Douze hommes en colère

This version of 12 Angry Men is certainly worth seeing, but it does not come close in overall excellence to the original film with Henry Fonda. Jack Lemon does a credible job here but it is certainly not his best work. George C. Scott is excellent as he plays the last holdout in a jury room. If you really want a treat, see the 1957 film version with Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Beagly, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam and E.G. Marshall. The debut direction of Sidney Lumet is simply outstanding making use of unique and effective camera angles and close-ups.Much of what this TV version lacked was better direction. It is pretty hard to improve on perfection though.

12 angry men the original is a true masterpiece, this remake is just a fine picture, supported by the amazing casting as Jack Lemmon. George C. Scott, Ossie Davis, Hume Cronyn and Armin Mueller Stahl, the atmosphere looks like almost the same, but lose the first impact to the viewers over the original, therefore stay clear that this remake was some steps behind, still has a psychological approach of human nature, when someone has to decided just by first impression given on the courthouse, by simply facts, without proper consideration, this picture was a warning for those who are in charge to decided between life and death!!!

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First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8

This is possibly the most watchable crime film of all time. It is quite difficult to separate it from the 1957 original, though it is set more to a 1990's audience, in terms of social thought, and mannerisms.

Jack Lemmon, and George C. Scott excel in this tele-movie, as two men of principle, both acting on there instincts and trying to arrive at the correct verdict, for a young man on trial for murder. We dont see the actual trial, the murder, or the lawyers, we instead have to rely on the discussions of the jurors to get an understanding of the events.

I dont know of many movies where you are kept on the edge of your seat for the entire film, but this is one of them. The remarkable fact is that the movie is limited to just one room, and virtually no props or special effects. Whether you have seen the original or not, this film will not disappoint. With a supporting cast of Armin Mueller Stahl, and Edward James Almos, this movie has no real weak points.

Like the original 1957 film, this remake is a taut drama. Unlike most remakes, this one is as good as the first. The script still stands up as a gritty revelation of human psychology. The cast is solid, and the characters are more diverse than in the original. Look at both versions and see a study not only in the workings of human nature but also in the workings of script adaptation at its best.

Whether or not we really needed a remake of the famous Henry Fonda film, updated with a range of nationalities and transferred to television, this is a well-enough done update benefiting from some strong actors in the cast. Jack Lemmon takes on the voice of dissent (the Fonda role), while George C Scott is the redneck extremist (played earlier by Lee J Cobb). We also have Hume Cronyn and Ossie Davis, both fine actors in their eighties or thereabouts by the time this was filmed.

The script has been slightly updated but the premise is the same, all about family betrayals and the head-on reassessment of prejudice. Lemmon in particular is excellent as the quiet reasoner ready to debate the whys and wherefores with his fellow jurors. And Scott is memorable in one of his final roles, simmering on the edge of indignation until the pay off moment when he realises not all his problems can be solved by pinning blame on others.

This shouldn't replace the 50s version but is good enough in its own right to stand alongside it.