Advise & Consent February 21, 2006
Posted by clydefro in : Classic Films, 1960s , trackback
When the discussion of greatest film about American politics comes up, Advise & Consent is almost always on the short list. The 1962 film was made at the height of Kennedy’s short tenure and before the Watergate era cynicism which plagues the nation to this day. In that sense, perhaps Advise & Consent was ahead of its time. The film manages to include a dying president whose vice president initially claims to not want to be president but eventually seems more than ready to step into the oval office. There’s also a young senator who blackmails another based on “youthful indiscretions” with another man. And don’t forget the man at the center of the film, Secretary of State nominee Robert Leffingwell (played with understated decency by Henry Fonda), who happens to have been involved with a Communist organization when he was a young college professor. It’s easy to see how Warner Bros. could justify including the film in its “Controversial Classics Collection
Regardless of controversy, Advise & Consent is a fine film and solid exploration into the behind the scenes of both the dynamics of the Senate and the power battles involved in confirmation hearings. While the film is obviously fictional, it’s difficult not to wonder if there aren’t at least a few ounces of truth in much of what’s going on. As a minor political junkie, I found the film to be riveting in parts and never contrived, even if it was a tad long.
The ensemble cast is mostly quite good, lead by Charles Laughton (in his final film role) as an aging yet still powerful Southern Senator and Walter Pidgeon as the Senate Majority Leader who tries to secure confirmation for Fonda despite Laughton’s personal vendetta against the nominee. Fonda is billed as the star and on the DVD cover, but his screentime is at least third or fourth behind Laughton, Pidgeon and Don Murray as the head of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee who is tragically blackmailed. Fonda still manages to do exactly what his role requires in order for the viewer to understand how the President could be so adamant about having him as his Secretary of State despite several obstacles.
Director Otto Preminger, probably best known for Laura and Anatomy of a Murder, had a knack for making socially relevant and entertaining films. He’s frequently overlooked and perhaps underappreciated by critics. I’ve yet to see several of his films, but all that I have viewed have been enjoyable or better. One could argue that his film legacy has been neglected by critics and Preminger may be slowly becoming more appreciated with the advent of DVD.
Saul Bass once again worked on the great opening title sequence and designed the film’s promotional art. I’ve included an example of one of the posters used.
Advise & Consent is a still powerful film that remains entertaining and enlightening. It features a great ensemble cast and should be commended for showing the evils of both sides of politics without demonizing the participants to the levels of cartoons. I was also impressed with the ending, which resisted any urge to placate the viewer or provide a traditional “happy” ending.
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