12 Angry Men Life Lesson Quotes
12 Angry Men is an American courtroom drama film considered a modern classic. Released in 1957 and adapted from Reginald Rose’s play of the same name, it was the feature-film directorial debut of Sidney Lumet.
The film centers on a jury of 12 men who must pass judgment on a murder case. Although 11 jurors vote decisively for a quick conviction, one (Henry Fonda) tries to convince the others to reconsider their decision based on reasonable doubt.
Key Takeaways
- Shot in New York and completed in less than three weeks, the movie had a budget of $337,000.
- 12 Angry Men received three Academy Awards nominations, including Best Picture.
- In 2008, American Film Institute selected 12 Angry Men as the second-best courtroom drama for their AFI’s 10 Top 10 list.
Juror 3: You’re talking about a matter of seconds! Nobody can be that accurate.
Juror 8: Well, I think testimony that could put a boy into the electric chair should be that accurate.Juror 3, Juror 8
Juror 8: Let me ask you this. Do you really think the boy would shout out a thing like that so the whole neighborhood could hear him? I don’t think so. He’s much too bright for that.
Juror 10: Bright? He’s a common ignorant slob. He don’t even speak good English.
Juror 11: [with a foreign accent] “He doesn’t even speak good English.”Juror 8, Juror 10, Juror 11
Juror 3: Look, you voted guilty. What side are you on?
Juror 11: I don’t believe I have to be loyal to one side or the other. I’m simply asking questions.Juror 3, Juror 11
Juror 3: I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him!
Juror 8: You don’t really mean you’ll kill me, do you?Juror 3, Juror 8
Juror 11: I beg pardon.
Juror 10: “I beg pardon.” What are you so polite about?
Juror 11: For the same reason you’re not. It’s the way I was brought up.Juror 11, Juror 10, Juror 11
Juror 10: I’m sick and tired of facts! You can twist them any way you like. You know what I mean?
Juror 9: [indicates Juror 8] That’s exactly the point this gentleman has been making.Juror 10, Juror 9
If you want to vote not guilty, then do it because you are convinced the man is not guilty, and not because you’ve had enough.Juror 11, (to Juror 7)
