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12 Angry Men

Directed by Sidney Lumet in his feature film debut, 12 Angry Men (1957) is a masterclass in tension and dialogue. Set almost entirely within a claustrophobic jury room, the film follows twelve jurors as they deliberate the guilt or innocence of a young man accused of murder. Initially, eleven jurors vote "guilty," but Juror 8 (Henry Fonda) stands alone with a "not guilty" vote, forcing the others to re-examine the evidence and their own deeply held prejudices.

The film is celebrated for its brilliant use of a single location, using cinematography and camera angles to increase the feeling of confinement as the deliberation grows more heated.

Locations

Because the film is a chamber drama, it is famous for its limited use of locations, focusing primarily on the interior of the courthouse.

New York County Courthouse, Manhattan

The exterior shots and the grand lobby seen at the beginning and end of the film are the New York County Courthouse located at 60 Centre Street in Lower Manhattan. The iconic hexagonal building and its massive granite pillars provide a sense of institutional weight and gravity to the legal proceedings. Map Location

(Fox Studios) Jury Room, Manhattan

The vast majority of the film takes place inside a single jury room. While the room was a meticulously designed set built at Fox Movietone Studios (located at 460 West 54th Street in Manhattan), it was modeled strictly after the real deliberation rooms found in the New York courthouse to ensure absolute authenticity in lighting and atmosphere. Map Location

Foley Square, Manhattan

The final scene, where the jurors descend the courthouse steps and disperse into the city, was filmed in Foley Square. This location serves as the heart of the judicial district in New York City, surrounded by federal and state buildings. Map Location

Director

Sidney Lumet

Cast

Henry Fonda

Lee J. Cobb

Martin Balsam

Jack Warden

Full Cast

IMDB

View the official IMDB page

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