12 Angry Men: 50th Anniversary Edition

12 Angry Men, the searing 1957 courtroom drama that marked the debut of director Sidney Lumet (Network, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon), is a powerhouse piece of ensemble acting set (in near-real-time) in the confines of a sweltering jury room where the titular dozen must determine the guilt or innocence of a Puerto Rican youth accused of knifing his father. Initially, the only voice for acquittal is juror number eight's (Henry Fonda), but as the heated (both literal and emotional) deliberations continue, opinions begin to slowly shift as the men review the evidence. Featuring a stellar supporting cast—including Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, E.G. Marshall, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, and Robert Webber, 12 Angry Men—which garnered three Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay—is presented here in a single-disc collector's edition featuring a fine anamorphic widescreen transfer. DVD extras include an audio commentary by film historian Drew Casper, a retrospective behind-the-scenes featurette (made for $349,000, the film performed poorly at the box office, despite rave reviews and the presence of co-producer Fonda), and an “Inside the Jury Room” featurette with interviews of attorneys (including one who calls 12 Angry Men the best film ever made illustrating the concept of “reasonable doubt”). Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)[DVD/Blu-ray Review—Nov. 22, 2011—Criterion, 96 min., not rated, DVD: 2 discs, $29.95; Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD, and first on Blu-ray, 1957's 12 Angry Men features a great transfer and mono sound. Extras include the 1956 teleplay “Tragedy in a Temporary Town,” written by Reginald Rose and directed by Sidney Lumet (55 min.), Frank Schaffner's 1955 TV version with an introduction by Paley Center for Media curator Ron Simon (51 min.), a new interview with cinematographer John Bailey on director of photography Boris Kaufman (39 min.), a production history featurette (26 min.), an archival interview with Lumet (23 min.), an interview with Simon on Rose (15 min.), “Reflections on Sidney” with screenwriter Walter Bernstein (10 min.), a booklet featuring an essay by writer and law professor Thane Rosenbaum, and trailers. Bottom line: an excellent DVD re-release and Blu-ray debut for a classic American courtroom drama.]