12 Angry Men
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
12 Angry Men is a 1957 drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, Lee J. Cobb. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
12 Angry Men is a 1957 American legal drama film directed by Sidney Lumet in his feature directorial debut, adapted by Reginald Rose from his 1954 teleplay. A critique of the American jury system during the McCarthy era, the film tells the story of a jury of twelve men as they deliberate the conviction or acquittal of a teenager charged with murder on the basis of reasonable doubt; disagreement and conflict among the jurors forces them to question their morals and values. It stars an ensemble cast, featuring Henry Fonda (who also produced the film with Rose), Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, E. G. Marshall, and Jack Warden.
An independent production distributed by United Artists, 12 Angry Men received acclaim from critics, despite a lukewarm box-office performance.
Production
Written by Reginald Rose, the film was produced by Orion-Nova Productions. Kenyon Hopkins composed the score. Boris Kaufman handled the cinematography. The film runs 97 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $397,751, 12 Angry Men grossed $4,360,000 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
The film's influence spread across the century; its narrative and tone echo in much later cinema.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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