The defense and the prosecution have rested and the jury is filing into the jury room to decide if a young Spanish-American is guilty or innocent of murdering his father. What begins as an open and shut case soon becomes a mini-drama of each of the jurors' prejudices and preconceptions about the trial, the accused, and each other.
Acting
Twelve performances so lived-in you forget it's scripted.
Direction
Lumet's lens drops from high and wide to tight and suffocating.
Writing
Every objection lands like a gut punch.
Director
Sidney Lumet
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot in just 19 days on a budget of $340,000, it bombed theatrically before becoming a TV staple.
Lumet used increasingly longer lenses and lower angles as tension rose, literally making the walls close in.
No ratings yet
Reactions from the web
That scene with the two knives was great, Im glad I didnt see this trailer before watching the movie
@NanenMauricio 960
Man, I am 36 and just discovered this gem, my brother in law recommended this to me saying that it's in his top top list of all time.
@avenpace 550
Quite simply, a masterpiece of filmmaking. Lumet's directorial debut. A wish list of seasoned actors. A provocative script. Cinephiles take note of the varying camera angles.
@jamesdrynan 342
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
