1. MEDIA STUDIES ESSAY.
The 12 Angry Men
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By Caitlin Colli
In 1957 and 1997 the film The 12 Angry Men was produced. It isbased on a story
on a young, teenage, boy, who wasaccused of assaulting his father with a knife.
This has been taken in to the court and punishment has been put into the hands of
12 jours.
The style and content of both films has been produced slightly differently. Nevertheless some
similarities have stood out to me in both of the films.So in that case, if you can't place your
finger on it .Here's how:
Camera work:
In both films the way the camera moves, has an impact on the audience. We know this because
the camera uses the tilt shot... from the top of the room, to the middle, to the bottom. Makes the
room look like as if it's increasing in size. They also use a tripod to capture the scene in different
situations...Therefore the tripod can also be used to hold a still image.
However, there is some differences that are obvious to the eye of the audience. If you watch both
films carefully… you cansee in the 1957 film, they use close ups on the face a lot, to show
expression on there faces when they are talking… like if they were sceptical, what they may be
thinking about?,or even claustrophobic.
Throughout the 1997 film, there is free movement in the film... like the (camera movement)
panning.Panning around the room gives the audience an idea of the feel of the room. Also the
use of the (camera movement) tracking… Tracking every person
who speaks gives us that sense of conclusiveness. Though the film also uses the camera
movement,zoom... it shows action of the scene in a sudden movement.
In both films they use the overhead shot to show vulnerability of the character.Like the teenage
boy, victim of the murder who has been considered either guilty or not guilty. furthermore
,when the camera is under the head it shows overpowering and how important the character
may be. Also the over shoulder shot is used to give an effect. Like if we the audience,were there
experiencing the same sentimental emotion the character is feeling at that very time. Like as if
we were playing the role of a victim. In the 1957 they use the camera shot crabbing,which is eye
level to the jurors... because they say whenyou look in the eyes of someone you can read them
like a book. It also creates that tension…. Tension is also created with the camera because the
movement of the camera can give a whole different way of perceiving the scene and the
emotions they may be feeling in the film 12 angry men.
2. Mise- en -sence:
One way mise-en-scene is used,is in what costumes they use in both films. The costumes they
wear brings out their personality type. As for the 1957 film, they have more suits which show
upper class. As the film is black and white it may be hard to match what coloured shirts they are
wearing. Hence why, some appeared to be wearing white.White symbolises purity and
innocence, this
person may be very
tidy and
understanding
person. Like jurors 8
and 2.
However in the 1997 film it's coloured, so you can see what colours they wear. So in that case,
the coloured tops they wear you can see more visually. This can also be what their personalities
are like, so it's expressed in that form. For an example… in 1957 wearing stripes of colour
indicates, being over the top at everything he does in his life. And being over dressed is one of
them. Including the fact, instead of holding a tissue the joueur holds a handkerchief resembles
more high maintenance.Another juror was wearing grey which was shown in both films.We
associate grey with wisdom and cleverness. So in that case that could be the reason why he
thought against the other jurors.. Look at the bigger picture…. He looked the part… he played
the part.Also in the 1997 what they wore became more casual and modernised . The fact in the
1957 the jurors sat in a small room that was hot and unbearable to sit
in... plus there was no air conditioning. This caused the jurors to be
fidgeting a lot, with the props they had in front of them. Therefore
this shows they are flustered, agitated and there's tension that's filled
in the rooms atmosphere.But this could be why they are sweating to.
The props used during the process is different in both films because
they both in 1997 they use ashtrays, machined fans, pencils, paper
even a mobile phone is laid out on the desk. Because it's an updated
film.As for the 1957 film they use electric fan,ashtrays and paper as it is the original film made in
the 1900s. Furthermore in the 1957 film they had a male as a
judge and so were the juror's. As for the 1997 film.There was a
female in the role of The judged. However,they still had men
in the character role as the jurors. Though both films had
jurors of different backgrounds and ethnicity.
Diegetic sound:
Diegetic sound is what has been gifted with on the films
world… so how is that used? In both of the films 1957 and
3. 1997 have rain in the background, which makes it more miserable and you may feel agitated and
dull.
Diegetic sound is also used in the way they
communicate to one another and the dialogue
spoken.
Therefore it makes the audiences feel you're
sitting there witnessing it yourself. Also taking
part... discussing and distributing in the
conversation . As the suits worn in 1957 film is more formal there personalities came across
more sensible. As in 1997 film the clothing was informal as they spoke more freely and more
outgoing. The sound of the footsteps of juror 8 ,when he was explaining what he said might of
happened. Has emphy when he is talking...As it overexaggerates his point. But it gives what he
is expressing, more meaning and worth. Also in the 1997 film at
the start. They use the sound effect of a train which speeds
up. This gives the beginning more suspense and draws the
audience into what is going to happen next.
