This little gem of an episode is great in a lot of ways. 1st of all it guest starred none other than the great Jack Nicholson Pre-"Easy Rider", in the role of the accused Marvin Jenkins. This was Jack's second appearance on the Andy Griffth show. I liked this one way better than the his 1st one which was the 7th season episode 10: "Opie Finds a Baby". In that one he played the baby's father Mr.Garland but I felt it was too brief and he didn't have a chance to really impress. In this episode however, he has a little more screen time and shines much better. Who would have thought back then this young bit player would one day become one of Hollywood's greatest stars? Right on Jack! :)
6 Reviews
11 angry men and Aunt Bee
kellielulu10 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Aunt Bee is right of course. She uses her observations and intuition to believe the man on trial ( a young Jack Nicholson) is innocent.
Andy, Opie and Goober are waiting as the are concerned about Aunt Bee especially after Andy is sure she's the lone hold out . Goober is actually quite funny and very protective of Aunt Bee.
Opie runs into the diner to tell Andy and Goober that the jury is hung and Aunt Bee is blamed. " Goober " what , they hung that poor boy?!" The courthouse is in chaos. The real burglar is mouthy and appears to threaten Aunt Bee again Goober " don't make me use my bare hands on you mister!" The burglar names off items that never made it into the trial and Aunt Bee lists the items. Andy talks to the DA and he tells Andy they didn't bring up smaller items. Andy tricks the guy and the he's promptly arrested.
When Andy reveals what happened everyone is shocked. Andy says Aunt Bee has an I told you so coming but she's very gentle with her fellow jurors and they are very apologetic and tell her it was an honor serving with her .
One of the few episodes after season five I will watch.
Andy, Opie and Goober are waiting as the are concerned about Aunt Bee especially after Andy is sure she's the lone hold out . Goober is actually quite funny and very protective of Aunt Bee.
Opie runs into the diner to tell Andy and Goober that the jury is hung and Aunt Bee is blamed. " Goober " what , they hung that poor boy?!" The courthouse is in chaos. The real burglar is mouthy and appears to threaten Aunt Bee again Goober " don't make me use my bare hands on you mister!" The burglar names off items that never made it into the trial and Aunt Bee lists the items. Andy talks to the DA and he tells Andy they didn't bring up smaller items. Andy tricks the guy and the he's promptly arrested.
When Andy reveals what happened everyone is shocked. Andy says Aunt Bee has an I told you so coming but she's very gentle with her fellow jurors and they are very apologetic and tell her it was an honor serving with her .
One of the few episodes after season five I will watch.
Jack Nicholson's Second Appearance
zardoz-1321 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
The obvious inspiration for this episode is the Sidney Lumet movie "12 Angry Men," but in this case it should have been called 11 impatient men and one woman.
This episode has Aunt Bee serving as a juror in a burglary case in Mount Pilot. Initially, before he knew any better, Andy thought Aunt Bee had gotten in trouble. Bee is so upset at the letter that she has Andy peruse it. As it turns out, Bee is the only female on an all white jury and she takes her civic duty serious. She records the names of all the people questioned by the defense and prosecution. Meanwhile, Andy, Opie, and Goober--whose there for moral support--are slightly embarrassed by her when her pen runs out of ink and she inquires if the court can replace it. Judge Cranston (Rhys Williams) recommends that Bee pay close attention to the deportment of those called to answer questions. The male jurors see the case as open and shut, despite the explanation that the accused Jenkins (Jack Nicholson) gives. Bee, however, believes him and insist that his sweet looks makes her believe that he is innocent.
The remaining jurors don't share Bee's intuition about Jenkins. They take a vote and Bee casts the only exception to the vote. Andy takes her home and she reappears the next day to haggle with the jury more. Meanwhile, a court room spectator argues that they ought to see Jenkins up. At one point, after the jury is hung by Bee's reluctance to change her mind, Andy gets suspicious about the loudmouth spectator. The spectator lets slip an important detail. You see ever since the case started the guy has been bumming everybody to a match. He contends that they ought to send Jenkins to prison because of the additional items that Jenkins took. Andy approaches the prosecutor,Mr. Gilbert, and inquires about other missing items. Gilbert points out that those items are too small and not worth the trouble of prosecuting.
Andy fools the spectator into admitting that the lighter that Andy presents him is the same lighter that he left at the scene of the crime. Jenkins is set free and he thanks Aunt Bee. It is incredible to catch this half-hour comedy and see a future superstar as a guest player. All Jack Nicholson fans should check out this episode.
This episode has Aunt Bee serving as a juror in a burglary case in Mount Pilot. Initially, before he knew any better, Andy thought Aunt Bee had gotten in trouble. Bee is so upset at the letter that she has Andy peruse it. As it turns out, Bee is the only female on an all white jury and she takes her civic duty serious. She records the names of all the people questioned by the defense and prosecution. Meanwhile, Andy, Opie, and Goober--whose there for moral support--are slightly embarrassed by her when her pen runs out of ink and she inquires if the court can replace it. Judge Cranston (Rhys Williams) recommends that Bee pay close attention to the deportment of those called to answer questions. The male jurors see the case as open and shut, despite the explanation that the accused Jenkins (Jack Nicholson) gives. Bee, however, believes him and insist that his sweet looks makes her believe that he is innocent.
The remaining jurors don't share Bee's intuition about Jenkins. They take a vote and Bee casts the only exception to the vote. Andy takes her home and she reappears the next day to haggle with the jury more. Meanwhile, a court room spectator argues that they ought to see Jenkins up. At one point, after the jury is hung by Bee's reluctance to change her mind, Andy gets suspicious about the loudmouth spectator. The spectator lets slip an important detail. You see ever since the case started the guy has been bumming everybody to a match. He contends that they ought to send Jenkins to prison because of the additional items that Jenkins took. Andy approaches the prosecutor,Mr. Gilbert, and inquires about other missing items. Gilbert points out that those items are too small and not worth the trouble of prosecuting.
Andy fools the spectator into admitting that the lighter that Andy presents him is the same lighter that he left at the scene of the crime. Jenkins is set free and he thanks Aunt Bee. It is incredible to catch this half-hour comedy and see a future superstar as a guest player. All Jack Nicholson fans should check out this episode.
Jack on Trial
Hitchcoc7 January 2020
I find the character of Aunt Bee insufferable. Her mannerisms and her silliness pervade the show. Of course, since her life is pretty much being a slave to Andy and Opie, she doesn't have a whole lot of outside interaction. Here she is the holdout on a jury. We know how this will all play out but, let's face it. Her reasoning is extremely shallow. But the accused is Jack Nicholson, so that certainly adds a kick to things.
Non-stop fun
vitoscotti25 August 2022
Blockhead Bee should of been dismissed as a juror for breaching protocol numerous times. Goober takes multiple days off work to be bored out of his mind. Him tagging along really added to the comedy magic. Like how he upgraded his mooched piece of pie to an ice cream float. Seeing Jack Nicholson of course is great. But a tremendous cast throughout. I especially enjoyed head juror Tol Avery whose each TAGS appearance is terrific. The judge Rhys Williams was perfectly cast. As was Henry Beckman as the prosecuting attorney. We see Helen's Uncle Edward (Emory Parnell) now considerably thinner as a juror. Generic Jim Begg in one of his four TAGS appearances. Andy solving the case was a clever touch. Many classic sitcoms do the hung jury thing. Seems they're all funny like this one.
Aunt Bee is a Very Realistic Character
outnaway27 October 2021
Anyone who has to deal with 50+ women will recognize character of Aunt Bee. She's afraid of actually doing anything. She throws a monkey wrench into everything that the more reasonable men try to do. She's vain about trivialities. She's smug about petty possessions. She seeks social status based on no real achievements. Mostly she shares the defining trait of women of her age - fear. She's afraid of driving. She's afraid to get the freezer fixed. She's afraid of the insurance company. She's afraid of being in business. Any poor man who has to work with women like her will have seen this. They shoot down any new idea. They will did their heels in and offer no logical reason why.
Though she's an increasingly annoying character, the writers have created a very realistic character.
Though she's an increasingly annoying character, the writers have created a very realistic character.
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