20 Films From The 1950s That Everybody Should Watch

3. 12 Angry Men

In a list populated by big-budget blockbusters, cutting-edge technologies, and 200 minutes epics, it might seem odd to feature an hour and a half long film comprising almost solely of just one set (and a jury room at that) at the bottom of the podium. But as written in The New York Times following its 1957 release, "It makes for taut, absorbing, and compelling drama that reaches far beyond the close confines of its jury room setting." It follows a jury of men in their attempt to reach a unanimous decision regarding whether or not a nineteen year old boy is guilty of murdering his father. In a room of twelve very different men, conflict ensues. The film didn't perform well at the box office, no doubt thanks to the likes of the aforementioned CinemaScope epics being preferable to most cinema-goers, but it found its audience when later aired on television. Once again, it is an example of substance over spectacle. It enthrals with story, without the need for... explosions and stuff.