A true example of what a movie should be! Recommended with no reservations!

One of the best courtroom dramas I have seen. Henry Fonda has an incredible command of the screen.

Nothing but truly demonstrating what is "reasonable doubt" in the best way a movie can ever do. Such a believable act!

[ATTENTION: This review reveals content of the movie.]
Superb courthouse drama, focusing on a man of justice who won't be forced to a decision by the other eleven jurists to condemn a youth on trial for murder. It's summer, the court house has no air-conditioning and tempers run high as jurists shift from one position to another, a gamut of emotions as volatile as a bomb about to explode. The anger of one jurist (Lee J. Cobb) to get the trial over and done with has a deeper side than just wanting to reach a verdict. He is in torment from a personal family crisis with his son that has proven to be a 'rotter' in the face of his father (Cobb) Other characters show a variety of human frailties of a most severe severe nature while jurists seem to embody 'everyman' who go with the flow, but are open to seeing the light in this horrendous murder trial. It was the great Sydney lumet's first theatrical film and it is a dandy. Headed by Henry Fonda with an absolute STELLAR cast of great actors of the 1950's period, their careers ranging from as far back as 1939 this is a film of great skill. The clausterphobic atmosphere of the jury's room, where most of the action takes place, raises the level of anxiety, temper and anger to a fever pitch, at times to the point of out and out verbal and even physical violence so high do the emotions run. This was a labour of love for Henry Fonda who wanted to make a perfect theatrical movie of the tremendous Broadway hit which has just been revived on Broadway to great aclaim. The movie is a winner on every level: the cast, Lumet's strong direction, the movie's set decoration making the situation seem all the more desperate and volatile in the stifling heet. There are no histrionics in this film. It is simply a fabulously written movie that places the viewer in ONE solitary room for the majority of the film, yet there is not ONE DULL MOMENT. It's is a masterpiece of a movie, of restraint and demonstrates how a single man with a nagging hunch that justice, on the verge of being sabotaged, can eventually come to a truth when all seems lost. Not to be missed.

"A Reasonable Doubt". This statement now has the impact on my mind that it deserves. The jury selection has become more democratic in the past 60 years, but the same challenges exist. For as long as we entertain the notion 'innocent until proven guilty', we will be apart from those who would arbitrarily create and enforce rules for their own edification. More (mental) action in one bare room than in a dozen blockbusters. A marvelous, marvelous film.

It's been a while - but I do recall the acting was very good - and an excellent story -- a great drama; very interesting movie.

This movie is a true classic. Besides proving that you don't need CGI or slick special effects to make an engaging movie, it does an excellent job of ratcheting up the tension as it goes on. The acting is excellent and the characters are well done and developed. It also shows that exotic locales don't make the movie, (Look at Brendan Fraser's "The Mummy") and that success can be achieved with a cast of just twelve.

I had seen this film at school and we all had to express how we felt. To me at first I found it boring but then I had to visualize and see how expressive which it turned out that the film itself was quite amazingly good. It had began and the whole concept that it was only in one room and from seeing the acting how all those men were trying best to find out this murder case that to me I found it quite educated and later to be interesting hearing and that it relied mainly how the actors express their perspectives and it had absolutely no special effects. Just by seeing twelve men trying to visualize and find out who is in fault which brings in the life experiences when it comes to a murder case and you have to see who is the guilty one. It reminds me the old Perry Mason court series except this time twelve men trying to find out the decisions and seeing who is the one to blame. This is what brought the attention.

Great movie. It's so cool how the movie takes place in one room the whole time and it has so much depth. It's interesting and educational. It show's that misconceived notions about people can have horrible consequences. Like what you see isn't always what you get. And we need more people like the main character in this world defending the innocent.

This movie was sooo boring omg how could anyone watch it=(

The greatest ensemble cast of all time. An amazing cinematic experience. A breath of fresh air to watch a movie that relies on the acting ability of its performers instead of mindless special effects co-ordinators.

One of the best movies ever made. It takes place in 1 room, so it relies on a story and characters, not special effects.

This is one of my top 5 favorite movies. Great performance by H. Fonda & Lee Jacob.