12 Angry Men Analysis (PDF) “ Compare and contrast the similarities and differences 

illustrated in the two film versions of 12 Angry Men (1957; 1997)” 

 The film 12 Angry Men is an American drama film produced by Reginald Rose. The judge instructs the jurors make choices and all come to an agreement about whether an 18 year old boy is guilty or not for killing his father. Throughout the movie, one by one the judges realise that the young man isn't guilty as they all come to an agreement at the end of the movie that he after all, isn't guilty. There are two versions of the movie, an earlier version which was made in 1957 and the latest which was made in 1997.  Over the course of the two movies the culture has changed a lot over the forty years. The expansion of civil rights and women’s rights is an example. In the 1957 version there is only a male jury however in the 1991 version there is a woman. During the 1950’s it was a patriarchal society and so women in those days were seen less superior than men. 

        

In both films every single one of the jurors have a background or story of what they do outside of being a juror: Juror 12 works for a marketing agency. Juror 6 is a painter (for houses). Juror 3 is a business owner. Juror 8 is an architect. Juror 11 is a (German) immigrant. Juror 7 sells marmalade. Juror 1 is an assistant football coach. Juror 4 is a stock broker. Juror 5 works in a hospital (harlem)  

As our culture changed - so did it impact on the movies. One of the key differences that are instantly noticed between the two versions is the fact that the 1957 version is in black and white and the 1997 version is in colour, the impact of it being in colour reveals a desire to make the movie feel more current. Another important difference is how the movies began. In the 1957 version the movie began outside the court as everyone is busy minding their own business and some are heading to the jury room. However in the 1997 version it began with the Metro Goldwyn Mayer movie company.   

In the 1957 movie, the defendants race is not specified but the rest were caucasian. However in the 1997 version the defendant is latino. In the 1997 version, four of the jurors are black. One is latino and the other is German. Another key difference is that there was no strong language in the 1957 version but in the newest there is.  In the old film, when the judge is talking, they used the over the shoulder to shoot to concentrate the attention on the jurors, because they will decide the fate of the boy. Then they showed the over the boy’s shoulder shoot where we can see that the jurors leaving the room they turned around and looked that the defendant. After that there is a close up shot to show the emotions of the boy. In the new film they showed the judge with the medium close up shot. As she was talking they showed a close up shot. As she was talking they showed the defendant with a close up shot, the jurors with a medium shot to show all the 12 jurors. When the jurors entered the room for their discussions we can see 

straight away that they are taking a new film. While in the older version of the film - as they enter the room, there is a non diegetic sound (classical music)  In the old version there wasn’t any other race as the juror, it may have been because at that time there was a bad attitude to any race other than white, while in the new film there are mixed race people. Also in the old film the jurors are smoking too much, because in those days the doctors were saying that smoking is good for you. There were a lot of ashtrays on the table. In the new film the men went to smoke in the toilets - everyone knows that smoking is bad for you and can cause cancer. As in the nw film there are some papers and cups on the table. Both in two films it was the hottest day of the year, and it was making the jurors angrier and wanting the topic and discussion to be finished. The air condition was not working, and it was hard to open the windows. There was a low angle shot to show and exaggerate the fact that the room is very very small. A rain started in the middle of both films - as the went came pouring down this is a diegetic sound as the rain was in sinc to the noise and the characters could hear it.  

          

     

                                   

                                  

  In this picture there is a clear low angle which typically give a character power while high angles take it away. Close up angles read as involved with much emotional intimacy. While low angles combined with close-ups ramp up with the tension by showing the pressure and claustrophobia.  As you can see at the beginning of the film, the twelve jurors’ deliberation is mostly high and eye level angles with wide and medium shots, but as the film develops, so does the tension as the jurors begin to vote as not guilty, you’ll see more low angles and close-ups.  The key techniques used in these movies are: close ended storyline (a storyline left complete), Linear (the story unfolds in a chronological order) continuity editing (ensuring the mise-en-scene is kept constant) shot-reverse-shot (character A looks at character B. The shot then cuts to character B working at character A then back to the original shot)         

                                

        Old https://gloria.tv/video/kBtf4SFf7irr6fpWUZSNj3HJQ  New http://www.bmetv.net/video/2002  Main https://zcmediastudies.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/twelve-angry-men-writing-frame.pdf  https://www.slideshare.net/faridmedia/12-angry-men-comparison