So powerful a cinematic portrait of a potential political assassination is this superb film improbably featuring Frank Sinatra in his finest movie role that it was banned from further release following JFK's murder in Dallas after its original early 1960s big-screen release for several decades. Directed by the near-legendary John Frankenheimer, this riveting screenplay based on the novel written by Richard Condon (Winter Kills) focuses on the way in which propaganda and the manufacture of political views can influence one's perception and behavior in the most provocative of ways. Sinatra's portrait of an officer, Bennet Marco, a man obsessed by his experience as a prisoner of war during the Korean conflict, is truly a maginificent interpretation of a man teetering on the edge of madness, driven by both his nightmares and his conscience to attempt to unravel the mystery by working through the very effective brainwashing accomplished by the North Koreans over a platoon of men Sinatra's character commanded. Sinatra is more than ably supported by an all-star cast, including Lawrence Harvey as the title character, former Sergeant Raymond Shaw, scion from a wealthy American family who is now a North Korean sleeper, someone brainwashed into becoming a virtual ticking time bomb, set to go off when the sequence of precipitating code words are uttered to him. His suffocating cow of a mother is played extremely well by Angela Lansbury, whose husband (played by James Gregory) is an easily manipulated but McCarthy-like Senator looking to find a way to engineer his progression to the Oval Office.
Through chance conversation with other former fellow POWs, Marco becomes suspicious of his memories, which seem contrived and somehow false, but he has great difficulty (and hallucinatory nightmares) as he agonizes ever closer to uncovering the horrific truth. The plot runs interestingly and unpredictably toward its surprise conclusion, and it is so well choreographed and photographed with Frankenheimer's usual brilliant flair for the visually stunning and surprising, that one is whirled along toward the conclusion with scarcely a moment to reflect on all the twists and turns Marco discovers along the way. This is a terrific thriller, one that has suspense, realistic characters, and the kind of riddle within an enigma plot that should both entertain and edify you all at the same time. Enjoy!
You can read the other reviews if you want plot details. In a nutshell: Laurence Harvey is Raymond Shaw, a sergeant in the U.S. Army captured and brainwashed in Korea along with the rest of his platoon; Frank Sinatra is Maj. Bennett Marco, who was captured and brainwashed with the others; Angela Lansbury is Shaw's mother (even though in real life she was just three years older than Harvey!), a manipulative witch now married to Sen. John Iselin (James Gregory) and conniving to get him into the White House. The problem: the boys are all back home, Shaw has received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the platoon members don't recall their period of captivity, and Marco is having the _strangest_ dreams . . .
The DVD transfer is clear and crisp, and the extras are okay. But the real star is the film itself, which is just absolutely brilliant and sometimes wickedly funny (e.g., exactly _how_ many Communists have been identified? Close-up of a Heinz catsup bottle . . . and the number is . . . ). The psychological tension here is excruciating; the brainwashing sequences alone will give you the willies.
The cast performs flawlessly, with even Sinatra holding his own; Harvey is eerily disturbing and Lansbury is just plain scary. John Frankenheimer's direction deserves all the kudos it received, George Axelrod's screenplay is mostly excellent (the exception being that Janet Leigh's character Rosie is strangely underdeveloped and seems 'tacked on'), and David Amram's score is really cool (I especially like the opening theme).
And as the existence of a remake indicates, the movie is still unfortunately timely (at least in its broad outlines) even though the Cold War is over. As anyone familiar with e.g. the history of LSD is aware, communist regimes weren't the only governments in the world to experiment with mind control.
However good or bad the remake turns out to be, we can at least be glad it provided a commercial incentive to release a new edition of the 1962 original. Grab it while it's available.
Buy Manchurian Candidate (1962) Now
So powerful a cinematic portrait of a potential political assassination is this superb film improbably featuring Frank Sinatra in his finest movie role that it was banned from further release following JFK's murder in Dallas after its original early 1960s big-screen release for several decades. This new re-mastered DVD version makes the cinematic experience even better! originally directed by the near-legendary John Frankenheimer, this riveting screenplay based on the novel written by Richard Condon (Winter Kills) focuses on the way in which propaganda and the manufacture of political views can influence one's perception and behavior in the most provocative of ways.Sinatra's portrait of an officer, Bennet Marco, a man obsessed by his experience as a prisoner of war during the Korean conflict, is truly a maginificent interpretation of a man teetering on the edge of madness, driven by both his nightmares and his conscience to attempt to unravel the mystery by working through the very effective brainwashing accomplished by the North Koreans over a platoon of men Sinatra?s character commanded.
Sinatra is more than ably supported by an all-star cast, including Lawrence Harvey as the title character, former Sergeant Raymond Shaw, scion from a wealthy American family who is now a North Korean sleeper, someone brainwashed into becoming a virtual ticking time bomb, set to go off when the sequence of precipitating code words are uttered to him. His suffocating cow of a mother is played extremely well by Angela Lansbury, whose husband (played by James Gregory) is an easily manipulated but McCarthy-like Senator looking to find a way to engineer his progression to the Oval Office.
Through chance conversation with other former fellow POWs, Marco becomes suspicious of his memories, which seem contrived and somehow false, but he has great difficulty (and hallucinatory nightmares) as he agonizes ever closer to uncovering the horrific truth. The plot runs interestingly and unpredictably toward its surprise conclusion, and it is so well choreographed and photographed with Frankenheimer?s usual brilliant flair for the visually stunning and surprising, that one is whirled along toward the conclusion with scarcely a moment to reflect on all the twists and turns Marco discovers along the way. This is a terrific thriller, one that has suspense, realistic characters, and the kind of riddle within an enigma plot that should both entertain and edify you all at the same time. Enjoy!
Read Best Reviews of Manchurian Candidate (1962) Here
Could not believe it when I found this by accident at Best Buy (for ten bucks!) and couldn't wait to see this old classic in HD. I have owned this movie on laserdisc and DVD and did not expect much improvement on blu ray. Boy, was I wrong! This great classic has NEVER looked better! The clarity of the black and white print Fox/MGM used is very crisp and detailed. There is so much 'depth' in the picture, its multi layered just like the story itself. If you are only aware of the remake, do yourself a favor and indulge in this classic. It is still haunting after all these years. The video is not the only thing restored, they retained the 1.75 aspect ratio, the audio is now in DTS-HD 5.1, and sounds decent for a film from 1962. The special features are rerelease from DVD, except s 'new' interview with director and a few stars. This is the best (for 1080p) this film (even with a little grain...no DNR) has ever looked...and for ten bucks, I got a steal. Awesome!Want Manchurian Candidate (1962) Discount?
John Frankenheimer's amazing screen version of Richard Condon's 1959 book "The Manchurian Candidate" works brilliantly on two levels at the same time: as a wildly bizarre political thriller and as a satire of the American political spectrum--taking potshots at both the left and the right (it's no accident that when the liberal senator is assassinated we see milk spouting out instead of blood).The cast is uniformly excellent (it is by far Sinatra's best film role--even in light of "Eternity" and "Golden Arm") but Angela Lansbury creates one of the great screen villianesses,(even more amazing considering the fact that she was only two years older than Laurence Harvey when the film was made and convingingly plays his MOTHER!).
George Axelrod ("Seven Year Itch") wrote the wildly hip screenplay and Frankeheimer's depection of the brainwashing sequence remains today one of the great cinematic moments of all times.
The film was not a major box office or critical success in 1962, owing to the fact that this was dangerous material at the height of the Cold War...it dissapeared from sight for 25 years (rumor has it that Sinatra had it pulled after JFK's assassination); finally seeing a re release in the late 1980's.
DVD boasts remarkable sound and video quality..includes a great commentary by Frankenheimer and a 1988 interview with Sinatra, Frankenheimer and George Axelrod.
A great film!
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