PodBill Just what I expected

Twilightfa Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

Mehdi Hoffman There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Kayden This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

gavin6942 Senate investigation into the President's newly nominated Secretary of State gives light to a secret from the past, which may not only ruin the candidate, but the President's character as well.Despite the amazing cast and Otto Preminger leading the way, this film actually came to my attention for being on a list of "gay and lesbian films". Now, generally speaking, it could be on that list and not be incorrect, though this is not what you typical associate with what might be labeled a gay film. (If such films should even be labeled.) This is really just a tale of political intrigue, and an excellent showcase of the behind-the-scenes motions that happen when a candidate is offered a cabinet position. While this film may not be 100% accurate, it is close enough that even today (2017, 55 years later) it resonates very strongly.

LeonLouisRicci As a Director Otto Preminger got by on His Ego and Ability to Attract Big Money Productions and Big Name Stars. But as an Auteur He left a lot to be Desired. It was His Lack of Artistic Talent and His Heavy Handedness that Tended to make His Films Look Staged and Very Hollywood Esque. But the Bombastic Preminger Must, at Least, be Given High Marks for "Attempting" to take on Controversial and Taboo Subjects.But as can be Witnessed Viewing His Films the Egomaniac had Slight Insight into the Subjects. One can Only Assume that Beneath all the Controversy was more of a Money Making Gimmick than a Real Concern for Exposing the Underbelly and Bring Some Light to the Darkness.In this Mediocre Political Melodrama that Vision can be Viewed in the Way that the Gay Lifestyle was Portrayed. With Self Congratulatory Scenes Distorted to Damaging Displays of Savory Stereotypes, like the Obese, Bearded, Self-Absorbed, Cat Loving Gay Pimp Offering a Hideaway Boudoir. Add to that the Leering and Slobbering Patrons of a Gay Bar in a Scene that Ends with a not so Subtle Slinging of Mud.That is the Ham-Fisted Preminger Giving us a "Controversial" Film with Undertones of Real Life Politics like the Mccarthy Hearings and Bully Boy Tactics with a Literal Gang (Staff) of Well Dressed Thugs Goose Stepping Around Corridors of Power. There are some Good Performances here as can be Expected from such a Good Cast, but the Movie is just So Much Preminger and Not Enough of say, Frankenheimer or Rod Serling. That's where the Real Style and Sting can be Found.

audiemurph "Advise and Consent" is a strong entry in the canon of Preminger movies. The whole first half is particularly captivating, focusing on the complex relationships between the leaders of the Senate and the President, who would like to get his progressive friend Robert Leffingwell confirmed by the Senate for Secretary of State. The major strength of the movie is the incredible line-up of acting superstars, none of whom is allowed to shine above the rest, yet all of whom give quite powerful performances.Walter Pidgeon is magesterial as the Majority Leader who knows everyone, and, as a good friend and supporter of the President, is responsible for bringing the votes together for the nominee. Lew Ayres is elegant and wonderfully dignified as the Vice-President who is mostly ignored by everyone with power, yet remains genial throughout. Henry Fonda plays his relatively small role with conviction, and Peter Lawford is very appealing as a Senator who, naturally enough for Lawford, is a womanizer, but with a kind heart and an independent streak.Spectacular and demanding is Charles Laughton as the Southern Senator whose role is to fight against everyone. Looking almost ghostly in his white suit, Laughton brilliantly defends old-fashioned American values against the forces of progressivism and Communism. Franchot Tone does a convincing job playing a political fighter of a President who also happens to be dieing; he really does look quite like he is dieing.But stealing the whole movie, I think, is the great Burgess Meredith. Initially brought in to the Committee Hearing to denounce Henry Fonda as a Communist, Meredith starts off cocky. But his brilliance as an actor comes out in the amazing second scene with Fonda, who tears down Meredith while lieing about Meredith's past. Meredith knows Fonda is lieing, yet a combination of weak character and mental illness prevents him from defending himself, and he ends the scene completely disheartened, demoralized, and destroyed. Watching Meredith's facade of strength collapse is priceless. This is easily the best scene in the movie.The second half, focusing on the slow mental breakdown of the Senator from Utah, played by Don Murray, is a bit of a letdown, and frankly slows the movie down a lot. But it all leads to an incredible dramatic finish in the Senate Chambers; the last 5 minutes are definitely worth waiting for. It is not quite as astonishing as the last moments of "Mr Smith Goes to Washington", but it is powerful none the less. And the final moments of reemerging friendship, respect and humility between Walter Pidgeon and Charles Laughton are delicious and pleasing, and will leave you feeling quite satisfied.

mark.waltz Soon to be celebrating its 50th Anniversary, this political drama of senatorial disputes over the President's choice of a replacement for the recently deceased Secretary of State is right on the money in the sense of its closeness to the current political climate, both statewide and nationwide. In an era when people are losing faith in the people they've elected to government office, this film is almost serio-comic in its look at the political squabbling still going on today. (Just watch C-Span after viewing this to compare!) The movie is overstuffed with stars, both old and new, and it is hard sometimes to keep track of who is on what side and pay close attention to each performance. Henry Fonda plays the chosen Secretary of State replacement, but he isn't the focus. That responsibility goes to another legend, Walter Pidgeon, as the Senate Majority Leader, and young Don Murray as the head of the committee questioning Fonda. In his last film role, Charles Laughton gives an almost haunting performance as the senior senator opposing Pidgeon's support of Fonda as SOS. It is difficult to tell whether it is his performance or his obvious health issues that makes his quiet performance so mesmerizing. Burgess Meredith, a veteran of several Otto Preminger films, underacts unlike his overly hammy performance in the camp classic "Hurry Sundown" and others.The lovely Gene Tierney, who was Preminger's heroine in the classic film noir "Laura", is wasted here as a Washington hostess. She is still lovely, but the role lacks any real meat. Betty White adds a humorous touch in her brief role as the only female Senator shown on screen, one of the few film roles she would do before her iconic TV roles on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Golden Girls". A few other actors later popular on TV include Will Geer ("The Waltons") as the Senate Minority Leader and Broadway musical veteran Inga Swenson ("Benson"), who is totally unrecognizable.There's only a limited amount of domestic drama to offset all of the political intrigue, mostly surrounding Don Murray's character who faces a shocking blackmail attempt involving a homosexual encounter he had years ago. Preminger takes the cameras into a Washington DC gay bar where Murray goes to confront his old lover and is disgusted by what he sees. Preminger doesn't take a stance for or against the gay lifestyle, but simply presents it "as is" long before Stonewall where the "fringe of society" could not be out in the open. His direction is never boring, and the camera shots of the underground tram system (previously seen in MGM's "Washington Story") is quite interesting as well.It is also interesting to see Senators walking around Washington DC as if they could never be recognized, something which could never happen today. As both a historical and unchanged view of what man's disagreements politically can do to their effectiveness on the job, "Advise and Consent" is both ironic and frightening over the power we give the people we elect.