Twelve Angry MenTwelve Angry Men

By Reginal RoseBy Reginal Rose

The CaseThe Case

Teenage boy is on trial for the Teenage boy is on trial for the murder of his father. The boy murder of his father. The boy supposedly stabbed his father to supposedly stabbed his father to death.death.

There were two witnesses to the There were two witnesses to the murder who testified during the trial. murder who testified during the trial.

Witness #1Witness #1

The old man who lived on the second The old man who lived on the second floor under the room where the floor under the room where the murder took place.murder took place.

The old man heard loud noises and The old man heard loud noises and then heard “I’m going to kill you” in then heard “I’m going to kill you” in the upstairs apartment . A second the upstairs apartment . A second later, he heard a body falling.later, he heard a body falling.

He saw the kid running down the He saw the kid running down the stairs and out of the house.stairs and out of the house.

Witness #2Witness #2

““Here’s a woman who’s lying in Here’s a woman who’s lying in bed. She can’t sleep. It’s hot.And bed. She can’t sleep. It’s hot.And right across the street, she sees right across the street, she sees the kid stick his knife into his the kid stick his knife into his father’s chest. Look, she has father’s chest. Look, she has known the kid all his life. And known the kid all his life. And she swore she saw him do it. “she swore she saw him do it. “

12 Angry Men12 Angry Men

1:18-2:30 12AM movie1:18-2:30 12AM movie

1) What is their task?1) What is their task?

2) Where will they run into 2) Where will they run into problems?problems?

•Reginald RoseReginald Rose: born December : born December

10, 1920 – died April 19, 200210, 1920 – died April 19, 2002•He was an American film and television He was an American film and television writer writer •wrote about controversial issueswrote about controversial issues•helped create the genre of television helped create the genre of television drama of the 1950’s.drama of the 1950’s.•12 Angry Men is an adaptation of the 12 Angry Men is an adaptation of the television production. television production.

Reginald RoseReginald Rose

Twelve Angry MenTwelve Angry Men Rose served on the jury of a murder case. Rose served on the jury of a murder case.

Some of the events are true. Some of the events are true. ““the moment I walked into thethe moment I walked into the

courtroom… and found myself facing a courtroom… and found myself facing a strange man whose fate was suddenly strange man whose fate was suddenly more or less in my more or less in my

hands, my entire attitude changed.”hands, my entire attitude changed.”

3) What is something that 3) What is something that

happened to you that you happened to you that you

have wanted to write about?have wanted to write about?

From the stage to the screenFrom the stage to the screen

Twelve Angry MenTwelve Angry Men was published was published as a stage play in 1955 and a as a stage play in 1955 and a film 1957.film 1957.

The film won Academy Award The film won Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Writing, and Best Director, Best Writing, and ScreenplayScreenplay

Historical Context: The 1950sHistorical Context: The 1950sA socially conservative timeA socially conservative timePeople were very People were very

materialistic: materialistic:

The American Dream The American Dream Juvenile delinquency at an Juvenile delinquency at an

all-time highall-time highracial discriminationracial discriminationComics, Baseball, TVs were Comics, Baseball, TVs were

popularpopular

1957, New York1957, New York

Last year in the 10 year Last year in the 10 year ““GOLDEN AGEGOLDEN AGE”” of Baseball of Baseball

In 1947, women could be on In 1947, women could be on juries on a voluntary basis juries on a voluntary basis

Boxing and Baseball are the Boxing and Baseball are the hot sportshot sports

4) What image do you like? Why?

Khrushchev (pg.50)Khrushchev (pg.50)

Soviet Union Communist Soviet Union Communist leaderleader

Communist scare- Communist scare- spreading communismspreading communism

Dempsey-Firpo Fight (pg.42)Dempsey-Firpo Fight (pg.42)

Famous boxing fightFamous boxing fight that took that took place in place in 19231923..

J. Walter Thompson (pg.68)J. Walter Thompson (pg.68)

advertising agent in the early 1900advertising agent in the early 1900’’ss"father of modern magazine advertising”"father of modern magazine advertising”

Clarence Darrow (pg.70)Clarence Darrow (pg.70)

Famous American lawyerFamous American lawyer

Themes in the play…Themes in the play…

The fragility (not strong or stable) of The fragility (not strong or stable) of justicejustice

Oversoming class and race prejudiceOversoming class and race prejudiceEquality of AllEquality of AllSocial ResponsibilitySocial Responsibility

5) Pick one of these and write 5) Pick one of these and write three sentences about the theme.three sentences about the theme.

IntegrityIntegrity6) What is integrity in your 6) What is integrity in your own words? How does this own words? How does this apply to being a juror?apply to being a juror?

in·teg·ri·tyin·teg·ri·ty/inˈtegritē//inˈtegritē/

Noun: The quality of being honest and Noun: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral having strong moral principles; moral uprightnessuprightness

WhatWhat’’s a Trial?s a Trial?

There are several parts to a trial. There are several parts to a trial. Jury SelectionJury Selection Opening statementsOpening statements ProsecutionProsecution’’s case (s case (““good guygood guy””)) DefenseDefense’’s case (the defendant s case (the defendant ““bad guybad guy””)) Closing statementsClosing statements Jury instructions Jury instructions Jury deliberation and verdictJury deliberation and verdict

Important terms to know:Important terms to know:Burden of proofBurden of proof: the person who : the person who

makes the claim must prove the makes the claim must prove the claim (prosecution)claim (prosecution)

Due process of lawDue process of law: all of the : all of the legal rights of a person- do it by legal rights of a person- do it by the bookthe book

Presumption of innocencePresumption of innocence: the : the defendant is legally innocent until defendant is legally innocent until he or she is proven guiltyhe or she is proven guilty

REASONABLE DOUBTREASONABLE DOUBT

““beyond a reasonable doubtbeyond a reasonable doubt”” is the is the term the court usesterm the court uses

Simply put, this means that there is Simply put, this means that there is no doubt, in a reasonable personno doubt, in a reasonable person’’s s mind, that the defendant is guilty. mind, that the defendant is guilty.

Most importantly used in murder Most importantly used in murder cases including the death penaltycases including the death penalty

the evidence presented is air-tightthe evidence presented is air-tight

7) WHAT IS JUSTICE?

Reflection:Reflection:

8) What muddles, 8) What muddles, complicates or gets complicates or gets in the way of in the way of justice? Explain justice? Explain your answer.your answer.

Act 1Act 1

in a jury room in a jury room Jurors 7 and 10 ridicule the Jurors 7 and 10 ridicule the

defendants story. Others agree.defendants story. Others agree. Juror 8 votes “not guilty.”Juror 8 votes “not guilty.”The jurors discuss the facts of the The jurors discuss the facts of the

case.case.There is a call for a secret vote.There is a call for a secret vote.What do you think will be the result?What do you think will be the result?