On Broadway, Reginald Rose, a television writer, won an Emmy Award in 1954 for best-written dramatic material for the original television version of 12 Angry Men (Kelley, 2002). The television’s popularity was growing, and low-budget films had the majority of the broadcasted films on it (2012: 9-10). By 1950, 98 television stations and four million television sets were established, and by 1962, 90 percent of American families owned at least one television (Carlisle, 2009: 28). Additionally, during the same period, television became a major form of communication.

Hollywood was influenced by the 1950s’ economic, social and political situations that allowed low-budget films to become a key industry player, competing with major studios and filmmakers (Davis, 2012: 9). However, the social and political tension continued during the Cold War, while the Americans were scared of a nuclear war that would happen between the Soviet Union and America. The annual growth rate averaged about 3 percent annually for the period between 19 (Levine, 2011: 10). The gross national product (GNP) reached $212.3 billion in 1945 and $500 billion in 1960. Initially, America was challenged with several consequences politically, economically, and culturally, but eventually, it became stronger (Norton et al., 2014: 747).Īfter the Second World War, Europe and Asia were overwhelming, but the United States farms, cities, and factories were unharmed. This period shaped their choices in their domestic policies and their relations with the world. The American Great Depression of the 1930s and the Second World War have created social and political tensions among Americans. Moreover, the issues have been characterized by the jurors’ behaviours, ideas, and decisions with high cinematographic techniques and direction.

It has discussed civil rights according to race, class, ideas, and the threats to American democracy. Its genre has been described as drama, crime, thriller, mystery, and film noir (Kuznetsov, Slezak, and Hepting, 2011: 254). Briefly, it is about a jury making a decision regarding a murder trial. In parallel, during the same period independent filmmakers with the power of the new technology, the television, got the chance to fly out of the regular type of cinema production.ġ2 Angry Men (Lumet, 1957) has successfully reflected political and social tensions in 1950s America. Films played a role in portraying social movements during the 1950s.

Unfortunately, the Cold War started immediately in 1947, raising the American people’s tension.

The United States of America had an economic boom during the post-war period, leaving the 1930s economic depression and the Second World War behind their backs.

Twelve angry men by reginald rose