The novel Advise and Consent, originally written as a Roman à clef, is about the machinations of power in Washington. When the film came out, the critics were disappointed that Preminger had lost the story's identification with its real-life counterparts. Today, however, it takes on a new relevance in light of the Clinton impeachment scandal and shows us a moral tale about the power of political vindictiveness versus the weakness of human nature.

It all begins when cabinet candidate Henry Fonda, questioned by a Senate committee, attempts to cover up a youthful flirtation with Communism. His indiscretion is then fanned into the flames of full Congressional investigation by a southern right-wing (and self-righteous) senator (Charles Laughton). The affair escalates into sordid melodrama when it is discovered that the upright senator in charge of the investigation also had a youthful flirtation &emdash; with a homosexual. Andrew Horn