12 Angry Men is about just that, twelve men who appear to deliberate over an open and shut case about a young man who has apparently killed his father. With irrefutable evidence and witnesses, one man stands up for the young boy in the hopes of discovering the truth. One man against eleven cared enough to look deeper into what should have been a simple case.
The Plot of 12 Angry Men
The basic premise of 12 Angry Men is very simple, twelve men all seeing the murder from different views. One by one each sees how there could be reasonable doubt that the boy killed his father, but some are afraid or too stubborn to change their minds. Others are stuck on certain facts they find irrefutable, while one even changes his mind back and forth, wavering on a decision, while trying to discover fact from fiction.
Henry Fonda Leads Stellar Cast
Although the plot and scenery are very simple, the movie is very compelling and brilliantly acted, especially by Oscar Award winning actor Henry Fonda, who plays Davis, the one jury man who dares to stand up against the other eleven because the evidence doesn’t sit right with him. Slowly he and the others determine the most probable and likely occurrence in order to make a correct, deliberated verdict.
12 Angry Men Represent 12 Different Worlds
The twelve men in the film all have different personalities and backgrounds, just like a real jury. Each one has their own take on the case. One is prejudiced against any man from the slums, another just wants to get out to his ball game, a third is from the slums and doesn’t like to be talked down to – each and every one brings something different to the discussion.
The stark development of each of these men, who begin to reveal more of themselves than they ever felt comfortable with before, really drives the film forward. The fate of a young kid lies in their hands, making them more careful about their decisions and makes them look at evidence more clearly and in a different light.
Conclusion
12 Angry Men is a long conversation between grown men who each have different strengths and weaknesses. The stark ending is usual for classic black and white films, not waiting around to see the emotion of the boy upon hearing his verdict pronounced, once the jury agree on a final verdict the movie is over.
Overall, the film is nothing short of brilliant. A strong intellectual film which makes men look at their lives and ask themselves which of the twelve they are. 12 Angry Men is a movie about morals, prejudices, grudges, fact, fiction and fantasy.
Movies this inspired come once in a blue moon, and are rarely made anymore. This classic may seem simple on the surface, and even fairly predictable at times, but it has so many layers, so many clever nuances that make it worth multiple viewings to see the entire world confined to a simple jury room in the murder case of a young boy whose innocent eyes pierce viewers from the very beginning of the film.
