Advise and Consent
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Movie Reviews of Advise and Consent
Movie Review: DVD Advise and Consent
Summary: 5 Stars
Thank you very much for providing exactly what I was looking for and in such an efficient mannerMovie Review: Advise and Consent
Summary: 5 Stars
A classic film which seems to me to be as current today as it was when released.Movie Review: "What I Did Was For The Good Of The Country:" The Political Shocker Of 1962
Summary: 4 Stars
As a Congressional correspondent for the New York Times during the 1950s, author Allen Drury had ample opportunity to witness Washington politicians in their natural habit---and drew upon numerous factual sources, including the controversial Alger Hiss case and the scandalous suicide of Senator Lester Hunt, to create the story of a controversial nominee for Secretary of State. The novel was not only a best seller, it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.
It was also a book that Hollywood could not film under the film industry's notorious Production Code. As it happened, the book fell into the hands of director Otto Preminger, long-time foe of Hollywood's rules for self-censorship. He not only made the film, he flagrantly broke the code; as such, ADVISE AND CONSENT presents our nation's leaders embroiled in a blackmail plot, finds actress Gene Tierney using the word `bitch,' and became the first Hollywood film to show a gay bar. It was shocking stuff for 1962.
The story is extremely convoluted. An aging and extremely ill President makes a highly controversial nomination for Secretary of State---which is opposed by a member of his own party, who bears the nominee a personal grudge and who attempts to derail the nomination by accusing the nominee of former membership in the Communist Party. This in turn touches off a vicious battle between those in the party who support the nominee and those who don't, a battle that will ultimately result in the suicide of the only character who has the integrity we would like to see in our political leaders.
The cast is indeed remarkable and, from Lew Ayres to Betty White, plays with considerable conviction and tremendous restraint. Henry Fonda is often cited as the star of the film, but in truth he appears in the small but pivotal role of Robert Leffingwell, nominee for Secretary of State. Screen time is divided between Walter Pigeon as the Majority Leader, Charles Laughton as the senator who opposes the nomination, and Don Murray, an idealist who finds himself chairing the nomination committee. All three play extremely well, but it is really Laughton---in his final screen role---who walks off with the film as the devious and openly vicious Senator from South Carolina. The trio is ably supported by a dream cast that includes Franchot Tone as the President, Lew Ayres as the Vice President, George Grizzard as a growling ideologue, Gene Tierney as a society hostess---and yes, Betty White, who offers a brief turn as the Senator from Kansas.
It has become fashionable to dismiss Otto Preminger films of the 1950s and 1960s as ponderous, all-star, and pseudo-intellectual trash, and indeed it is difficult to find much positive to say about films like EXODUS and HURRY SUNDOWN these days. But Preminger is in many ways under-rated; his films have not always dated well in terms of subject, but they hold up extremely well in the way in which they are put together, with ADVISE AND CONSENT a case in point---and it is worth pointing out that accusations of leftism, adultery, and homosexuality are still enough to prompt everything from impeachment to congressional hearings to resignations. Nor has the process of the political dance itself changed greatly between then and now.
The great flaw of the film is its conclusion, which seems facile to the point of being hokey---but this is also the great flaw of the novel, which ends in much the same way--and at times ADVISE AND CONSENT seems more than a little dry. All the same, it remains a movie worth watching, particularly notable for its performances, fluid camera work, and meticulous recreation of party politics. The DVD offers a near-pristine widescreen transfer with good sound quality and an interesting, if occasionally too academic, commentary by film historian Drew Casper. Recommended.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Movie Review: Not a bad presentation of Drury's classic novel.
Summary: 4 Stars
This film features an all-star cast and was a real event when it opened in the 1960s. The acting in the film is uniformly excellent, as one might expect with such a distinguished cast.
This is the story of a president who nominates a very controversial individual for the office of Secretary of State. The nominee, one "Robert A. Leffingwell," is suspected by conservatives of being further to the Left than he openly acknowledges. In fact, it is suspected that the president has nominated Leffingwell as the opening move in what will be a policy of appeasement towards the Soviets (remember: this was the 1960s).
The film follows the novel of the same name upon which it is based pretty faithfully, with one major exception. In the novel, Robert A. Leffingwell was a bad guy and pretty much a communist (small "c"). Here, (played by Henry Fonda, so of course he cannot be a bad guy) Leffingwell is a good guy, albeit Left of center, but someone who only flirted with communism for a short time, in his youth. Here, Leffingwell's lies to the Senate were motivated by the "noble" purpose of avoiding McCarthyistic persecution and blacklisting for what is portrayed as nothing but a youthful intellectual indiscretion. That is, of course, Hollywood, which always hates McCarthyists more than Communists.
The film's portrayal of gay people is unfortunate, but typical of 1960-era attitudes, I suppose. Here the film dates itself.
This is an intellectual film, which will engage those who are interested in politics and the operations of the American government. But there is enough drama to engage everyone; this is no dry political yarn. Some reviewers have compared this film unfavorably to the Drury novel. I disagree. The Drury novel is somewhat satirical (for example, the Left-wing peace organization is hilariously called "COMFORT" -- Committee On Making Further Offers for a Russian Truce). This film is deadly serious with no humorous component. This is a drama. The ending is unforgettable.
This is a splendid film, and a wonderful but tragic story. The acting is superb, and makes up for much of the somewhat slow and deliberate storyline. Walter Pidgeon is absolutely perfect as Senator Robert Munson, the Majority Leader. Charles Laughton turns in his usual stellar performance as Senator Seab Cooley. Don Murray absolutely becomes Senator Brigham Anderson, the central player in this drama. All of the other members of this cast are superb. George Grizzard, as the villain of the story, Senator Van Ackerman, in particular totally embodies his character, and almost seems to walk out of the novel and into the film. One cannot say enough good things about the performances that each member of this cast turns in.
The DVD itself is of flawless quality. I watched it on my 19 inch LCD TV on a progressive scan DVD player. The print is crisp, clear, and without noise. They did an excellent job transferring this film onto DVD.
Overall, this is a keeper to which the thoughtful viewer will return from time to time.
Movie Review: Great Political Movie- A must see for Political Afficiandos
Summary: 4 Stars
The president of the United States has the power to appoint his cabinet, along with numerous other positions, provided the Senate has had the opportunity to fill the twin roles of both "advise and consent." This presidential prerogative is constitutionally guaranteed.
In the movie Advise and Consent, the Secretary of State has died and the President offers a controversial nominee as replacement. The nomination comes absent any consultation by the President with his own political party. The President has an eye for the future, as his own health is failing, and sees his nominee Robert Leffingwell as an important, stable part of his legacy. Clearly, the President has grave doubts about efficacy of his Vice President Harley Hudson in carrying out a foreign policy that will guide America through dangerous times.
It is, however, in a brilliant coup de sort that Vice President Hudson lets the Leffingwell nomination fail in the Senate. The movie closes as the Senate votes to a tie for Leffingwell. Hudson then learns of the President's death, breaks ranks and signals his independence, and lets the nomination fail.
In between the nomination and its subsequent defeat, viewers are treated to a true to life political circus: committee meetings, surprise witnesses, lofty rhetoric, political backstabbing and blackmailing abound. The movie also doubles as a veritable civics lesson..
This movie has a lot of the typical elements of other political movies. Washington novices, like Jefferson Smith of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Robert Leffingwell of Advise and Consent, can easily be set-up and brought to near ruin by more politically savvy players. The likes of Jack Stanton (Primary Colors) and Senator Cooley (Advise and Consent) play to win and will leave no stone unturned in pursuit of whatever they choose to pursue.
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As the United States Senate currently faces a dirty fight for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts this movie rings eerily relevant. It was not that long ago that John Bolton's nomination as Ambassador to the United Nations stalled in the Senate, a victim of the very circus that nearly derailed the fictional Leffingwell.
This dirty fighting helps put Washington politics and the nomination process in 2005 into better context. Each generation has a tendency to look back at a golden age of political discourse, dominated by congeniality, mutual respect and reverence for Cinncinatus type behavior. Frequently, we hear how divided we are and how much political foes despise each other coupled as evidence that shows how far removed we are from the "Golden Age" of real, strong, moral men and women with honest intentions as policy makers/ This movie reminds all of us that such golden ages are almost always fictional. Politics is rough and tumble business, often dirty, and frequently ignoble irrespective of the time or place.