Advise & Consent

“Are the men and women of Washington really like this?”

Robert Leffingwell (Henry Fonda) wants to be Secretary of State, and the President has put his name forward. Before he can have the job, he must face a Senate committee chaired by Brig Anderson (Don Murray), a senator who takes the hearings as seriously as his oath. Otto Preminger films Washington in long, unhurried takes, letting the committee rooms and the Senate floor play out at the speed of procedure.