The Manchurian Candidate (1962) User Reviews

The Garden Party From Hell

[frankwiener · 8/10 · 27 August 2017]

While many cast members did an outstanding job in this disturbing and often violent political thriller, it is Angela Lansbury who stands out in her superb portrayal of a woman who not only dominates her son and husband but who wants to take over the entire country, if not the world! In the end, this is Angela's triumph, and I don't understand why she took second billing behind any of the other actors.

As much as I love Janet Leigh, she was handed a bizarre and somewhat minor role here which I believe only served as a deliberate distraction in that she never influenced Major Marco (Sinatra) as an agent working on either side. And don't get sidetracked by the fact that "Pinocchio" was playing at the Manhattan movie theater that she and Major Marco passed in the cab because that was probably a deliberate "red herring" too. Granted that Leigh and Tony Curtis, including their sensational divorce, were quite the rage at the time, but Angela deserved top billing here.

When I read that Lansbury has only appeared in 54 full length movies to date, it seemed like a number too small only because she leaves such a strong impression in so many of her performances dating back to Nancy, the maid, in "Gaslight" and Sybil in "The Picture of Dorian Grey". To this day, I am haunted by the memory of poor Sybil singing "Goodbye, Little Yellow Bird" in the latter. Lansbury masters a wide range of effective acting from the kindly, unassuming Miss Marple to the powerful, detestable Eleanor Shaw Iselin here.

In addition to a towering Lansbury, the excellent portrayals by Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, John McIver, Henry Silva, and James Gregory as the annoying buffoon of a step-father contribute to the success of this political thriller. I think that director John Frankenheimer and screenplay writer George Axelrod should be commended for staying close to Richard Condon's original novel, and the stark black and white photography enhanced the gloomy and ominous atmosphere. The filming of the three separate interpretations of the brainwashing sequence alone was a unique and unforgettable cinematic experience.

What a dish like Jocelyn Jordan (Leslie Parrish) ever saw in Raymond Shaw is beyond me, and we have surely witnessed Harvey as the dark, brooding character before ("Room at the Top", "Butterfield Eight", etc.), but who else could play this morose character more accurately?

As to that newspaper headline "Violent Hurricane Sweeps Midwest", did you folks in the Midwest ever experience a direct hurricane? I know about the tornadoes and the floods, but a direct hurricane? Was that another subtle attempt at humor by the director? Anyway, I'll never look at another hydrangea without much trepidation and dread.

A political and social thriller/drama ahead of its time.

[teren · 9/10 · 20 August 2001]

John Frankenheimer's surrealistic direction and George Axelrod's adaptation of the 1959 book by the same name offer Laurence Harvey a career defining role.

Set in 1950's, A Korean War veteran Raymond Shaw(Harvey) returns home to a medal of honor for rescuing his POW platoon from behind Chinese lines and back to safety. One of the returning soldiers, (played effectively by Frank Sinatra) however, has recurring dreams of his platoon being brainwashed and Shaw committing acts of murder.

He eventually convinces army brass that Shaw is still a puppet of his Communist-Marxist operators.

Angela Lansbury, (although barely a few years older than Harvey was at the time) plays his mother in a tour de force role. She absolutely captivates and steals every scene she is in, playing a very complex role that needs to convince the viewer of many things without much dialogue.

There's a rich cast of characters, including Janet Leigh, Henry Silva, James Edwards, and a painfully accurate James Gregory. Each character weaves through the methodical subplots and tapestry of Frankenheimer's masterful "Hitchcockian" pace.

I won't give away the plot, but dear readers, allow me to sat that this one is really worth watching--until the nail-biting and chilling conclusion.

There are many undertones in this film -- political, sexual, class and power, and social. You will want to view this film several times to approach it from different perspectives.

Ferris Webster, Editor Extraordinaire

[poetcomic1 · 9/10 · 15 April 2017]

As a long time fan of this film I note there is little that has gone unmentioned in the positive reviews - except this. I would like to put in a word of praise for the academy award winning editor Ferris Webster. Webster's crowning achievement was the famed 'garden party' sequence in which the malevolent communist agents are transformed into ladies at a garden club and back again, the vertigo of the circling camera draws us into the actual mental state of the brainwashed captives. Each camera movement, each shot was so exquisitely timed and placed that this is almost equal to the shower-bath scene in Psycho as a classic of modern editing. This scene is still studied in film schools by future editors. Also, the cutting in the finale scene at the convention expertly creates a Hitchcockian suspense totally dependent on the editing.

Another aside, Angela Lansbury 'cut her teeth' for this role playing the ruthless newspaper owner in the Tracy-Hepburn film State of the Union. In that film she managed to upstage Hepburn herself! And it was obvious that she should play the 'biggest, baddest mother of all'.

Manchurian times

[cristianocrivelli · 10/10 · 9 November 2017]

Time is the ultimate judge, isn't that what they say? Well 1962's The Manchurian Candidate is all the evidence I need. It feels ahead of it's time still and so relevant. In 2004, Jonathan Demme - one of my heroes - remade it with Meryl Streep - one my favorites - and Denzel Washington - one of my favorites - and the whole thing felt so old hat that I had to see John Frankeihemer's 1962 version again. Wow! Angela Lansbury creates one of the greatest villains in movie history. She is phenomenal and like it happens she's the kind of monster you can't have enough of. Frank Sinatra is really good here and the creepiness of Laurence Harvey is unsurpassed. So, well, yes, time has confirmed and protected the greatness of this outrageous thriller.

One of the Finest Movies of Its Genre

[Snow Leopard · 15 February 2006]

Still one of the finest movies of its genre, this original film version of "The Manchurian Candidate" features excellent atmosphere, memorable characters, and a first-rate cast. John Frankenheimer's direction shows a very good understanding of the material and its potential, and indeed it is a rare example of a top quality movie being made from an average novel, rather than the other way around.

Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey carry the bulk of the movie, as former members of the same military unit in Korea, who slowly learn the truth about their shared past. Both give fine performances, with Sinatra's character perpetually nervous and fearful of what he will find, yet compelled to get at the truth, while Harvey as Sergeant Shaw is coldly self-composed, and contemptuous of anyone else's weakness.

The supporting cast is also excellent. Angela Lansbury's icy presence as Shaw's mother is unforgettable, Janet Leigh makes an intriguing woman of mystery, and James Gregory is flawless as a pestilential, brainless Senator. Khigh Dhiegh also has some fine moments of refined cruelty as evil mastermind Yen Lo.

Some of the finest scenes come from the dream sequences, which are crafted very well from a technical viewpoint, and which also ring true with the story as it comes out. They produce some chilling moments, as well as making the plot concept - which in itself is pretty far- fetched - seem more believable.

With the passage of time and the dissolution of Cold War tensions, it's now possible to watch this without any political baggage, and to allow the excellent production to stand on its own high quality, rather than on any contemporary sentiments.

Truly, a gem!

[fastmike · 8/10 · 24 January 2005]

Probably John Frankenheimer's best production, and Frank Sinatra's best cinema performance.

I saw this because of the recent 'remake', I would assume that the reader will be making the same comparison. Having never seen this before, I found myself riveted to the story, and absolutely great performances by Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva, John McGiver, James Gregory, and Leslie Parrish.

Coincidently, I had just recently finished reading some previously published works about the cold war, in particular the Chambers-Hiss court cases.

It might be accident, but I wouldn't doubt it might have been intended by Frankenheimer to choose Harvey, who resembled Hiss, in appearance and McGiver who resembled Chambers appearance. When this was released in 1962, the Hiss-Chambers spy fiasco was still fresh in the public's mind.

Other American political images are not for want of satire either, since Lansbury and Gregory seemed to have reminded me, in appearance, of Mary and (honest) Abe Lincoln.

The pace, style and non stop tension rivals Hitchcock; it will certainly have you wondering if he had anything to do with this! Truly Frankenhiemer, excels here.

Because Sinatra was box office magnet, most of his other roles seemed 'fitted' for him. Not here! You'll have a chance to see the real Frank Sinatra, really working to make the part work, and without a doubt, he too excels in his role.

I don't think I'll bother to see the recent version yet. I want to see this original classic a few more times.

A Powerful, Wicked Satire.

[nycritic · 10/10 · 9 March 2005]

By the dawn of the 60s America had not been through with McCarthy-ism, the Korean War, and Communist witch hunts when it was already aiming towards a Cold War situation and ultimately, Vietnam. So much plays into this movie which came out at exactly the right time and place that even years later, layers of subtext can be garnered from its paranoiac, frightening images.

Power is a deadly thing to deal with, especially when it falls into the hands that should have it the least, and the word seems to dominate every angle of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE like a glowing ball of fire. The power to control minds and bend them to darker wills. The power to control the people into believing what the powers-that-be want. The power to demolish anything or anyone considered an even remote obstacle. The power to seize power, extend it outward, blindly, into a waiting globe.

And so does this disturbing, dark tale of the search for power in the political world takes place, with some of the most indelible images ever transferred onto the face of cinema. Frankenheimer amps up the paranoia already oozing from the story and with some truly nightmarish sequences brings forth a Creation that always seems like it will disclose some hideous, unseen force playing behind the scene -- the deceptive hydrangea scene at the beginning of the movie and the train scene where a shaken Sinatra meets Leigh who seems to be sincere are two very uneasy sequences to follow through, for example, because both disorient and succeed in sticking needles of doubt into your mind in more ways than one. You know something is completely wrong here and what lies beneath is always unsettling than what is eventually uncovered.

This is a character study as well as a political satire: while there is plenty of tension throughout, deep characterizations come through, and needless it is to me to state Angela Lansbury's terrifying performance as Mrs. Iselin, or Laurence Harvey's chilling portrait of a non-entity, a victim and a puppet who's design is to serve as a killing machine and a false hero. Much can be also said of Janet Leigh's Rosie, since her part suggests she also knows and is more than what she reveals, but sadly the film drops what might have been an interesting side story from the moment she appears on the train and talks in that coded language. It seems she only serves to be Sinatra's "controller." As for Sinatra himself, he's an asset and a weakness. He's too old to be Laurence Harvey's equal in combat, and his persona often comes through, but he does tune in a measured performance as the damaged General Marco.

MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE is one of those stories that detail the loss of innocence in America (with its killing of the more honest Senator Thomas Jordan and his almost pure daughter Josie, done without music, but in two long takes) and its transition to a super-power bent on political domination, and it chills to the bone to see it still today, 42 years later.

The "Candidate" Is Still Strong At 55

[timdalton007 · 9/10 · 27 May 2017]

There are works of fiction whose very name can conjure up images and meaning for people who have never even experienced them. The Manchurian Candidate, the 1962 film based on Richard Condon's 1959 novel, is one such example. The film's title has entered into the public consciousness, a term for brainwashing and seemingly incomprehensible betrayal in common use. Yet how many of those who use the term have seen the film and experienced what is likely to be one of the best thrillers of its era or any other?

Part of what makes the film so successful is, perhaps paradoxically, the fact its based on a novel. Having read Condon's original novel a couple of years ago and then coming back to the film a couple of times subsequently, it is amazing to see how much of it makes its way into the film. It's not just brushstrokes that make their way in but entire scenes with large portions of dialogue presented with little edits made to them (the much discussed first scene between Marco and Rosie is a prime example). Even some of the costuming choices are drawn straight from Condon's novel. Scriptwriter George Axelrod is able to take the dark comedy of Condon's novel and put it into what is essentially a thriller that satirizes the McCarthyism of the previous decade and makes it all work together. Not everything makes it into the film of course but much of what makes the film memorable (the plot and dialogue especially) is owed to its source material and the wise decision of Axelrod in keeping as much of it as possible.

Axelrod's script is only part of what makes The Manchurian Candidate the film that it is. Part of it is, of course, the cast. Frank Sinatra was a solid choice for the role of Major Marco who finds himself first facing a potential phantom from his past before realizing that he, and the country he serves, is facing a much larger threat. Laurence Harvey was likewise a good choice for the always odd and never quiet normal Raymond Shaw whom is at the center of the film's plot. Though given a top credit, Janet Leigh's Eugenie Rose Chaney actually doesn't have much to do in the film except perhaps be a romantic foil for Sinatra and a bit of a red herring but Leigh shines in what scenes she does have thanks to her chemistry with Sinatra. The supporting cast is solid as well from James Gregory as the bombastic McCarthy like Senator Iselin to John McGiver as his rival Senator Jordan with Henry Silva, Khigh Dheigh, and Albert Paulsen in roles of varying villainy. There is one other name that needs to be mentioned though.

Because, perhaps oddly, the real star of the film is credited fourth in the film's title sequence. Angela Lansbury's performance as Raymond's mother has become something legendary and not without good reason. Despite being not much older than Harvey was when the film was made and made to look the part thanks to what must have been some excellent make-up, Lansbury was perfect casting for the role. For those who only know her from Murder, She Wrote will be in for a shock as they see the same often quiet determination give in to bouts of conniving manipulation across much of the film's running time. Mrs. Iselin is the power behind the throne, quietly moving pieces around while those around her (namely her senator husband and son Raymond) take the credit. Yet few things will prepare the unsuspecting viewer for the revelations that pile up towards the end of the film including a scene that is every bit as recoiling now as it must have been in 1962. It is no surprise that she was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as it still stands as one of cinema's greatest villains.

Last but definitely not least, are those behind the camera. The stark black and white cinematography of Lionel Lindon serves the film well with its neo-noir feel that uses shadows and interesting angles to suggest how 'off' things often are. That is especially true when combined with the editing of Ferris Webster and when the two are combined during the film's lecture scenes or with the climactic sequence at the convention, the results are truly stunning. Director John Frankenheimer brought together a fine team to help him bring Condon's novel to the screen and his work on the film stands as among the best of his long career and there is little doubt that it stands up so well as a result of his work.

All of this combines to make The Manchurian Candidate both an excellent thriller and a fine film. From Axelrod's adaptation of Condon's idiosyncratic novel right down to its dialogue, the performances of the entire cast, and the direction of Frankenheimer, the film is a masterclass on how to adapt a novel to the screen faithfully and yet tell a tense and utterly enthralling story at the same time. It's no wonder that it has become not just a touchstone for films but in the culture at large for it is simply a well made and enjoyable piece of work ever after fifty-five years.

Timeless Thriller with a few glitches

[BB-15 · 7/10 · 2 January 1999]

There are parts of The Manchurian Candidate that are so perceptive and prophetic that it can be shocking. The satire of political campaigns and the influence of political wives feels very fresh. The film is also an excellent spy thriller and foretells the many political assassinations in the 60's. There are many fine performances in the film and Angela Lansbury plays one of the best film villains I have seen. Also, the directing, cinematography and editing are terrific.

My problems with the film mainly stem from its dialogue. The script repeats lines from the book the film was based upon. The result is that the actor's lines are very often stilted and not believable. Other less important problems involve Lawrence Harvey who while he gives a fine performance needed a dialogue coach. He begins the film with an American accent and slowly takes on a English one. The Janet Leigh character is also troubling. It seems she is a Soviet agent but this is not explained. Her character is too subtle and clashes with the very straight forward presentation of the rest of the film.

The flaws of The Manchurian Candidate would sink a lesser film. But when this movie hits its stride it is so powerful that it rises above its drawbacks and remains a classic spy thriller.

One of the best thrillers ever made.

[SmileysWorld · 9/10 · 8 October 2008]

To know that the human mind can be manipulated so easily is indeed a scary thing.The Manchurian Candidate is a thriller so intense it can almost be considered a horror film.If,in fact,things such as those depicted here really did occur,I imagine it did step on some pretty sensitive toes.Bravo to all of those involved in front of the camera and behind it.In particular,Angela Lansbury,whose versatility as an actress is proved here as she plays against the nice lady type roles that we know her for.Among all the film's from the era of the 1960's that I have viewed,I would definitely place this in my top 5.One of the best thrillers ever.

Dated political thriller is still stunning to watch...

[Doylenf · 7/10 · 26 August 2006]

An eerie fact is that a film dealing with the assassination of a presidential candidate came out just shortly before the real-life assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

LAURENCE HARVEY always had a rather sleep-walker kind of expression on his unlined face and here it serves him well as a man who has been hypnotized (brainwashed is a better word) into believing that he must kill the next presidential candidate of the U.S. because his mama wants him to.

Mama is ANGELA LANSBURY, in probably the wickedest role of her long career. She soothingly explains to the transfixed Harvey exactly at what point during the ceremony he must take aim at his target--and kill. It's the most chilling scene in the movie, except for the finale which is really spellbinding, as it takes place in a crowded Madison Square Garden with FRANK SINATRA hot on the trail of the would-be killer.

Sinatra's almost immediate discovery is what throws reality off a bit at this point. He sees a pinpoint of light in the far distance and knows exactly which stairway, which exit, which floor to go to in a matter of seconds. Well, it's called taking dramatic license for the sake of art, I suppose.

All in all, a very chilling reminder of the time Americans were living through in the McCarthy era, only occasionally flawed by distracting things like the love interest for Sinatra (JANET LEIGH) in a totally unnecessary sub-plot that does nothing to further the action.

John Frankenheimer gets every ounce of suspense out of pivotal scenes and you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat as the final scene unfolds.

A final word about the performances: ANGELA LANSBURY has never been more mesmerizing.

I Never Get Tired of Watching This Superb Thriller

[evanston_dad · 10/10 · 6 November 2006]

Is there one word to describe "The Manchurian Candidate?" Certainly there are several contenders: audacious, macabre, stark, gripping, pulpy, morbid, dark, hilarious. The film so stubbornly resists categorization that it's all of these things at one point or another, and frequently several of these things all at once.

I don't know what audiences made of this film at the time of its release, though, according to accounts, it bombed at the box office, primarily because it was pulled from theatres when life (the assassination of JFK) too closely imitated art. Add its prophetic quality to the list of reasons that "The Manchurian Candidate" deserves its unique place in cinema history and should be seen by everyone.

Director John Frankenheimer was at the top of his game here. His genius with this film resulted from his realization that the source material was pure camp, so he treats it as such. This same story played straight would have landed with a bone-crunching thud (as it did in the 2004 remake). But Frankenheimer injects the film with liberal doses of ghoulish humor, so the film ends up being grotesque and funny at the same time. For a premier example of this, refer to the brainwashing flashbacks sprinkled throughout the first half of the film, that through some of the most cracker jack editing ever done on screen juxtapose a deadly demonstration and a convention of female botanists to nightmarish and shocking effect.

And of course, no review of "Candidate" would be complete without mentioning the supremely harrowing performance of Angela Lansbury, who lords magisterially over the film and will drive all memories of Jessica Fletcher right out your head. If this film were a deck of cards, she'd be all four queens rolled into one.

Grade: A+

One of all-time best 3 thrillers

[scotty12 · 6/10 · 6 December 2000]

Can this really be a thriller? I'd always thought that thrillers might be great entertainment but couldn't be great movies, yet this one led me to alter my opinion. The only other ones I can call to mind are the very best Hitchcocks like Vertigo.

If you're not American, you might at first imagine that a lot of the movie would be lost on you (Korean war, McCarthy references, Abraham Lincoln). Well I didn't particularly know a great deal about any of these, but actually it doesn't at all detract from enjoying and appreciating the film. If anything it heightens the paranoia. If you don't know too much about the background, you can imagine anything could happen.

Wonderfully atmospheric - I can't think of another movie that induces paranoiac feeling in the audience as well. This comes to a head when Marco meets Rosie on the train - and I think that is the reason why Janet Leigh's character was included. It's so well handled. Their first comments could be flirtatious chat-up lines or they could be passwords to recognise each other. Even when Rosie says something not quite right, and Marco tells her: you should have said..., we are not sure whether this means she is an opposing agent who knew only part of the intro routine.

A lot of people commented on the wonderful techniques that compare with the very best, especially the swirling camera-work, and the uniformly excellent acting. Few people mentioned the score, which (in my humble opinion), is one of the best of all time, beautiful but somehow heightening the tension. It tends to appear just before you are going to become even more paranoiac and is part of the movie's subtle conditioning I think.

All in all this is a most excellent movie and very enjoyable too. It was placed around position 60 in the American Film Institute top 100, but personally I would have put it about 30 higher.

Horribly dated (spoilers)

[jack_malvern · 1/10 · 1 September 2004]

There is a reverence surrounding this film that is difficult for the casual viewer to comprehend. It might have been revolutionary for its time, but IMDb users who describe it as timeless seem to have undergone a brainwashing scheme themselves.

The plot holes are large and plentiful and some of the acting is diabolical. The story, of a soldier transformed by hypnosis into a murderous automaton, is interesting enough in a B-movie kind of way, but the sheer volume of narrative leaps would test the patience of any modern viewer.

Several key scenes are literally incredible. Frank Sinatra meets Janet Leigh on a train and five minutes later, without any warmth on Frank's side, she decides that she is going to leave her fiancé for him.

Leslie Parrish, playing the leading character's lover, chooses to wear a fancy dress costume that, by sheer coincidence, is the hypnotic trigger to send him into a trance. The likelihood of her wearing a Queen of Diamonds costume is so low that I assumed she must be in on the hypnotist's conspiracy, but it was just a bizarre red herring.

Other irritations include the buffoonery of John Yerkes Iselin, the main character's stepfather, who wins the nomination for the vice presidency despite being a hopeless drunk. What was presumably intended as satire merely undermines the plot.

And in the final scene, the security at the auditorium where the climactic assassination is due to take place is so lax that any old hit-man could have done it. The evil communists' scheme to groom someone who could get near the presidential candidate was unnecessary, if not counterproductive. If a presidential candidate were to be killed, would the public really support the vice-presidential co-runner if they knew his stepson was the assassin?

As for the innovative fight scene, it is terribly unconvincing by today's standards and can't have been that good even in 1962. Henry Silva, Sinatra's kung fu adversary, is downright awful, but even his acting looks Oscar-worthy compared to James Edwards's wooden turn as a spooked GI.

The good news, however, is that Jonathan Demme's remake is excellent. The 1962 version is an interesting historical document, but it doesn't work as a thriller.

A Timeless Political Thriller

[CalRhys · 19 July 2014]

The picture that introduced sleeper agents to film, 'The Manchurian Candidate' is a classic political thriller that still remains as intriguing as it was 52 years ago. Starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh and Oscar-nominee Angela Lansbury, 'The Manchurian Candidate' is an outstanding and unparalleled thriller set in the midst of the Cold War, a tale of politics, family, distress and guilt with flawless direction from Frankenheimer. A benchmark of American cinema, 'The Manchurian Candidate' is a film that is is not only a timeless political thriller but also a satire of American history and propaganda.

All by itself it raises my opinion of everyone involved.

[Spleen · 10/10 · 14 August 1999]

Wow! I was expecting right wing propaganda, or possibly even (a distant outside chance) left wing propaganda: I certainly wasn't expecting THIS. It isn't propaganda at all. Deriving any kind of message at all from the film is difficult - one might be tempted to conclude that we ought to never trust people who cry cheap political insults like "communist!" or "fascist!" or "racist!" at the first opportunity, but that's just a thought. At any rate, in order to get a message we have to think about the story for ourselves, very carefully, which makes it the very opposite of propaganda.

Here's another bit of advice: don't make the mistake, as I did, of thinking now and then that Frankenheimer is drifting from the point. He knows exactly what he's doing at all times. Whenever it seems he's offering some interesting diversion from the main story he's really telling the main story by other means. How good the story is I cannot convey without saying too much. Probably the central conceit everyone knows already, which was why Frankenheimer was right to spill most of the beans as soon as possible - but he does has one or two in reserve. One great thing about the story is that it doesn't rely at all on us thinking it likely.

Everyone, from composer to cameraman, did a fine job, and the cast does an even finer one. Angela Lansbury gives the performance of her life. Frank Sinatra I had never seen in a movie before, and I was surprised to discover that he can act - very well, too. It permeates down to the minor roles. Leslie Parrish as the charming innocent is certainly charming, but also subtle. "The Manchurian Candidate" would easily be the best of its kind even if it weren't the only of its kind.

Best political thriller ever

[RossRivero99 · 10/10 · 27 July 2014]

John Frankenheimer's The Manchurian Candidate is the first and best political thriller ever made, and a movie that will never take it's place. The movie tells a story I would never would have known that was put onto film and that was the story of a former Korean War POW (played by Laurence Harvey.) who gets brainwashed by communists and becomes an assassin when his fellow officer Major Bennett Marco (played by Frank Sinatra). Frankenheimer is very interesting with his visions that he wanted to put onto the screen during his career as a director one of them including this masterpiece. For this movie I really thought that the movie deserved more Oscar nominations than the only two it got especially for Sinatra and Harvey for their equally wonderful work, which this is Sinatra's best work since his Oscar winning turn for From here to Eternity. This is certainly one of the greatest movie i have seen in a long time and i am completely looking forward to seeing this masterwork again cause of it's greatness.

Analogue Political Interference...

[Xstal · 8/10 · 18 September 2020]

Highlighting the paranoia of a nation, its relationship with communism and how that relationship was perceived to affect and influence the political system. Nowadays all you need are several thousand social media accounts, some software savvy techies and a bit of government ambition and bingo: your man is in the White House - the evidence gets tweeted every day. I wont say despotic government because all sides play the game with varying degrees of success, so it could be No.10 or the Kremlin or wherever takes your fancy - the fact is you will never know for sure just how much influence has been applied and the extent of the damage it achieved.

With that in mind the film is interesting, relevant and frightening - very frightening. Sinatra plays himself as usual, Laurence Harvey plays the multi-conditioned assassin to perfection, Angela Lansbury is superb as every sons nightmare mother and Janet Leigh adds fifteen minutes to the runtime and little else.

A mind-blowing conspiracy movie

[MaxBorg89 · 10/10 · 3 December 2005]

I recently saw this movie on TV after reading various enthusiastic reviews and trying to find the DVD for over a year. I have to say it was worth waiting a year to see this particular, amazing film. John Frankenheimer made what is with no doubt one of the finest thrillers in cinema history: Ben Marco (Frank Sinatra) has recurring nightmares about a mission in Korea two years earlier. But what happened during that mission? And what's all that got to do with war hero Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), his mother (Angela Lansbury) and some political murders?

Like Alfred Hitchcock, Frankenheimer manages to create tension with everyday stuff (a solitaire game has never looked so unsettling), depicting a bizarre yet utterly realistic conspiracy (the nightmare sequence and the shocking climax are breathtaking and impossible to forget). He also directs an amazing actor-threesome: Sinatra is perfectly convincing as Marco, and Angela Lansbury is... well, just perfect! But it's Harvey who deserves more attention: he's chillingly superb as the conflicted, almost android-like Raymond...

New to Frankenheimer, conspiracy flicks or great '60s thrillers? The Manchurian Candidate is an excellent way to begin the acquaintance.

" Could there ever be anything so dark as one's own mother "

[thinker1691 · 7/10 · 5 December 2008]

Each and every war produces it's own casualties. This movie is no different. The film is entitled " The Manchurian Candidate " and deals specifically with the physiological warfare used against U.S. soldiers in the Korean War. Hundreds of men came home complaining they could not differentiate between friend and foe. So many casualties complained of being 'Brain-washed' that a specific department was created to deal with dark memories. In this true life story, Maj. Ben Marco (Frank Sinatra) is one of a handful of men from the same company as their platoon's hero, Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey). Like all the rest of the survivors of a doomed patrol, Marco speaks highly of the Medal of Honor recipient Raymond Shaw, to the point of reciting exactly the same praise phrases as everyone else. Little attention is given to Marco when this irregularity is brought to the attention of the Military or government authorities. However, Marco remains persistent with his allegations, when he discovers his best friend may have been hypnotically programmed to kill someone important. Angela Lansbury plays Mrs. Iselin, who assures Marco there is nothing to worry about. Henry Silva is superb as Chunjin, a bodyguard out to make sure Marco is silenced, before he discovers the truth. James Gregory and John McGiver give stirring performances to an obvious black and white suspense classic. There is Great and powerful drama in this futuristic film and none more so than to believe it could happen. ****

Every movie lover will enjoy this masterpiece about masterminds... it's in the cards...

[ElMaruecan82 · 10/10 · 23 March 2018]

It's not the most memorable moment of "The Manchurian Candidate" but it is too delightfully and subversively goofy to be ignored: an inebriated Senator John Iselin (James Gregory), disguised as Abraham Lincoln, is dancing the limbo, George Washington would rap in a Simpsons' episode but that was three decades later, here we're in 1962 and the film's statement about politics isn't just ahead of its time but also plays like a stinging retort to all the patriotic, flag-brandishing and crowd-pleasing Capra messes that anaesthetized the masses.

To be fair, Capra also highlighted the corrupting effect of political ambition, but the Iselins would have convinced Mr. Smith to emigrate to Argentina. "The Manchurian Candidate" doesn't just satirize politics, it writes as words of Gospel that power in politics isn't a mean but an end, which means that the right and left distinction is rather sterile, the whole point is to reach power by denigrating the enemy and brainwashing the masses. Under the armor of apparent cynicism, the script, brilliantly written by George Axelrod, fabricates its own alibi. When you have a demagogue using the Red Scare to intimidate his adversaries and his mastermind wife implicated in a real communist conspiracy, say what you want but it's a fair trade.

On that political level only, the film is a triumph of writing, so ahead of its time it was deemed prophetic a day of November 1963. And that's something no one could ever foresee, not director George Frankenheimer, not the screenwriter George Axelrod, not Robert Condon who wrote the original novel and not Frank Sinatra who was rumored to have limited the diffusion of the film in respect to Kennedy's memory. It would be hard to imagine that the film inspired the assassination, but it did nourish the wildest theories about Lee Harvey Oswald being an agent of the Soviet, if not brainwashed like Raymond Shaw (Lawrence Harvey) in Manchuria, but being manipulated with extreme prejudice.

In our world where Internet became a beehive of conspiracy theorists, it's not difficult to grasp the appeal of a movie like "The Manchurian Candidate", it is not just modern by today's standards, but it's disconcertingly relevant. And yet; this a movie of many, many layers on brilliances and the political aspect isn't even the showiest one. In fact, I'm only going to quote the tag-line, "If you come in five minutes after this picture begins, you won't know what it's all about! When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it!". Indeed, I can think of a thousand movies like "The Manchurian Candidate", but none of them preceding it.

The statement about missing the five minutes is also true, in a subtler way. The first minutes aren't about the operation that get the whole platoon knocked out with the complicity of the interpret (Henry Silva), the point is to show that Raymond Shaw is the one who doesn't have fun and even in the next scene, warmth isn't his strongest suit as he doesn't display it either with his parents. Granted the poor man's McCarthy is only his stepfather (as he loves to mention) but she's his mother! Yet the perpetually malcontent is awarded the Medal of Honor, recommended by Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) and is described by everyone as the "warmest, bravest, most charming man they ever met".

They all repeat the same expression and all have the same dream involving a mysterious demonstration session lead by Chinese people and showing the "bravest and warmest" man casually executing two soldiers. It's not much the killing that is disturbing than the fact that it involves the two who didn't make it. If Shaw did kill, he didn't let it exude from his attitude and with good reason, as he was not only programmed to kill, but to never remember that he did. Shaw couldn't pass as a guilty man because he would know it himself. The programming is brilliant and brilliantly displayed through a mix of dream sequences and solitaire games where the Queen of Diamonds play like action-buttons.

The directing and the visual symbolism is so straight-forward that we never perceive it as surrealism, the film maintains a very straight and legitimate aspect despite a few creative digressions that could have been borrowed from Hitchcock, which encompasses an atmosphere of suspicion where every moment of awkwardness can be rightfully or wrongfully suspected. When the interpret wants to be hired as Shaw's cook, our suspect-radar is engaged but when Sinatra meets Janet Leight on the train, the dialogue is so bizarre that we suspect something codified behind. We'll never know but we sure wouldn't have remembered the scene had they exchanged banalities.

In the end, there's also this constant feeling of an impending doom all through the film, anyone can be a spy, a mind-controller, an evil force, and this is where "The Manchurian Candidate" gets its ticket to cinematic posterity. Indeed, for all the malevolent forces it inhabits, forcing a man to commit murders, one of them being pretty hardcore for the time of the film, or the level of corruption that shows absolutely no regard for the dignity of human beings, for all the bad guys who populate it with their sinister smiling face, the bigger bad of all comes from one woman. As the evil and domineering Mrs. Eleanor Shaw Iselin, not the woman behind the great man, but THE "great man" of the whole scheme, Angela Lansbury portrayed one of the most iconic villains of history, a woman who knows no bounds when it comes to satisfy her selfish impulses. She's so creepy that it's not just the way she hates that is disturbing, but the way she loves, too.

In a movie that goes so far in terms of originality, we're not even shocked by Mrs. Iselin's behavior, we're just fascinated. And what I said could apply for the whole film.

Great movie, loved the plot

[lagudafuad · 7/10 · 17 February 2013]

The Manchurian Candidate's pace is very tasteful and gentle; it keeps you on the edge and then spins you out of sync when some unforeseen and probably unexplainable scenes pop up, but then the events pull you back in, in a most masterful and surreal way as you wait to see all the events matchup. The Manchurian Candidate is a mix of suspense, thriller and the dialogues are very intense and to some, it could be seen to possess some dark humor.

The unveiling of the mastermind behind the whole plot in the movie, or better still the mastermind behind the control of Raymond Shaw makes you the viewer raise an eye lid of the depth many will go for power. The movies conspiracy theory and mix of some kind of Sci-Fi in the whole brainwashing and mind control aspect of the film, makes The Manchurian Candidate more appealing to a variety of audience.

The plot is about a squad in the Korean War, where the Major, Ben Marco (Frank Sinatra) and his Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), returned home to be well received and Shaw even got a medal of honor for his exploits of saving his squad during the war.

As Shaw grew to be in the public eye driven by his ever bearing mother Mrs. Eleanor Shaw Iselin (Angela Lansbury), Marco starts having recurring nightmares, where he sees Shaw kill two of his squad members and the nightmare led him to believe that the whole story he knows to have happened in Korea may not be real.

John Frankenheimer the director and also the producer did a fine job on the screenplay based on a Richard Condon's 1959 novel of the same name, both film and novel are about the cold war and the acting by star actor and musician Frank Sinatra is one that needs to be seen. Angela Lansbury (Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks in 1971) who plays the role of the mother of Raymond Shaw got an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, for her wonderful portrayal of Mrs Iselin.

The Manchurian Candidate was both a critical and financial success one that many should see, including you. Every moment you spend watching this film you will love and remember. The suspense keeps you glued.

A remake of this 1962 classic was done by Jonathan Demme (Oscar winner of Best Director for the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs and the critical acclaimed Philadelphia in 1993 also starring Denzel Washington) in 2004, and it starred Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep and Liev Schreiber, it was a critical success but not much of a box office success like it's 1962 predecessor.

www.lagsreviews.com

One of the Best Ever

[gengar843 · 10/10 · 23 July 2005]

There is a great deal of durability to this film. First, the conspiracy aspects continue to remain plausible, perhaps more so today. There are many who feel this film portended, or perhaps patterned, Kennedy's assassination. Others who see John Iselin as a crafty Nixon-type, or a buffoonish Bush-alike. Still others see Angela Lansbury's character as Hilary Clinton, concocting world domination. The idea of the "red menace," played to the hilt (perhaps overly-so, even for 1962), has its modern-day parallels in our views of terrorists, and the brainwashing techniques conjure up images, at least here, of suicide bombers. Second, the acting is impeccable. I replay this movie expecting to see a crack in Laurence Harvey's mannerisms, or some sly nuance to Sinatra's demeanor, but there is none. Angela Lansbury is perfect in her role as the queen hornet, and the supporting cast hands us pearls as well. Third, the writing. While there are a few objections to logic, such as Eugenie's (Janet Leigh) impetuousness, the main framework is really quite flawless. The background and reasons for Raymond's company's abduction, and the use of Raymond, all makes sense. The brainwashing techniques have not been undermined. The political scheme is brilliant. The subplots are developed without becoming clunky or puzzling. As well, the fervor and fluidity of the screenplay is obvious without pandering. Quite astounding, really. Fourth, direction. All of the aspects of good film-making are here, for use in classrooms, if you will. Lighting, camera angles, editing techniques- it all clicks. I have a hard time delivering a less-than-perfect score.

This exciting political paranoia thriller will appeal to Frank Sinatra fans .

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 1 February 2023]

Political thriller with memorable performances , intrigue , thrills and well realized by John Frankenheimer .This interesting film had a good remake : The Manchurian Candidate (2004) by Jonathan Demme . Thrilling and chilling film deals with Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra , in 2004 rendition played by Denzel Washington) , an intelligence officer in the U. S. Army . He served valiantly as a captain in the Korea war and his Sergeant , Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey , subsequently performed by Liev Schreiver) , even won the Medal of Honor. Marco has a major problem however, he has a recurring nightmare, one where two members of his squad are killed by Shaw. This Raymond Shaw is an insufferable man, who came back from the Korean War awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor . Shaw for his part eventually leaves the Army to start a job in New York City as the confidential assistant to well-respected political journalist Holborn Gaines (Lloyd Corrigan) and he has established himself well , despite the misgivings of his domineering mother , Mrs. Eleanor Shaw (Angela Lansbury , later acted by Meryl Streep). Along the way, Ben Marco has been having nightmares that lead him to believe that the circumstances that led to Raymond getting the medal are not true . However, Marco learns that another soldier (James Edwards , subsequently performed by Jeffrey Wright) from the platoon , has had the same nightmare .While his superiors don't think he knows what he is talking about, he is sent on leave . When he goes to see Raymond, he is arrested ,he aware that also has the same dream. When the officers learn of this they decide to give him a chance to find out what's going on . Some very powerful people appear desperate to stop him from finding out. Ben Marco have to face off an enemy with even more sinister designs .Everything is under control.....is anyone seeing the truth?. In this election everything is under control !. When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it! Once unbelievable. Now unthinkable. The chilling classic returns. If you come in five minutes after this picture begins, you won't know what it's all about! When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it!

Bold political thriller about the mind control of the prisoners Americans in Korea War dealing with experiments applied to soldiers to modify behavior patterns. The picture packs thrills , suspense , emotion , intrigue , plot twists and is quite entertaining. The film raises a disturbing theory well performed and slickly developed and it was re-released theatrically in 1987 .Top-notch acting from main cast as Frank Sinatra who gives a superbly controlled interpretation as a war veteran who begins to believe that the honored heroics of a former member of his squad may be the product of brainwashing . Frank Sinatra that only a year later surprised with the death of President Kennedy , directed John Frankenheimer a producer for its realization, appeared excited Frank Sinatra with a script of "The Manchurian Candidate," which could have a role as an officer of the bunch of prisoners Americans, Sinatra was formed as co-producer and introduced the idea before the president of "United Artists". And Laurence Harvey is pretty good as an unwitting assassin for an international Communist conspiracy.

Furthermore , a terrific support cast , such as : Janet Leigh, Henry Silva , James Gregory, Leslie Parrish , John McGiver, Khigh Dhiegh , James Edwards , Albert Paulsen , Barry Kelley and special mention for Angela Lansbury as mean mother who executes nasty machinations to promote her son's career , she has some moments of real brilliance . With an excellent script by George Axelrod and director Frankenheimer himself , based on a novel by Richard Condon and it has a splendid narrative rhythm. The motion picture was compellingly directed by John Frankenheimer . Rating : 7.5/10. Better than average. The movie leaves you feeling of having a good cinema.

Doesn't get my vote

[simonrosenbaum · 1/10 · 30 March 2003]

After reading so much about this film, how it was as relevant today as when it was made, how it was an intelligent exciting politcal thriller and one of the best films of the 60's. Then I watched it and after a few minutes I thought I must have the wrong film. What I was watching was a movie with an silly and unbelievable story, some truly terrible dialogue badly acted and told in a slow moving rather tedious and predictable way. I'll admit Angela Lansbury was good but nearly everyone else wasn't. I can't believe this was considered good even forty years ago! Far from the classic I thought it was supposed to be, it's one of the worst films I've seen for a long time. (1/10)