Henry Fonda in 12 Angry Men
United Artists, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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By Geoff Carter
Over the course of five decades on the stage and screen, Henry Fonda evolved from playing innocent, usually countrified characters like Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath into strong paternal types like the titular role of Mr. Roberts, the unnamed president striving to avoid nuclear holocaust in Fail Safe, and Admiral Nimitz in Midway.
His calm demeanor, dry wit, gentle tone, and smooth but firm manner lent credence and a uniquely American sensibility to his characters. Even though his simplistic and humble mannerisms, especially his Midwestern twang—bespoke a modest background, Henry Fonda became a paradigm of honesty, decency, and strength to the American public. He was someone who could be trusted to recognize—and to do—the right thing.
Because of this, playing authority figures seemed to come naturally to him. Mr. Roberts, Admiral Nimitz, a number of presidents, and a plethora of other military figures and lawmen took on reassuringly confident and competent airs when Fonda played them. His persona even seemed able to fit into the legendary dimensions of a Wyatt Earp or a young Abe Lincoln.
Earlier in his career, he typically played young men coming to terms with the harsh realities of the outside world. His portrayal of Tom Joad, the ex-con who travels to California with his family in The Grapes of Wrath, is a masterful depiction of a man coming to terms with the harsh realities of discrimination, hate, and injustice.
He played characters the audience trusted and liked; whether the characters would have been as admired had they been played by anyone other than Fonda is debatable. Would Juror #8 from 12 Angry Men been as compelling had he played by Jimmy Stewart or Gregory Peck? Maybe. Maybe not. Would My Darling Clementine’s Wyatt Earp have been as reasonable and patient had he been played by John Wayne? Nope. No way.
Reasonable, intelligent, mild-mannered, and strong. Henry Fonda was the ultimate reassuring paternal presence in American culture. He was a man we could trust to do the right thing and he was the guy who wasn’t afraid to do the right thing. He was what we really wanted America to be.
The Ten Best Films of Henry Fonda
12 Angry Men: A jury retires to render a verdict in the trial of a boy standing trial for the murder of his father. All seemed convinced of his guilt, but one juror (Fonda) dissents, stating he believes that they need to discuss the case. Over the course of the film, as the discussion goes on, more and more of the jurors begin to doubt that the boy is as guilty as he first seems. Notable for the facts that the jurors are known to the audience only by their numbers and that the action of the entire film takes place in the jury room.
Starring: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, Ed Begley, and Jack Warden. Written by Peter Rose. Directed by Sidney Lumet.
The Grapes of Wrath: John Ford’s beautiful adaptation of John Steinbeck’s epic novel chronicling the displacement and migration of Depression-era Oklahoma farmers. Fonda’s portrayal of Tom Joad, the prodigal son returning from prison just in time to join his family in their westward trek, is a priceless study in puzzlement and frustration that boils over into righteous anger. When Joad realizes what he must do, it is priceless Fonda—a decent man forced to be a reluctant hero. Notable for great supporting performances by John Carradine and Jane Darwell.
Starring: Henry Fonda, John Carradine, Jane Darwell, Shirley Mills, John Qualen, and Eddie Quillan. Screenplay by Nunnally Johnson from the book by John Steinbeck. Directed by John Ford.
The Ox-Bow Incident: Two cowboys Art Croft (Harry Morgan) and Gil Carter (Fonda) are caught up in a small-town posse raised to hunt down a suspected murderer. The group comes across three men in a canyon with a small herd of cattle nearby. Despite their protests of innocence, the posse is convinced that the three are the culprits and decides to summarily hang them. Carter tries to stop the hanging but is overpowered. After the lynching, the group discovers that they have killed the wrong men. Notable for Fonda’s performance of a man standing alone in the midst of anarchy.
Starring: Henry Fonda, Harry Morgan, Dana Andrews, Frank Conroy, Anthony Quinn, and Jane Darwell. Written by Lamar Trotti. Directed by William Wellman.
Mr. Roberts: In this wartime comedy, Mr. Roberts, a junior officer (Fonda) has to juggle the needs of a truculent captain, a rag-tag crew, an incredibly lazy laundry officer, and his own frustrations on a decrepit cargo ship in the World War II Pacific. Desperately wanting to get into the “real” war and see some action, Roberts is forced to choose between appeasing his petty captain, taking care of his overworked crew, and recognizing his own needs. Notable for the great supporting cast, including Jack Lemmon, Dick Powell, and James Cagney.
Starring: Henry Fonda, Dick Powell, Jack Lemmon, James Cagney, Ward Bond, Ken Curtis, and Betsy Palmer. Written by Frank Nugent. Directed by John Ford and Mervyn LeRoy.
Young Mr. Lincoln: John Ford’s autobiographical drama of the rise of Abraham Lincoln (Fonda). Most of the action centers around Lincoln’s arrival in Springfield. After a local murder, he discourages a lynch mob from breaking into the jail and ultimately defends the man whose life he saved. During the trial, demonstrating the frontier wisdom and common sense for which he was famous, the self-taught Lincoln proves the innocence of the man in question. Notable for Fonda’s use of dry wit and mild sarcasm in his portrayal of our sixteenth president.
Starring: Henry Fonda, Ward Bond, Alice Brady, Marjorie Weaver, Eddie Collins, Richard Cromwell, and Donald Meek. Written by Lamar Trotti. Directed by John Ford.
Fail Safe: A technological glitch sparks an unplanned American nuclear attack on Russia. Unable to recall or shoot down a squadron of B-52s bent on completing their mission of annihilation, the government struggles to convince their Russian counterparts that the attack is indeed a mistake. Finally, on the brink of nuclear war, the American president (Fonda) is forced to make a deal with the devil to forestall world destruction. Notable for Walter Matthau’s portrayal of a frighteningly hawkish advocate for all-out Armageddon.
Starring: Henry Fonda, Dan O’Herlihy, Frank Overton, Walter Matthau, Fritz Weaver, Edward Binns, and (a very young) Larry Hagman. Written by Walter Bernstein and Peter George. Directed by Sidney Lumet.
The Best Man: A political drama that details the backroom dealings in the process of nominating a presidential nominee. William Russell (Fonda) is a principled nominee who cannot stand his opponent, Joe Cantwell (Cliff Robertson). During a knockdown drag-out battle involving blackmail, sexual indiscretions, and illegally acquired documents, Russell finally decides that the nomination is not worth rolling in the dirt and dragging his country through the mud. He sacrifices his own career for the good of the country. Notable for a cameo by the indomitable Mahalia Jackson.
Starring: Henry Fonda, Cliff Robertson, Edie Adams, Lee Tracy, Ann Sothern, and Margaret Leighton. Screenplay by Gore Vidal. Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.
My Darling Clementine: John Ford’s retelling of the famous shootout at the O.K. Corral. In this version, the Earp brothers pause in Tombstone during a cattle drive, then stay to avenge their youngest brother, killed while their herd was stolen. Wyatt (Fonda) takes on the job of marshal and soon discovers that the Clantons are the ones responsible. Fonda’s Wyatt is cool-headed, sure-handed, and bent on wreaking justice on those who killed his brother. Vintage Henry Fonda. Notable for John Ford’s outstanding direction and for Walter Brennan’s smarmy performance as Ike Clanton.
Starring: Henry Fonda, Ward Bond, Victor Mature, Walter Brennan, Linda Darnell, Cathy Downs, and Tim Holt. Written by Samuel G. Engel and Winston Miller. Directed by John Ford.
The Wrong Man: In this Hitchcock thriller, based on a true story, Manny Balestrero, a humble musician (Fonda) is wrongly accused of armed robbery. Even though he has a strong alibi and is innocent, he still goes to trial. During the whole process, Manny patiently waits for the truth to come out, confident that the system will ultimately succeed in proving that he is the wrong man. Because Manny is played by Henry Fonda, the audience shares that confidence. Notable for Fonda’s stoic performance as a humble everyman, confident that he will be exonerated.
Starring: Henry Fonda, Vera Miles, Anthony Quayle, Harold J. Stone, and Charles Cooper. Written by Maxwell Anderson and Angus MacPhail. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
The Boston Strangler: The true crime story of the manhunt for the notorious Boston Strangler. Fonda plays John Bottomly as the head of the “Strangler Bureau” who is appointed to apprehend the strangler after the first victims are found. As the body count increases and the tension in the city mounts, the police continue to mount their relentless search for the killer, even employing a psychic to get their man. Fonda is at his best as the man determined to catch the killer. Notable for the interrogation scene at the end in which the killer (Tony Curtis) relives his crimes under hypnosis.
Starring: Henry Fonda, Tony Curtis, George Kennedy, Murray Hamilton, Jeff Corey, and Sally Kellerman. Written by Edward Anhalt. Directed by Richard Fleischer.
Honorable Mention
Battle of the Bulge
The Lady Eve
Jezebel
Fort Apache
On Golden Pond
Of the list, I think I liked The Grapes of Wrath most probably because of the superb photography…it reminds of tthree things:1 ) life is tough 2) things change and 3) people are tougher. Good list. I saw most, and most are very intense, a quality I usually enjoy. But after watching the news about the new highs of Covid numbers, the mideast, and the floods in Tennessee, I’m running low on my patience for people, governments, and especially politicians whose IQs are low enough to be featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. I think my need for intensity needs to be shelved for a while.
I don’t blame you, Neal. It gets frustrating. I do think Fonda had sort of a reassuring quality. I trusted him—his characters at least.