12 Angry Men (50th Anniversary Edition) with Special Features

It is the absolute antithesis of everything the Hollywood studios are releasing today. There is no senseless violence, no special effects of any kind, practically no music and not a woman cannot be seen during the entire film. Heck, "12 Angry Men" was a box office flop when it was first released back in 1957. But to those who study and appreciate the fine art of movie-making "12 Angry Men" remains a shining example of how a motion picture should be crafted. It is a film that will grab your attention in the opening scene and simply never let go. "12 Angry Men" first appeared on television on CBS's "Studio One" program in the early 1950's. Actor Henry Fonda was so taken with the play that he immediately launched a campaign to bring it to the big screen. When all of the major studios declined Fonda and the author of the play Reginald Rose decided to do it themselves. They recruited highly respected director Sidney Lumet and inked a deal with United Artists. Remarkably, this film was made for less than $350,000 and was shot in less than three weeks. Save for the opening and closing scenes the entire 95 minute movie was shot on one set consisting of the jury room and the adjoining bathroom. Moreover, this film was shot in glorious black and white which proved to be remarkably effective. The matter at hand is the deliberation of a 12 man jury who must determine the guilt or innocence of a young Puerto Rican teenager who has been charged with the murder of this father. The remarkable 6 and 1/2 minute opening scene sets the tone for the entire film. As we watch these 12 men assemble in the jury room we immediately begin to get a psychological insight into each one of them. And when the foreman of the jury (Martin Balsam) decides to take an initial vote to see where things stand we learn that only juror #8 (Henry Fonda) believes tthat he young man is innocent. Thus the stage is set for a rock-em, sock-em debate as Fonda attempts to convince the other 11 jurors that they are wrong. This is courtroom drama at it's absolute best. I must tell you that the writing is nothing short of extraordinary and the acting is superb. There are truly remarkable performances by E.G. Marshall, a very young Jack Klugman, Ed Begley, Jack Warden and most especially Lee J. Cobb who plays juror #3, a highly opinionated and prejudiced man who for his own personal reasons is determined to see the defendant fry. And of course as one might expect Henry Fonda is unforgettable in the role of juror #8. During the course of the deliberations these 12 ordinary men must confront their own personal prejudices and shortcomings and make a series of moral choices. It is positively spellbinding! Meanwhile, the imaginative camera work conveys to the audience the sense of what it must be like to have to operate in such closed quarters for an extended period of time. Although a disappointment at the box office "12 Angry Men" was nominated for three Academy Awards. The play continues to be performed by theater companies and high school groups all around the country. These days for rather obvious reasons the name has been changed to "12 Angry Jurors". If you have never seen this film I urge you to make it a point to see it. You will definitely not be disappointed and you just might discover that there is more to good film-making than special effects. Very highly recommended!

Purchased this one based on our son's recommendation. Knew it was a highly regarded film but never watched it previously. Everything is topnotch: story, casting, acting, filming, directing. Very glad that we finally caught up with this thought-provoking classic.

This should be shown in every school. It might cause some thought provoking discussion on BOTH political sides.

DVD works. One of the most intriguing black and white movies I've ever seen. A must have for any collection.

This is one movie that stands the test of time. You might not think that a 69-year-old movie consisting entirely of a jury's deliberations over a defendant's guilt or innocence would hold your attention, but 12 Angry Men does. Put aside the fact that all 12 jurors depicted in the film are white men, and the attitudes, insights and prejudices expressed by each of the jurors are just as present in people today as they were when the film was released in 1957. This movie is every bit as relevant today as when it was made. Superb writing and direction, and a great selection of actors helped make this movie what it is.

Excellent movie, excellent cast, excellent courtroom/jury room drama.

My four star rating is based on the DVD with extras, not the film itself which I consider to be a big five stars. The DVD comes in a basic plastic keepsake case. The DVD does have artwork on it via an image of Henry Fonda and the title of the movie. It played perfectly for me with no issues with audio or visual. I'm very much into DVD extras. I was excited to hear the commentary that is provided by Drew Casper, a film historian. Unfortunately, I was more frustrated by the commentary than happy with it. Casper spoke in an odd rapid fire hushed tone that annoyed me greatly. In fact, I felt aggravated by it. He was calmer in certain sections as the movie progressed, but on the whole, it was not a pleasure to listen. He did have some interesting things to say here and there, however. What I absolutely loved was a featurette on the making of the movie. This was full of interesting info and it felt complete as it discussed each of the jurors. It talked a lot about Fonda's efforts to get the movie made, too. Another shorter featurette talked about how it was inside the jury room. These two extras are worth the price of the DVD in my view.

The original 12 Angry Men from 1957 remains one of the most powerful films ever made about judgment, conscience, and human bias. What makes it timeless isn’t just the script or the performances — it’s how painfully familiar the social, economic, and racial tensions still feel today. The faces change, the slang changes, but the instinct to find someone to blame never really disappears. Henry Fonda’s quiet persistence as Juror #8 stands in sharp contrast to the louder, more emotional jurors whose personal frustrations spill into the verdict. It’s a reminder of how quickly bias can harden into certainty — how a person’s private resentment or disappointment can blind them to another human being’s life. No special effects, no explosions — just raw conviction and the terrifying simplicity of a single wrong decision. The 1997 remake, with Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott, did an excellent job translating the story for a more diverse and modern audience. It highlights that while society has shifted — different faces, different economic layers, new cultural lines — the deeper pattern hasn’t changed much. Someone is always “the other.” Someone is always on trial, even outside the courtroom. Both versions deserve respect, but the original still hits harder. It’s one of my go-to movies when I need to step back and think — a reminder that the hardest battles aren’t fought with weapons, but with truth, empathy, and the courage to listen when everyone else has already decided.

À posséder absolument !

Attori tutti notissimi e in forma smagliante. Un vero e proprio pezzo di teatro sul grande schermo. Maestria fotografica. Imperdibile per gli amanti del bianco e nero. Per farvi un'idea, pensate alle pièces teatrali di Eduardo De Filippo in TV di qualche decennio fa quando la TV non era quell'immondezzaio che è ora. Tutto girato in una stanza tranne pochi minuti iniziali dove si vede un'aula di tribunale. Regia e scrittura che riescono a ricavare da un tema banale, trito e ritrito, un pezzo da antologia del cinema.

Film exceptionnel qui incite à remettre en question les évidences, toujours percutant même s'il est daté.Un film qui fait grandir, tout le contraire des ''easy watching " dont on nous submerge. Ce film est un investissement intellectuel, sociologique, et formateur..

Il DVD è tecnicamente a posto, anche se ovviamente si tratta di un film in bianco e nero degli anni '50. Sul disco non c'è altro che il film, con diverse tracce audio in italiano, inglese, tedesco, castellano (spagnolo), francese, il trailer dell'epoca in lingua originale, e l'indice delle scene. Il film è molto bello, e significativo, visto che sono affrontati temi sempre molto attuali, come la capacità di esprimere un giudizio mantenendo un pensiero lucido, eliminando pregiudizi e false indicazioni.

I have known of this film for years and from the off I have thought it was special. I had not seen it for some years so I bought it on Amazon. Well, having just seen it again, I have to say that it gets better with every viewing and I consider it one of the best films ever made. I'm no film critic but for sheer suspense and atmosphere no film has ever bettered '12 Angry Men'. The performances of those playing the jurors in this film are stupendous, from Henry Fonda and Ed Begley to John Fiedler each make a valued contribution. For me however, the star of the film is Lee J Cobb. We perceive him as a once loving father who has become very embittered because he feels deserted by his son who ran away from home. He is bent on inflicting on the accused the punishment he feels his own son deserves. This is a thread that is picked up early in the precedings and is bubbling under the surface for the whole film. The erosion of the prejudice and blinkered thinking so evident in many of the jurors is gradually exposed by a juror who is hesitant to so readily condemn a man to death, Henry Fonda. His stand eventually gains the support from one other jury member and from then on it is a war of attrition with the rest of the jury. It is fascinating, illuminating and emotive watching the other jurors as their pre-conceived idea's are broken down. We witness the gradual isolation of the bigoted Ed Begley, the exposure of Jack Warden's insensitivity, the icy detachment of E.G.Marshall is thawed and the inner tensions of Lee J Cobb are broken in a memorable climax. There is no need for any extra's on this DVD (although there is an original trailer included) the film stands on its own merits, a real cinematic experience. If you are even half contemplating buying it do not hesitate further , you will not be disappointed.