That profound philosophy comes from one of the colleagues of Senator Joe Tynan (Alan Alda), involved in conflict with other senators over an immigration bill and a rival politician (Maurice Copeland) other senators are trying to keep out of office. Alda is having problems in his marriage to Barbara Harris and turns to the pretty (and also married) Meryl Streep, an influencial lawyer, for an affair. With a troubled teenage daughter (Blanche Baker) demanding constant attention, it's obvious that Alda and Harris need a long vacation alone in order to repair their marriage.
A powerful performance by the legendary Melvyn Douglas is key to the success of the film, and his reception in this helped lead him to a second Oscar for "Being There" the same year. Also involved in the senatorial conflict is Rip Torn, a senator so vile in behavior that wife Carrie Nye declares her determination never to share a cup with him. When he gets into a gumbo eating speed contest with Alda and wins (which leads to Torn running out of the room to get sick), it's easy to see why so many politicians can't stand each other, and why they must have press secretaries to keep their real personalities secret, or in the case of Alda's daughter Baker, the personalities of their children.
There's also Charles Kimbrough, Michael Higgins and Robert Christian in major parts, with Kimbrough unrecognizable from his long role on "Murphy Brown". I wish there was more of Nye, very Tallulah-esque (having just been nominated for an Emmy for playing Tallulah in "The Scarlet O'Hara Wars"), and getting some very funny lines in her brief time on screen. Alda's script may not be "The Manchurian Candidate" or "The Best Man", but is quite realistic. Alda, Harris and Streep are all excellent. Strong direction by Jerry Schatzberg makes this stronger as well.
A powerful performance by the legendary Melvyn Douglas is key to the success of the film, and his reception in this helped lead him to a second Oscar for "Being There" the same year. Also involved in the senatorial conflict is Rip Torn, a senator so vile in behavior that wife Carrie Nye declares her determination never to share a cup with him. When he gets into a gumbo eating speed contest with Alda and wins (which leads to Torn running out of the room to get sick), it's easy to see why so many politicians can't stand each other, and why they must have press secretaries to keep their real personalities secret, or in the case of Alda's daughter Baker, the personalities of their children.
There's also Charles Kimbrough, Michael Higgins and Robert Christian in major parts, with Kimbrough unrecognizable from his long role on "Murphy Brown". I wish there was more of Nye, very Tallulah-esque (having just been nominated for an Emmy for playing Tallulah in "The Scarlet O'Hara Wars"), and getting some very funny lines in her brief time on screen. Alda's script may not be "The Manchurian Candidate" or "The Best Man", but is quite realistic. Alda, Harris and Streep are all excellent. Strong direction by Jerry Schatzberg makes this stronger as well.