they often go far beyond anything created today and show that our best gems are behind us. An excellent analysis by the way, you suggest that this is mainly about confirmation bias and how much that rules most of us. I hadn't considered that aspect as much but you are quite right. Thank you.
Try another Henry Fonda classic from the 60`s Madison, called `Fail Safe`. It`s an uncomfortable watch at times, but has some wonderful claustrophobic scenes and great acting. A under appreciated gem in my humble opinion.
15:26 One of the jurors in 12 Angry Men was the late character actor John Fiedler, who was better known as the voice of Piglet in the Winnie the Pooh cartoons. He remained the voice until he died I believe. If you listen to one of the actors, you can identify which one he was by his voice. The one with the glasses.
Just rewatched this reaction and it confirms to me that this is one of the most honest and heartfelt reactions I have ever seen on RUclips. Well done, Madison!
Thank you very much, Martin!
"Marty" is another gem that comes to my mind.
I remember seeing this movie when I was too young to understand all of it. A couple of key scenes and an overall impression stuck with me for the intervening sixty years until recently watching a couple of these reactions. As an adult I recognize all the jurors from other roles except #9 and #11. Great writing, great acting, great directing, and great cinematography all come together for a great movie.
I served as a jurer on a capital murder trial. After rewatching this movie afterwards it had even a more profound impact on me. Deciding whether a man lives or dies was one of the hardest things i have ever faced.
One of my all time favorite movies. Undoubtedly one of the biggest reason I started writing back in high school. Good job on picking all the key moments to show.
I've been called for jury duty like 8 times but every time they've said they don't need me the night before.
"Anger is a confession of pain." I like it.
I've seen so many movies and TV shows over the years that I can almost name all of the actors in the jury room. 😊
Arbogast, the detective in Pyscho, is in this.
When Lee J Cobb (juror number three) sat down, covered his face, and cried out "not guilty", I could see the mom jump right out in your face, lol.
Now you have to do Witness for the Prosecution. It is another courtroom drama but it's mostly in the courtroom as opposed to the jury room.
Most of these actors were at the beginnings of their careers, but would become exceedingly famous.
It really is a master class in critical thinking. Great movie and play. Should be a mandatory watch, especially in the social media age.
Watched this in High School in the 90’s. Usually we would slack off when the teacher played movies, but every kid in the class sat quietly and watched. And Henry Fonda was sitting in a courtroom and jury chambers with a switchblade in his pocket? 😮
Always one of my must watch movies. It moves you with every viewing. First time i watched this i thought this is what great movie making is. Great writing and great acting. Thanks Madison you always provide great insights