INNOCENT OR GUILTY? A Boy’s FAte is in the hAnds oF . . .
12A
12 NGRYMEN I
n his 50-year stage, film and TV career, Henry Fonda was masterful at portraying leaders like Honest Abe in “Young Abe Lincoln,” rebellious Tom Joad in “Grapes of Wrath,” straight-arrow presidential candidate William Russell in “The Best Man,” peace-fatigued Lt. JG Doug Roberts in
“Mister Roberts,” and of course, the anguished President in “Fail Safe” who is forced to make the world’s hardest decision. Each of these characters is a stand-up guy, but none tops Juror #8, the ordinary citizen in “12 Angry Men” who dares to stand alone against 11 co-jurors with a mob mentality determined to convict a boy on trial for murder. This is a gripping, penetrating and engrossing examination
of a diverse group of jurors (all male, mostly middle- aged, white, and generally of middle-class status) who are uncomfortably brought together to deliberate after hearing the
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“facts” in a seemingly open-and-shut murder trial. At the start of the movie, closing arguments have already been made, and the judge’s final admonishment gets the ball rolling.
If there’s a reasonable doubt in your minds as to the guilt of the accused, jury, then you must bring me a verdict of not guilty. If however, there is no reasonable doubt, then you must, in good conscience, find the accused guilty. However you decide, your verdict must be unanimous. In the event that you find the accused guilty, the bench will not entertain a recommendation for mercy. The death sentence is mandatory in this case. You are faced with a grave responsibility. Thank you, gentlemen.
The twelve are locked in a small, claustrophobic, rectangular jury room on a stifling hot summer day, some of them breezily
