Advice and consent of Otto Preminger After a phenomenally clear and verified "Anatomy of Murder" Otto Preminger returns to the subject of court drama. The incomparable Charles Laughton is invited to one of the main roles, and the central role is given to Henry Fonda.
"Council and Consent" is a court drama that places a lot of emphasis on policy issues. We are talking about a situation in which the interests and ambitions of a candidate for secretary of state and a senator clash.
The film is quite open about compromising and blackmail, as well as hypocrisy.
Otto Preminger does not hesitate, boldly raises very acute questions, while cloaking his film story in a very academic and even a little boring court film.
Lawton, almost one-on-one repeats all his acting clichés, tested by him in Witness for the Prosecution, which causes very contradictory feelings. On the one hand, the actor's talent is unquestioned, as is his organicity in the film. On the other hand, a certain performance originality is certainly lost.
In the end: Judicial political drama by Otto Preminger. In my opinion, it's not tight enough. The only bonus is the dialogue of the hero Henry Fonda with his son.
7 out of 10