24 Angry Men

Until this evening NewMexiKen was unaware there had been a 1997 remake of the 1957 classic 12 Angry Men, a movie which tells the story of jury deliberations in a murder trial. The original is superb. Directed by Sidney Lumet (Network, Serpico, The Pawnbroker) and starring Henry Fonda as the protagonist, it is well written, exceptionally well acted, and a film worth seeing again and again.

Reginald Rose’s screenplay remains remarkably intact 40 years later in the 1997 version. Produced for the cable network Showtime, the film was directed by William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French Connection) and stars Academy Award winners Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott. It is a surprisingly fine film in its own right, made even more compelling by comparisons with its predecessor.

 

1957

1997

Juror #1 Martin Balsam Courtney Vance
Juror #2 John Fiedler Ossie Davis
Juror #3 Lee J. Cobb George C. Scott
Juror #4 E.G. Marshall Armin Mueller-Stahl
Juror #5 Jack Klugman Dorian Harewood
Juror #6 Edward Binns James Gandolfini
Juror #7 Jack Warden Tony Danza
Juror #8 Henry Fonda Jack Lemmon
Juror #9 Joseph Sweeney Hume Cronyn
Juror #10 Ed Begley, Sr. Mykelti Williamson
Juror #11 George Voskovec Edward James Olmos
Juror #12 Robert Webber William L. Petersen