Editing 12 Angry Men (1957 film)

{{short description|1957 American film by Sidney Lumet}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = 12 Angry Men
| image          = 12 Angry Men (1957 film poster).jpg
| alt            = Poster depicting twelve jurors and an enlarged switchknife
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Sidney Lumet]]
| screenplay     = [[Reginald Rose]]
| based_on       = {{based on|''[[Twelve Angry Men]]''<br>(1954 teleplay on ''[[Studio One (American TV series)|Studio One]]'')|Reginald Rose}}
| producer       = {{plainlist|
* [[Henry Fonda]]
* Reginald Rose
}}
| starring       = {{plainlist|
* Henry Fonda
* [[Lee J. Cobb]]
* [[Ed Begley]]
* [[E. G. Marshall]]
* [[Jack Warden]]
<!--Per poster-->
}}
| cinematography = [[Boris Kaufman]]
| editing        = [[Carl Lerner]]
| music          = [[Kenyon Hopkins]]
| studio         = Orion-Nova Productions
| distributor    = [[United Artists]]
| released       = {{film date|1957|4|10|[[Fox Wilshire Theater]]|ref1=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/53690#3 |title=12 Angry Men – Details |website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]] |access-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-date=July 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709010229/http://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/53690#3 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 9, 1957 |title=New Acting Trio Gains Prominence |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |page=23}}</ref>}}
| runtime        = 96&nbsp;minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $337,000<ref name=Variety>{{cite news |last=Hollinger |first=Hy |author-link=Hy Hollinger |title=Telecast and Theatre Film, Looks As If '12 Angry Men' May Reap Most Dough As Legit Play |url=http://www.archive.org/stream/variety213-1958-12#page/n263/mode/1up |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=December 24, 1958 |page=5 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref>[[Louella Parsons|Parsons, Louella]], "Anita Ekberg Chosen for 'Mimi' Role", ''The Washington Post and Times-Herald'', Washington, D.C., April 8, 1957: A18.</ref>
| gross          = $2 million (rentals)<ref>"Top Grosses of 1957", ''Variety'', January 8, 1958: 30</ref> 
}}

'''''12 Angry Men''''' is a 1957 American [[legal drama]] film directed by [[Sidney Lumet]] in his feature directorial debut, adapted by [[Reginald Rose]] from his [[Twelve Angry Men (Westinghouse Studio One)|1954 teleplay]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hollinger |first=Hy |title=Film reviews: 12 Angry Men |url=http://www.archive.org/stream/variety205-1957-02#page/n237/mode/1up |work=[[Variety Film Reviews|Variety]] |date=February 27, 1957 |page=6 |access-date=June 7, 2019 |via=archive.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[Harrison's Reports and Film Reviews|Harrison's Reports]] |title=12 Angry Men |date=March 2, 1957 |page=35 |url=http://www.archive.org/stream/harrisonsreports39harr#page/n42/mode/1up |access-date=June 7, 2019 |via=archive.org}}</ref> A critique of the [[Juries in the United States|American jury system]] during the [[McCarthyism|McCarthy era]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rapf |first=Joanna E. |title=12 Angry Men |url=https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-film-preservation-board/documents/12_angry_men.pdf |access-date=November 1, 2024 |website=Library of Congress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sterngold |first=James |date=August 17, 1997 |title=A Tense Jury Room Revisited, And Racism Is Given a Twist |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/17/arts/a-tense-jury-room-revisited-and-racism-is-given-a-twist.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811044735/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/17/arts/a-tense-jury-room-revisited-and-racism-is-given-a-twist.html |archive-date=August 11, 2023 |access-date=November 1, 2024 |website=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> the film tells the story of a [[jury]] of twelve men as they deliberate the [[conviction]] or [[acquittal]] of a teenager charged with murder on the basis of [[reasonable doubt]]; disagreement and conflict among the jurors forces them to question their morals and values. It stars an [[ensemble cast]], featuring [[Henry Fonda]] (who also produced the film with Rose), [[Lee J. Cobb]], [[Ed Begley]], [[E. G. Marshall]], and [[Jack Warden]].

An [[independent film|independent]] production<ref name="cineflixindies">[https://www.ign.com/articles/best-independent-indie-movies-cinefix-list The Top 10 Indie Movies of All Time | A Cinefix Movie List - IGN]</ref><ref>[https://trailersfromhell.com/12-angry-men-4k/ 12 Angry Men 4K - Trailers From Hell]</ref> distributed by [[United Artists]], ''12 Angry Men'' received acclaim from critics, despite a lukewarm box-office performance. At the [[30th Academy Awards]], it was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] and [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]. It is regarded by many as [[List of films considered the best|one of the greatest films ever made]].

In 2007, it was selected for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".<ref name="12AngryMen1957film-r1" /> Additionally, it was selected as the second-best courtroom drama ever (after 1962's ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird (film)|To Kill a Mockingbird]]'') by the [[American Film Institute]] for their [[AFI's 10 Top 10|AFI's 10 Top 10 list]].<ref name="AFI's 10 Top 10 Courtroom Drama">{{cite news |title=AFI's 10 Top 10 Courtroom Drama |url=https://www.afi.com/afis-10-top-10/ |publisher=[[American Film Institute]] |date=June 17, 2008 |access-date=November 29, 2014 |archive-date=June 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619174154/http://www.afi.com/10top10/animation.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Plot==
<!--This plot is 694 words long. According to WP:FILMPLOT, plots should not exceed 700 words. Please add nothing without first checking the wordcount. Thanks!-->
On a hot summer day in the [[New York County Courthouse]], the trial phase has just concluded for an impoverished 18-year-old boy accused of killing his abusive father. The judge [[Jury instructions|instructs the jury]] that if there is [[reasonable doubt]], the jurors must return a verdict of "not guilty." If the defendant is found guilty, he will receive a mandatory death sentence via the [[electric chair]]. The verdict must be unanimous.

At first, the case seems clear. A neighbor testified to witnessing the defendant stab his father, from her window, through the windows of a passing [[elevated train]]. Another neighbor testified that he heard the defendant threaten to kill his father, and the father's body hitting the floor; then, as he ran to his door, he saw the defendant running down the stairs. The boy had recently purchased a [[switchblade]] of the same type that was found, wiped of fingerprints, at the murder scene, but claimed he lost it.

In a preliminary vote, all jurors vote "guilty" except Juror 8, who believes there should be some discussion before the verdict. He says he cannot vote "guilty" because reasonable doubt exists. When his first few arguments (including producing a recently purchased knife nearly identical to the murder weapon that was thought to be unique) seemingly fail to convince any of the other jurors, Juror 8 suggests a secret ballot, from which he will abstain; if all the other jurors still vote guilty, he will acquiesce. The ballot reveals one "not guilty" vote. Juror 9 reveals that he changed his vote; he respects Juror 8's motives, and agrees there should be more discussion.

Juror 8 argues that the train noise would have obscured everything the second witness claimed to have overheard. Jurors 5 and 11 change their votes. Jurors 5, 6 and 8 further question the second witness's story, and question whether the death threat was figurative speech. After looking at a diagram of the witness's apartment and conducting an experiment, the jurors determine that it is impossible for the disabled witness to have made it to the door in time. Juror 3, infuriated, argues with and tries to attack Juror 8, yelling a death threat; jurors 5, 6, and 7 physically restrain Juror 3. Jurors 2 and 6 change their votes; the jury is now evenly split.

Juror 4 doubts the defendant's alibi, as the boy did not recall specific details. Juror 8 tests Juror 4's own memory to make a point. Jurors 2 and 5 point out the father's stab wound was angled downwards, although the boy was shorter than his father. Juror 7 changes his vote out of impatience rather than conviction, angering Juror 11. After another vote, jurors 1 and 12 also change sides, leaving only three "guilty" votes.

Juror 10 goes on a bigoted rant, causing Juror 4 to forbid him to speak for the remainder of the deliberation. When Juror 4 is pressed as to why he still maintains a guilty vote, he declares that the woman who saw the killing from across the street stands as solid evidence. Juror 12 reverts to a guilty vote.

After watching Juror 4 remove his glasses and rub the impressions they made on his nose, Juror 9 realizes that the first witness was constantly rubbing similar impressions on her own nose, indicating that she also was a habitual glasses-wearer, even though she chose not to wear glasses in court. Juror 8 remarks that the witness, who was trying to sleep when she saw the killing, would not have had glasses on or the time to put them on, making her story questionable. Jurors 4, 10 and 12 all change their votes, leaving Juror 3 as the sole dissenter.

After failing to convince the others of his argument, Juror 3 finally reveals that his strained relationship with his own son is the reason why he voted guilty. He breaks down in tears and changes his vote to "not guilty". As the others leave, Juror 8 graciously helps Juror 3 put on his coat. The defendant is acquitted off-screen. As the jurors leave the courthouse, Jurors 8 and 9 reveal their surnames to each other before parting ways.

==Cast==
[[File:12 Angry Men (1957) - Trailer.webm|thumb|245px|thumbtime=20|The film's trailer]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Juror
! Actor
! Description
|-
| 1
| [[Martin Balsam]]
|The foreman; a calm and methodical assistant high school [[American football|football]] coach.
|-
|2
|[[John Fiedler]]
|A meek and unpretentious bank teller who is easily flustered, but eventually stands up for himself.
|-
|3
|[[Lee J. Cobb]]
|A hot-tempered owner of a messenger service who is estranged from his son; the most passionate advocate of a "guilty" verdict.
|-
|4
|[[E. G. Marshall]]
|An unflappable, conscientious, and analytical stockbroker who is concerned only with facts, not opinions.
|-
|5
|[[Jack Klugman]]
|A [[Baltimore Orioles]] fan who grew up in a violent slum, and is sensitive to bigotry towards "slum kids".
|-
|6
|[[Edward Binns]]
|A tough but principled and courteous house painter who stands up to others, especially over the elderly being verbally abused.
|-
|7
|[[Jack Warden]]
|An impatient and wisecracking salesman who is more concerned about the [[New York Yankees|Yankees]] game he is missing than the case.
|-
|8
|[[Henry Fonda]]
|A humane, justice-seeking architect and father of three; initially, the only one to question the evidence and vote "not guilty". The closing scene reveals his surname is 'Davis'.
|-
|9
|[[Joseph Sweeney (actor)|Joseph Sweeney]]
|A thoughtful and intelligent elderly man who is highly observant of the witnesses' behaviors and their possible motivations. The closing scene reveals his surname is 'McCardle'.
|-
|10
|[[Ed Begley]]
|A pushy, loud-mouthed and xenophobic garage owner.
|-
|11
|[[George Voskovec]]
|A polite European watchmaker and naturalized American citizen who demonstrates strong respect for democratic values such as [[due process]].
|-
|12
|[[Robert Webber]]
|An indecisive and easily distracted advertising executive.
|}

Other, uncredited actors in the film include [[Rudy Bond]] as the judge, Tom Gorman as the court stenographer, James Kelly as the bailiff, [[Billy Nelson (actor)|Billy Nelson]] as the clerk, and John Savoca as the defendant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/53690|title=12 ANGRY MEN (1957)|website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]}}</ref>

==Themes==
Professor of Law Emeritus at [[UCLA School of Law]] Michael Asimow referred to the film as a "tribute to a common man holding out against [[lynch mob]] mentality".<ref name="Asimow 2007">{{cite journal |last=Asimow |first=Michael |title=12 Angry Men: A Revisionist View |url=https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cklawreview/vol82/iss2/12/ |journal=[[Chicago-Kent College of Law|Chicago-Kent College of Law Review]] |volume=82 |issue=2 |pages=711–716 |date=April 2007 |access-date=April 14, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920081811/https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cklawreview/vol82/iss2/12/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Gavin Smith of ''[[Film Comment]]'' called the film "a definitive rebuttal to the lynch mob hysteria of the [[McCarthy era]]".<ref>{{cite book |last=Rapf |first=Joanna E. |title=Sidney Lumet: Interviews |publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]] |date=2005 |page=131 |isbn=978-1578067244}}</ref>

Business academic Phil Rosenzweig called the jury in ''12 Angry Men'' being made up entirely of white men "especially important", writing: "Many of the twelve would have looked around the room, and, seeing other white men, assumed that they had much in common and should be able to reach a verdict without difficulty. As they deliberate, however, fault lines begin to appear—by age, by education, by national origin, by socioeconomic level, by values, and by temperament."{{sfn|Rosenzweig|2021|pp=223–224}}

==Production==
===Development===
[[Reginald Rose]]'s [[Twelve Angry Men |screenplay for ''12 Angry Men'']], titled ''Twelve Angry Men'', was initially produced for television and was inspired by a jury summons.{{sfn|Spiegel|2019|p=184}} Although it is unclear what trial he was summoned to,{{efn|According to scholar Phil Rosenzweig, although the prosecution of William Viragh was the most likely trial Rose served on according to his account, a handwritten list of jurors that served on that trial does not include Rose.{{sfn|Rosenzweig|2021|pp=60–61}}}} according to Rose, in early 1954, he served as a juror on a manslaughter case in the [[New York Court of General Sessions]]. Though he and the other eleven jurors initially attended begrudgingly, Rose was deeply affected by the impassioned and deliberate atmosphere of the trial and the finality of his and the jury's verdict. Rose began writing ''Twelve Angry Men'' upon realizing that very few people knew what occurred during jury deliberations and that they could serve as an exciting setting for a drama.{{sfn|Rose|1956|pp=155–156}}{{sfn|Rosenzweig|2021|pp=57–58}} While writing the screenplay, Rose cut planned passages of dialogue to account for a fifty-minute time slot on television, leading to the characters to be less nuanced.{{sfn|Rose|1956|pp=157}} A live production of "[[Twelve Angry Men (Westinghouse Studio One)|Twelve Angry Men]]", directed by [[Franklin Schaffner]] and starring [[Robert Cummings]] as Juror 8 and [[Franchot Tone]] as Juror 3, was broadcast on the [[CBS]] program ''[[Studio One (CBS series)|Westinghouse Studio One]]'' in September 20, 1954 to positive reviews.{{sfn|Munyan|2000|p=19, 145–146}}{{sfn|Rosenzweig|2021|p=74, 76–77, 80}} It received four nominations for the [[7th Primetime Emmy Awards]], winning three on March 7, 1955: "Best Actor in a Single Performance", "Best Direction", and "Best Written Dramatic Material".{{sfn|Munyan|2000|p=146}}{{sfn|Rosenzweig|2021|pp=87}}

In February 1955, actor [[Henry Fonda]] formed Orion Productions under a three-year deal with distributor [[United Artists]].{{sfn|Rosenzweig|2021|p=97}} He reportedly first saw ''Westinghouse Studio One''{{'s}} "Twelve Angry Men" as a [[kinescope]] in a Hollywood projection room following its success in the 7th Primetime Emmy Awards. He was impressed with the story and wanted to star as Juror 8.{{sfn|Rosenzweig|2021|pp=98–99}}{{sfn|Spiegel|2019|p=184}}{{sfn|Fonda|1981|p=248}} In mid-1956, Fonda partnered with Rose to produce a film adaptation of ''12 Angry Men''.{{sfn|McKinney|2012|p=331}}{{sfn|Fonda|1981|p=248}} As part of the partnership, Rose formed Nova Productions and combined it with Fonda's Orion Productions to form Orion-Nova Productions,{{sfn|Rosenzweig|2021|pp=99–100}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Pryor |first=Thomas M. |date=July 18, 1955 |title=Fonda and Rose to Film TV Play; Actor and Author of 'Twelve Angry Men' Team for First of Star's Productions |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=16 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1955/07/18/archives/fonda-and-rose-to-film-tv-play-actor-and-author-of-twelve-angry-men.html |access-date=May 13, 2024}}</ref> and production of the film was budgeted at $340,000.{{sfn|Spiegel|2019|p=185}} To develop the screenplay and characters, Rose restored material he had cut for the broadcast and added dialogue that revealed character's backgrounds and motivations.{{sfn|Rosenzweig|2021|p=105}}{{sfn|Spiegel|2019|p=184}}

Fonda and Rose recruited [[Sidney Lumet]] to direct ''12 Angry Men'', his film directorial debut. Lumet had previously directed numerous episodes, including adaptations of Rose's plays, for TV series such as ''[[Danger (TV series)|Danger]]'' and ''[[You Are There (TV series)|You Are There]]''.{{sfn|Rosenzweig|2021|p=114}} Fonda said he hired Lumet because of his proficient directing skills and because he was "wonderful with actors".{{sfn|Spiegel|2019|p=185}} Lumet recruited [[Boris Kaufman]] as the cinematographer. Kaufman had recently won an [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography]] for ''[[On the Waterfront]]'' (1954),{{sfn|Spiegel|2019|p=186}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/36311/On-the-Waterfront/awards |title=On the Waterfront (1954) |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429083620/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/36311/On-the-Waterfront/awards |archive-date=April 29, 2009 |access-date=July 2, 2024}}</ref> and Lumet believed Kaufman's "realist style" suited the film.{{sfn|Rosenzweig|2021|p=115}}

===Filming===
The film was shot in New York and completed after a short but rigorous rehearsal schedule, in less than three weeks, on a budget of $337,000 ({{inflation|US|337000|1957|r=-3|fmt=eq}}). Rose and Fonda took salary deferrals.<ref name=Variety /> [[Faith Hubley]], later to be known for her Oscar-winning animated efforts with spouse [[John Hubley|John]], was script supervisor for this film.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-dec-08-me-12827-story.html Faith Hubley, 77; Groundbreaking Film Animator - Los Angeles Times]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Cf3bsozs4-EC Historical Dictionary of Animation and Cartoons – Google Books (p.103)]</ref>

At the beginning of the film, the cameras are positioned above eye level and mounted with [[wide-angle lens]]es, to give the appearance of greater depth between subjects, but as the film progresses the [[focal length]] of the lenses is gradually increased. By the end of the film, nearly everyone is shown in closeup, using [[telephoto lens]]es from a lower angle, which decreases or "shortens" [[depth of field]]. Lumet stated that his intention in using these techniques with cinematographer [[Boris Kaufman]] was to create a nearly palpable [[claustrophobia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.playhousesquare.org/bbuzz/12angrymen/d-evolution.html |title=Evolution of Twelve Angry Men |website=Playhouse Square |archive-date=January 6, 2009 |access-date=September 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106012115/http://www.playhousesquare.org/bbuzz/12angrymen/d-evolution.html}}</ref>

==Reception==
The film was a box office disappointment in the US<ref name="filmsite">[http://www.filmsite.org/twelve.html ''12 Angry Men'' Filmsite Movie Review.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501161330/http://www.filmsite.org/twelve.html|date=May 1, 2012}} [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] [[Filmsite.org|FilmSite]]. Retrieved April 14, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.allmovie.com/movie/12-angry-men-v51289 ''12 Angry Men'' at AllMovie.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320215824/http://www.allmovie.com/movie/12-angry-men-v51289|date=March 20, 2012}} [[Rovi Corporation|Rovi]]. Retrieved April 14, 2012.</ref> but did better internationally.<ref name="Variety" /> The advent of color and widescreen productions may have contributed to its disappointing box office performance.<ref name="filmsite" /> It was not until its first airing on television that the film finally found its audience.<ref>''Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Making 12 Angry Men'' featurette on Collector's Edition DVD</ref>

=== Favorable response ===
On its first release, ''12 Angry Men'' received critical acclaim. [[A. H. Weiler]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "It makes for taut, absorbing, and compelling drama that reaches far beyond the close confines of its jury room setting." His observation of the twelve men was that "their dramas are powerful and provocative enough to keep a viewer spellbound."<ref>{{cite news |last=Weiler |first=A.H. |title=''Twelve Angry Men (1957)'' Movie Review |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9f02e3de1730e23bbc4d52dfb266838c649ede |work=The New York Times |date=April 15, 1957 |access-date=August 28, 2011 |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430044536/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F02E3DE1730E23BBC4D52DFB266838C649EDE |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called it an "absorbing drama" with acting that was "perhaps the best seen recently in any single film",<ref>{{cite magazine |date=February 27, 1957 |title=12 Angry Men |magazine=Variety |page=6}}</ref> Philip K. Scheuer of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' declared it a "tour de force in movie making",<ref>{{cite news |last=Scheuer |first=Philip K. |title=Audience Sweats It Out—Literally—With Jury |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 11, 1957 |at=Part II, p. 13}}</ref> ''[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]]'' deemed it "a compelling and outstandingly well-handled drama",<ref>{{cite magazine |date=June 1957 |title=Twelve Angry Men |magazine=[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]] |volume=24 |issue=281 |page=68}}</ref> and [[John McCarten]] of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' called it "a fairly substantial addition to the celluloid landscape".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=McCarten |first1=John |date=April 27, 1957 |title=The Current Cinema |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |page=66}}</ref>

=== Critical response ===
''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' noted: "Perhaps the motivations of each juror are introduced too quickly and are repeated too often before each changes his vote. However, the film leaves a tremendous impact."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Variety |first=Staff |date=1957-01-01 |title=Film Review: '12 Angry Men' |url=https://variety.com/1956/film/reviews/12-angry-men-review-1200418382/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2012, Mike D'Angelo of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' questioned the verdict of the jury in the film, writing: "What ensures The Kid's guilt for practical purposes, [...] is the sheer improbability that ''all'' the evidence is erroneous. You'd have to be the jurisprudential inverse of a national lottery winner to face so many apparently damning coincidences and misidentifications. Or you'd have to be framed, which is what [[Johnnie Cochran]] was ultimately [[O. J. Simpson murder case|forced to argue]]—not just because of the [[DNA evidence]], but because there's no other plausible explanation for why every single detail points to [[O. J. Simpson]]'s guilt. But there's no reason offered in ''12 Angry Men'' for why, say, the police would be planting switchblades."<ref>{{cite web |last=D'Angelo |first=Mike |date=August 2, 2012 |title=Did 12 Angry Men get it wrong? |url=https://www.avclub.com/did-12-angry-men-get-it-wrong-1798232604 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424060009/https://www.avclub.com/did-12-angry-men-get-it-wrong-1798232604 |archive-date=April 24, 2022 |access-date=April 24, 2022 |website=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
The film is viewed as a classic, highly regarded from both a critical and popular viewpoint: [[Roger Ebert]] listed it as one of his "Great Movies".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020929/REVIEWS08/209290301/1023 |title=''12 Angry Men'' Movie Reviews, Pictures |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=August 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100913153843/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20020929%2FREVIEWS08%2F209290301%2F1023 |archive-date=September 13, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[American Film Institute]] named Juror 8, played by [[Henry Fonda]], 28th [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains|in a list of the 50 greatest movie heroes of the 20th century]]. [[American Film Institute|AFI]] also named ''12 Angry Men'' the 42nd-[[AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers|most inspiring film]], the 88th-[[AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills|most heart-pounding film]] and the 87th-best film of the past [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)|hundred years]]. In 2011, the film was one of the top 20 most screened films in secondary schools in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-16160605 |title=Top movies for schools revealed |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=December 13, 2011 |access-date=January 4, 2012 |archive-date=January 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109103732/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-16160605 |url-status=live}}</ref> The February 2020 issue of ''[[New York Magazine]]'' lists ''12 Angry Men'' as among "The Best Movies That Lost Best Picture at the Oscars."<ref>{{cite news|title=The Best Movies That Lost Best Picture at the Oscars|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-oscar-best-picture-losers.html|magazine=[[New York Magazine]]|access-date=March 17, 2025}}</ref> {{as of|2023|March}}, the film holds a [[List of films with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes|100% approval rating]] on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on 61 reviews, with a [[weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]] of 9.10/10. The site's consensus reads: "Sidney Lumet's feature debut is a superbly written, dramatically effective courtroom thriller that rightfully stands as a modern classic".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1000013-12_angry_men/ |title=''12 Angry Men'' Movie Reviews, Pictures |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=September 20, 2021 |archive-date=February 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228173351/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1000013-12_angry_men/ |url-status=live}}</ref> {{Metacritic film prose|97|18|access-date=4 March 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=12 Angry Men Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/12-angry-men/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=www.metacritic.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
The film was selected as the second-best courtroom drama ever by the American Film Institute during their AFI's 10 Top 10 list, just after ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird (film)|To Kill a Mockingbird]]'',<ref name="AFI's 10 Top 10 Courtroom Drama" /> and is the highest rated courtroom drama on [[Rotten Tomatoes]]' Top 100 Movies of All Time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/ |title=Top 100 Movies of All Time |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=November 29, 2014 |archive-date=July 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719040542/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! scope="col"| Award ceremony
! scope="col"| Date of ceremony
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Recipient(s)
! scope="col"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref(s)|References}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3"| [[Academy Awards]]
| rowspan="3"| [[30th Academy Awards|{{Date table sorting|March 26, 1958}}]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
| [[Henry Fonda]] and [[Reginald Rose]]
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1958|title=The 30th Academy Awards &#124; 1958|website=Oscars.org|date=October 4, 2014 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]|access-date=September 16, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912030408/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1958|archive-date=September 12, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| [[Sidney Lumet]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| [[Reginald Rose]]
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[British Academy Film Awards]]
| rowspan="2"| [[11th British Academy Film Awards|{{Date table sorting|March 6, 1958}}]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''12 Angry Men''
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://awards.bafta.org/award/1958/film|title=Film Awards in 1958 &#124; BAFTA Awards|website=bafta.org|publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]]|access-date=September 16, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704190806/https://awards.bafta.org/award/1958/film|archive-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Foreign Actor]]
| [[Henry Fonda]]
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[Berlin International Film Festival]]
| [[7th Berlin International Film Festival|{{Date table sorting|July 2, 1957}}]]
| [[Golden Bear]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Sidney Lumet]]
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.berlinale.de/en/archive/jahresarchive/1957/03_preistraeger_1957/03_preistraeger_1957.html|title=Prize & Honours 1957|website=berlinale.de|publisher=[[Berlin International Film Festival]]|access-date=September 16, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820170220/https://www.berlinale.de/en/archive/jahresarchive/1957/03_preistraeger_1957/03_preistraeger_1957.html|archive-date=August 20, 2021}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Blue Ribbon Awards]]
| {{Date table sorting|February 5, 1960}}
| [[Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Foreign Film|Best Foreign Film]]
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinemahochi.yomiuri.co.jp/b_award/1959/|title=中村錦之助を長門裕之が逆転 史上最年少で主演賞に|trans-title=Hiroyuki Nagato beats Kinnosuke Nakamura, he is the youngest person in history to win the Best Leading Actor Award|website=Cinema Hochi|language=Japanese|access-date=September 16, 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219003525/http://cinemahochi.yomiuri.co.jp/b_award/1959/|archive-date=February 19, 2012}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Edgar Award]]s
| {{Date table sorting|1958}}
| Best Motion Picture
| [[Reginald Rose]]
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://theedgars.com/awards/category-list-best-motion-picture/|title=Best Motion Picture Award Winners|website=theedgars.com|publisher=[[Mystery Writers of America]]|access-date=September 16, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421032718/http://theedgars.com/awards/category-list-best-motion-picture/|archive-date=April 21, 2021}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''Étoiles de cristal''
| {{Date table sorting|April 1958}}
| Prix International
| rowspan="2"| ''12 Angry Men''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=April 16, 1958|title=French Film Academy Tabs 'Angry Men' Best|page=8|url=https://archive.org/details/variety210-1958-04/page/n205/mode/1up?view=theater|access-date=May 8, 2023|via=[[Archive.org]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="4"| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| rowspan="4"| [[15th Golden Globe Awards|{{Date table sorting|February 22, 1958}}]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama|Best Motion Picture – Drama]]
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/12-angry-men-1957|title=''12 Angry Men''|website=goldenglobes.com|publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]]|access-date=September 16, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411060303/https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/12-angry-men-1957|archive-date=April 11, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| [[Sidney Lumet]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama|Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama]]
| [[Henry Fonda]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture]]
| [[Lee J. Cobb]]
| {{nom}}
|-
|-
! scope="row"| [[National Board of Review]]
| [[National Board of Review Awards 1957|{{Date table sorting|December 1957}}]]
| [[National Board of Review: Top Ten Films|Top Ten Films]]
| ''12 Angry Men''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbrmp.org/awards/past.cfm?year=1957|title=NBR Awards for 1957|website=nbrmp.org|publisher=[[National Board of Review]]|access-date=September 16, 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211183420/http://www.nbrmp.org/awards/past.cfm?year=1957|archive-date=December 11, 2007}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Writers Guild of America Awards]]
| [[10th Writers Guild of America Awards|{{Date table sorting|1958}}]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written Drama|Best Written Drama]]
| [[Reginald Rose]]
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1551|title=WGA Awards Winners 1949–95|website=wga.org|publisher=[[Writers Guild of America]]|access-date=September 16, 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205095022/http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1551|archive-date=December 5, 2012}}</ref>
|}

[[American Film Institute]] lists:
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills]] – No. 88
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains]]: Juror No. 8 – No. 28 Hero
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers]] – No. 42
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)]] – No. 87
* [[AFI's 10 Top 10]] – No. 2 Courtroom Drama

==Legal analyses==
Speaking at a screening of the film during the 2010 [[Fordham University School of Law]] Film Festival, [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court Justice]] [[Sonia Sotomayor]] stated that seeing ''12 Angry Men'' while she was in college influenced her decision to pursue a career in law. She was particularly inspired by immigrant Juror 11's monologue on his reverence for the American justice system. She also told the audience of law students that, as a lower-court judge, she would sometimes instruct juries to not follow the film's example, because most of the jurors' conclusions are based on speculation, not fact.<ref>{{citation |last=Semple |first=Kirk |title=The Movie That Made a Supreme Court Justice |date=October 18, 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/nyregion/18sonia.html |url-status=live |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=October 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018044919/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/nyregion/18sonia.html |archive-date=October 18, 2010}}</ref> Sotomayor noted that events such as Juror 8 entering a similar knife into the proceeding; performing outside research into the case matter in the first place; and ultimately the jury as a whole making broad, wide-ranging assumptions far beyond the scope of reasonable doubt (such as the inferences regarding the woman wearing glasses) would not be allowed in a real-life jury situation, and in fact would have yielded a [[Mistrial (law)|mistrial]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nycourts.gov/cji/1-General/CJI2d.Jury_Admonitions.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528102537/http://www.nycourts.gov/cji/1-General/CJI2d.Jury_Admonitions.pdf |archive-date=2010-05-28 |url-status=live |title=Jury Admonitions In Preliminary Instructions (Revised May 5, 2009)1 |access-date=June 23, 2011}}</ref> (assuming that applicable law permitted the content of jury deliberations to be revealed).

In 2007, legal scholar Michael Asimow argued that the jury in ''12 Angry Men'' reached an incorrect verdict, writing that the amount of [[circumstantial evidence]] against the defendant should have been enough to convict him, even if the testimony of the two eyewitnesses was disregarded.<ref name="Asimow 2007" />

In 2007, drawing on empirical research, legal scholar [[Valerie Hans]] noted that while ''12 Angry Men''<nowiki/>'s depiction of a lone dissenter converting the majority is rare in reality, the film accurately portrays how quality deliberation, diverse perspectives, and the unanimity requirement can enable thoughtful dissenters to meaningfully influence jury outcomes, particularly when arguing for acquittal.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hans |first=Valerie |date=2007-04-01 |title=Deliberation and Dissent: 12 Angry Men Versus the Empirical Reality of Juries |url=https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cklawreview/vol82/iss2/4/ |journal=Chicago-Kent Law Review |volume=82 |issue=2 |pages=579 |issn=0009-3599}}</ref>

==Adaptations and parodies==
There have been a number of adaptations of ''12 Angry Men'' owing to its popularity and legacy.

A 1963 German TV production, ''Die zwölf Geschworenen'', was directed by Günter Gräwert, and a 1973 Spanish production, '' Doce hombres sin piedad'', was made for TV 22 years before Spain allowed jury trials, while a 1991 homage by [[Kōki Mitani]], {{lang|ja|Juninin no Yasashii Nihonjin}} ("12 gentle Japanese"), posits a Japan with a jury system and features a group of Japanese people grappling with their responsibility in the face of Japanese cultural norms.

A 1970 episode of ''[[The Odd Couple (1970 TV series)|The Odd Couple]]'' television series (also co-starring Jack Klugman) entitled "The Jury Story" is reminiscent of ''12 Angry Men'', as it tells in a flashback the circumstances behind the meeting of roommates Oscar Madison and Felix Unger. Klugman (Madison) plays a juror on a panel during a supposedly open-and-shut case. Co-star [[Tony Randall]] (Unger) portrays the lone holdout who votes not guilty, eventually convincing the other eleven jurors.

A 1978 episode of ''[[Happy Days]]'' entitled "Fonzie for the Defense" contains a situation similar to ''12 Angry Men'' when [[Howard Cunningham (Happy Days)|Howard Cunningham]] and [[Fonzie]] find themselves the only members of the jury who are not ready to convict the defendant just because he rides a motorcycle.

A 1986 episode of ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'' entitled "[[List of Murder, She Wrote episodes#Season 2 (1985–86)|Trial by Error]]" pays tribute to ''12 Angry Men''. The major twists are originally 10 jurors vote for "not guilty" due to self defense, Jessica votes "unsure" and another juror votes "guilty". Jessica and other jurors recall the evidence, as more and more jurors switch from "not guilty due to self defense" and come to a realization as to what actually occurred the night of the murder.

The 1986 [[Hindi]] film {{lang|hi-Latn|[[Ek Ruka Hua Faisla]]}} ("a pending decision") and 2012 [[Kannada]] film {{lang|kn|[[Dashamukha]]}} ("ten faces") are Indian remakes of the film, with almost identical storylines. The former has been adapted as another Indian [[Bengali language|Bengali]] film ''[[Shotyi Bole Shotyi Kichhu Nei]]'' which was released in January 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-21 |title=The poster of Shotyi Bole Shotyi Kichhu Nei is out |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/the-poster-of-shotyi-bole-shotyi-kichhu-nei-is-out/articleshow/116528403.cms |access-date=2024-12-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

Season 1, episode 17a of the Nickelodeon cartoon ''[[Hey Arnold!]]'' (1996) is a parody of ''12 Angry Men''. In the episode, titled "False Alarm", Eugene is suspected and accused of pulling the fire alarm, and a student jury is assembled to vote on the verdict, but Arnold is the only one who believes Eugene is innocent. He has to convince the rest of his classmates that Eugene is not guilty of the crime. In this adaptation, it is proven that Eugene was not the criminal but Curly a member of the student "jury" is the actual perpetrator due to the latter's reaction to the former's use of the Winkyland pencil (chewing on the eraser and intense sharpening).

In 1997, a television remake of the film [[12 Angry Men (1997 film)|under the same title]] was directed by [[William Friedkin]] and produced by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]. In the newer version, the judge is a woman, four of the jurors are black, and the ninth juror is not the only senior citizen, but the overall plot remains intact. Modernizations include not smoking in the jury room, changes in references to pop culture and sports figures and income, references to execution by lethal injection as opposed to the electric chair, more race-related dialogue, and casual profanity.

The detective drama television show ''[[Veronica Mars]]'', which like the film includes the theme of class issues, featured a 2005 episode, "[[One Angry Veronica]]", in which the title character is selected for jury duty. The episode flips the film's format and depicts one holdout convincing the jury to convict the privileged defendants of assault against a less well-off victim, despite their lawyers initially convincing 11 jury members of a not guilty verdict.

In a 2022 episode of ''[[The Equalizer (2021 TV series)|The Equalizer]]'' called "[[List of The Equalizer (2021 TV series) episodes#ep26|Vox Populi]]," Aunt Vi is the only juror who doesn't automatically assume that the black male defendant is obviously guilty of the rape and murder of a white woman. As McCall works the case outside of the courtroom, Vi challenges the evidence and assumptions of the prosecution's narrative with the other jurors.

Russian director [[Nikita Mikhalkov]] also made a 2007 [[Academy Award for Best International Film|Academy Award]]-nominated adaptation, ''[[12 (2007 film)|12]]'', featuring a Chechen teen on trial in Moscow.

A 2015 Chinese adaptation, ''[[12 Citizens]]'', follows the plot of the original 1957 American film, while including characters reflecting contemporary Beijing society, including a cab driver, guard, businessman, policeman, a retiree persecuted in a 1950s political movement, and others.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/12-citizens-shanghai-review-804416|title='12 Citizens' Shanghai Review|first1=Deborah|last1=Young|magazine=Hollywood Reporter|date=June 23, 2015|access-date=August 23, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924211032/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/12-citizens-shanghai-review-804416|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[Juror 8]]'' is a 2019 South Korean adaptation, directed by Hong Seung-wan.

The film has also been subject to parody. In 2015, the [[Comedy Central]] TV series ''[[Inside Amy Schumer]]'' aired a half-hour parody of the film titled "12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer".<ref>{{cite news |last=Lyons |first=Margaret |title=Behold Inside Amy Schumer's Dead-On ''12 Angry Men'' |url=http://www.vulture.com/2015/05/amy-schumer-12-angry-men-pictures.html |url-status=live |work=[[New York (magazine)#Digital|Vulture]] |access-date=May 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507142116/http://www.vulture.com/2015/05/amy-schumer-12-angry-men-pictures.html |archive-date=May 7, 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Watch Krapopolis: Season 1, Episode 5, "12 Angry Goat Herders" Online – Fox Nation |url=https://nation.foxnews.com/watch/d30067a947b759ada8964cbd18fd9194 |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=Watch Krapopolis: 12 Angry Goat Herders Online – Fox Nation}}</ref>

The film was also parodied in the BBC Television comedy ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]'', starring [[Tony Hancock]] and [[Sid James]], and written by [[Ray Galton]] and [[Alan Simpson (scriptwriter)|Alan Simpson]], in [[Twelve Angry Men (Hancock's Half Hour)|the episode]] broadcast on October 16, 1959. ''[[Family Guy]]'' paid tribute to the film with its Season 11 episode titled "[[12 and a Half Angry Men]]", and ''[[King of the Hill]]'' acknowledged the film with their parody "Nine Pretty Darn Angry Men" in season 3.

The American adult animated sitcom ''[[Krapopolis]]'' also parodied the film in the fifth episode of its first season, titled "12 Angry Goat Herders". In it, Tyrannis invents the court system after Shlub is accused of eating the goats of the goat farmers. Tyrannis represented Shlub while the goat farmers were represented by Brenda the Sphinx.<ref name=":0" />

==See also==
* [[Perfect Strangers (1950 film)|''Perfect Strangers'' (1950 film)]] 
* ''[[Twelve Angry Men]]'' (teleplay source material)
* [[List of American films of 1957]]
* [[List of films considered the best]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="12AngryMen1957film-r1">{{cite web|title=Librarian of Congress Announces National Film Registry Selections for 2007|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-07-254/librarian-of-congress-announces-2007-film-registry/2007-12-27/|website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.|access-date=2020-05-15|archive-date=November 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121073442/https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-07-254/librarian-of-congress-announces-2007-film-registry/2007-12-27/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/185/monograph/book/37948 |last=Cunningham |first=Frank R. |title=Sidney Lumet: Film and Literary Vision |publisher=[[The University Press of Kentucky]] |date=2014 |isbn=978-0-81315-826-6}}
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/fondamylife0000fond_e7k1/ |last=Fonda |first=Henry |author-link=Henry Fonda |title=Fonda: My Life as Told to Howard Teichmann |publisher=[[New American Library]] |date=November 1981 |isbn=978-0-45300-402-2}}
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/manwhosawghostli0000mcki/ |last=McKinney |first=Devin |title=The Man Who Saw a Ghost: The Life and Work of Henry Fonda |publisher=[[Thorndike Press]] |date=2012 |isbn=978-1-41045-622-9}}
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/readingsontwelve0000unse/ |editor-last=Munyan |editor-first=Russ |title=Readings on Twelve Angry Men |publisher=[[Greenhaven Press]] |date=2000 |isbn=978-0-73770-313-9}}
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/sixtelevisionpla0000unse |last=Rose |first=Reginald |author-link=Reginald Rose |chapter=Author's Commentary on ''Twelve Angry Men'' |title=Six Television Plays |publisher=[[Simon and Schuster]] |date=1956}}
* {{cite book |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/93/monograph/book/85314 |last=Rosenzweig |first=Phil |title=Reginald Rose and the Journey of 12 Angry Men |publisher=[[Fordham University Press]] |date=2021 |isbn=978-0-82329-776-4}}
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/sidneylumetlife0000spie/ |last=Spiegel |first=Maura |title=Sidney Lumet: A Life |publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]] |date=December 2019 |isbn=978-1-25003-014-6}}

==Further reading==
* [[Sidney Lumet|Lumet, Sidney]] (1995). [https://books.google.com/books?id=x7JiAAAAMAAJ ''Making Movies'']. {{ISBN|978-0-679-75660-6}}
* {{cite journal |last=Ellsworth |first=Phoebe C. |title=One Inspiring Jury ''[Review of 'Twelve Angry Men']''|journal=[[Michigan Law Review]] |year=2003 |volume=101 |issue=6 |pages=1387–1407 |jstor=3595316 |doi=10.2307/3595316}} In depth analysis compared with research on actual jury behaviour.
* ''The New York Times'', April 15, 1957, [https://www.nytimes.com/1957/04/15/archives/screen-12-angry-men-jury-room-drama-has-debut-at-capitol.html Screen: '12 Angry Men'; Jury Room Drama Has Debut at Capitol] review by A. H. Weiler
* Chandler, David (2005). "The Transmission model of communication" ''Communication as Perspective Theory''. Sage publications. Ohio University
* Lanham, Richard (2003). [https://www.sjsu.edu/people/julie.hawker/courses/c1/s2/Lanham-Domain-of-Style-2003.pdf ''Introduction: The Domain of Style analyzing prose'']. New York: Continuum
* [https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-film-preservation-board/documents/12_angry_men.pdf ''12 Angry Men''] an essay by Joanna E. Rapf at [[National Film Registry]] [https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/index-of-essays/ index]

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|12 Angry Men}}
* {{IMDb title|0050083|12 Angry Men}}
* {{TCMDb title|94081|12 Angry Men}}
* {{AFI film|53690}}
* [https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0050083/ "12 Angry Men" Box Office Mojo]
* {{Rotten-tomatoes|1000013_12_angry_men|12 Angry Men}}

{{Twelve Angry Men}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''12 Angry Men''
|list =
{{Blue Ribbon Award for Best Foreign Film}}
{{Golden Bear}}
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{{Sidney Lumet}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:12 Angry Men}}
[[Category:Twelve Angry Men|Twelve Angry Men (1957 film)]]
[[Category:1957 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1957 drama films]]
[[Category:1957 films]]
[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
[[Category:1950s legal drama films]]
[[Category:American legal drama films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American courtroom films]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Edgar Award–winning works]]
[[Category:Films about capital punishment]]
[[Category:Films about discrimination]]
[[Category:Films about lawyers]]
[[Category:Films about murder]]
[[Category:Films based on television plays]]
[[Category:Films directed by Sidney Lumet]]
[[Category:Films scored by Kenyon Hopkins]]
[[Category:Films set in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Reginald Rose]]
[[Category:Golden Bear winners]]
[[Category:Films about juries]]
[[Category:United Artists films]]
[[Category:United States National Film Registry films]]
[[Category:1950s American films]]
[[Category:1957 independent films]]