It will fatally remind the viewer of Sidney Lumet's masterful "twelve angry men" ,but it was made one year before ,and it's a good film on its own .
Often ,in this kind of movie,the baddies try to threaten the juror or the witness , and even sometimes they go as far as to do away with the latter.
Nothing of these film noir clichés here;the bribery is sweet , and exploits the misfortunes of the jurors : a couple,escaping from a country behind the Iron Curtain who left their only child behind and are ready to do anything to find him again ; the couple with a sick child who finds it hard to make both ends meet ;and the has-been actress,eager to make her come-back ;all are ripe for bribery ; the corrupt lawman and his confederate's methods are smart and attractive .
The jurors' debate is a great moment,as three of them,although consumed with remorse , persist in voting "not guilty " and the film continues to build in intensity and drama,suspense is sustained till the very end.
Often ,in this kind of movie,the baddies try to threaten the juror or the witness , and even sometimes they go as far as to do away with the latter.
Nothing of these film noir clichés here;the bribery is sweet , and exploits the misfortunes of the jurors : a couple,escaping from a country behind the Iron Curtain who left their only child behind and are ready to do anything to find him again ; the couple with a sick child who finds it hard to make both ends meet ;and the has-been actress,eager to make her come-back ;all are ripe for bribery ; the corrupt lawman and his confederate's methods are smart and attractive .
The jurors' debate is a great moment,as three of them,although consumed with remorse , persist in voting "not guilty " and the film continues to build in intensity and drama,suspense is sustained till the very end.