12 Angry Men (1957)

Highly Recommended

USA
Feature Film
Director: Sidney Lumet
Writer: Reginald Rose
Cinematographer: Boris Kaufman
Composer: Kenyon Hopkins
Cast: Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall, Jack Klugman, Edward Binns, Jack Warden, Henry Fonda, Joseph Sweeney, Ed Begley, George Voskovec, Robert Webber

Liberal wet dream though the plot may be (one dissenting juror in a seemingly cut-and-dried murder case, slowly but surely breaks down the prejudices of his fellow jurors), the uniformly excellent performances, the expert pacing, and the sweatily ravishing photography, ensure that the film transcends its propaganda origins. Iain.Stott