Product Details

• Actors: Norman Fell, Robert Cummings, Franchot Tone
• Directors: Franklin J. Schaffner
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Restored
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: E1 Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: February 9, 2010
• Run Time: 110 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002VRNJTE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,173 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Studio One - Twelve Angry Men" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

The 3-Time Emmy Award Winner from the acclaimed Studio One series. After a teenage boy is accused of murder, a jury must come to terms with their prejudices and personal grudges to decide on the verdict. Starring Norman Fell, Robert Cummings and Franchot Tone. Also includes Studio One: An Almanac of Liberty - After an attack on a stranger, the residents of a small town discover that if they don’t start recognizing individual freedoms, time will start moving backwards.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Judge: "The death sentence is mandatory in this case. You're faced with a grave responsibility, thank you, gentlemen.", September 5, 2010

By 

Annie Van Auken (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Studio One - Twelve Angry Men (DVD)

12 ANGRY MEN was broadcast on CBS-TV's live drama series STUDIO ONE on 9/20/54. After decades of searching, a complete kinescope copy of this program (minus commercials) was located in 2003. This dub was made from that film, which is in fair to good shape. There are a couple of audio dropouts and occasional white spots but no repaired breaks.

Technically, the program isn't perfect. At times the camera can't keep up with the action. A good example is the twin switchblade sequence. We miss the first knife being jabbed into the juryroom table; the camera dollies to get a clear shot as Bob Cummings drops the second blade beside it. We see only his arm movement, then a pan down to reveal both knives standing in place.

Pacing is also hurried compared to the 1957 feature film, which has an extra hour to explore the case and jurors. For a live braodcast however, this is quite impressive, flaws and all.

"12 Angry Men" is a still relevant study of what is potentially the weakest link in the American justice system: the jury. Although charged by a judge to retire for deliberations with an open mind, as this broadcast shows, most enter that jury room already decided on a defendant's guilt or innocence. As we see here, an individual's background, history and prejudices often hinder the ability to consider any evidence but those pieces supporting his own preconceived conclusions.

Thus, once the door is locked behind them, eleven men on this "unbiased" panel immediately declare a young minority defendant guilty of murdering his father. One lone juror holds out, believing that some discussion is necessary before sending a man to his death. As they delve into the facts and testimony of this "open and shut" case, one by one the other deliberators find reasonable doubt, and what had seemed a landslide toward conviction is no longer so certain. Along the way, idiosyncracies of these men are revealed that are not always flattering to some, yet the wheels of justice turn despite human failings and perhaps miraculously, a fair verdict is reached.

Parenthetical number is a 1 to 10 imdb viewer poll rating.

(7.6) 12 Angry Men (TV-1954) - Norman Fell/John Beal/Franchot Tone/Walter Abel/Lee Philips/Bart Burns/Paul Hartman/Bob Cummings/Joseph Sweeney/Edward Arnold/George Voskovec/Larkin Ford

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, April 29, 2010

By 

Nancy L. Holder (Redmond, Washington, US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Studio One - Twelve Angry Men (DVD)

The video was a great opportunity to analyze (group dynamics) for a graduate course; it was ordered and promtly delivered!

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars La original!, March 19, 2010

By 

Raul (Dominican Republic) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Studio One - Twelve Angry Men (DVD)

Para los que han disfrutado de las diferentes versiones de este clásico, esta es la original hecha para la televisión. Aunque las versiones cinematográficas son más elaboradas, completas e interesantes, ésta sigue siendo muy buena. Recomendada para coleccionistas.