Ladies of the Jury

Probably not the ideal movie to educate someone on how the American jury system operates, "Ladies Of The Jury" is more of a wacky comic version of "12 Angry Men" - which it predates by 25 years! Edna May Oliver is fab, especially if you're already a fan, but what really makes this limited-set B-movie stand out from the rest is a wide array of colorful and distinct characters, acted with gusto by a largely - if not completely - unknown cast; I particularly liked one couple where the man has a flair for the poetic and the woman looks to be what you would call in modern terms a "nerd" (an unusual female portrayal for that time). If there is one flaw in this movie, it's the very abrupt ending - in fact, this may be the only movie in history where the resolution occurs over "The End" title card! **1/2 out of 4.

Maybe it's because I had such low expectations, but I laughed over and over at this! Edna May Oliver is a gift beyond measure, although her best part is the first 10 minutes of the movie. And according to the TCM pre-talk, there were, indeed, some jurisdictions in the USA where jurors are or were allowed to ask questions of witnesses. The juror room scene is full of hilarious, exaggerated characters/stereotypes - although the religious zealot on the juror actually isn't all that exaggerated... The comments about women were over-the-top even then, obviously, and the use of the term "sugar daddy" may surprise people that think it's a new term. Comments like "Hey, talk American" the insults to the French, all of which were meant then to be so ridiculous as to be funny then, will make you think of your last pre-COVID Thanksgiving with THAT uncle. Why is this not a well-loved much loved classic?!?!?

If you love Edna Mae Oliver, then see this film. It's hers all the way as she destroys the jury system in this comedy. A close second would have to go to Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, who is also a riot. It's too bad the studios never gave this great actress more opportunities to shine in the lead roles.

Before there was 12 Angry Men there were several women on juries in other states, several in this particular film led by the formidable Edna May Oliver. In Ladies Of The Jury Oliver plays what she was in real life, a New England society woman who is very used to having her own way.

With the Boston Brahmin name of Mrs. Livingston Baldwin Crane, Edna May Oliver gets chosen for jury duty and proceeds to wreak havoc on the criminal justice system with her imperious ways. Not only in her state which is apparently Massachusetts allows women on the jury back in the day, but also allows jurors to question witnesses which Oliver takes full advantage.

Just like Henry Fonda she believes that defendant Jill Esmond is innocent, but the others are convinced that she took her husband's life. One by one she wins them over though her methods aren't exactly those of reason and logic.

A fine group of character players make up the rest of the jurors and other roles. But Ladies Of The Jury is Edna May's show all the way and she makes the most of it.

I wonder if Sidney Lumet who directed 12 Angry Men ever saw this comedy gem. Ladies Of The Jury is a B picture comedy gem, don't miss it if TCM broadcasts it again.

Can someone tell me what the big deal was about 1957's Twelve Angry Men? It was a remake of a Playhouse 90 special, and in 1950 there was an extremely similar story about one juror pinned against eleven prejudiced ones: Perfect Strangers. Recently, I just discovered an even earlier version from 1932 with the same theme. In Ladies of the Jury, Edna May Oliver stars as an intelligent, intuitive juror who has the task of changing the other eleven people's minds when they're all set to vote the defendant guilty.

This movie is very dated, engaging in early 1930s tropes, like the overemotional judge, the long-winded stammerer, the gum-chewing floozy, and the low-class Greek. Edna usually took supporting parts in her career, so if you really like her you can rent this or her "Snoopy Withers" mysteries to see her in the lead. But I would really only recommend it if you want to see the original 12 Angry Men. There are times when it gets pretty silly, and it doesn't stand the test of time.