Preminger's political thriller examines the dark side of politics and its tragic personal repercussions for an essentially decent man. When a President nominates a controversial candidate for Secretary of State, the political dealing and infighting begins as dissident legislators are willing to stoop even to blackmail to stop his confirmation -- or assure it. Preminger seemed to hit his stride lending a documentary tension to legal or political settings, and this is one of his best. Laughton's last role.