Rating: 
Summary: Finest American movie of the 60's
Review: John Frankenheimer could do little wrong in the early 60's and this film, one of the most sophisticated political satires ever made, ranks as probably his greatest achievement. Beautifully shot, acted, scripted and edited it's a film that demands multiple viewings. The highest compliment that I can pay it is that Hitchcock himself couldn't have done it any better.
Rating: 
Summary: A Smart, Suspenseful Film that Most Adults Can Understand!
Review: Here is a very intelligent film that is written so well that you don't need a background in history or political science to be able to enjoy it!Most films this smart manage to alienate a wider audience because they expect the audience to already know too much real world trivia, or expect the audience to be so interested in the subject matter that they'll overlook a poorly paced story. Not so with this highly entertaining thriller! In fact, its biggest weakness it that it requires the audience to accept the simplistic way that brainwashing and hypnosis seem to work, in this film (even though they don't really work like that at all). So in this respect, knowing too much about the topic actually makes it harder to accept the events in this film as being believable. Go ahead and suspend you disbelief. This is a very entertaining film, no matter how much you know, or don't know about the real world parallels.
Rating:
Summary: Spell Binding until the End
Review: After viewing this movie and taking into consideration the time in which it was made, I can understand why the film was pulled from the theaters. This work plays on many of the Cold War fears associated with the assasination of President Kennedy. History aside, this movie is a real pyschological thriller. The plot moves quickly and Frank Sinatra gives a great performance as Bennett Marco. For those who are fans of "Murder She Wrote", you will be somewhat surprised with Angela Lansbury's role as a communist operative, scheming political wife and wicked mother. Lansbury's role is a far cry from Jessica Fletcher. Finally, Laurence Harvey's character, Raymond Shaw, generates much sympathy as the alienated son who has been brainwashed into being a hitman for the Soviet Union.This movie will engross you from beginning to end.
Rating:
Summary: A thriller and an incisive study of an incredible Evil
Review: While not a historical film in the true sense of the word(the film does not deal with any particular true incident), Manchurian is the best explication of what Communism truly is. Through the form of a thriller, the film shows the murders typical of Communism but also, through the character of Raymond Shaw, demonstrates its horrible contempt even hatred of the individual and the family. Without giving away the plot, Shaw is destroyed. He is dehumanized and turned into a tool and a murderer by the Communists. His family is a corrupt horror and, he is continually forced to kill the ones that he loves--much like many who were forced to do likwise in Russia, China, and Cambodia. And why? Because the Party dictates that it must be so. Ben Marko has also been similarly abused by the Reds but he manages to overcome it and must struggle to prevent a vile attempt to take over the American Presidency with a secret Communist agent ala Bill Clinton. The acting and direction is superb. Sinatra and Harvey have never been better. The soundtrack is a poignant, constant reminder that this is really not a thriller but a tragedy, the tragedy of the abject destruction of a human life and a human soul by an idealogy that treats both as disposable garbage. Communism in America? The film's last line is a powerful answer. Hell. Hell. As one of the few AntiCommunist films of that period that has escaped censorship by the Hollywood thought police, this film is important and should be seen.
Rating:
Summary: This DVD is a keeper
Review: This review is for those who don't need to be told how great this movie is. But, whether the first or the fiftieth viewing, you owe it to yourself to see "Candidate" on dvd. Frankenheimer's comments on how he shot the "garden club" scene are alone worth the price of the dvd. And I defy anyone to guess who Sinatra's choice to play Angela Lansbury's character was. This is a wonderful, suspenseful, surprising movie which has only benefited from the added content available on dvd. I recommend it totally.
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: This is Frankenheimers masterpiece. Some of the greatest and most unappreciated moments in cinema are found in this movie. Watch the McCarthy like acusation during the press conference and the way Frankenheimer creates a historical connection with his use of TV monitors. The "flower club" scene is still something that has never been equaled. A cinema classic.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful for another generation
Review: While born decades after the time period in which the movie takes place, and even decades after the movie was initial released (and I was six when it was rereleased)--I found this movie to be highly enjoyable. It is the kind of movie rarely made these days with a plot that takes more than five minutes to develop. I believe many in my generation are missing out by skipping over this film because it's "old" and in black-and-white. However, don't let such things keep you away from great movies. If you want to see something disturbing and with a good plot, this is a good movie to watch.
Rating:
Summary: lansbury steals show,again
Review: anyone fortunate enough to have seen angela lansbury on the new york stage in the 60's and 70's wont be surprised by her depth and intensity.its great we have this dvd to capture her for all times. everyone else in the film is up to snuff , but she nails it.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best films ever made
Review: taut as hell. suspense fans will love this
Rating:
Summary: One of the great films of the sixties
Review: It is great. All that needs to be said. But I would like to quibble with the Canadian reviewer who defends Janet Leigh's role. He or she uses the book to illuminate her role in the movie. That same character in the movie may possess more depth than the character in the movie, but that doesn't negate the fact that in the movie the character is poorly drawn and badly written. I wish that they had put the elements from the book into the movie. But they didn't. And her role (though not her performance--she had to make do with the lines she was given) does mar an otherwise almost perfect film.
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