With Otto Preminger directing and Charles Laughton (his final part) and Henry Fonda in the cast one might be forgiven for hoping that this political drama would be a touch more impactful than in fact it is. Nonethless, the screenplay does not date itself as much as it might have and the performances are strong enough to keep one interested to the end of a fairly long film. Laughton takes the honours as the shambling ageing senator from South Carolina who is determined to prevent the President's candidate for Secretary of State (Henry Fonda) from being appointed. The plot isn't very complex by today's standards but intriguing enough for me not to spoil it here for those who haven't yet seen it. Some typical Preminger touches add to the generally fine performances. It is a film I have seen many times and it always entertains. One or two rather strange events in the film : for example, at one point the Vice President (Lew Ayres) is seen returning from an appointment in New York via a commercial flight. Would this have really happened - even in 1962? This has been commented on elsewhere.
Review of Advise & Consent
