Difference between revisions of "Twelve Angry Men"
(clarify version history) |
(more plot info) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Twelve Angry Men''' is a play written by Reginald Rose about the deliberations of a jury in a murder trial. It was originally written for television, and first broadcast in 1954. Rose then adapted his script into a play. A second adaptation was filmed in 1957, starring Henry Fonda, and a third version was filmed in 1997 with Jack Lemmon playing Henry Fonda's role. The 1957 film version, which was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Sidney Lumet) and Best Adapted Screenplay, is the most well-known version of the story. | '''Twelve Angry Men''' is a play written by Reginald Rose about the deliberations of a jury in a murder trial. It was originally written for television, and first broadcast in 1954. Rose then adapted his script into a play. A second adaptation was filmed in 1957, starring Henry Fonda, and a third version was filmed in 1997 with Jack Lemmon playing Henry Fonda's role. The 1957 film version, which was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Sidney Lumet) and Best Adapted Screenplay, is the most well-known version of the story. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | == Plot == | ||
| + | |||
| + | A young man from a slum has been charged with the fatal stabbing of his father. The movie opens with the judge reminding the jurors that, since this is a capital crime, their verdict must be unanimous. The jurors retire to begin their deliberations in a hot, airless room, and at first it appears as though the evidence of the defendant's guilt is incontestable. A preliminary vote by secret ballot gives a result of eleven "guilty" votes and one "not guilty". | ||
| + | |||
| + | Juror no. 8 (the men are not named), who voted not guilty, explains that he has no more reason than the other men to believe that the defendant is innocent. However, because of the defendant's age and the fact that his life depends on their decision, Juror 8 believes that they ought to discuss the facts of the case more thoroughly before deciding. | ||
Initially, eleven jurors are ready to convict the defendant but one man wants to talk about it first. The movie follows the process whereby the (initially) lone man persuades his fellow jurors to vote his way by wearing them down through seemingly endless, well-schooled argument: a classic tactic of [[Communist]]s and [[Trotskyist]]s. | Initially, eleven jurors are ready to convict the defendant but one man wants to talk about it first. The movie follows the process whereby the (initially) lone man persuades his fellow jurors to vote his way by wearing them down through seemingly endless, well-schooled argument: a classic tactic of [[Communist]]s and [[Trotskyist]]s. | ||
Revision as of 14:33, February 17, 2009
Twelve Angry Men is a play written by Reginald Rose about the deliberations of a jury in a murder trial. It was originally written for television, and first broadcast in 1954. Rose then adapted his script into a play. A second adaptation was filmed in 1957, starring Henry Fonda, and a third version was filmed in 1997 with Jack Lemmon playing Henry Fonda's role. The 1957 film version, which was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Sidney Lumet) and Best Adapted Screenplay, is the most well-known version of the story.
Plot
A young man from a slum has been charged with the fatal stabbing of his father. The movie opens with the judge reminding the jurors that, since this is a capital crime, their verdict must be unanimous. The jurors retire to begin their deliberations in a hot, airless room, and at first it appears as though the evidence of the defendant's guilt is incontestable. A preliminary vote by secret ballot gives a result of eleven "guilty" votes and one "not guilty".
Juror no. 8 (the men are not named), who voted not guilty, explains that he has no more reason than the other men to believe that the defendant is innocent. However, because of the defendant's age and the fact that his life depends on their decision, Juror 8 believes that they ought to discuss the facts of the case more thoroughly before deciding.
Initially, eleven jurors are ready to convict the defendant but one man wants to talk about it first. The movie follows the process whereby the (initially) lone man persuades his fellow jurors to vote his way by wearing them down through seemingly endless, well-schooled argument: a classic tactic of Communists and Trotskyists.
Interestingly enough, the audience never finds out whether the defendant is guilty; this further stresses "innocence until proven guilty".[1]
The movie illustrates three particulars of justice unique to American democracy:
- the defendant does not have to demonstrate his innocence. He is innocent until proved guilty.
- the verdict must be unanimous, since unanimity guards against a miscarriage of justice.
- the defendant can be convicted only in the absence of reasonable doubt on the part of the jury. [1]
External links
- Extensive quotes from the movie showing the tactic by which Juror #8 (Henry Fonda) establishes doubt in the minds of the other jury members.
