35 Friendly Questions about "12 Angry Men"

Estimated Completion Time
8 min
35 Friendly Questions about "12 Angry Men"
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About This Quiz

How well do you remember "12 Angry Men"? Find out by taking this quiz!
A Hollywood legend stars in "12 Angry Men" as the stalwart Juror #8. Who is this actor?
Gary Cooper
Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda played the principled Juror #8. Although Fonda is best known for his work in films such as "The Grapes of Wrath," "Once Upon a Time in the West," and "On Golden Pond," this film marks the only time he also served as a producer of a feature film.
James Stewart
Ronald Reagan

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His primary opponent is Juror #3, an angry, blustery man played by Lee J. Cobb. Cobb earned two Oscar nominations in his film career but may have had even more impact on the stage, where he was the first actor to play Willy Loman in this landmark play.
"Death of a Salesman"
Playwright Arthur Miller said he wrote the part of Willy Loman with Lee J. Cobb in mind. Cobb would also play the role on television, alongside Mildred Dunnock, George Segal, and Gene Wilder.
"Long Day's Journey into Night"
"Look Back in Anger"
"A Streetcar Named Desire"

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"12 Angry Men" features a number of prolific character actors, including Martin Balsam, E. G. Marshall, and Jack Warden, and also this future TV star who plays the nervous, slum-born Juror #5. Can you name him?
James Arness
Raymond Burr
Jack Klugman
Jack Klugman played the slum-raised Juror #5 and would later earn acclaim in shows like "The Odd Couple" and "Quincy, M.E." He was the last surviving member of the cast, passing away in 2012.
Michael Landon

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Mousy Juror #2 might be more familiar to you by his voice. John Fiedler is perhaps best known for voicing one of the characters in Disney's "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh." Which one?
Christopher Robin
Piglet
John Fiedler portrayed Piglet for 37 years, lending his voice to the diminutive pig in movies, videos, television shows, recordings, and video games.
Pooh
Rabbit

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"12 Angry Men" was originally a live television production. Can you name the series where it first aired?
"Kraft Television Theatre"
"Playhouse 90"
"Studio One"
"12 Angry Men" first appeared on the "Studio One" television series in 1954. The show was long thought lost until a kinescope recording was discovered in 2003.
"The US Steel Hour"

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The screenwriter of "12 Angry Men" was very familiar with the story -- he wrote the original teleplay, too. Do you know who he is?
Paddy Chayevsky
Harlan Ellison
Reginald Rose
Reginald Rose based his original teleplay on his own experience in a jury room. He would spend more time in the legal world when he created the acclaimed TV series, "The Defenders."
Rod Serling

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The director of "12 Angry Men" would helm more than 50 films in his illustrious career, but this was his first. Who is he?
Stanley Kramer
Sidney Lumet
"12 Angry Men" was Sidney Lumet's first feature film. It earned him the first of four Oscar nominations for Best Director, followed by "Dog Day Afternoon," "Network," and "The Verdict."
Alan J. Pakula
Sydney Pollack

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The film begins in the courtroom, with the judge issuing instructions to the jury. He advises them that they must find him not guilty if they have any ______________.
Burden of proof
Double jeopardy
Quid pro quo
Reasonable doubt
Reasonable doubt is the standard by which jurors are expected to accept the theory of the crime. Although evidence can never be perfect, the presumption of innocence says it has to pass a sniff test in order for the jury to accept it.

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The case this jury is hearing is that of a teenage boy charged with murder. Who is he accused of killing?
His brother
His father
The boy is on trial for the murder of his abusive father. He allegedly stabbed his father and fled, only to be arrested upon returning to the apartment three hours later.
The landlord
A rival gang member

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The judge explains that a guilty verdict in this case will result in a mandatory sentence. What is the punishment for this particular crime?
Death
The charge of murder comes with a death sentence. Juror #8 argues that a man can't be sentenced to die without discussing it first, and votes not guilty to force a debate.
Life in prison
20 years without parole
Probation with time served

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Most of the jurors initially expect the deliberation to be over quickly, and Juror #7 is particularly anxious to get the case over with, as he has tickets to a sporting event. What sport?
Baseball
Juror #7 has tickets to see the New York Yankees, who are scheduled to host Cleveland that night. As it happens, the game will be rained out.
Boxing
Football
Horse racing

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Juror #3 tells one of his colleagues that he runs a messenger service, for which his wife came up with the name. What was her brainstorm?
At Your Service
Beck and Call
Juror #3 operates the Beck and Call Messenger Service. He is proud of the fact that he started with nothing, and now has 37 employees.
Door to Door
Super Speed

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As a first step, the jury decides to take a preliminary vote, to see where everyone stands. What is the result of that first ballot?
12-0, in favor of guilty
11-1, in favor of guilty
The first vote reveals that the jury believes the boy is guilty of murder, with the exception of one holdout. That holdout, Juror #8, wants to discuss some of the facts of the case.
10-2, in favor of guilty
Split 6-6

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One point of contention is the boy's defense that he had a knife like the one found at the crime scene, but he did not have it anymore. What was his excuse for what happened to the knife?
He gave it to a friend.
He sold it at a pawn shop.
It fell through a hole in his pants.
The boy claims that he bought the knife as a gift, but it slipped through a hole in his pocket. Juror #4 doesn't think it's a very credible story, but Juror #8 maintains that it is at least possible.
Someone stole it.

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Juror #4 says that the switchblade used to kill the boy's father is unique, but Juror #8 surprises everyone when he pulls out an exact copy. Where did get the duplicate knife?
A bodega
A pawn shop
Juror #8 goes to the defendant's neighborhood and buys an identical switchblade from a pawn shop. He admits that he broke the law in doing so. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a fan of the film, contends that if Juror #8's actions were known, it would probably result in a mistrial.
A sporting goods store
From the police

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After the early heated discussion, Juror #8 agrees to another vote, saying that if no one else votes not guilty, he will join in the guilty verdict. As it happens, Juror #9 changes his vote and explains why. What is his explanation?
The duplicate knife changed his mind.
He feels bad for the boy.
He doesn't believe in the death penalty.
He wants to give Juror #8 a chance to speak.
Juror #9 still thinks the boy is probably guilty, but he recognizes that Juror #8 stuck his neck out in an effort to prolong the discussion. "He gambled for support," he says, "and I gave it to him."

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During a short break, Juror #7 tells Juror #8 that he's got the skills of a salesman. What does Juror #8 say is his actual career?
Accountant
Architect
Juror #8 says he is an architect. Juror #7 replies that he has the gift of the soft sell, as opposed to his own approach of luring clients with jokes and drinks.
Artist
Author

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Juror #8 gets his deliberation, but while reviewing some of the testimony, he catches two of the other jurors playing a game instead of listening. Do you recall the game that they play?
Dots
Hangman
Paper football
Tic-Tac-Toe
Juror #3 and Juror #12 are playing Tic-Tac-Toe, which causes Juror #8 to snatch the paper up and crumble it. "This isn't a game," he protests. Juror #3 is not pleased.

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In a dramatic challenge to one eyewitness' testimony, the jury tests out the claim that an old man living downstairs heard the body hit the floor and walked to the door to see the defendant run by in only 15 seconds. How long does it take Juror #8 to walk the same distance?
15 seconds
28 seconds
41 seconds
Even walking faster than the old man did in court, it takes Juror #8 more than twice as long to walk the same route.
A full minute

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Juror #3 rejects the findings of the timed test, leading Juror #8 to accuse him of relying on personal reasons instead of facts. This leads Juror #3 to threaten him, saying…
"I'll kill him."
"I'll kill him" is also what the boy allegedly said about his own father before the elder man was found stabbed. Juror #8 observed earlier that this phrase is rarely taken literally, and Juror #3 seems to reinforce that point.
"I'll prove you wrong."
"Watch your back."
"You'll be sorry."

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Juror #11 is an immigrant who marvels how democracy functions. When Juror #10 asks why he is so polite, Juror #11 replies that it is the same reason Juror #10 is not:
"I learned it from a book."
"I value other people."
"It's the way I was brought up."
Juror #11 takes a subtle jab at Juror #10's rudeness. The two have already locked horns; the foreign-born Juror #11 calls out his fellow juror on his poor command of the English language.
"They don't teach politeness in America."

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Juror #12 is an advertising man, and he relates the story of a colleague who uses strange metaphors to get everyone's attention. What's the example he uses?
"Let's go fishing and see what we catch."
"Let's put it in the mousetrap and see if he bites."
"Let's run it for president and see who votes for it."
"Let's run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes."
Juror #12 may find his colleague's flagpole metaphor "idiotic but funny," but it's clearly a technique he endorses. Later on, he prefaces an idea by suggesting, "Let's throw it out on the stoop and see if the cat licks it up."

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When the rains come down, Juror #8 helps the foreman close the windows, which reminds the foreman of a story from his job. What is that job?
Chemical worker
Electrician
Football coach
Specifically, assistant head coach at a local high school. He remembers one of his players getting trapped in a quagmire of mud - much like the 6-6 deadlock in the latest jury vote.
Garbage man

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Except for Juror #4, everyone is sweating in the heat of "the hottest day of the year." Things improve when Juror #7 figures out how to make the fan work. Why didn't it work before?
The fan has a loose wire.
The fan is connected to the light switch.
The jury hadn't needed the lights until the rains came. Of course, once he can turn it on, Juror #7 uses the fan as a makeshift basketball target, to the irritation of Juror #9.
The fan is not plugged in.
The fan is missing a blade.

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To test out whether the defendant was too rattled to remember his whereabouts after the crime, Juror #8 quizzes tightly-controlled Juror #4 about the movies he saw on a night out earlier in the week. Can you recall the names of the movies he saw in his double feature?
"Man on Fire" and "The Bachelor Party"
"The Scarlet Circle" and "The Amazing Mrs. Bainbridge"
"The Scarlet Circle" was "a very clever whodunit," while "The Amazing Mrs. Bainbridge" was "a very inexpensive second feature" so unmemorable that Juror #4 accidentally calls it, "The Remarkable Mrs. Bainbridge."
"Stage Struck" and "That Kind of Woman"
"The Tin Star" and "On Our Merry Way"

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After Juror #3 demonstrates the stabbing, Juror #5 questions the defendant's guilt when he says that the killer couldn't wouldn't use an overhand stab. How does he suggest an experienced knife-handler would commit the crime?
A swipe across the throat
Thrusting with both hands
An underhand jab, after flicking open the knife
Juror #5 has seen too many knife fights in his neighborhood, and he knows the overhand method is too clumsy and time-consuming. In his experience, flicking open the switchblade is followed by a quick underhanded jab with the knife.
With a twisting motion

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When Juror #7 caves in and changes his vote to not guilty, he is challenged to explain his turnabout. After insisting he doesn't owe an explanation, he finally offers this as his rationale:
"I don't think he's guilty."
When Juror #11 demands an explanation for his change of heart, Juror #7 lamely asserts that he thinks the defendant is not guilty. Knowing about the baseball tickets, Juror #11 seems skeptical.
"I wasn't listening before."
"The way he used the knife convinced me."
"You all made good points."

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After a new vote puts the jury at 9-3 in favor of acquittal, Juror #10 goes on a tirade, leading the rest of the jurors to turn their backs on him. What about his speech repels his fellow jurors?
He attacks the criminal justice system.
He criticizes each of his fellow jurors individually.
He outs himself as a communist.
He reveals himself to be racially prejudiced.
Juror #10's outburst attacks the defendant's race, saying that all people of his race are liars and don't value human life. He only stops when Juror #4 curtly intervenes, and he is shocked to realize how detestable his fellow jurors find him.

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Incidentally, Juror #10 is played by Oscar-winner Ed Begley. His son is none other than actor Ed Begley, Jr. Do you remember the TV drama where the younger Begley made his breakthrough as Victor Ehrlich?
"Hill Street Blues"
"L.A. Law"
"Lou Grant"
"St. Elsewhere"
Ed Begley, Jr., was a member of the "St. Elsewhere" ensemble for six years. IMDb lists him with over 300 acting credits, more than tripling the output of his father.

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Juror #4 finds he has reasonable doubt when the other jurors determine that a key eyewitness would not have been wearing her glasses when she saw the crime. What was the clue that led them to this discovery?
The bumps on Juror #4's nose
Juror #9 notices that Juror #4's eyeglasses have left small indentations on his nose. The eyewitness had the same bumps, suggesting that she wears glasses. Because she wouldn't have been wearing them in the middle of the night when she saw the murder, her testimony is now called into question.
The clothes the eyewitness wore
The distance between the eyewitness and the boy
The speed of the elevated train passing by

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Alone in favor of guilt, Juror #3 stands his ground until he tears up a photograph from his wallet and then tearfully changes his vote. The picture is of Juror #3 and who?
His brother
His father
His son
Juror #3 told a story earlier in the film about how he taught his son to be tougher, but now the boy shuns him. Lamenting that lost relationship, he mutters about "rotten kids" before joining the others for acquittal.
His wife

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When they are the last two in the room, Juror #8 makes a gesture of kindness toward Juror #3. What does he do?
He helps him on with his coat.
Juror #8 silently brings Juror #3 his coat and helps him put it on. They don't say anything, though, and Juror #3 is the last person we see, despondently descending the steps outside the courthouse.
He offers him a hug.
He pieces the photo back together.
He tells him, "It's not your fault."

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At the end of the film, we finally learn the names of two of the jurors. Elderly Juror #9 introduces himself as McArdle. What name does Juror #8 give in reply?
Anderson
Davis
Throughout the film, none of the characters -- jurors, judge, defendant, victim, witnesses -- are given names. Only at the very end do we learn the identity of these two, and then they part company.
Solomon
Thayer

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There have been numerous versions of "12 Angry Men" in other countries, including Japan, India, China, and Russia. In 1997, a remake for cable starred this Oscar-winning actor in the role of Juror #8.
Richard Dreyfuss
Charlton Heston
William Hurt
Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon led a cast that included Tony Danza, James Gandolfini, Edward James Olmos, and George C. Scott in the role of Juror #3.

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In 2015, this comedienne created a parody of "12 Angry Men," in which the panel debates her attractiveness. Name her.
Maria Bamford
Samantha Bee
Chelsea Handler
Amy Schumer
The cast of Schumer's version of the tale, which includes Paul Giamatti, Jeff Goldblum, and Dennis Quaid, ultimately concludes that she is hot enough to be on television.

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