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12 Angry Men (1957)

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All Time

of 190,103

5

1950's

of 8,943

2

1957

of 2,664

1
Crime
- Crime All Time
  
  of 6,074
  
  2
  
  Crime of 1957
  
  of 74
  
  1
  
  Crime of the 1950's
  
  of 670
  
  1
Drama
- Drama All Time
  
  of 37,982
  
  3
  
  Drama of 1957
  
  of 219
  
  1
  
  Drama of the 1950's
  
  of 1,913
  
  1
Mystery
- Mystery All Time
  
  of 3,089
  
  2
  
  Mystery of 1957
  
  of 15
  
  1
  
  Mystery of the 1950's
  
  of 164
  
  1

Ratings and rankings are based on number of movie, review scores, awards & other criteria.

12 Angry Men (1957) is ranked overall as out of 4 stars

Overall Rating:3.9683

Avg Critic Score:3.8754

12 Angry Men (1957) Rank 4 Reviews

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New York Times (A.H. Weiler)

ALTHOUGH cameras have been focused on jurors before, it is difficult to recall a more incisively revealing record of the stuff of which such "peers" can be made than is presented in "12 Angry Men." For Reginald Rose's excellent film elaboration of his ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at New York Times (A.H. Weiler)

Dimspace Haiku Movie Reviews

12 Angry Men In a word, it was ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Dimspace Haiku Movie Reviews

The Fresh Films Review (Fredrik Fevang)

One of the definite all-time classics. 12 Angry Men is an immaculate achievment in every department. Essentially a filmed stageplay, it is remarkable how director Lumet manages to keep tension, commitment and dramatic vitality on such a steaming level ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at The Fresh Films Review (Fredrik Fevang)

Almost Fabulous Movie Reviews

An apparently open-and-shut murder case hits a snag when one juror disagrees with the ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Almost Fabulous Movie Reviews

eFilmCritic Reviews

You've got to admit, as concepts go it's not exactly a grabber. Whereas when you could sum 'Phone Booth' up as 'one man gets pinned down in a phone booth by a sniper' that at least promises some action. '12 Angry Men' on the other hand could be summed up ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at eFilmCritic Reviews

12 Angry Men (1957) Critic Reviews continued...

Apollo Movie Guide (Brian Webster)

This all-time classic takes place almost entirely in a single room, where 12 jurors debate the fate of a young man accused of killing his father. A tight script, economical direction and fabulous performances by one of the best ensemble casts in history ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Apollo Movie Guide (Brian Webster)

A Film Odyssey (Robert Humanick)

A young Spanish boy, raised in the slums, stands on trial for the murder of his father. Twelve white jurors march off to decide his fate, most of them convinced of his guilt purely on the basis of his appearance and background before facts have a chance ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at A Film Odyssey (Robert Humanick)

DVDRAMA

L'image aurait gagnÃ© Ã possÃ©der un transfert 16/9. Il faudra donc se satisfaire d'un pressage de qualitÃ© auquel il manque un surplus de dÃ©finition. MÃªme si les nombreux gros plans sur les visages des jurÃ©s bÃ©nÃ©ficient d'une excellente prÃ©cision. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at DVDRAMA

Lars Lindahl

Filmed in one room on a hot day in New York City, "12 Angry Men" begins with very little information but as the film progresses the superb script addresses every detail of the trial, each jurors background, and the tensions and differences between them. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Lars Lindahl

Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)

Proof that a film need not contain explosive special effects, exotic locales, or larger than life characters to hold an audience's attention. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)

Boxoffice Magazine

By far, none of MGM's longstanding VHS genre series is more welcome on DVD than the "Vintage Classics," as is clearly evidenced by their first set of eight releases. Of the eight, at least four are modern classics, and two are strong runners-up. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Boxoffice Magazine

DVD Lard

If this movie would to be aired on the television most people would turn it over as soon as they saw it was black & white, some may get as far as seeing the actors names before switching over to another channel, maybe even commenting on the â��old ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at DVD Lard

DVD Times review (Alan Daly)

12 Angry Men is arguably the greatest legal drama of all time. It marked the directorial debut of Sidney Lumet, a filmmaker who has made a career out of exploring the various facets of law and order and the workings of the judicial system with such films ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at DVD Times review (Alan Daly)

eFilmCritic.com (M. P. Bartley)

Just like he did before with the Ox-Bow Incident, Henry Fonda fought with studio moguls to have this film made since he liked Reginald Rose's script so much. In the end, his wish was granted and enlisted a then-rookie director called Sidney Lumet to ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at eFilmCritic.com (M. P. Bartley)

Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)

A masterful work of debate and dialogue; of shifting momentum and the ideal of sticking to your scruples in the face of antagonistic groupthink. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)

Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)

An outstanding cinematic poem to the American Justice system at its best - where an individual can be heard and make a difference. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)

EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)

Sidney Lumet's feature debut is a brilliant courtroom drama about the American jury system that deservedly was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. Its superlative cast includes Henry Fonda, Martin Balsam, Ed Begley, Jack Warden, and E.G. Marshall. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)

At-A-Glance Film Reviews

Henry Fonda leads a superb cast of twelve (angry) jury members discussing a murder case. It was the first directorial effort of the brilliant Sidney Lumet and ranks with his best. Lumet is and was a meticulous director, employing subtle mechanisms to ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at At-A-Glance Film Reviews

Raging Bull (Mike Lorefice)

Sidney Lumet earned the first of five Best Director Oscar nominations in his debut feature film. 12 Angry Men was not only one of the best debuts ever, but would in many ways set the tone for the career of one of the best directors. The focus on various ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Raging Bull (Mike Lorefice)

IndependentCritics.com (Richard Propes)

In all of this year's controversy over Scorsese's loss again for the Best Directing Oscar, I am reminded of the experiences of "12 Angry Men." It was, in many ways, an afterthought when it was first released in 1957 and earned Oscar nominations in only ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at IndependentCritics.com (Richard Propes)

Psychologically Significant Movies (by Aleksandar Novakovic)

In 1957. following five films were in the competition for the Best Picture Academy Award: David Leanâ��s Bridge on the River Kwai, Joshua Laganâ��s Sayonara, Mark Robsonâ��s Peyton Place, Sidney Lumetâ��s 12 Angry Men and Billy Wilderâ��s Witness for ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Psychologically Significant Movies (by Aleksandar Novakovic)

EyeCraveDVD.com (Shane)

Eleven jurors are convinced that the defendant is guilty of murder. The twelfth has no doubt of his innocence. How can this one man steer the others toward the same conclusion? It's a case of seemingly overwhelming evidence against a teenager accused of ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at EyeCraveDVD.com (Shane)

DVD Verdict

12 Angry Men is a flawless, brilliant, intense portrayal of our justice system at work, as relevant and intense today as it was during its 1957 release. A stellar cast, superb acting, and Sidney Lumet (Fail Safe, Network, Dog Day Afternoon) in top form ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at DVD Verdict

hoopla.nu

12 Angry Men is a stunning piece of cinema - just as full of meaning today as when it was originally made, it demonstrates some basic priniciples of law and of life. That all men should be equal. That innocence should be assumed, not guilt. These are ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at hoopla.nu

Dragan Antulov

Today, 12 ANGRY MEN is a considered to be classic, one of the greatest films made by 1950s Hollywood. Unfortunately, it also belongs to those films, which are not made in Hollywood today, since it is hard to imagine big studios spending money on films ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Dragan Antulov

LeisureSuit.net

When I got called to duty, I was kind of like Henry Fonda in 12 Angry Men. The facts of the case were a little different: for Fonda, a ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at LeisureSuit.net

Raging Bull Movie Reviews (Mike Lorefice)

DVDnett.no

Henry Fonda er bÃ¥de produsent og skuespiller i dette mesterverket fra 1957. Her mÃ¸ter vi tolv menn i en jury i en opplagt drapssak. Alle sammen stemmer skyldig, unntatt Ã©n mann: Henry Fonda. Resten av filmen gÃ¥r ut pÃ¥ hvordan Fonda overtaler de ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at DVDnett.no

Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)

The young man on trial for murder appears onscreen only momentarily in 12 Angry Men, a courtroom drama that spends only its opening scene in the courtroom, and the entire remainder of the film in the jury room where 12 men must decide his fate. Their ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)

digitallyOBSESSED.com (Dale Dobson)

12 Angry Men follows the deliberations of twelve jurors, sweating in a stifling jury room one summer afternoon as they attempt to determine the guilt or innocence of an 18-year-old man accused of stabbing his father to death. At the outset, eleven men ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at digitallyOBSESSED.com (Dale Dobson)

filmsgraded.com (Brian Koller)

"12 Angry Men" was Henry Fonda's sole foray into film production. Unable to get the studios to purchase the script, which he liked considerably, he funded the production himself. It was, after all, an inexpensive film to make: no sets or costumes ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at filmsgraded.com (Brian Koller)

Movie Reviews UK

The still brilliant examination of one man's life in the balance, 12 Angry Men irrevocably alters one's perceptions of the trial by jury process. With a worried gaze, the defendant (John Savoca) pensively stares at the retreating backs of his jury. On ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Movie Reviews UK

Movie-Vault.com ("Greg C.")

For a movie that takes place enitrely in one room, "12 Angry Men" holds your attention from the opwning frame to the final shot with the intensity of a high-octane thriller. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Movie-Vault.com ("Greg C.")

Home Theater Info (Doug MacLean)

12 Angry Men (1957) 150_40_buydvd_anim1final1.gif (10118 bytes) "They donâ��t make films like that anymoreâ��, how often has that simple comment come up of late? It can not help to come to mind while watching one of the truly great experiences ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Home Theater Info (Doug MacLean)

ToxicUniverse.com (John Nesbit)

Unfolding like the stage play it is adapted from, 12 Angry Men relies on too much dialog for most audiences, so ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at ToxicUniverse.com (John Nesbit)

Edinburgh U Film Society (Katia Saint-Peron)

Quite possibly the most tense courtroom drama ever committed to celluloid, under the masterful hands of Sidney Lumet in what was surprisingly his big screen directorial debut. Forget all your John Grisham adaptations, come see the original and still the ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Edinburgh U Film Society (Katia Saint-Peron)

Classic Film Guide

A fantastic courtroom drama, that plays out in real-time, which chronicles the deliberations of a jury initially convinced that the accused is guilty; it's anxious to convict him in time to get home for dinner. However, Juror #8 (Henry Fonda, AFIâ��s #28 ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Classic Film Guide

DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")

A murder case has just ended and as the jury members retire to reach a verdict, eleven of them are ready to deliver a guilty decision. All the evidence seems to be against the defendant, a young man from the slums accused of killing his own father. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")

DVDBeaver

Essentially a discussion with jurors in the slanted trial condemning an 18 year boy who is accused of murdering his father. A "guilty" verdict will give him the mandatory sentence of death. 12 Angry Men involves so much more than an examination of the ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at DVDBeaver

Steve Rhodes

Many movies start with promising premises which end up only partially fulfilled, but 12 ANGRY MEN never disappoints. The rich drama with minimalist sets occurs almost completely within the confines of a jury room. The incredibly strong ensemble cast for ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Steve Rhodes

Crazy for Cinema

The highly talented cast makes this brilliant war of words an entrancing cinema experience. Most of the group can't understand why Juror #8 (Fonda) is unsure about the verdict. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Crazy for Cinema

The Age

Reason overcomes prejudice in this age-resistant classic about a jury charged with deciding the fate of a young man accused of murder. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at The Age

Christian Spotlight on the Movies

This film underscores the meaning of the American justice system, in which reasonable doubt should result in acquittal. I haven't seen the 1997 remake, but this original is so well done that I'm sure no other version is better. Also, the original does ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Christian Spotlight on the Movies

Parent/Teacher Learning Guides at teachwithmovies.org

12 Angry Men shows jury deliberations in a murder trial from the inside: the false starts the personality conflicts the anger and the prejudice and finally the joint effort of several minds working together to find the ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Parent/Teacher Learning Guides at teachwithmovies.org

Mutant Reviewers From Hell

12 Angry Men is a 50s adaption of a 50s play. I vaguely remember seeing a high school play version, but honestly how often do you find yourself going to friends, "Gee, remember the play from a couple years ago? Wasn't that a ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Mutant Reviewers From Hell

JoeCritic.com (Sam Bear)

12 angry men is about the deliberation of 12 jurors. 11 of them come into the jury room with no doubt in their mind as to the guilt of the defendant. But one of them allows himself to put aside his past record, and the neighborhood he lived in etc. He ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at JoeCritic.com (Sam Bear)

Karate Party

The chief advantage of going to a movie instead of going to a play is in the production values. Generally speaking, the sets are more elaborate, the acting more polished and the special effects are more impressive. But there are some films that look ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Karate Party

The Greatest Films (Tim Dirks)

12 Angry Men (1957) is the gripping, penetrating, and engrossing examination of a diverse group of twelve jurors (all male, mostly middle-aged, white, and generally of middle-class status) who are uncomfortably brought together to deliberate after ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at The Greatest Films (Tim Dirks)

Time Out

Lumet's origins as a director of teledrama may well be obvious here in his first film, but there is no denying the suitability of his style - sweaty close-ups, gritty monochrome 'realism', one-set claustrophobia - to his subject. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Time Out

Film e Dvd

12 Angry Men In a word, it was ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Film e Dvd

TV Guide Entertainment Network, Movie Guide

Lumet's debut, Rose's adaptation of his television play: verbose, stage-bound, predictable and acted to within an inch of its life. This classic courtroom drama begins in the final hours of a trial for murder in a hot, muggy New York City courtroom. The ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at TV Guide Entertainment Network, Movie Guide

Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

In form, "12 Angry Men" is a courtroom drama. In purpose, it's a crash course in those passages of the Constitution that promise defendants a fair trial and the presumption of ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

txreviews.com (Curtis Edmonds)

As legend would have it, there once was a man who was on trial for public drunkenness. He showed up for his trial late in the day, after a trip to his neighborhood bar, and drunkenly demanded a trial by jury. ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at txreviews.com (Curtis Edmonds)

Three Movie Buffs (Patrick Nash)

The real joy of this movie, that hasn't diminished at all, is the absolutely superlative acting. These dozen guys, with Sidney Lumet conducting, create an acting symphony, offering, as such, a 96 minute lesson on timing, line delivery, body language, ...read the complete 12 Angry Men movie review at Three Movie Buffs (Patrick Nash)

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