12 Angry Men
Release date 13th April 1957
Country : USA
Running time : 96 mins
Genre : Drama
Starring Henry Fonda, Lee J Cobb
 Screenplay by Reginald Rose
Directed by Sidney Lumet



  Twelve jurors have to decide the fate of a man facing the death penalty. One of their number is not convinced of his guilt and slowly the flimsy nature of the case against the boy is revealed so the jurors go from calling for a guilty verdict to not guilty.

Proof that you don't need flashy cinematography to make an absorbing film. Most of this is confined to four walls of a jury room, part of its greatness is this claustrophobic aspect : the script and acting though are what keeps you hooked throughout.

 

The film began as a teleplay in 1954.

Generates more suspense than most thrillers. The New Yorker