Watching "12 Angry Men"

[awoke_in_2003]

Last edited Thu Apr 10, 2014, 03:08 PM - Edit history (1)

the version with Fonda and Klugman. Cinematic greatness. Almost the entire movie takes place in one room. The acting skill just keeps you watching.

On edit: Correct Jack Klugman's last name.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. The acting, Sidney Lumet's direction...

and Reginald Rose's screenplay.

A crew of superb crafstmen with just enough genius to make one of the great films of all time.

With no special effects.

[sendero]

2. Haven't seen this in a long time..

... but I remember how powerful it was. I've got it in my Watch List and will see it again soon.

[NewJeffCT]

3. One of my all-time favorites

The entire cast was great. The most outspoken "guilty" guy specialized in playing the 'tough guy' heavy - he was in a similar role in "On the Waterfront" - another classic. (Forgot his name, though)

The remake of the movie was actually pretty good on its own, but not up to the level of the original.

[rug]

4. Lee J. Cobb was an interesting guy living in an interesting time.

Cobb was accused of being a Communist in 1951 testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee by Larry Parks, himself a former Communist Party member. Cobb was called to testify before HUAC but refused to do so for two years until, with his career threatened by the blacklist, he relented in 1953 and gave testimony in which he named 20 people as former members of the Communist Party USA.[8]

Later, Cobb explained why he "named names", saying:

When the facilities of the government of the United States are drawn on an individual it can be terrifying. The blacklist is just the opening gambit—being deprived of work. Your passport is confiscated. That's minor. But not being able to move without being tailed is something else. After a certain point it grows to implied as well as articulated threats, and people succumb. My wife did, and she was institutionalized. The HUAC did a deal with me. I was pretty much worn down. I had no money. I couldn't borrow. I had the expenses of taking care of the children. Why am I subjecting my loved ones to this? If it's worth dying for, and I am just as idealistic as the next fellow. But I decided it wasn't worth dying for, and if this gesture was the way of getting out of the penitentiary I'd do it. I had to be employable again. — Interview with Victor Navasky for the 1980 book Naming Names

Following the hearing he resumed his career and worked with Elia Kazan and Budd Schulberg, two other HUAC "friendly witnesses", on the 1954 film On the Waterfront, which is widely seen as an allegory and apologia for testifying.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_J._Cobb

[NewJeffCT]

5. Thanks

I did not know that.

[nomorenomore08]

16. A terrible choice to have to make, but I understand. Especially with kids involved. n/t

[Tom Ripley]

17. Damn, I didn't know that Lee J. Cobb named names

He made good company for Kazan and Schulberg, but still a great actor.

[Paladin]

6. I saw a Broadway production of it a few years ago.

Even though I'd seen the movie a number of times previously, the stage production absolutely blew me away. A true dramatic landmark.

[narnian60]

7. This is one of those movies

Last edited Thu Apr 10, 2014, 02:10 PM - Edit history (1)

that I end up watching again & again even though I don't intend to. It just draws you in with its excellence. Yep, watched it again in the wee hours of this morning.

[NewJeffCT]

8. Yes, it's a very compelling movie

I've always loved legal dramas.

[awoke_in_2003]

14. Were you watching it on AMC? nt

[narnian60]

21. TCM

[awoke_in_2003]

23. Yep, I got it mixed up...

AMC is starting to play far too many movies that shouldn't be considered classics. True Lies was a good flick, but I don't consider it a classic.

[NewJeffCT]

9. Question on the jury in the movie

the movie came out in the mid 50s, if I recall. The jury was all male - were women allowed on juries back then?

[edbermac]

10. Yes.

I was watching last night and saw this scene. It was hard to see on TV but this still shows the mens and womens bathrooms on the left and right.

But then, 12 Angry Men and Women is not a very good title.

[NewJeffCT]

12. True

but, "12 Angry People" could work, or "12 Angry Jurors"

[cyberswede]

13. That scene is great...

...how everyone turns their back on the distasteful stuff Ed Begley's character is ranting about.

Fabulous movie.

[Jenoch]

19. Actually, that title was used for another show, sort of.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0660045/

John Fiedler was a character on The Bob Newhart Show as one of the patients.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0275835/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t2

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

11. No cgi, no explosions, no gratuitous sex scenes, no young sex symbols, no grandiose music,

no killings, no kicking someone's ass, no nudity, no vampires or zombies or comic book heroes, no rapid cutting and editing every tenth of a second to keep the audience on a roller coaster ride like in a computer game. So what if it has great camera work, directing, acting, and an absolutely brilliant script? This is not what movies are all about. Who in this day and age in their right mind would want to see this garbage?

[awoke_in_2003]

15. It is definitely a refreshing change. nt

[narnian60]

22. Well said!

[Tom Ripley]

18. That is a hell of a lot of talent in one room.

[awoke_in_2003]

20. I don't think Hollywood

could pull something like that off these days.

[NewJeffCT]

26. the 1997 remake

had a great cast as well. Not quite as good as the original, but still impressive:

George C Scott, James Gandolfini, Jack Lemmon, Hume Cronyn, Edward James Olmos, William Peterson, Ossie Davis, Tony Danza, Dorian Harewood, Courtney Vance,

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118528/?ref_=nv_sr_2

[awoke_in_2003]

27. I will have to check that out...

I love George C Scott. Olmos is always solid.

[Populist_Prole]

30. Excellent in it's own right

I was like "meh" on the first viewing but as I saw it more I began to like many things about it, sometimes I liked it more than the original.

Hard to get ( obtain ) though.

[Boom Sound 416]

24. So your at church, eh

[awoke_in_2003]

28. I am afraid...

I don't understand what you are saying.

[newcriminal]

25. My favorite movie

[ashling]

29. Great movie

I watched it too. . . . every time it comes on.

I give an extra credit project to my American Government classes. I call it a movie critique, but it is not as easy as the student's think.

They have to watch a movie from a list I have:

12 Angry Men,
7 Days in May,
The Grapes of Wrath,
The Great Debaters

and a few others I can't think of right now.

They have to watch the movie - generally at least twice - and spot issues that we have dealt with or which are important to government and politics. Then they have to research those things and discuss government's role, the justice system, or whatever, making sure that they present good critical thought, etc. Be sure to discuss the historical context, etc. I make it clear that they are not going to just get credit for watching the movie.

The ones that do it generally take it seriously and do a good job. I have had students tell me they got Steinbecks book after doing it and other like things.

[awoke_in_2003]

31. You're a teacher?

I didn't know that. My favorite teacher in High school was Mr Lisy ( I still remember his name almost 30 years later). I took a popular lit class with him. He taught us how to look for symbolism in various media, like film. Dirty Harry was a big player- "come to the cross". Because of him, the best paper I ever wrote was on US propaganda during WWII. Thanks to the Cleveland public library system, and microfiche, I learned a lot about how popular thought can be manipulated. It was the best class I ever took.

On edit: I just remembered my Social Studies teacher (remember that class?) was the spitting image of William Daniels from St. Elsewhere.

[ashling]

32. I teach government in Community College

William Daniels was also the teacher, George Feeny , in Boy meets world

and John Adams in the musical 1776

[avebury]

33. Dramatized version of the audiobook of this story

is the Daily Deal today on audible.com. I figure I couldn't go wrong picking it up for $0.99.