Twelve Angry Men

By: Reginald RoseBy: Reginald Rose

Reginald RoseReginald Rose

• Born Dec. 10, 1920; New York City• Attended City College (N.Y.) 1937-

1938; did not graduate• U.S. Army- 1942-1946; 1st Lt.• 1943, married; has 4 children; 2nd

marriage, 1963; 2 more children• First job: Warner Bros.- copy writer

• Born Dec. 10, 1920; New York City• Attended City College (N.Y.) 1937-

1938; did not graduate• U.S. Army- 1942-1946; 1st Lt.• 1943, married; has 4 children; 2nd

marriage, 1963; 2 more children• First job: Warner Bros.- copy writer

More Reginald RoseMore Reginald Rose• Wrote short stories, novels; no luck

selling until writing plays for tv• CBS bought first script- The Bus to

Nowhere, aired 1951• 1954- writes Twelve Angry Men:

most famous work• Cont. writing t.v. scripts, plays,

screenplays

• Wrote short stories, novels; no luck selling until writing plays for tv

• CBS bought first script- The Bus to Nowhere, aired 1951

• 1954- writes Twelve Angry Men: most famous work

• Cont. writing t.v. scripts, plays, screenplays

Still More Reginald RoseStill More Reginald Rose

• Nominated 6 times; Won 3 Emmy Awards, including for Twelve Angry Men

• Co-produced award winning movie version: Yes, we will watch it!!

• Died April 19, 2002; Norwalk, CT

• Nominated 6 times; Won 3 Emmy Awards, including for Twelve Angry Men

• Co-produced award winning movie version: Yes, we will watch it!!

• Died April 19, 2002; Norwalk, CT

The Play- Setting & Time Period

Inspired by Rose’s experience on jury duty; manslaughter trial, bitter arguing

The jury room of a New York Court of Law Summer, 1957 One very hot afternoon

Plot Summary

• 12 jurors locked in jury room

• Must unanimously reach verdict in murder trial

• During process: much anger, hatred, possible violence between jurors

• After heated discussion, reach verdict

• Verdict is ???????????????

Themes

Triumph and fragility of justice Overcoming class and race prejudice Democracy and social responsibility Courage- individual vs. group