12 ANGRY MEN(1957)--Tribute

Whenever I watch this movie, just one word comes into my mind

simply !!! ...... AWESOME

12 ANGRY MEN is an exceptional Movie,  a "thriller" movie which keeps you on the edge of your seat without car chases, gun shots, love scenes, high octane action etc.  Just plain discussion between 12 men in a single room has never been so thrilling.

1-Room

1-issue

1-Objective (guilty or not)

no-Action

no-Romance

& most importantly

no-Woman

Yet "1:45 mins OF COMPLETE ENTERTAINMENT"

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

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JUROR 1:

Played by Martin Balsam. He is a simple man who clearly does not understand the full

complexity of the task that lies before him but is trying to do everything not to let anyone else find this out. He appears at ease only once during the film - when he talks about football. He has the misfortune to be selected foreman of the jury - a task he clearly does not relish.

JUROR 2:

Played By John Fiedler. He is a small, quite man, clearly unaccustomed to giving his own opinion much less to expecting his views to be of any importance. Apparently he finds solace in his job - he is an accountant.

JUROR 3:

Played by Lee.J.Cobb. Probably the most complex personality in the film. Starts off like

a pleasant self-made successful businessman, he analyses the case impartially, explains his arguments well and is reasonably self assured. As time goes on he becomes more and more passionate and seems to be somehow personally involved with the case. He also starts to show some signs of slight mental instability. This is the character you remember after the film is over.

JUROR 4:

Played by E.G.Marshal. He is self assured, slightly arrogant stockbroker. Obviously

considers himself more intelligent than anyone else in the room, he approaches the case with cool heartless logic but (as one of the jurors says - "this is not an exact science") he does not take into account the feelings, the passions, the characters of the people involved in the case.

JUROR 5:

Played By Jack Klugman. Here is a man under great emotional stress. He comes from the same social background as the accused boy - with who he almost unwillingly seems to identify with. Paradoxically this appears one of the main reasons for him voting guilty - he does not want compassion to influence him - so ironically it does.

JUROR 6:

Played by Edward Binns . He is a simple man, quite readily admitting that everyone in the room is better qualified than he is to make decisions and offer explanations. But he really wants to see justice done and it worries him that he might make a mistake.

JUROR 7:

Played by Jack Warden. The only one that really has no opinion on this case. Literally

throughout the film his thoughts are never on the case - he talks of baseball, of the heat, of fixing the fan but the only reason he has for voting this way or that is to speed things up a bit so he might be out of the jury room as soon as possible. Not an evil man he just has no sense of morality whatsoever - he can tell right from wrong but does not seem to think it's worth the bother.

JUROR 8:

Played by Henry Fonda. The protagonist of the movie if you may. Is a caring man, has put more thought into the case than any of the other jurors. He tries to do his best even in the face of seemingly impossible odds. Never looses hope in the face of adversity and never compromises on his thoughts. Without him, there wouldn't have been a discusiion at the first place

JUROR 9:

Played By Joseph Sweeney. A wise old man with his great life experience has quite a

unique way of looking at the case. The first person to trust and stand alongside Juror No 8 . Brings his experience of life and judging to work for the case.

JUROR 10:

Played by Ed Begley Sr. The most horrifying character in the film. Votes guilty and does not even try to hide the fact that he does so only because of the boy's social background. The tragedy comes from the fact that his own social position is only a cut above the boy's - which makes him all the more eager to accentuate the difference. Has a running nose in the movie which he caters to throughout

JUROR 11:

Played by George Voskovec. Is an immigrant watchmaker, careful methodical man, well mannered and soft spoken. respects the right of people to have different opinion to his - and is willing to look at both sides of the problem. Loses his temper only once - horrified by the complete indifference of juror #7

JUROR 12:

Played By Robert Webber. He is a young business type - perhaps he has his own opinions - but is careful to hide them. What he has learnt out of life seems to be that intelligence is equal with agreeing with what the majority of people think.