10 Greatest Directorial Film Debuts

Sidney Lumet had a noteworthy fifty-year career in Hollywood. The director earned himself four Best Director Oscar nominations for films such as Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Network (1976) and the Paul Newman legal drama The Verdict (1982).

But it would a different courtroom drama that immortalized the director in cinema history, 12 Angry Men. Making the transition from television to the silver screen, Lumet would be awarded with his first nomination and more than sixty years on from its release, the film is still regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.

With the exception of the opening and closing scene, the entire story is filmed in the jury room. Henry Fonda is cast as the story's hero as the only holdout of the twelve man jury. Unwilling to sentence the defendant on the evidence provided, Fonda and the other jurors debate if the crime committed is beyond reasonable doubt.

Over the course of the next hour and half, Lumet captures the infighting, conflicts and underlying disputes of a hung jury, making for a captivating watch. The classic movie's interpretation of racism and legal ethics have aged extraordinarily well and it remains essential viewing for any law student.