1. Background of 12 Angry Men

2. Production Long history of production + revision: short teleplay -- major Broadway productions. Reginald Rose inspiration when he served on a jury in manslaughter case,: Jurors fought bitterly for 8 hours. From New York Teleplay aired on CBS as live 1 hour drama. 1954 Immediately successful + led to further development: film version in 1957, starring Henry Fonda Directed by Sidney Lumet Filmed again for TV 1997, starring George C. Scott and Jack Lemmon + 1st appeared on Broadway in 2004.

3. Historically Dramatically--Naturalism: excellent example of mid-20th century American style of socially conscious, psychologically driven realism, depicting everyday individuals in everyday situations. In form play perfect piece of naturalism, occurring in real time + running continuously, even between acts, for length of drama. Historically 1957. U.S. politically transitional time. The Civil Rights Movement was well underway with the Brown vs. Board of Education decision passed in 1954 + Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1956. Many of themes of racial + social inequity being played out in drama were being played out on national scene.