Product Details

• Actors: Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, Hume Cronyn, Ossie Davis, Courtney B. Vance
• Directors: William Friedkin
• Writers: Reginald Rose
• Producers: Terence A. Donnelly
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Orion Home Video
• VHS Release Date: April 14, 1998
• Run Time: 117 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0792899830
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,957 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent study of small group interaction!, December 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: 12 Angry Men [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is an excellent re-make of the original movie (starring Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb). The plot is moved into a more contemporary setting that shows current feelings and prejudices that drive people's opinions and close their minds.

The story is an outstanding example of the different personalities and self-appointed roles that become evident in a small group trying to come to a concensus. The attitude and behavior of the jurors, cooped up in a sub-standard room, are made very obvious immediately. Private agendas, however, take much longer to surface.

"12 Angry Men" puts the American Judicial system on trial. The plot illustrates, very painfully, just how poorly some citizens take their responsibilities in as significant a case as one that involves capital punishiment.

The cast is excellent.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a remake!, December 2, 2002

By 

Marcelo Pérez (Santiago, Chile) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 12 Angry Men [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I consider myself a very demanding movie watcher, and this one definitely satisfies my expectations. I had the chance to see both 1957 and 1997 versions for "12 angry men", and I must say my vote goes to the recent one. Friedkin manages to create a whole atmosphere which seems much more realistic to me than the rather rigid and sometimes mechanic performances shown on the earlier version. In my opinion, Friedkin's cast looks so natural in their expressions and personality, they don't seem to be 'acting', which is a fault often seen in older movies. Characters and psychological profiles were improved so that you recognize and identify everyone of them, and you have a feeling no man's missing and no man's unnecesary. Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott offer an astonishing display of talent, and Scott's final monologue makes Lee J Cobb's performance look pale and opaque. If I were to choose a lawyer, I'd take Lemmon instead of Fonda, no doubt about it. The variety of the cast brings a refreshing, believable and solid mosaic of personalities I just don't see in Lumet's film (1957). Don't turn your back on this remake. You may be missing a great movie.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 12 great actors!, January 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: 12 Angry Men [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I never saw the first but i know i want to because of how great this one was.And the way Jack Lemmon(who i think gave the best performance)can convince eleven jury members that a (probably) guilty man is innocent.The idea seems imposible but this brilliantly made movie proves you wrong! And the actors do a great job portraying their characters and the dialouge is unbelievable!This movie definitley deserves five stars,if not more.This is a modern,up-to-date,classic film of the lives of what real jurors go through when faced with detertmining a man's life.