Advise and Consent (1962) starring Franchot Tone, Henry Fonda, Charles Laughton, Walter Pidgeon, Burgess Meredith, Gene Tierney, Peter Lawford
In short, Advise and Consent is one of the best political intrigue movies that I’ve ever seen. The basic plot involves a very ill President of the United States (Franchot Tone) who wants to nominate for Secretary of State a senator. A man with a small secret in his past (played beautifully by Henry Fonda – a great performance). The Senate Majority Leader (a wonderful performance by Walter Pidgeon) tries to line up the votes. But he’s being undercut by a zealous young senator (Don Murray). And, on the “other side of the aisle” by a Southern senator (played by Charles Laughton in his final performance), a man who views himself as a kingmaker, using the other senators and people like pawns on a chess board.
Advise and Consent uses the background of the Communist-hunting of the McCarthy era quite well. It also demonstrates that even the people who consider themselves upright just might have something in their background that they want to remain hidden.
I would be remiss to not mention Charles Laughton’s performance here. I’ve seen him play roles ranging from the sympathetic Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the amoral Dr. Moreau in Island of Lost Souls, the unyielding Captain Bligh in Mutiny on the Bounty, and even a comic role Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd. But I’ve never seen a better performance. His character, although on the surface a likable older Southern gentleman, is more like Shakespeare’s Iago. Even so, as the ending demonstrates, he has both character and a conscience and is not a villain.
No villain?
In fact, one of the most interesting things about Advise and Consent is that, technically, there is no villain. There are simply people with strong beliefs. Each person is offered the chance to explain their positions to each other, as well as the audience. And there are plenty of moments for the human element as well. One such moment is Henry Fonda trying to explain his situation to his young son. Another is the wife of a senator. She’s trying to deal with “anonymous” phone calls, attempting to blackmail the senator.
Product description of Advise and Consent
Gripping, classic Washington drama dealing with the power plays that erupt when a controversial politician is nominated for Secretary of State. Director Otto Preminger elicits superb performances from an all-star cast that includes Henry Fonda, Charles Laughton, Burgess Meredith, Gene Tierney, and Peter Lawford. 138 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; audio commentary; theatrical trailer.
Cast of characters
- Franchot Tone (Holiday) … The President
- Lew Ayres (Dr. Kildare’s Wedding Day) … The Vice President
- Henry Fonda (My Darling Clementine) … Robert Leffingwell
- Walter Pidgeon (Forbidden Planet) … Senate Majority Leader
- Charles Laughton (This Land Is Mine) … Sen. Seabright Cooley
- Don Murray (Bus Stop) … Sen. Brigham Anderson
- Peter Lawford (Royal Wedding) … Sen. Lafe Smith
- Gene Tierney (Laura) … Dolly Harrison
- Burgess Meredith (Of Mice and Men) … Herbert Gelman
- Eddie Hodges (A Hole in the Head) … Johnny Leffingwell
- Paul Ford (The Music Man) … Sen. Stanley Danta
- George Grizzard … Sen. Fred Van Ackerman
- Inga Swenson … Ellen Anderson
- Paul McGrath … Hardiman Fletcher
- Will Geer (Executive Action) … Senate Minority Leader
- Edward Andrews (How to Frame a Figg) … Sen. Orrin Knox
- Betty White (Date with the Angels) … Sen. Bessie Adams
- Malcolm Atterbury (How to Make a Monster) … Sen. Tom August
- J. Edward McKinley (The Angry Red Planet) … Sen. Powell Hanson
- Bill Quinn (How to Frame a Figg) … Sen. Paul Hendershot