12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men. 1957 United Artists.
Starring: 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
Director: Sidney Lumet
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The 1957 film adaptation of the Reginald Rose play is one of the all time classic movies. You probably know the premise: a kid from the inner city is accused of murdering his father. If convicted, the boy goes to the electric chair.

Henry Fonda is the eighth juror (identified as "Davis" at the end of the movie), and the one who initially votes "not guilty", followed by his questioning the credibility of the two witnesses, and suggesting that the murder weapon isn't as unique as assumed. Over the course of the movie, the other eleven jurors argue about it, eventually changing their votes to go along with Davis, starting with the ninth one (Sweeney). Juror #7 (Warden) simply changes his vote to end the deliberation faster, but he also has two tickets to a Yankees-Indians game, and doesn't want to miss it.

Lee J. Cobb is the third juror, and the one most anxious to convict the accused, partially out of malice towards his own son who he had fallen out with following a fight. After the climatic confrontation with Davis, he breaks down and decides the kid is not guilty.

Highly, highly recommended.