A reasonable doubt

12 Angry men (1957)

Have you seen any movie (not a serial) where most part of it takes place within a single room?

How would you feel about watching a black ‘n’ white movie which is not a horror or a thriller? What is your idea about these old movies?

Well, this movie might change your views about old black ‘n’ white movies.

This is a movie filmed in a single room for the most part. 12 jurors are supposed debate for the death sentence of an 18 year old boy. This film starts with the trial after all witnesses have been produced against the boy who is accused of stabbing his own father. 11 out of 12 jurors are convinced that the boy was guilty. One man believes that still it needs to be discussed before they can arrive at a decision because a boy’s life is in their hands. He (Henry Fonda) votes him innocent and starts to convince them. If there exists a reasonable doubt in a trial, the benefit of the doubt has to favor the suspect.

One another film that I could remember that was so intense and filmed with in a room is the The Rope by Alfred Hitchcock. I guess the later would have been more difficult to film. While watching the rope, I never noticed it in the entire film. But in 12 Angry Men, you can find that the camera never goes outside the juror room. Nevertheless, this is a masterpiece. A lesson for all aspiring directors, writers and most importantly actors.