An attempt at making a Hepburn-Tracy romantic comedy only instead the stars are Patricia Neal and Victor Mature. Both these two incidentally are talented, can act and can play comedy - but they're not A graders and the film needs it especially as the material isn't strongest.
The set up isn't bad, and has resonance today - Neal is an environmentalist determined to protect a bird who is threatened by gas explorers; she enlists the help of old admiral Edmund Gwenn and lobbyist Mature. Gwenn turns out to be an imitation admiral - indeed, that's another plot going on, he's an engraver who pretends to be an admiral.
There's two films going on here - Neal trying to protect condors by playing politics in Washington and Gwenn pretending to be an admiral. Neither is developed. Why don't we see the areas where the condors live? Why is it all set in Washington? Why is there no villain - no oil company person, or bad lobbyist or nemesis for Gwenn? Why no developed love interest for Gwenn? Why not really get stuck into lobbyists?
There are no real stakes for Gwenn's involvement apart from vaguely liking Neal and wanting to have a go. There's some attempt to talk about the importance of democracy etc (the influence of Born Yesterday and State of the Union no doubt) but the satire on Washington, lobbyists and birds is mild. Gwenn makes these little speeches at the end which I think are meant to get you inspired (extras clap) a la Frank Capra, but they're just annoying, like his character.
Mature is okay as a bouncy lobbyist but he doesn't strike sparks with Neal who is just plain miscast. The direction seems intelligent from Robert Wise - it's crisply shot and staged - but it's a film devoid of fun and life.
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