12 Angry Men is a 1957 American drama film adapted from a teleplay of the same name by Reginald Rose. Directed by Sidney Lumet, the film tells the story of a jury made up of 12 men as they deliberate the guilt or acquittal of a defendant on the basis of reasonable doubt. In the United States , the verdict in most criminal trials by jury must be unanimous one way or the other. The film is notable for its almost exclusive use of one set: with the exception of the film's opening, which begins outside on the steps of the courthouse and ends with the jury's final instructions before retiring, a... brief final scene on the courthouse steps and two short scenes in an adjoining washroom, the entire movie takes place in the jury room. The total time spent outside of the jury room is three minutes out of the full 96 minutes of the movie. 12 Angry Men explores many techniques of consensus-building, and the difficulties encountered in the process, among a group of men whose range of personalities adds intensity and conflict.
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| Release date: | April 10, 1957 |
| Directed by: | Sidney Lumet, William Friedkin |
| Runtime: | 96 Minutes |
| Producer: | Henry Fonda, Reginald Rose |
| Editor: | Carl Lerner |
| Music by: | Kenyon Hopkins |
| Cinematography: | Boris Kaufman |
| Screenplay by: | Reginald Rose |
| Estimated budget: | $340,000 |
| Adapted from: | Twelve Angry Men |