There is an interesting trick the director used in filming this. The walls were designed so they could be slide together. So as the film progresses the walls are literally closing in to add to the claustrophobic feel in the room and add to the tension.
I actually think the gesture of juror 8 helping 3 back into his jacket at the end is really touching. Even after everything that happened, the latter was finally willing to concede the point, and the former was willing to help him keep some dignity on their way out the door. A nice reminder that overcoming someone doesn't mean you have to "destroy" them.
its something people often forget today, just because you are wrong about something doesnt make you a bad human being and showing compassion and honor to your opponent after "winning" is a lost art especially in politics these days.
@@drchaos2000 It's something I lose sight of myself sometimes. We are in a very hard, uncivil age, where winning is everything and kindness is weakness. I hope it becomes otherwise someday, but it won't be anytime soon.
The way to detect quickly a rude ignorant person (no matter his status) is the way he talks and answer and how loud or if he interrupt you not allowing to start or finish what you want to say.....
The harsh truth of that line, though. I live in an area where people are just like that, they won't listen. It's only thanks to stuff like 12 angry men, star trek, and a few other things that I didn't end up the same way.
The movie is so good because the dialog is so quick. Taking place mostly in just one room, it holds your attention throughout. My grandfather showed it to me when I was a teenager and I was so surprised how much I liked it. Especially for a teenager who only liked sci-fi and action movies.
@@TBRSchmitt One movie with Henry Fonda , Sergio Leone , Once upon a time in the west 1968 and another wester written by Sergio , My name is nobody , stars Terence Hill and Henry Fonda ... a bit poking on that Clint Eastwood was called , man with no name , in Sergios Dollar trilogy US trailers.
I was looking for good films to watch from some of those top 100 best movies list and went into this one blind. For me this is certainly one of the best films made.
Lee J Cobb’s turn as Juror 3 is my favorite portrayal of any role, by any actor, ever. I first saw this when I was 14, and I remember thinking that I finally understood what people meant by saying that a supporting actor "stole the show".
@@martinbynion1589 It’s just the terminology used by the film industry. Fonda was billed as the lead role, making Cobb, technically speaking, a supporting actor. I agree that Cobb’s performance is, in practical terms, as crucial to the movie as Fonda’s, if not more so. It is Cobb’s believable portrayal of organic, conditioned, and ultimately misplaced intensity that makes the arguments so genuine, so _human,_ and so compelling to the viewer-without someone of Cobb’s unique formula of appearance, mannerisms, and tempo, the net production would likely not have resonated with viewers enough to remain as popular and respected as it still is today. At the Golden Globe Awards in 1958, Fonda and Cobb were both nominated for their respective performances. Fonda was nominated for Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama), and Cobb for Best _Supporting_ Actor. It’s not a knock against Cobb-it’s just how the roles are categorized during script development and the casting process.
I love how this movie illustrates that the standard is "reasonable doubt." We actually never determine for certain whether this defendant killed his father, or not. What was demonstrated was that there was excellent reason for doubt. And that's the standard. And the amazing roster of acting talent in that room! Henry Fonda, of course. Lee J. Cobb was brilliant. Jack Klugman. Jack Warden. John Fiedler. EG Marshall. Martin Balsam (who was in "Psycho"). Edward Binns. These are some of the most talented, hardest-working character actors of their generation! Supporting players who just worked, and worked, and worked on a constant basis. Every single one of them has an IMDB page as long as your arm. Major acting talent sitting around that table.
That is interesting, I'll bet most audience members end this movie thinking the kid is innocent, but you're right, it's never confirmed one way or the other beyond the jury's own verdict.
I posted a reply but I can't see it. Perhaps links aren't allowed? It was to a breakdown of the standard of evidence and how phenomenally unlikely it would be for anyone else to have done the murder
12 Angry Men is such a brilliant and nuanced commentary on how prejudice, and false assumptions can affect our judgement. Our everyday lives are filled with so many issues related to clouded judgment, much less if you extrapolate that to the legal system or a court room setting. They really did an amazing job witth the script writing, getting such dynamic interactions with so little movement or action.
I adore this movie and love the snappy dialogue. But it's not really "nuanced" commentary is it? They hammer you over the head with the social commentary, which is a definite plus in my book.
I know it’s just a movie but that’s one of the things that I always get angry about (and also in other court drama movies and shows). Sometimes if the information is sketchy or inaccurate that dosent mean the witnesses or victims are lying. It just means that their information is wrong.
@@Jpew2007 It seems you forget the inate prejudice in most of us. That once someone is arrested, they must have done something to be arrested. We tend to believe the police in their actions. It's only in the last few years that video evidence has slightly shifted the burden. So being in court for a crime automatically puts you in the guilty chair. THat's why the accused are cleaned up, and put in decent clothes to avoid any further prejudice. Now add a confusing or conflicting story and its a wrap.
@@Jpew2007 So? If the information is wrong that can be deadly for an innocent defendant. That's the point, isn't it? No need to get angry over someone's crap testimony. And the stupid woman in the movie (not shown) insisted she saw someone 60 feet away with no glasses on. Uh, if I were her, I'd never insist that I knew who it was since my vision was poor.
It really proves why a film from 1957, with a single set, minimal music, all focused on a small cast, is such an impressive piece of cinema! One of my personal favorite films that was introduced to High School. Should be required viewing for everyone!
great cast - I love "finding" these actors in other films - when I first saw it I only knew Henry Fonda from 'On Golden Pond' and Jack Klugman from 'The Odd Couple' sitcom. Lee J. Cobb was amazing in this and pretty much everything else he was in - especially 'On the Waterfront'
Lumet also made Dog Day Afternoon, one of Pacino's finest early movies, Network, which is a classic which remains relevant today, then returned to the courtroom for The Verdict. Perhaps another from his early period worth seeing, again about justice, is The Hill (which made a star out of pre-Bond Sean Connery).
@@nevrogers8198 I think Connery had already done two or three Bond films by the time The Hill was released in 1965. (Another brilliant film by the way}
If you've served on three juries, why do you call them jury boxes? Never ever heard it called that. Surely if you've served on juries you'd know the correct term.
Years ago when HD became a thing, this movie was the example i used to try to explain to a friend, that what makes a movie good is not how big the resolution of the picture is, but how good the story and the acting are.
At LAST: "12 Angry Men". This film represents everything I miss from modern day movies: simplicity, a tight, at first-glance simple story that develops logically, character development along a sensible arc, minimal use of special effects (I couldn't imagine a modern-day remake of this film) and actors with a REAL screen presence (EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM!).
This movie has more dialogue than a Tarantino film! 😁 I think a lot of us remember reading/performing this in junior high or high school. It’s a great tool for learning about how to give a monologue as an actor, while also reacting to and interacting with other characters. It’s also a great study in human psychology, group think, personality types, and other subjects. Great stuff.
That was how I learned about this movie, in my 9th grade English class, in the 1970s. We first presented it as a play and later we got to watch the movie.
I actually knew the movie before it came up in school. We reenacted it in English class (I'm German) and I was thrilled to be picked as Juror no. 8. This movie holds a special place in my heart
This was Sidney Lumet’s first film. As his career proceeded, many of his films examined the American justice system (Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, The Verdict, Find Me Guilty, Daniel, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead).
This is one of the best cast movies you’ll find. Practically every one of these actors was or went on to be significant players in film, TV or as well-known character actors. Marvelous chemistry within this group.
The boy's guilt or innocence isn't the main point of the movie, but how bias and prejudice can cloud our judgment and cause us to lose objectivity. Having said that, the boy's background is irrelevant, the only thing that matters is the physical evidence. With advances in DNA, today the evidence would've been much clearer as to the boy's guilt or innocence. Presumably the knife and boy's clothes would've had blood evidence on them.
i saw this in high school almost thirty years ago. Our teacher was this cool hipster before hipsters were a thing and he showed us a lot of great movies. rest in peace mr. romero
Yeah, I'm German and we saw the dubbed version in school in the '80s. Don't remember in which class though. Could've been one of those "last week before summer break" occasions where nothing much happened teaching-wise and you got to see films instead.
We watched it in High School too! My 9th grade Government class in 1998 or 9. And for a bunch of 14-15 year olds, it held our attention really well. And I personally remember loving it and I wasn't fond of B&W movies when I was younger. I even remember thinking I was going to hate it. Actually, I think the whole class thought so because I definitely remember an audible "ughh" when the teacher turned on the tv and we saw it was black and white, lol.
The camera work, and cinematography, from this movie is often used to teach because it's arguably a perfectly shot film. Even today, it's a masterclass camera work.
16:14 People today may not understand how you could have trouble remembering what movie you saw. Back in the day, you had an 'A' movie, a 'B' movie, a short film, a newsreel, a cartoon. It's more like forgetting what random film you stumbled across on Netflix, and who starred in it. It was also a very cheap place to hang out once or twice a week.
This movie is directed by Sidney Lumet. He has many great films, and The Verdict 1982 (also court room drama) is one of his best. It is also one of the best films of the actor Paul Newman.
To Kill A Mockingbird is an excellent film. One of two excellent Gregory Peck films that should be seen. The other is the Guns of Navarone. Peck, Anthony Quinn, David Niven, and Richard Harris. The truely amazing thing is that he basically did them back to back Navarone 1961 Mockingbird 1962.
12 angry men is hands down one of the best movies of all times. Of all the films mostly contained in a single space, this one has got to be on top. Sydney Lumet makes the maximum of the restrained space by always having fluid camera movements to always keep the viewer interested. It also helps that there is a compelling story, a tight script and solid acting. The movie isn't afraid to ask hard question when for example one of the jurors asks jury No8 (Henry Fonda): "What if you talk us out of it and he really killed his father?" The scene with the knife is a great reveal. Another 1957 B&W film absolutely worth the watch is Paths of Glory by Stanley Kubrick.
Great reaction, guys. I'm so glad you chose to review this tremendous classic movie. It was a stroke of genius to have Henry Fonda to be dressed in a white suit. It provided the perfect ending to the movie seeing him serenely descending the steps like that. He was obviously a Guardian Angel: maybe the accused boy's or perhaps the guardian of 'blind justice'. Just superb.
If you're in the mood for another Henry Fonda movie, you can't go wrong with "Fail Safe" -- a Cold War thriller that is AMAZING with cranking up the tension with a very simple (and scarily realistic) premise. SO GOOD.
And based on the same book as Doctor Strangelove, which TBR and Samantha already watched. _Advise and Consent_ is another good Fonda film, with a Senate nomination hearing in place of a courtroom trial.
Being a cinephile, I've seen this film over fifty times. A neophyte director, a dream cast and a superb script create what is easily a masterpiece of dramatic cinema.
I was a juror on a civil wrongful death trial. Quite a bit different than a criminal trial. However, there were a couple jurors that acted like petulant children. Made me seriously think about the whole “jury of your peers” statement we have all heard so often.
I served on a jury for a criminal case and some of the fellow jurors scared me too. One young woman kept on saying she had a "gut feeling" he was guilty. I had to remind her that she cannot go by her feelings and must base her verdict on evidence and testimony. Personally, if I was a defendant in a trial, I'd choose a bench trial rather than a jury trial. I trust a judge to go by the rules and law more than ordinary people.
This is a masterpiece of a film. Character development for everyone in the room and they only present the audience with information as they progress the story. How many movies could be this good today with 99% of the movie residing in one single room?
I watched this when I was about 12 and was not used to black and white films! The fact that a film set in a single room with just talking held the attention of a youngster who watches colour tv normally is a testament to the strength of the writing.
I first saw this movie way back in the 80s and it's been my favorite movie ever since then. I love how it's so simple so the dialogue and characters get to take center stage and tell the story. This is a great example of how fancy effects and action scenes may be fun in movies they aren't important to what makes a good story. It's good writing that makes a story amazing and it's what we get so little of today.
An absolute classic movie. This was a fun reaction watching Samantha taking mental notes of the trial she never viewed, while placing each juror in categories of their biases. It's not too late to get that law or detective degree Samantha!🕵
The very angry juror who was determined to see the kid guilty and had son issues was Lee J Cobb. His last film was as the very calm detective in "The Exorcist".
The scene in this film that I find the most powerful or affecting is when the old bigot goes on his racist tirade and pretty much every man in the room gets up, put their backs to him, and ignore him. What a profound way of showing one of the ways how people can and should react or deal with the prejudices of bigoted people like him. The fact that such a profound scene portraying and encouraging such a strong message against prejudice came from a film that came out in 1957 just blows me away. One of my all time favorite films. And Sidney Lumet is one of my favorite directors. The acting in his films is always excellent. When it comes to directors who have skills or gifts when it comes to actors, Lumet is one of the very best. Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, Murder on the Orient Express (1974), The Verdict, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, and Network. And 12 Angry Men was Lumet's first film!
you know I forgot Lumet directed The Verdict as I saw Serpico 3 x the yr it came out, Pacino def imo should have won oscar and NEWMAN gave a GREAT perf in The VErdict and he should have one also. Im not sure who NEWman lost to BUT I think ART CARNEY won his oscar vs PACINO
@@michaelceraso1977 Newman lost to Ben Kingsley in Gandhi (1982) That's fair. Pacino 's performance in Serpico lost to Jack Lemmon in Save the Tiger. I haven't seen it but it's hard for me to complain about Jack Lemmon. But you're right in 1974 Pacino did lode to Art Carney in Harry and Tonto. Over Pacino's performance in The Godfather Part II. I haven't seen Harry and Tonto but come! That old guy from The Star War Holiday Special? Really? And to make it worse that year he also beat Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express, Dustin Hoffman in Lenny, and Jack Nicholson in Chinatown!
@@crowtcameron ok thanks the Newman loss is fair since Hollywood has done that often- awrding to a real life character, I was confused as to when Carney won BUT losing to Lemmon is fair, so THE real steal was Pacino NOT winnin for GODfther 2
"Damn kids! You work your life out!" Gets me every time. Set up beautifully with that line about not seeing his son in two years. Lee J. Cobb is a master - a one of a kind voice. Love this movie. Glad you chose to react to it. Have you two considered doing more classic films - film noirs like Double Indemnity, Out of the Past, The Postman Always Rings Twice, etc. I think you would like them and most young folks don't know about - or care to react to old Hollywood classics.
I'm sure you'd also enjoy "INHERIT THE WIND" (1960)... which is also a court/trial film. It's based on the true story of the evolution/'monkey' trials in the early part of the 20th century. Great performances by Spencer Tracy and Fredric March. Also, excellent dialogue with some fantastic, quotable speeches.
One of few movies that is pretty much flawless and my 3rd favourite movie of all time and to think that Sidney lumet who started in theater and tv makes his first movie his magnum opus and an all time classic with a 9 out of 10 rating on IMDB
This is one of the few films that rightfully deserves the title of masterpiece. It truly is an example of masterful storytelling, it’s so engaging, that it seems like the movie only lasts 30 minutes. Great performances by the actors as well.
OMG I am so glad you watched this film. It's one of my favorites! One thing that always grabs my attention is that half of these men behave the way we should strive to, with calm and respect despite differences, and the other half is typically childish and disrespectful. Today, we are often shown grown men to be childish and disrespectful presented as normal.
Last September I played Juror 4 ("sweaty guy") in a local stage production. It was fun to do, and the audience, 64 years after this movie came out (and even longer than after it was first done on TV), really enjoyed it. I think the brilliance of the writing is that I puts the audience in the jury room as a juror. Different people will watch and likely associate with one juror more than another. Interestingly I did associate most with Juror 4 - facts, facts, facts, and when he finally had no more arguments and had reasonable doubt he changed his vote. Did you associate with any particular juror? Another courtroom drama I enjoy is Inherit the Wind with Spencer Tracy, Frederic March, and Gene Kelly. It focuses on a teacher who teaches the theory of evolution in a community where that is prohibited. There are elements of the story that illustrate elements of contemporary society in the USA.
I've always really appreciated that they have that character there. Someone who is strongly in the guilty camp who doesn't have any sort of obvious character flaw. It would have been very easy to just make all the most ardently in favor of guilty contemptible in some way, but over and over, he is shown rebuking people even on his side while remaining committed to his opinion until he hears enough to start doubting himself.
Since you like Westerns AND Henry Fonda, Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West" immediately comes to mind. Just make sure you choose the best release, which is about 165 minutes long.
I appreciate that you're very clear about if/when you've seen a movie before, it still makes for a very watchable reaction and it's so much better than channels that say "first-time reaction" meaning they've seen the movie a million times but never reacted to it before, and other vague and woolly definitions to con people into watching. Give me a channel with integrity every time 💕
Another superb reaction with thoughtful post-film discussion. Having mentioned that you haven't seen another Henry Fonda film, I would like to suggest, "Once Upon a Time in the West"! Not only does it boast an excellent character portrayal from Fonda, but it is considered Sergio Leone's finest Western, with "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" being its only challenger. Perhaps, after you have seen, "Once Upon..." you can make your case for which is superior or if they are equally impressive.
3:48 In the beginning, you mentioned when you watched Psycho. The guy at the head of the table was the detective in Psycho. The guy you called "Glasses", John Fieldler, was also in the movie "The Odd Couple". Total classic, if you haven't seen it. Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau star while Fieldler is a poker buddy. Fieldler was also the voice of Piglet in the Winnie the Pooh cartoons until his death in 2005. Also, the juror who comes from the slum was played by Jack Klugman and he played Matthau's character on the tv show adaption of "The Odd Couple". The juror who didn't sweat, until he did, was played by E.G. Marshall. You saw him in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation as Clark's father-in-law. "The little lights aren't twinkling" "I know, Art, thanks for noticing".
One of these best Courtroom dramas ever made! There was a remake in 1997 on Showtime directed by William Friedkin. George C. Scott, Hugh Cronyn, James Gandolfini, Tony Danza, Dorian Harewood, Armin Mueller Stahl, Courtney B Vance, William Petersen, Ossie Davis, Edward James Olmos, Mykelti Williamson, and Jack Lemmon Star in this adaptation.
With this feature film debut, the great Sidney Lumet is nominated for an Oscar for Best Director. His entire filmography is superb. I recommend watching: "Dog day Afternoon", "Serpico", "The Verdict", "Murder on the Orient Express" and above all "Network. Good reaction, guys.
Another highly recommended black & white court room drama is "Witness For the Prosecution" starring Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich. It is based on an Agatha Christie novel. You will love it.
Damn such a great movie. Great reaction Daniel and Sam. Such amazing dialogue. They basically shot the movie in two rooms, with the outside window acting as another set. I hope you get around to watching, "Erin Brockovich", "Pelican Brief". Oh plus, "Flash of Genius", and "Three Billboards" All amazing legal movies.
10:11 Just for your edification on the Towels dispenser, no they don't just keep rolling it through. There are actually two rollers. When you pull down, they both move, so it will eventually stop, but it keeps feeding dry towels, and then maintenance will need to replace the whole thing when it runs out.
I was not expecting this to be such a FUN reaction! This was hilarious! Sam's experience being on a jury definitely added something; also the edit was great, you guys highlighted many parts that don't make other reactions, stuff I forgot about. All of these actors you'd see in a million movies and TV shows later on; the jury foreman played the doomed detective in "Psycho" (Martin Balsam, he was in everything). The director Sidney Lumet went on to make a string of great movies, especially in the 70s:: "Serpico", "Dog Day Afternoon" (both with Pacino, two of his absolute best) and the fantastic "Network" . All three of those are must-sees, especially the last two.
There’s so much beauty in the simplicity of this story that it allows the details to be complex. Great review! If you want a fun 90s crime drama (and prime Tommy Lee Jones) I recommend ‘the Client’
All of them are great actors of the time - many who you'd call character actors in many movies, but all sooo talented, and that talent is shown to perfection in this movie.
Here are a few courtroom drama suggestions : "And justice for all" with Al Pacino, "the verdict" with Paul Newman, and "JFK", though not entirely courtroom, has a final scene in a courtroom which I consider Kevin Costner's best performance ever.
man i would love someone (especially people as smart as tbr and samantha) to react to jfk, absolute murderer's row of actors and bravura direction (even if the real jim garrison was way more of a creep and a nut than america's late 80/early 90s dad kevin costner).
also speaking of presidential conspiracies, i'd also throw in a vote for a reaction to "all the president's men," which even features martin balsam and jack warden from this movie.
Everyone needs to watch JFK at some point. They said they love mysteries too. It plays like one. Oliver Stone had multiple masterpieces, imo. That's definitely one of them.
Great reaction to a great movie! I recommend Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory (1957) starring Kirk Douglas as well as Runaway Train (1985) starring Jon Voight. I recommend these because I feel they are under-appreciated gems that are often overlooked by more popular films of their time. Thanks!
Paths Of Glory and 1917 make for a great double feature. 1917 is a dangerous mission but if the soldiers make it, it’ll call off a suicidal mission. Paths of Glory is the opposite.
Masterpiece of a movie with some of the best performances ever. Lee J. Cobb as juror 3, the scene at the end where just breaks down is one the best scenes I've ever seen. The film if I remember right, is taught in psychology classes as an example of confirmation bias. Absolutely excellent and timeless movie.
💫"Witness for the Prosecution" (1957) Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton. Very entertaining courtroom flick, based on a play by famous mystery writer Agatha Christie. Great cast, a real classic.
Henry Fonda was a giant movie star in his day. He was like the DeNiro of the 40s and 50s, and could own both drama and comedy. "The Grapes Of Wrath" and "The Ox-Bow Incident" are worth seeing, he's amazing in them.
About 20 years ago they used to show this while you wait for your assignment at jury duty in my county. I think they stopped because it teaches some very bad lessons to the jurors (introducing evidence not at trial, etc). These days, the last 3 times I've had jury duty, they've shown The Hunt for Red October instead.
I thought it was kind of funny when I first heard a judge give instructions to the jury not to do their own investigation into the case they were sitting on. The Popcorn reactor was sent a copy of Otto Preminger's Anatomy of a Murder (1959) and recently posted her reaction.
In college I saw this movie four times in four different classes. Used to illustrate the many different aspects of human interactions and thinking as it related to the course subjects. Became a joke with me that professors didn't compare notes on subject matter they used to teach but also showed just how powerful of a movie it was because it was used by so many to relate to points across a variety of topics.
I just love thought-provoking films like this that raise these types of questions and films that essentially puts society, human behavior and the possible causes that influence our behavior under a microscope. So whether the boy was guilty or innocent was never really the point of the movie. It's about realizing how our prejudices come to bear even when we don't expect it. And what more dire of a situation than sending someone to the gas chamber or the electric chair.
I think you would love the Alfred Hitchcock movie "Rope". An entire movie filmed in a single apartment, that like "12 Angry Men", is also an intense character study. It's another classic.
This movie should be viewed by everyone. There was a remake of this in the 90s that is well done and worth a look. Another old movie that is just fantastic is "Singing in the Rain". Seriously, it's far better than it would seem.
What impresses me most about 12 Angry Men is that despite its age, there are so many symbolic moments that are still very much relevant today: Prejudice, Racism, Gambling, New School vs Old School
More Lumet justice movies: The Hill (Sean Connery - military justice), Dog Day Afternoon (Pacino - a heist really but again almost a single location shoot that unpicks the background of the crime itself) or The Verdict (Paul Newman, proper courtroom).
The black and white movie holds up so well even today, to me. Though I usually recommend the in color one to people with the note that "I prefer the black and white but just in case you don't like that..."
This is such a wonderful film. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it! Director Sidney Lumet is one of the best and is, in particular, one of the greatest actor's directors of all time. I also recommend another courtroom drama he directed, "The Verdict". It's a slow burn, but the acting is amazing (perhaps Paul Newman's greatest performance) and it is hugely rewarding in the end! It was also written by legendary playwright David Mamet, who wrote the script for "The Untouchables" among many others. It's another magnificent courtroom drama.
The 12 Angry Men and where you have seen them: 1 (foreman): Martin Balsam, he was the private investigator looking for Marion Crane in Psycho, and lots more 2 (little guy with glasses): John Fiedler, he's the voice of Piglet in the classic Winnie the Pooh Disney movies 3 (last man to say not guilty): Lee J Cobb, he was the police detective in The Exorcist, and lots more 4 (the guy in glasses who "never sweats"): E G Marshall, he's the President in Superman II, and Ellen's rude dad in Christmas Vacation (don't remember if you watched that one) 5 (the guy who knew how to use a knife): Jack Klugman, nothing you watched on your channel, was in lots of stuff including The Odd Couple on TV, last of the 12 to pass away 6 (the guy who said Fonda might be letting a guilty man go, in restroom): Edward Binns, he was a detective in North by Northwest 7 (the guy with the baseball tickets): Jack Warden, was in lots of stuff including the team owner in The Replacements and an editor in All the President's Men (highly suggest) 8 (the guy who starts the conversation): Henry Fonda, big actor in lots of stuff including The Grapes of Wrath (highly suggest) and The Wrong Man (Alfred Hitchcock, true story about a man wrongfully accused) 9 (the old man): Joseph Sweeney, not in a lot 10 (the racist): Ed Begley, he was in Hang 'Em High (suggest, Clint Eastwood) 11 (the polite guy): George Voskovec, Hungarian if you couldn't place the accent, was in Somewhere in Time (which you haven't watched, with Christopher Reeve) 12 (the ad agency guy who keeps changing his vote): Robert Webber, was in lots of stuff including The Dirty Dozen (highly suggest) The Judge: Rudy Bond, was a don of one of the five families Michael had killed at the end of The Godfather, Don Cuneo, not major character otherwise Director Sidney Lumet is legendary, he also directed Dog Day Afternoon (highly suggest, with Al Pacino, true story about a bank robbery), Serpico (suggest, with Al Pacino, true story about a cop/whistleblower), Network (suggest, with Robert Duvall)
A masterclass of acting, dialogue, and story. But the blocking and shot composition in this film is on a whole other level that few films at that time (or even now) can even dream of being comparable to.
Ugg... I feel old. Not as old as the movie, mind you, but I do remember those towels. There is a roll in the back and it spools up on the front. it doesn't get reused until it is washed. However, love that you watched this! One of my favourate black and white movies. Dr Strangelove and Young Frankenstein are the only ones I like more.
I miss those towel machines. You could only pull the towel in one direction, and the ratchet mechanism had a very satisfying sound & feel as the fresh towel portion clicked into place. More sanitary than air dryers and less messy than paper towels. A service came around to load fresh towel rolls and take the used ones to be laundered.
Here's an old film that's brilliant which you could react to. "Stalag 17" is a 1953 movie about Americans in a German POW champ during World War 2. It's known that someone in their midst has been feeding information to the Germans who run their camp, but they don't know who. They all decide that it's this one guy who runs their black market who isn't very well liked anyway and beat him up. He resolves that he's going to figure out who the real traitor is. The star, William Holder, won the Academy Award for the role and it has a 97% on "Rotten Tomatoes."
Another great Courtroom film for you is A Time To Kill I was on A Grand Jury when I was younger and that was awesome. We sat in recliners and we got shown raw evidence on cases and heard testimony and decided if it would go to trial or not.
18:59 I remember watching this movie, just after I'd just started getting use to wearing spectacles, (Eye Glasses) at 15 years old. That part was so prevalent to me, at that time.
Such a relief you guys are not watching an intense film for a change. Thank you. We read the play in high school back in the 80's and saw the film and could tell what they did different. In the playwright there is no description of the defendant. I really liked your reaction.
A simple yet amazing movie with deep characters and captivating conversations! And it’s always fun to play detective!
Thank you all for your support!
There is an interesting trick the director used in filming this. The walls were designed so they could be slide together. So as the film progresses the walls are literally closing in to add to the claustrophobic feel in the room and add to the tension.
As good as moviemaking gets. Twelve amazing actors doing amazing acting. Mmm, chef's kiss!
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Well Reginald Rose who wrote the screenplay was on a jury that resembled this case
The actor playing Juror # 2 is played be the actor John Fielder. He is the voice of "Piglet" in Disney's Winnie The Poo.
Havn´t you seen "dr strangelove" yet... Its probobly the best B&W movie out there
I actually think the gesture of juror 8 helping 3 back into his jacket at the end is really touching. Even after everything that happened, the latter was finally willing to concede the point, and the former was willing to help him keep some dignity on their way out the door. A nice reminder that overcoming someone doesn't mean you have to "destroy" them.
its something people often forget today, just because you are wrong about something doesnt make you a bad human being and showing compassion and honor to your opponent after "winning" is a lost art especially in politics these days.
It’s juror 8 but you’re right
@@drchaos2000 It's something I lose sight of myself sometimes. We are in a very hard, uncivil age, where winning is everything and kindness is weakness. I hope it becomes otherwise someday, but it won't be anytime soon.
The way to detect quickly a rude ignorant person (no matter his status) is the way he talks and answer and how loud or if he interrupt you not allowing to start or finish what you want to say.....
@@drchaos2000 The modern right wing should remember this.
one of the very best movies ever made.
"he can't hear you...he never will"
fantastic line.
The harsh truth of that line, though.
I live in an area where people are just like that, they won't listen. It's only thanks to stuff like 12 angry men, star trek, and a few other things that I didn't end up the same way.
65 years old and it still holds up. Such an incredible movie!
That's what real talent gets you😎
"No, there is no fingerprints back then."
"He even remembered to wipe the knife clean of fingerprints."
"Oh..." 😂
The movie is so good because the dialog is so quick. Taking place mostly in just one room, it holds your attention throughout.
My grandfather showed it to me when I was a teenager and I was so surprised how much I liked it.
Especially for a teenager who only liked sci-fi and action movies.
It’s such a solid and well made movie, it’s hard to ignore at any age old enough to understand what’s going on at least lol!
I had the same situation but it was my dad who made me watch it when I was around 10.
Its just one room, but the framing is amazing, its never visually boring.
@@TBRSchmitt One movie with Henry Fonda , Sergio Leone , Once upon a time in the west 1968 and another wester written by Sergio , My name is nobody , stars Terence Hill and Henry Fonda ... a bit poking on that Clint Eastwood was called , man with no name , in Sergios Dollar trilogy US trailers.
I was looking for good films to watch from some of those top 100 best movies list and went into this one blind. For me this is certainly one of the best films made.
Lee J Cobb’s turn as Juror 3 is my favorite portrayal of any role, by any actor, ever. I first saw this when I was 14, and I remember thinking that I finally understood what people meant by saying that a supporting actor "stole the show".
For me, it was the look of realization in the eyes of E.G. Marshall, coming to understand that his position was flawed, a brilliant moment
I hardly think that Cobb was a "supporting actor" in this movie!
@@martinbynion1589 It’s just the terminology used by the film industry. Fonda was billed as the lead role, making Cobb, technically speaking, a supporting actor.
I agree that Cobb’s performance is, in practical terms, as crucial to the movie as Fonda’s, if not more so. It is Cobb’s believable portrayal of organic, conditioned, and ultimately misplaced intensity that makes the arguments so genuine, so _human,_ and so compelling to the viewer-without someone of Cobb’s unique formula of appearance, mannerisms, and tempo, the net production would likely not have resonated with viewers enough to remain as popular and respected as it still is today.
At the Golden Globe Awards in 1958, Fonda and Cobb were both nominated for their respective performances. Fonda was nominated for Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama), and Cobb for Best _Supporting_ Actor.
It’s not a knock against Cobb-it’s just how the roles are categorized during script development and the casting process.
@@noneprovided689 Without Lee J. Cobb to playoff of Henry Fonda, the movie would not have been nearly as strong.
@@greggross8856Yup. Two halves of a chemical mixture.
Samantha: “SHADDUP”!
I spit my drink out at that line. Not even joking. What a delivery.
I love how this movie illustrates that the standard is "reasonable doubt." We actually never determine for certain whether this defendant killed his father, or not. What was demonstrated was that there was excellent reason for doubt. And that's the standard.
And the amazing roster of acting talent in that room! Henry Fonda, of course. Lee J. Cobb was brilliant. Jack Klugman. Jack Warden. John Fiedler. EG Marshall. Martin Balsam (who was in "Psycho"). Edward Binns. These are some of the most talented, hardest-working character actors of their generation! Supporting players who just worked, and worked, and worked on a constant basis. Every single one of them has an IMDB page as long as your arm. Major acting talent sitting around that table.
Except their doubt is unreasonable
That is interesting, I'll bet most audience members end this movie thinking the kid is innocent, but you're right, it's never confirmed one way or the other beyond the jury's own verdict.
@@vincegamer How so?
@@vincegamer Only to dummies. Cough, cough.
I posted a reply but I can't see it. Perhaps links aren't allowed? It was to a breakdown of the standard of evidence and how phenomenally unlikely it would be for anyone else to have done the murder
12 Angry Men is such a brilliant and nuanced commentary on how prejudice, and false assumptions can affect our judgement. Our everyday lives are filled with so many issues related to clouded judgment, much less if you extrapolate that to the legal system or a court room setting. They really did an amazing job witth the script writing, getting such dynamic interactions with so little movement or action.
I adore this movie and love the snappy dialogue. But it's not really "nuanced" commentary is it? They hammer you over the head with the social commentary, which is a definite plus in my book.
@@jcon2060 you're right. not so nuanced. I also got the indifference and laissez-faire attitude of many of the jurors.
I know it’s just a movie but that’s one of the things that I always get angry about (and also in other court drama movies and shows). Sometimes if the information is sketchy or inaccurate that dosent mean the witnesses or victims are lying. It just means that their information is wrong.
@@Jpew2007 It seems you forget the inate prejudice in most of us. That once someone is arrested, they must have done something to be arrested. We tend to believe the police in their actions. It's only in the last few years that video evidence has slightly shifted the burden. So being in court for a crime automatically puts you in the guilty chair. THat's why the accused are cleaned up, and put in decent clothes to avoid any further prejudice. Now add a confusing or conflicting story and its a wrap.
@@Jpew2007 So? If the information is wrong that can be deadly for an innocent defendant. That's the point, isn't it? No need to get angry over someone's crap testimony. And the stupid woman in the movie (not shown) insisted she saw someone 60 feet away with no glasses on. Uh, if I were her, I'd never insist that I knew who it was since my vision was poor.
It really proves why a film from 1957, with a single set, minimal music, all focused on a small cast, is such an impressive piece of cinema! One of my personal favorite films that was introduced to High School. Should be required viewing for everyone!
my favorite kinds of movies... just put a few great actors in a room with a couple cameras and let'em cook.
One of the greatest films ever made. A stunning directorial debut by Sidney Lumet. One of the best casts ever assembled.
great cast - I love "finding" these actors in other films - when I first saw it I only knew Henry Fonda from 'On Golden Pond' and Jack Klugman from 'The Odd Couple' sitcom. Lee J. Cobb was amazing in this and pretty much everything else he was in - especially 'On the Waterfront'
@@billymuellerTikTok plus Lee J Cobb was Lt. Kinderman in The Exorcist
I agree, great actors, great dialogue, with great direction. a classic
Lumet also made Dog Day Afternoon, one of Pacino's finest early movies, Network, which is a classic which remains relevant today, then returned to the courtroom for The Verdict. Perhaps another from his early period worth seeing, again about justice, is The Hill (which made a star out of pre-Bond Sean Connery).
@@nevrogers8198 I think Connery had already done two or three Bond films by the time The Hill was released in 1965. (Another brilliant film by the way}
I've been in 3 Jury boxes. 1 person can absolutely change 11 other people's minds.
It's actually a incredible thing to witness.
If you've served on three juries, why do you call them jury boxes? Never ever heard it called that. Surely if you've served on juries you'd know the correct term.
@@TheHomelessDreamer you absolutely have no idea what you're talking about. Google what a jury box is my guy.
Years ago when HD became a thing, this movie was the example i used to try to explain to a friend, that what makes a movie good is not how big the resolution of the picture is, but how good the story and the acting are.
When Cobb finally broke at the end about his son, I understood him. Good review.
At LAST: "12 Angry Men". This film represents everything I miss from modern day movies: simplicity, a tight, at first-glance simple story that develops logically, character development along a sensible arc, minimal use of special effects (I couldn't imagine a modern-day remake of this film) and actors with a REAL screen presence (EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM!).
The verdict with Paul Newman is one of my favorite courtroom drama movies
Both this and The Verdict were directed by Sidney Lumet. Both garnered him Oscar nominations for best director.
This movie has more dialogue than a Tarantino film! 😁 I think a lot of us remember reading/performing this in junior high or high school. It’s a great tool for learning about how to give a monologue as an actor, while also reacting to and interacting with other characters. It’s also a great study in human psychology, group think, personality types, and other subjects. Great stuff.
That was how I learned about this movie, in my 9th grade English class, in the 1970s. We first presented it as a play and later we got to watch the movie.
I actually knew the movie before it came up in school. We reenacted it in English class (I'm German) and I was thrilled to be picked as Juror no. 8. This movie holds a special place in my heart
@@brozy5720 very cool 👍
More dialogue than Tarantino = No F-bombs and more intelligent.
This was Sidney Lumet’s first film. As his career proceeded, many of his films examined the American justice system (Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, The Verdict, Find Me Guilty, Daniel, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead).
"Anatomy Of A Murder" from 1959 (James Stewart) is one of the best courtroom dramas - another good one to add to your list
Plus Duke Ellington is in it, as a piano player.
This is one of the best cast movies you’ll find. Practically every one of these actors was or went on to be significant players in film, TV or as well-known character actors. Marvelous chemistry within this group.
The boy's guilt or innocence isn't the main point of the movie, but how bias and prejudice can cloud our judgment and cause us to lose objectivity.
Having said that, the boy's background is irrelevant, the only thing that matters is the physical evidence. With advances in DNA, today the evidence would've been much clearer as to the boy's guilt or innocence. Presumably the knife and boy's clothes would've had blood evidence on them.
The background is relevant on the other side, in that such a man might well have given other people in the neighbourhood reason to want to kill him.
@@patrickholt2270 The issue was the boy's background, not the man's.
i saw this in high school almost thirty years ago. Our teacher was this cool hipster before hipsters were a thing and he showed us a lot of great movies. rest in peace mr. romero
This is one of my favourite movies. We had to watch it and read the book/script in high school. Such a great movie.
Yeah it’s incredibly impressive!
Me too. It was part of drama class
Yeah, I'm German and we saw the dubbed version in school in the '80s. Don't remember in which class though. Could've been one of those "last week before summer break" occasions where nothing much happened teaching-wise and you got to see films instead.
Our English teacher gave it to us for an assignment.
We watched it in High School too! My 9th grade Government class in 1998 or 9. And for a bunch of 14-15 year olds, it held our attention really well. And I personally remember loving it and I wasn't fond of B&W movies when I was younger. I even remember thinking I was going to hate it. Actually, I think the whole class thought so because I definitely remember an audible "ughh" when the teacher turned on the tv and we saw it was black and white, lol.
The camera work, and cinematography, from this movie is often used to teach because it's arguably a perfectly shot film.
Even today, it's a masterclass camera work.
16:14 People today may not understand how you could have trouble remembering what movie you saw. Back in the day, you had an 'A' movie, a 'B' movie, a short film, a newsreel, a cartoon. It's more like forgetting what random film you stumbled across on Netflix, and who starred in it. It was also a very cheap place to hang out once or twice a week.
This movie is directed by Sidney Lumet. He has many great films, and The Verdict 1982 (also court room drama) is one of his best. It is also one of the best films of the actor Paul Newman.
I love 12 Angry Men. I get the same excitement in repeat viewings watching him pick apart each guilty verdict as when I first saw the movie.
"The Caine Mutiny" (1954) is a great classic with 13 major award nominations. It involves a WW2 Navy court martial for mutiny.
Have you watched "To Kill A Mockingbird"? It's not as focused as this one, but the trial portion is satisfying and the movie as a whole is excellent.
To Kill A Mockingbird is an excellent film. One of two excellent Gregory Peck films that should be seen. The other is the Guns of Navarone. Peck, Anthony Quinn, David Niven, and Richard Harris. The truely amazing thing is that he basically did them back to back Navarone 1961 Mockingbird 1962.
Absolutely agreed. I hope they see it. It's a beautiful film
12 angry men is hands down one of the best movies of all times. Of all the films mostly contained in a single space, this one has got to be on top.
Sydney Lumet makes the maximum of the restrained space by always having fluid camera movements to always keep the viewer interested. It also helps that there is a compelling story, a tight script and solid acting.
The movie isn't afraid to ask hard question when for example one of the jurors asks jury No8 (Henry Fonda): "What if you talk us out of it and he really killed his father?"
The scene with the knife is a great reveal.
Another 1957 B&W film absolutely worth the watch is Paths of Glory by Stanley Kubrick.
Great reaction, guys. I'm so glad you chose to review this tremendous classic movie.
It was a stroke of genius to have Henry Fonda to be dressed in a white suit. It provided the perfect ending to the movie seeing him serenely descending the steps like that.
He was obviously a Guardian Angel: maybe the accused boy's or perhaps the guardian of 'blind justice'.
Just superb.
If you're in the mood for another Henry Fonda movie, you can't go wrong with "Fail Safe" -- a Cold War thriller that is AMAZING with cranking up the tension with a very simple (and scarily realistic) premise.
SO GOOD.
Sidney Lumet also directed that, along with "12 Angry Men".
And based on the same book as Doctor Strangelove, which TBR and Samantha already watched. _Advise and Consent_ is another good Fonda film, with a Senate nomination hearing in place of a courtroom trial.
"Fail Safe" is one of my most favorite films. Also directed by Sidney Lumet.
I second this. Fail Safe is a must-see movie. When it was over I was speechless.
Failsafe may be the scariest movie ever made. It's brilliant.
Being a cinephile, I've seen this film over fifty times. A neophyte director, a dream cast and a superb script create what is easily a masterpiece of dramatic cinema.
I was a juror on a civil wrongful death trial. Quite a bit different than a criminal trial. However, there were a couple jurors that acted like petulant children. Made me seriously think about the whole “jury of your peers” statement we have all heard so often.
I served on a jury for a criminal case and some of the fellow jurors scared me too. One young woman kept on saying she had a "gut feeling" he was guilty. I had to remind her that she cannot go by her feelings and must base her verdict on evidence and testimony. Personally, if I was a defendant in a trial, I'd choose a bench trial rather than a jury trial. I trust a judge to go by the rules and law more than ordinary people.
Hey TBR, for a movie that's "hard to react to," you guys sure had a lot of great reaction after the movie was over. Well done.
This is a masterpiece of a film. Character development for everyone in the room and they only present the audience with information as they progress the story. How many movies could be this good today with 99% of the movie residing in one single room?
I watched this when I was about 12 and was not used to black and white films! The fact that a film set in a single room with just talking held the attention of a youngster who watches colour tv normally is a testament to the strength of the writing.
I first saw this movie way back in the 80s and it's been my favorite movie ever since then. I love how it's so simple so the dialogue and characters get to take center stage and tell the story. This is a great example of how fancy effects and action scenes may be fun in movies they aren't important to what makes a good story. It's good writing that makes a story amazing and it's what we get so little of today.
An absolute classic movie. This was a fun reaction watching Samantha taking mental notes of the trial she never viewed, while placing each juror in categories of their biases. It's not too late to get that law or detective degree Samantha!🕵
The very angry juror who was determined to see the kid guilty and had son issues was Lee J Cobb. His last film was as the very calm detective in "The Exorcist".
Also in "The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit", "How the West Was Won", "Exodus", " On The Waterfront", "The Three Faces of Eve", etc.
Also that lady with the glasses as somebody who wears glasses when I wake up out of my sleep, it takes me a minute for my eyes to adjust
The scene in this film that I find the most powerful or affecting is when the old bigot goes on his racist tirade and pretty much every man in the room gets up, put their backs to him, and ignore him. What a profound way of showing one of the ways how people can and should react or deal with the prejudices of bigoted people like him. The fact that such a profound scene portraying and encouraging such a strong message against prejudice came from a film that came out in 1957 just blows me away. One of my all time favorite films. And Sidney Lumet is one of my favorite directors. The acting in his films is always excellent. When it comes to directors who have skills or gifts when it comes to actors, Lumet is one of the very best. Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, Murder on the Orient Express (1974), The Verdict, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, and Network. And 12 Angry Men was Lumet's first film!
you know I forgot Lumet directed The Verdict as I saw Serpico 3 x the yr it came out, Pacino def imo should have won oscar and NEWMAN gave a GREAT perf in The VErdict and he should have one also. Im not sure who NEWman lost to BUT I think ART CARNEY won his oscar vs PACINO
@@michaelceraso1977 Newman lost to Ben Kingsley in Gandhi (1982) That's fair. Pacino 's performance in Serpico lost to Jack Lemmon in Save the Tiger. I haven't seen it but it's hard for me to complain about Jack Lemmon. But you're right in 1974 Pacino did lode to Art Carney in Harry and Tonto. Over Pacino's performance in The Godfather Part II. I haven't seen Harry and Tonto but come! That old guy from The Star War Holiday Special? Really? And to make it worse that year he also beat Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express, Dustin Hoffman in Lenny, and Jack Nicholson in Chinatown!
@@crowtcameron ok thanks the Newman loss is fair since Hollywood has done that often- awrding to a real life character, I was confused as to when Carney won BUT losing to Lemmon is fair, so THE real steal was Pacino NOT winnin for GODfther 2
so you against a racism but call him a bigot... walk away young man.
@@crowtcameron Carney was pretty good in Harry and Tonto, definitely worth the watch. But yeah, it was kind of a "career achievement" award
"Damn kids! You work your life out!" Gets me every time. Set up beautifully with that line about not seeing his son in two years. Lee J. Cobb is a master - a one of a kind voice. Love this movie. Glad you chose to react to it. Have you two considered doing more classic films - film noirs like Double Indemnity, Out of the Past, The Postman Always Rings Twice, etc. I think you would like them and most young folks don't know about - or care to react to old Hollywood classics.
He says it twice. The first time it just goes by. The second time is awesome.
I'm sure you'd also enjoy "INHERIT THE WIND" (1960)... which is also a court/trial film. It's based on the true story of the evolution/'monkey' trials in the early part of the 20th century. Great performances by Spencer Tracy and Fredric March. Also, excellent dialogue with some fantastic, quotable speeches.
One of few movies that is pretty much flawless and my 3rd favourite movie of all time and to think that Sidney lumet who started in theater and tv makes his first movie his magnum opus and an all time classic with a 9 out of 10 rating on IMDB
Masterpiece right out of the gate!
12 angry men gaved it 100% rotten tomatoes
This is one of the few films that rightfully deserves the title of masterpiece. It truly is an example of masterful storytelling, it’s so engaging, that it seems like the movie only lasts 30 minutes. Great performances by the actors as well.
OMG I am so glad you watched this film. It's one of my favorites! One thing that always grabs my attention is that half of these men behave the way we should strive to, with calm and respect despite differences, and the other half is typically childish and disrespectful. Today, we are often shown grown men to be childish and disrespectful presented as normal.
Now a perfect companion piece is the 1995 slapstick comedy "Jury Duty" starring Pauly Shore
Last September I played Juror 4 ("sweaty guy") in a local stage production. It was fun to do, and the audience, 64 years after this movie came out (and even longer than after it was first done on TV), really enjoyed it. I think the brilliance of the writing is that I puts the audience in the jury room as a juror. Different people will watch and likely associate with one juror more than another. Interestingly I did associate most with Juror 4 - facts, facts, facts, and when he finally had no more arguments and had reasonable doubt he changed his vote. Did you associate with any particular juror?
Another courtroom drama I enjoy is Inherit the Wind with Spencer Tracy, Frederic March, and Gene Kelly. It focuses on a teacher who teaches the theory of evolution in a community where that is prohibited. There are elements of the story that illustrate elements of contemporary society in the USA.
I've always really appreciated that they have that character there. Someone who is strongly in the guilty camp who doesn't have any sort of obvious character flaw. It would have been very easy to just make all the most ardently in favor of guilty contemptible in some way, but over and over, he is shown rebuking people even on his side while remaining committed to his opinion until he hears enough to start doubting himself.
Since you like Westerns AND Henry Fonda, Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West" immediately comes to mind. Just make sure you choose the best release, which is about 165 minutes long.
This film deserves a rewatch: the last hold-out had father-son issues from the outset. He's trying to punish his son by convicting the defendant.
I think most people love watching reactions to this film because: it's such an awesome film. Nice to see you enjoying it, Sam.
I appreciate that you're very clear about if/when you've seen a movie before, it still makes for a very watchable reaction and it's so much better than channels that say "first-time reaction" meaning they've seen the movie a million times but never reacted to it before, and other vague and woolly definitions to con people into watching. Give me a channel with integrity every time 💕
Another superb reaction with thoughtful post-film discussion.
Having mentioned that you haven't seen another Henry Fonda film, I would like to suggest, "Once Upon a Time in the West"!
Not only does it boast an excellent character portrayal from Fonda, but it is considered Sergio Leone's finest Western, with "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" being its only challenger.
Perhaps, after you have seen, "Once Upon..." you can make your case for which is superior or if they are equally impressive.
3:48 In the beginning, you mentioned when you watched Psycho. The guy at the head of the table was the detective in Psycho.
The guy you called "Glasses", John Fieldler, was also in the movie "The Odd Couple". Total classic, if you haven't seen it. Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau star while Fieldler is a poker buddy. Fieldler was also the voice of Piglet in the Winnie the Pooh cartoons until his death in 2005.
Also, the juror who comes from the slum was played by Jack Klugman and he played Matthau's character on the tv show adaption of "The Odd Couple".
The juror who didn't sweat, until he did, was played by E.G. Marshall. You saw him in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation as Clark's father-in-law. "The little lights aren't twinkling" "I know, Art, thanks for noticing".
One of these best Courtroom dramas ever made!
There was a remake in 1997 on Showtime directed by William Friedkin. George C. Scott, Hugh Cronyn, James Gandolfini, Tony Danza, Dorian Harewood, Armin Mueller Stahl, Courtney B Vance, William Petersen, Ossie Davis, Edward James Olmos, Mykelti Williamson, and Jack Lemmon Star in this adaptation.
With this feature film debut, the great Sidney Lumet is nominated for an Oscar for Best Director. His entire filmography is superb. I recommend watching: "Dog day Afternoon", "Serpico", "The Verdict", "Murder on the Orient Express" and above all "Network.
Good reaction, guys.
Absolutely Network.
You should definitely check out another amazing courtroom drama from this time period - Anatomy of a Murder starring Jimmy Stewart!
Another highly recommended black & white court room drama is "Witness For the Prosecution" starring Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich. It is based on an Agatha Christie novel. You will love it.
Damn such a great movie. Great reaction Daniel and Sam. Such amazing dialogue. They basically shot the movie in two rooms, with the outside window acting as another set. I hope you get around to watching, "Erin Brockovich", "Pelican Brief". Oh plus, "Flash of Genius", and "Three Billboards" All amazing legal movies.
10:11 Just for your edification on the Towels dispenser, no they don't just keep rolling it through. There are actually two rollers. When you pull down, they both move, so it will eventually stop, but it keeps feeding dry towels, and then maintenance will need to replace the whole thing when it runs out.
I was not expecting this to be such a FUN reaction! This was hilarious! Sam's experience being on a jury definitely added something; also the edit was great, you guys highlighted many parts that don't make other reactions, stuff I forgot about. All of these actors you'd see in a million movies and TV shows later on; the jury foreman played the doomed detective in "Psycho" (Martin Balsam, he was in everything). The director Sidney Lumet went on to make a string of great movies, especially in the 70s:: "Serpico", "Dog Day Afternoon" (both with Pacino, two of his absolute best) and the fantastic "Network" . All three of those are must-sees, especially the last two.
And they've already seen Lee J Cobb in The Exorcist.
@@rabbitandcrow ....and hopefully will soon see him again in "On The Waterfront"!!!!! :D
The actor who played the jury foreman also played the private detective, Arbogast, in "Psycho."
There’s so much beauty in the simplicity of this story that it allows the details to be complex.
Great review! If you want a fun 90s crime drama (and prime Tommy Lee Jones) I recommend ‘the Client’
All of them are great actors of the time - many who you'd call character actors in many movies, but all sooo talented, and that talent is shown to perfection in this movie.
Two great courtroom films worth watching, 'To kill a Mocking Bird' and 'Philidelphia'
Yes, Philadelphia! A great one.
I first saw this as a play in Birmingham (UK) with Martin Shaw & Jeff Fahey - truly one of my favourite theatre experiences.
Here are a few courtroom drama suggestions : "And justice for all" with Al Pacino, "the verdict" with Paul Newman, and "JFK", though not entirely courtroom, has a final scene in a courtroom which I consider Kevin Costner's best performance ever.
Agreed on JFK, specifically the director’s cut. It’s long but worth it!
man i would love someone (especially people as smart as tbr and samantha) to react to jfk, absolute murderer's row of actors and bravura direction (even if the real jim garrison was way more of a creep and a nut than america's late 80/early 90s dad kevin costner).
also speaking of presidential conspiracies, i'd also throw in a vote for a reaction to "all the president's men," which even features martin balsam and jack warden from this movie.
Everyone needs to watch JFK at some point. They said they love mysteries too. It plays like one. Oliver Stone had multiple masterpieces, imo. That's definitely one of them.
15:10 No, you don't. That's called anhidrosis, and if untreated can cause hyperthermia, heat stroke and death. Overheating all the time ain't no joke.
Great reaction to a great movie! I recommend Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory (1957) starring Kirk Douglas as well as Runaway Train (1985) starring Jon Voight. I recommend these because I feel they are under-appreciated gems that are often overlooked by more popular films of their time. Thanks!
Another great Kirk Douglas Courtroom drama is 'Town without Pity.'
Paths Of Glory and 1917 make for a great double feature.
1917 is a dangerous mission but if the soldiers make it, it’ll call off a suicidal mission.
Paths of Glory is the opposite.
Masterpiece of a movie with some of the best performances ever. Lee J. Cobb as juror 3, the scene at the end where just breaks down is one the best scenes I've ever seen. The film if I remember right, is taught in psychology classes as an example of confirmation bias. Absolutely excellent and timeless movie.
💫"Witness for the Prosecution" (1957) Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton. Very entertaining courtroom flick, based on a play by famous mystery writer Agatha Christie. Great cast, a real classic.
Don't forget Marlene Dietrich
Henry Fonda was a giant movie star in his day. He was like the DeNiro of the 40s and 50s, and could own both drama and comedy. "The Grapes Of Wrath" and "The Ox-Bow Incident" are worth seeing, he's amazing in them.
About 20 years ago they used to show this while you wait for your assignment at jury duty in my county. I think they stopped because it teaches some very bad lessons to the jurors (introducing evidence not at trial, etc). These days, the last 3 times I've had jury duty, they've shown The Hunt for Red October instead.
For a comedic trial movie - Jury Duty, with Pauly Shore and Stanley Tucci. It actually pays homage directly to 12 Angry Men.
I thought it was kind of funny when I first heard a judge give instructions to the jury not to do their own investigation into the case they were sitting on. The Popcorn reactor was sent a copy of Otto Preminger's Anatomy of a Murder (1959) and recently posted her reaction.
In college I saw this movie four times in four different classes. Used to illustrate the many different aspects of human interactions and thinking as it related to the course subjects. Became a joke with me that professors didn't compare notes on subject matter they used to teach but also showed just how powerful of a movie it was because it was used by so many to relate to points across a variety of topics.
I just love thought-provoking films like this that raise these types of questions and films that essentially puts society, human behavior and the possible causes that influence our behavior under a microscope. So whether the boy was guilty or innocent was never really the point of the movie. It's about realizing how our prejudices come to bear even when we don't expect it. And what more dire of a situation than sending someone to the gas chamber or the electric chair.
I think you would love the Alfred Hitchcock movie "Rope". An entire movie filmed in a single apartment, that like "12 Angry Men", is also an intense character study. It's another classic.
This movie should be viewed by everyone.
There was a remake of this in the 90s that is well done and worth a look.
Another old movie that is just fantastic is "Singing in the Rain". Seriously, it's far better than it would seem.
I love Singing in the Rain, but musicals are a nightmare to edit for YT, because of music copyrights.
@@catherinelw9365 I'm well aware they take a little extra but many still do them, Singing in the Rain included.
What impresses me most about 12 Angry Men is that despite its age, there are so many symbolic moments that are still very much relevant today: Prejudice, Racism, Gambling, New School vs Old School
More Lumet justice movies: The Hill (Sean Connery - military justice), Dog Day Afternoon (Pacino - a heist really but again almost a single location shoot that unpicks the background of the crime itself) or The Verdict (Paul Newman, proper courtroom).
The black and white movie holds up so well even today, to me.
Though I usually recommend the in color one to people with the note that "I prefer the black and white but just in case you don't like that..."
This is such a wonderful film. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it! Director Sidney Lumet is one of the best and is, in particular, one of the greatest actor's directors of all time. I also recommend another courtroom drama he directed, "The Verdict". It's a slow burn, but the acting is amazing (perhaps Paul Newman's greatest performance) and it is hugely rewarding in the end! It was also written by legendary playwright David Mamet, who wrote the script for "The Untouchables" among many others. It's another magnificent courtroom drama.
This movie is a masterpiece. And now "Witness for the Prosecution", also from 1957. You shouldn't be disappointed. ^^
An absolute masterpiece. One of my favorite movies to watch reactions of as so many fantastic moments.
The 12 Angry Men and where you have seen them:
1 (foreman): Martin Balsam, he was the private investigator looking for Marion Crane in Psycho, and lots more
2 (little guy with glasses): John Fiedler, he's the voice of Piglet in the classic Winnie the Pooh Disney movies
3 (last man to say not guilty): Lee J Cobb, he was the police detective in The Exorcist, and lots more
4 (the guy in glasses who "never sweats"): E G Marshall, he's the President in Superman II, and Ellen's rude dad in Christmas Vacation (don't remember if you watched that one)
5 (the guy who knew how to use a knife): Jack Klugman, nothing you watched on your channel, was in lots of stuff including The Odd Couple on TV, last of the 12 to pass away
6 (the guy who said Fonda might be letting a guilty man go, in restroom): Edward Binns, he was a detective in North by Northwest
7 (the guy with the baseball tickets): Jack Warden, was in lots of stuff including the team owner in The Replacements and an editor in All the President's Men (highly suggest)
8 (the guy who starts the conversation): Henry Fonda, big actor in lots of stuff including The Grapes of Wrath (highly suggest) and The Wrong Man (Alfred Hitchcock, true story about a man wrongfully accused)
9 (the old man): Joseph Sweeney, not in a lot
10 (the racist): Ed Begley, he was in Hang 'Em High (suggest, Clint Eastwood)
11 (the polite guy): George Voskovec, Hungarian if you couldn't place the accent, was in Somewhere in Time (which you haven't watched, with Christopher Reeve)
12 (the ad agency guy who keeps changing his vote): Robert Webber, was in lots of stuff including The Dirty Dozen (highly suggest)
The Judge: Rudy Bond, was a don of one of the five families Michael had killed at the end of The Godfather, Don Cuneo, not major character otherwise
Director Sidney Lumet is legendary, he also directed Dog Day Afternoon (highly suggest, with Al Pacino, true story about a bank robbery), Serpico (suggest, with Al Pacino, true story about a cop/whistleblower), Network (suggest, with Robert Duvall)
Don't worry, Sam, I think 12 Angry Women is in the works. 🤣🤣🤣
😂
A masterclass of acting, dialogue, and story. But the blocking and shot composition in this film is on a whole other level that few films at that time (or even now) can even dream of being comparable to.
I remember watching this in middle school and actually loving it so much. Great film. Love your reactions
I saw this on stage a few years ago. The fact that it was originally a single-set play first explains why it made such a simple and effective film.
Ugg... I feel old. Not as old as the movie, mind you, but I do remember those towels. There is a roll in the back and it spools up on the front. it doesn't get reused until it is washed. However, love that you watched this! One of my favourate black and white movies. Dr Strangelove and Young Frankenstein are the only ones I like more.
I miss those towel machines. You could only pull the towel in one direction, and the ratchet mechanism had a very satisfying sound & feel as the fresh towel portion clicked into place. More sanitary than air dryers and less messy than paper towels. A service came around to load fresh towel rolls and take the used ones to be laundered.
@@paintedjaguar They're very common in Finland nowadays. I didn't know they were considered old school in America.
Here's an old film that's brilliant which you could react to. "Stalag 17" is a 1953 movie about Americans in a German POW champ during World War 2. It's known that someone in their midst has been feeding information to the Germans who run their camp, but they don't know who. They all decide that it's this one guy who runs their black market who isn't very well liked anyway and beat him up. He resolves that he's going to figure out who the real traitor is. The star, William Holder, won the Academy Award for the role and it has a 97% on "Rotten Tomatoes."
A MUST courtroom movie for you to watch is "Presumed Innocent" with Harrison Ford , Raul Ju;ia and Paul Winfield. It's an incredible drama
Just to put it in your heads: Marlon Brando vs. Lee J. Cobb - "On The Waterfront". The word "iconic" was made for a movie like "On The Waterfront".
Another great Courtroom film for you is A Time To Kill
I was on A Grand Jury when I was younger and that was awesome. We sat in recliners and we got shown raw evidence on cases and heard testimony and decided if it would go to trial or not.
18:59 I remember watching this movie, just after I'd just started getting use to wearing spectacles, (Eye Glasses) at 15 years old.
That part was so prevalent to me, at that time.
Please consider The Verdict with Paul Newman. Academy Award performances and a detective courtroom drama of the highest caliber!
Such a relief you guys are not watching an intense film for a change. Thank you. We read the play in high school back in the 80's and saw the film and could tell what they did different. In the playwright there is no description of the defendant. I really liked your reaction.