12 Angry Men

The clip above is the famous catchphrase of the video game character Phoenix Wright he's known for proving his clients innocents on seemingly impossible cases and finding the real culprit.  In 12 Angry Men the case seems hopeless for "the kid" the 19-year old on trail accused of murder.  All  the jurors vote "guilty" ,but one.  This lone juror isn't swayed by the prosecutions evidence and his task now is to convince everyone else of the man's innocence. I think the film is a good glimpse into American culture of the 1950s both the real and the imagined.

 "The defendant, when we glimpse him, looks "ethnic" but of no specific group. He could be Italian, Turkish, Indian, Jewish, Arabic, Mexican. His eyes are ringed with dark circles, and he looks exhausted and frightened. In the jury room, some jurors make veiled references to "these people." Finally Juror No. 10 (Ed Begley) begins a racist rant ("You know how these people lie. It's born in them. They don't know what the truth is. And let me tell you, they don't need any real big reason to kill someone, either...") As he continues, one juror after another stands up from the jury table and walks away, turning his back. Even those who think the defendant is guilty can't sit and listen to Begley's prejudice. The scene is one of the most powerful in the movie." (Ebert's "Great Movies" series.

I can't help but agree with Ebert on this point about this being one of the most powerful scenes in the film.  Even though these men believe the man is guilty they won't stand for him being dehumanized. He may be a criminal in their eyes,but that doesn't make him a  monster.

Juror No.10s rant isn't out of place and what we most associate with the 1950s time period. Though in my modern sensibility I expect others to join in on it and I'm pleased when that doesn't happen.  Though thinking about it that wouldn't make sense the film like I said is a picture of 1950s America though these biased and bigoted people exist like the film shows they aren't the majority. It's saying that some people may hold this attitude,but not everyone does.


The film is the power of the individual to make a change and changing the ruling consensus. The locked room to me can be read as a metaphor for society. Were all locked in a room with each other and can't get out.  The best we can do when we disagree is try and solve it as best we can.  We should be tolerant of others and not so quick to judge.  We don't know much of the young man on trail if he's a good or bad person ,but that doesn't matter.   What matters is giving him a fair trail. The power of this hasn't been placed in the hands of one ,but of a collective.