I picked up the Criterion BluRay during Barnes & Noble’s sale this summer after being aware of the film for a while. I was intrigued by the single-room story and the exploration of condemning someone as guilty, and the film totally blew me away. The acting was stellar, the writing is timeless, and the cinematography was magic the way it kept a single room visually interesting for 90 minutes.
10/10 everyone should watch it
I like the 1957 and the 1997 version but for different reasons. 1957 is certainly a timeless classic, and although it’s the same general plot line, I liked how 1997 reworked the arguments and keyed on more modern (post civil rights) views on racism. If you’ve not seen the 1997 version, it’s definitely worth a watch.