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Summary: Who Are the Real Patriots?
Review: "The Manchurian Candidate" is equal parts taut thriller and cautionary tale. As a thriller, it kept me engrossed till the shocking conclusion. As a cautionary tale, it said things that needed saying at the time it was released - things that are just as relevant today as there were when the film was originally released.Lawrence Harvey plays decorated Korean war hero Raymond Shaw who is brainwashed by Soviet and Chinese Communists bent on infiltrating and controlling the American presidency. Consciously, Shaw knows nothing about his brainwashing. When triggered, however, he carries out his orders without emotion or remorse. Frank Sinatra, in one of his meatier roles, plays Colonel Bennett Marco, who knew Shaw in Korea, but remembers him differently. In recurring nightmares, Marco recalls his own brainwashing where he witnesses the controlled Shaw killing two men who were members of his own company. Angela Lansbury, in an uncharacteristic role as a villain, plays Shaw's shrew of a mother who may or may not be implicated in the conspiracy to overthrow the American government. Throughout the film, Lansbury plays her character absolutely straight, and quite brilliantly, too. Is she the freedom-loving, anti-communist Republican wife of a Senator she pretends to be or is she in cahoots with the Communists herself? "The Manchurian Candidate" effectively presents the question: who are the real patriots? Further, it presents a much-needed indictment of modern American Republicans, who for decades have professed to be pro-freedom and pro-America. There is a needless subplot involving a love affair between Sinatra and Janet Leigh. It appears to be presented as a red herring, but amounts to very little in the context of the whole movie. It's an unfortunate distraction in an otherwise exciting film. I highly recommend "The Manchurian Candidate." It is a fulfilling thriller and cautionary tale of the totalitarian threat to America.
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Summary: The Manchurian Candidate on DVD
Review: The Manchurian Candidate is probably the best Cold War film next to Dr. Strangelove. It deals with a deranged Communist brainwashing plot used on American soldiers, and the use of this brainwashing for espionage reasons. What makes this film so good is its performances, especially on the part of Angela Lansbury as the deranged, politically ambitious, and sadistic mother. Frank Sinatra is in fine form in this film too. Another reason the film is so good is its somewhat charming disturbing quality. The way the film begins with the close-up of the Korean soldier and the soldiers pressing on through the unpredictable forrest of Korea where an ambush could be around any corner, the dream sequence where old ladies change into powerful Asian Communists and then back into old ladies, the way Angela Lansbury manipulates and controls her Congressman husband with an devilish feminin will, and the acts of deranged violence which give this 1962 film a PG-13 rating, all stack up to give the film its witty, mysterious, feel. The DVD of The Manchurian Candidate has two major extra features. The first is a commentary by the director John Frankenheimer. What he has to say is very interesting, especially when he talks about the editing of the dream sequences and the effects of Sinatra's brief martial arts fight with the Korean, on Hollywood. The problem is that he often leaves long gaps between what he has to say. Gaps up to five minutes or longer! I found myself fast-forwarding the film until he began commenting on the film again. The second major extra feature is an interview with Frank Sinatra, producer George Axelrod and, director John Frankenheimer. This is very interesting, because a lot of the focus of the interview is on the controversy that the film arose after the assassination of JFK, and the discussion of the preproduction of the film which is not covered enough in the commentary by Frankenheimer. The only other extra feature on this DVD worth mentioning is the original theatrical trailer of the film. It is nothing big, but it is still very interesting to have a feel for what trailers were like nearly forty years ago. If you enjoy The Manchurian Candidate, or you are a Sinatra fan this is a must-have for your DVD library. This DVD is well worth the money for how much you get!
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Summary: The Definitive Movie of the Cold War Period
Review: The Birkenstock set have perpetuated the dogma that Peter Sellers' "Dr. Strangelove" is the penultimate Cold War movie, embodying in their minds the lunacy of the effort to staunch the spread of communism across the globe. As usual, their vision is obscured by bong smoke. For a much truer (and more visceral) depiction of the nail-biting struggle which took place during the Cold War, you need to see "The Manchurian Candidate," one of the most controversial movies ever made.Why all the fuss? When this movie was made in 1962, America had just endured the Cuban Missile Crisis and narrowly averted nuclear war with the Soviet Union. An anti-communist movie is hard enough to make in Hollywood, but to make one which is at the same time critical of the anti-communist movement itself is to alienate most of the country. Furthermore, the subject matter concerned the brainwashing of Korean War prisoners by colluding Chinese and Soviet forces, hardly a popular topic amongst the thousands of Korean War vets and their families (and a taboo topic even in Madeleine Albright's State Department today). The plot is a knuckle-biter concerning an Army major (brilliantly played by Frank Sinatra in his best cinematic performance) whose recurring nightmares have loosened his grip on reality. He begins to suspect that the man who saved his life in Korea (earning the Congressional Medal of Honor), the son of a noted anti-communist (Angela Lansbury as you've never seen her before) and her senator husband, may in fact be a Chinese-controlled assassin. From the clammy, claustrophobic scenes of a vet struggling against his war-born inner demons, to the gripping, surprising climax, "The Manchurian Candidate" delivers. In addition to being a tightly-plotted, nail-biting thriller, this film stands alone among Cold War films in that it gets its history almost exactly right. With the opening of the Soviet archives, historians have confirmed that Soviet intelligence actively participated in Chinese-led brainwashing experiments against American POWs during and after the Korean War, a reality long denied by the tweed-jacketed American Marxists infesting academia. But why wouldn't they scoff at this? After all, they required no brainwashing at all to do their masters' bidding. Do my bidding instead. Grab a copy of this terrific film today.
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Summary: And you thought Joan Crawford was Bad!
Review: Angela Lansbury is chilling as a true "Mommie Dearest" in this brilliant Cold War flick from the 60's. One of the most unjust travesties of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the fact that an acting award does not sit on the lady's mantle.
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Summary: Very Clean Video Transfer. Good R/L front stereo sound.
Review: The b/w transfer is very clean. The stereo sound is front right/left only, but is good. The director's commentary is very insightful. I recommend this DVD
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Summary: Eerie
Review: One of the greatest films ever made. The little details are especially compelling: the look on Harvey's face after Jocie's death, Christmas carols on a record player, Marco's choice of reading material, the black comedy of some scenes, and the gunfire turning into thunder. I also liked the depiction of Communism as a terrible thing that destroys lives.
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Summary: Laurence Harvey IS Jude Law!
Review: This is an old, black and white film, yes. It stars Frank Sinatra. But this stands alongside any great modern day conspiracy theory film, and betters most. If you have no interest in Sinatras career or music but love a good, intelligent thriller, you will adore this movie. I implore all serious movie buffs to seek this out. The DVD does the film justice, as the picture is so clear the whites hurt my eyes. It also features a round table interview with Sinatra and the film-makers, plus a weird trailer which features music used in Night of the Living Dead. My only complaint is over the director commentary. Theres just not enough of it. Frankenheimer blows in and out at will, making you wonder why he bothered. It seems hes watching the film, as well. Which is understandable. If they ever have the guts to do a remake, Jude Law needs to play Harvey's part. The similarity is bizarre.
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Summary: The best political thriller ever made
Review: In my opinion The Manchurian Candidate is probably the best thriller (political) ever made. The film is cunning, suspensful and is a good example of cold war fear. Communism in the white house? That premise probably would have scared many people during the cold war. But what's most ironic about this movie is that it was not only one of JFK's favorite movies, but JFK pushed United Artists to release it back in 1961. Again though, the performances in this movie are spectacular with stunning performances from Frank Sinatra and Angela Lansburry. So, I hope one will be able to appreciate this movie as much as I did.
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Summary: Highly original, chilling political thriller
Review: This is a great DVD with many excellent bonus features, including the Director's commentary that adds so much to the understanding of how the film was made. The film was shot primarily with wide angle lenses which heightens the effect of some very frightening screens. For example is there anything more incredible than the scene where the captured, brainwashed prisoners believe they are attending a ladies' garden party, while actually on stage as human guinea pigs in a meeting of communist cadres. Just an amazing juxtaposition of images! The storyline is well developed and never loses the taut feeling of suspense from start to finish. Laurence Harvey, Frank Sinatra, and Angela Lansbury are particularly fine in their roles. If there is only one criticism, it is that Harvey lapses at times into his original British accent, which is disconcerting. But given the power of his performance in this role, this is a minor detail that can easily be overlooked. The film is shot in black and white, which is far better suited to its cold war images. Just puzzled why MGM issued the cover for this DVD in color? Anyway, highly recommend this DVD!
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Summary: The First and Finest Political Thriller!
Review: This is said to be one of president John F. Kennedy's favorite films, and you can see he had good taste in movies. This film succeeds in being a good suspense film and a great psychological drama. Great for smart and sophisticated viewers, even though it will entertain anyone. Laurence Harvey and Frank Sinatra are great, but Angela Lansbury is Dynamite as the cold-hearted mother of Laurence Harvey. Great movie, definitely a Must-See!
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