From left to right E.G.Marshall, John Fiedler, Henry Fonda, Ed Begley and Robert Webber
The courtroom drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, 12 Angry Men, released in April 1957, is considered by many to be one of the best movies of the 20th century. This brilliant film has certainly earned a spot in the bucket list of any movie enthusiast.
There have been remakes of the film, but the original seems in this case to be the best. At least it is stocked heavily with powerful character actors who together make this film one that you may want to see again. And again.
As you may know, 12 Angry Men tells the story of a jury of 12 (in this case all men) as they deliberate whether to convict or acquit the 18-year old defendant accused of stabbing his father to death. There is always the consideration of reasonable doubt, which forces the jurors to question their own morals and values - and that’s where the story gets interesting.
So here are the portrayers of all 12 Angry Men in chronological order à la Journeys of Life, and after that some fine movie scenes (with spoiler alert though, so if you haven’t seen the film yet, don’t proceed beyond scene 5):
1884-0726 Joseph Sweeney as Juror 9, from Philadelphia, PA (1963/79)
1901-0325 Ed Begley as Juror 10, from Hartford, CT (1970/69)
1905-0516 Henry Fonda as Juror 8, from Grand Island, NE (1982/77)
1905-0619 George Voskovec as Juror 11, from Sázava, Bohemia (1981/76)
1911-1208 Lee J. Cobb as Juror 3, from The Bronx, NY (1976/64)
1914-0618 E. G. Marshall as Juror 4, from Owatonna, MN (1998/84)
1916-0912 Edward Binns as Juror 6, from Philadelphia, PA (1990/74)
1919-1104 Martin Balsam as Juror 1, from The Bronx, NY (1996/76)
1920-0918 Jack Warden as Juror 7, from Newark, NJ (2006/85)
1922-0427 Jack Klugman as Juror 5, from Philadelphia, PA (2012/90)
1924-1014 Robert Webber as Juror 12, from Santa Ana, CA (1989/64)
1925-0203 John Fiedler as Juror 2, from Platteville, WI (2005/80)