“12 Angry Men” A work of “American conscience” that questions true democracy

“12 Angry Men” Synopsis

Jury deliberations have begun in the murder case committed by an 18-year-old boy. No matter who saw it, his guilt was conclusive, but one juror insisted he was innocent. And the story takes an unexpected turn!

Index

• A masterpiece of a courtroom drama that does not depict a courtroom.
• The success of the TV drama and the development of a movie
• Sidney Lumet's outstanding direction
• Democracy questioned by “12 Angry Men”

A masterpiece of a courtroom drama that does not depict a courtroom.

A courtroom in New York. There, deliberations are being held regarding the trial of a young boy accused of killing his father. All the evidence and testimony pointed to the boy as the culprit, and it was clear that the jury would unanimously find him guilty. However, only juror number 8 claims innocence, and the discussion suddenly becomes heated.

``12 Angry Men'' (1957), directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Henry Fonda. It was selected as one of the ``Top 100 American Movies'' by AFI (American Film Institute), and ranked second in the top ten ``Courtroom Drama Movies'' after `` A Story of Alabama '' (1962). It was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, making it a masterpiece among masterpieces.

“12 Angry Men” preview

It had a great influence on the world, and in 2007, a remake with the setting changed to modern Russia was made into a movie, and in Japan, Koki Mitani released an homage work called ` `12 Gentle Japanese '' (1991). .

However, I hesitate to call this work a "courtroom drama." The courtroom itself is only depicted in the first few minutes, and the stage is a dimly lit and narrow jury room. The spotlight is not on the lawyers and prosecutors who were originally supposed to be the main characters, and the story is driven by 12 ordinary people of different races, occupations, and ages. The idea for the film came from the experience of screenwriter Reginald Rose, who served as a juror in a murder case and had a heated discussion that lasted for eight hours.

Unlike `` The Lover '' (1957) and `` The Verdict '' (1982), which are also considered masterpieces of courtroom drama, there is no examination of the scene or exchange of trial techniques. There are no love romances with beautiful women or flashy car action. It's a horrifying, unassuming story about a group of old men sweating and having a discussion for 90 minutes. And yet, more than 60 years after its release, ``12 Angry Men'' remains an extremely entertaining movie.

The success of the TV drama and the development of a movie