12 Angry Jurors Synopsis

Twelve Angry Jurors Synopsis

A 19-year-old man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. "He doesn't stand a chance," mutters the guard as the 12 jurors are taken into the bleak jury room. 

It looks like an open-and-shut case—until one of the jurors begins opening the others' eyes to the facts. "This is a remarkable thing about democracy," says the foreign-born juror, "that we are notified by mail to come down to this place—and decide on the guilt or innocence of a person; of a man or woman we have not known before. We have nothing to gain or lose by our verdict. We should not make it a personal thing." 

But personal it is, with each juror revealing his or her own character as the various testimonies are reexamined, the murder is re-enacted and a new murder threat is born before their eyes! 

Tempers get short, arguments grow heated, and the jurors become 12 angry men and women

This was first made as a 1954 teleplay by Reginald Rose for the Studio One anthology television series, and was aired as a live CBS Television production on 20 September 1954. The drama was later rewritten for the stage in 1955 under the same title.

Rose wrote several stage adaptations of the story. In 1964, Leo Genn appeared in the play on the London stage. In other theatrical adaptations in which female actors are cast, the play is retitled 12 Angry Jurors, 12 Angry Men and Women or 12 Angry Women.

FOR MEN: Judge:Monologue Foreman: He is a small, petty man who is impressed with the authority he has and handles himself quite formally. He's not overly bright, but dogged. 2nd Juror: He's a meek, hesitant man who finds it difficult to speak his own thoughts for fear for being shouted down by the more powerful personalities in the room. 3rd Juror: He is a very strong, very forceful, extremely opinionated man, intolerant of opinions other than his own; at the same time, a deeply wounded man who tries to hide his pain behind a loud voice. Often is angered by Juror #8, when his opinion is challenged. 4th Juror: He seems to be a man of wealth and position and a practiced speaker who presents himself well at all times. His only concern is with the facts of the case and is often the voice of reason and logic when fights break out amongst the others. 5th Juror: A younger man from the slums who identifies with the young man on trial more than he would like to admit. 6th Juror: An honest man who comes upon his decisions slowly and carefully. A blue-collar worker who states his opinions honestly and bluntly. 7th Juror: A loud, flashy, glad-handed salesman who has more important things to do than to sit in a jury. Quick to show temper and equally quick to form opinions on things about which he knows nothing. 8th Juror: A quiet, thoughtful gentleman. A man who sees all sides of every question and constantly seeks the truth. He is a man of strength tempered with compassion. Above all, he is a man who wants justice to be done and will fight to see that it is. 9th Juror: An old man. Gentle, mild, and long since defeated by life. He recognized himself for what he is and tries to be the voice of experience and wisdom in the room. 10th Juror: A bully and a bigot. He is an angry, bitter man who antagonizes almost at sight. 11th Juror: An immigrant, most likely from Europe. He speaks with an accent and is a humble, quiet man. He is very polite and calm, and believes very strongly in the American ideal and in the Justice System. 12th Juror: A slick, bright advertising man who tries to do the right thing, but is used to being overwhelmed by people with louder, brighter ideas. Guard (2) : This is a bit part. He is a policeman of any age. FOR WOMEN: Judge: Monolgue Forewoman: She is a small, petty woman who is impressed with the authority she has and handles herself quite formally. She's not overly bright, but dogged. 2nd Juror: She's a meek, hesitant woman who finds it difficult to maintain any opinion of her own. 3rd Juror: She is a very strong, very forceful, extremely opinionated woman, within whom can be detected a streak of sadism. Also, she is a humorless woman who is intolerant of opinions other than her own, and is accustomed to forcing her wishes and views upon others. 4th Juror: She seems to be a woman of wealth and position and a practiced speaker who presents herself well at all times. She seems to feel a little bit above the rest of the jurors. Her only concern is with the  facts of the case, and she is appalled with the behavior of the other jurors. 5th Juror: She is a naive, very frightened young woman who takes her obligations in this case very serious, but finds it difficult to speak up when her elders have the floor. 6th Juror: She is an honest, but dull-witted woman who comes upon her decisions slowly and carefully. She finds it difficult to create positive opinions, but must listen to, digest, and accept those opinions offered by others which appall her most. 7th Juror: A loud, flashy, glad-handed saleswoman who works in a department store and has more important things to do than to sit in a jury. Quick to show temper and equally quick to form opinions on things about which she knows nothing. She is a bully and, of course, a coward. 8th Juror: A quiet, thoughtful gentle woman. She sees all sides of every question and constantly seeks the truth. She is a woman of strength tempered with compassion. Above all, she is a woman who wants justice to be done and will fight to see that it is.  Is often angered by Juror #8,when her opinion is challenged. 9th Juror: An old woman. Gentle, mild, and long since defeated by life and now merely waiting to die. She recognized herself for what she is, and mourns the days when it would have been possible to be courageous without shielding herself behind her many years 10th Juror: An angry, bitter woman who antagonizes almost at sight. She is also a bigot who places no value on any human life save her own. Here is a woman who has been nowhere and is going nowhere, and knows it deep within herself 11th Juror: A refugee from Europe who came to this country as a young adult. She speaks with an accent and is ashamed, humble, and almost subservient to the people around her. She will honestly seek justice, because she has suffered through so much injustice. 12th Juror: A slick, bright advertising woman who thinks of human beings in terms of percentages, graphs, and polls, and has no real understanding of people. She is a superficial snob, but is trying to be companionable. Guard (2) : This is a bit part. She is a policewoman of any age.