MovieChat Forums > 12 Angry Men (1957) Discussion > How does this film hold up over time?

How does this film hold up over time?


This is one of the only movies in the imdb top 50 that I haven't seen. How well does it hold up to the years?

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Apart from the black-and-white - it feels pretty much timeless.

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Or better said, thank God for the Blk&White as it's even MORE timeless ;)

Pierce,there is a fine line between fun and imbecility, and you just pole-vaulted over it...

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I agree. There's something about black and white done well that makes it even more timeless. It's classy and dramatic. The uses of shadows on the men's faces. The contrast between black and white dramatizes the visuals, which are limited because of the setting.

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It holds up great. I highly recommend watching it.

Don't listen to the negative ones; their arguments are irrational.

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It's a classic for good reason. See it. And if you end up not liking it, so what? All you've lost is 96 minutes.

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It's the most important American film ever made. It's age is the only thing that keeps it out of the top spot.

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juest watched it. Top film. I wouldn't say it is 'important' - no film is. But great acting etc.

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Some films are important. 12 Angry Men has important lessons about group think and voicing your opinion even if it's unpopular or controversial. This isn't just a story, it's a lesson in morality and critical thinking.

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I disagree it's a good film nothing more.

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For the same reason deep courtroom dramas withstand. Personal prejudices never age with time. Each of the jurors either didn't want to be there, or simply bore a personal bar (against the defendant being a kid, and from the slums)

My late grandfather was prejudice ignorant, growing up; though most of our ancestors were all 'foreigners'. It was about who'd "been in America longer" .... or what not.
This film represents the dire image of facts, evidence, and logic - over common prejudice. Most were throwing stones, and getting irate because one refused to share the Guilty vote. It was easier to do declare a Guilty, then discuss the facts. Arrogance knows no age, nor boundaries with time.



Peanutlee33

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It certainly not very PC, that's for sure. As most of Juror, especially #3, played by Lee J Cobb's dialogue would not be allowed in our current PC climate. Until recently, I've only watch the remake with Jack Lemmon in Fonda's role and George C Scott in Cobb's role and it was good. But, after watching the original, I don't get the same claustrophobic feeling in the remake. The tension in the room, the sweating and the pacing back and forth by some of the characters gave the feeling of a cage tiger looking for away out of the room. Whether it was the black and white film or the changing camera angle or maybe both that gave it it's claustrophobic atmosphere. The original was far better. I'm not knocking the actors in the remake, they did an amazing job (with the exception of Tony Danza-- really? he was the best they could find?). The setting was much better in the original. The same sweating looked more real, whereas the remake looked like it had been applied by make up artist.

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Today I watched this movie for the 1st time. I was blown away, such an amazing movie, acting, atmosphere, there wasn't a single minute of the movie I got bored.

All you need to make a movie is a girl and a gun.

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It's superbib, and is timeless and the fact that it's in black and white doesn't affect it at all.

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[deleted]

I will have to disagree with you. I've now watched both, the original black & white and the color remake. But, I think the b & w shows the claustrophobic feeling, the feeling as if the walls are closing in on the characters, and the longer they remain in that tiny jury room, the smaller the room gets, the more trouble they have breathing, loosing their collars, unbuttoning the top shirt button. I also love the changing camera angels. First, the camera are at eye level but as the film continues, they keep lowering the camera angle that continues to give that claustrophobia feeling. That was missing in the remake.

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I'd argue that it holds up quite well over time, echoing the opinions of the people who posted before me. I'm a college student and I watched this movie just now. Excellent movie - I gave it a 10.

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