Rating: 
Summary: A hint of nightmares...
Review: Nightmares bother a group of soldiers who have arrived home after the Korean War. Major Marco (Frank Sinatra), who is one of the men suffering from the nightmares begins to investigate their reoccurrence. A frightening detail appears, which indicates that their nightmares are almost the identical. As the clues accumulate the plot thickens and the clues point toward their squad leader in Korea, Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey). Nevertheless, the mystery remains why and how Raymond is involved in their frequent nightmares. Manchurian Candidate keeps the audience in guessing in suspense throughout the film and it does not let go of the audience until the final scene.
Rating: 
Summary: All the right moves - but doesn't age so well
Review: I don't think this excellently shot film stands the test of time too well, which is such a pity because the Cold War issues it explores are powerful and impactful, and one can only imagine how relevant the fears of protagonists Captain Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) and Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) are in the Kennedy era (the film turned controversial after the Kennedy assassination, not long after its release).I especially love the scene where Senator Iselin accuses the Department of Defense of Communist infiltrators at a press conference -- the virtual split screen action between real life shots of the Secretary and the Senator excanging barbs and a TV display was jarring and innovative, a snide remark on advent of television's burgeoning influence on politics. The film moves at a sluggish pace at times, crippled by some useless screen time from Janet Leigh -- I'm not sure what her purpose as Marco's love interest really serves.
Rating: 
Summary: The Manchurian Candidate
Review: Given the current international tension over the nuclear coverup in North Korea, this film is very topical. The Cold War with the Soviet Union might be over, but in addition to our worries about terrorism from Islamic extremists, oriental Communism is still very much alive and able to bite us in the free world. Video and DVD sales have made this powerful film available to a new generation many years after its first release. I had heard about the film myself but had never seen it until recently. Although released in 1962, it virtually disappeared for a quarter of a century. I was somewhat surprised that it was filmed in Black and White, although this very much adds to the atmosphere of suspense. The premise is a simple one. A group of American soldiers are captured, brainwashed, and later released with false memories. One of their number has been made into an inadvertant tool of the Communists, an assassin they can turn on with a precise trigger mechanism (key words) and a command. The identity of his American handler is a real surprise. Frank Sinatra gives an incredible performance as the flawed hero. Laurence Harvey is totally believable as the man struggling for love and self realization while being a robotic pawn. James Gregory, without brainwashing, plays a pliant husband and senator to Angela Lansbury, the real power behind the thrown. She proves to be an even greater villain than the Soviets or Koreans who turned her son into a killer. She will use anyone and do anything to assure her power. She is the control freak from hell. One element that is hinted, but not pursued, is the full dynamic of her relationship with her son. While the book paints a picture of incest, an extended kiss on the mouth is the only allusion to it. Her manipulation and his awakening from it sets the stage for the film's violent conclusion. Her son falls in love with the daughter of a rival senator. Unfortunately, what his mother cannot control, she must destroy. This film has political intrigue as well as a love story that turns into the worse possible tragedy. >No nudity or graphic sexual content.
>Tolerable language.
>Disturbing plot violence, not for the little kids. Given the subsequent assassinations of John and Bobby Kennedy, the film may be even more unsettling today than when originally released. We know that evil exists and that sometimes it triumphs.
Rating:
Summary: Who's Your Canididate?
Review: What makes The Manchurian Candidate so appealing? Made with the feel of a Twilight Zone episode, the psychological concerns of the Cold War are totally unearthed in this movie. From patriotic symbology to transitional trickery, the film includes almost everything a film critic desires: realistic drama, non-ending suspense, fight scene, love sequence, stimulating props and locations, and more. I would even go as far as compare it to Nolan's Memento for a 1960's movie audience. Like many have probably said before me, you would be wise to watch this film a few times over; It's packed with hidden messages 'left and right.' Even if you follow a political viewpoint different from those praised, the concept of political extremism is so fasinating it scares me. The garden scenes are impressive. Sintra, Harvey, and Lansbury's roles are convincing and powerful. These reasons alone place Manchurian Candidate along with my top favorites. Even though I understand why it was done, I would have to say the only real let down for me is the negative portrayal of women in this film. Janet Liegh serves as every guy's fantasy (who would go dump their fiancee for a sweaty guy who can't even look into her face?) while Angela Lansbury is never given a chance for redemption. Harvey's "Make like a good housewife" quote also is upsetting as well. Although a concern in this film is the role of women after World War II, I would have to say Frankenhimer could have done a better job by not plastering such negative connotations. It would make the movie more believable and user friendly. Never the less, the Manchurian Candidate has my vote. Sure, the ACLU probably likes it too, yet I can't help it. It's only a movie, right? Left? Hm. Well anyways, this definitely should be the candidate of any DVD collection. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Ahead of its time
Review: The Manchurian Candidate is a great political thriller, so timely in 1962 that it wasn't released, and still greatly relevant today. The story of a Sergeant in the Korean War brainwashed to assassinate political candidates was a frightening thought in era it was made. So much that Kennedy's assassination kept this movie from distribution for a number of years. Though the thought of brainwashing a trained soldier to turn on his own country, especially in the manner portrayed in the film, may be a little far-fetched, similar scenarios really aren't out of the realm of possibilities, as the world we live in keeps proving. This early film of director John Frankenheimer (Ronan) is simply very enjoyable. It holds action, drama, and personal conflict all with a satirical edge. The cast, including Frank Sinatra, is good, but Angela Lansbury is particularly impressive as the sergeant's power-hunger mother. More then anything, though, it stands the test of time. The message it gives, that the government needs to be ready for anything all the time, still needs to be heard, learned, and understood today. Even for those that don't like black and white films might take exception to this movie. The story is so modern, it's easy to forget it was made forty years ago. Check this one out!
Rating:
Summary: Reminds me of a lesser Norman Rockwell painting
Review: The Manchurian Candidate reminds me of a lesser Norman Rockwell painting -slightly stagey- or one of those early Renaissance paintings which have slightly clumsy compositions and proportions that are just slightly off. There are moments in this movie which are sheer brilliance, including most of the second half. However, there were too many scenes which made me wince to give the movie more than three stars. For example, when the fellow enlisted member of Raymond Shaw's unit has a nightmare, his thrashing around in bed, then the way he woke and clutched his wife had a stagey air too it. Then there was the psychiatrist who was an early 1960s stereotype of a succesful negro. His slicked back hair and almost white skin made me wince. I know it was a product of the time the movie was made, but the character seems to be an attempt to overcompensate for prevailing negative stereotypes. Then there is the amazing way that a beautiful woman falls for an obviously ill stranger she meets on a train, and immediately breaks of her engagement. Happens every day, eh? Then the way Raymond Shaw meets his girlfriend. A snake bite? Which she treats by cutting it with a razor blade and fashioning a constrictor with her blouse? I thought you only did that for venomous snakes? The scene seemed contrived and false. Finally the whole fight scene. It was clumsy and stagey. There were more moments than these including chunks of dialogue which sounded cheesy. Thankfully, the second half redeemed the movie as it built through several surprising and shocking events to an excellent climax. Ultimately, it was like those Renaissance paintings I mentioned at the beginning, beautiful but just not quite right.
Rating:
Summary: Eldorado 59970
Review: This scintillating film delivers a timeless and permanently memorable punch that is deeply Freudian and profoundly misogynist. Its basic theme is that all men are little boys, managed by their mommas. When the masks of the black-and-white mommas slip, they are revealed (behind their hydrangeas) to consist of cohorts of , pretending to be Russians, Manchurians, Koreans, Chinese, Fascists and Communists, but actually non-humans from Outer Space, not Outer Mongolia. Janet Leigh stars as Frank Sinatra's control, code-named Eldorado, assigned to his case by a Colonel of Intelligence, played by Douglas Henderson. Larry Harvey brilliantly portrays the kind, warm, brave and lovable patsy, whose momma, satanic Angela, had him when she was only two. This casting is slightly more realistic than that of Larry Olivier, whose Danish mom was actually 12 years younger than her own son. The body-count in both scenarios is the same (7, all told), and there are other similarities, particularly in the anti-hero's extended inability to root out the rottenness in the state until the climactic final act. Polonius and Ophelia are dispatched rather more brutally than in the earlier play. There is a reference to Orestes, who killed his mother Clytemnestra. There is a pioneering inter-racial karate scene, later parodied by Peter Sellers. There is a Red Queen, but not of Hearts, and a significant chess set. A photo of Jonathan Axelrod is oddly reversed in adjacent mug-shots, and Harvey's forkful of food comes out of his mouth in another scene. Frankenheimer's soporific commentary is full of technical details, and clarifies nothing at all about the plot. This is a great, unforgettable and many-layered movie.
Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE GREAT TOP THRILLERS! FIRST-RATE IN EVERY WAY!!
Review: Wanna know why?
It has a great story that revolves around a group of men who were brainwashed into being killing machines and the attempt (from one of these men) to solve the puzzle of manipulation and assassination and put their lives back in order.
With a screenplay like that, you can't go wrong!!! Director Frankenheimer presents us with a deep study of manipulation vs. character. All the cast is dynamite. The cinematography is superb! The editing is unbelieveble (the dream scenes are a masterclass on film editing).
The music by David Amram is unforgetable as is sets the exact tone since the openning titles (the cd is available).
Being from a time when the curtain was made of iron, it is a bit dated, but time hasn't dimmed its power to impress us.
A multi-layered film that demands multiple viewings, as it deals with social and political paranoia, democracy, personal manipulation and the ultimate individual fight for happiness (which doesn't seem to exist). The director's commentay gives us a lot of interesting information on how the film was made: cinematography, lenses, music, filming process, actors, etc. Playing Solitaire will never be the same!
Rating:
Summary: Creepy cold war thriller.
Review: This review is in memory of John Frankenheimer (1930-2002), who died Saturday, July 6. Besides this film, perhaps his most well known, he directed "Birdman of Alcatraz", "Seven Days in May", "All Fall Down", "The Train" and "Ronin", among others. And he was also an accomplished T.V director, having made 152 television plays during the '50's and winning four Emmy Awards in the '90's. R.I.P, Mr. Frankenheimer. Now to the review. A squad of Army troops is captured on a patrol during the Korean War. After their escape and subsequent return home, their commander, Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Lawrence Harvey) is awarded the Medal of Honor. But odd things are occurring. Shaw's personality and attitude seems to have changed in certain ways. And the survivors of the squad are have reoccurring nightmares centering around the sergeant that involve their being captured, brainwashed and displayed in front of some top military officials. Shaw is a rather despicable person and was disliked by his squad. Yet when the survivors are asked about their feelings towards him, they consider Shaw the greatest man they ever knew. Now, one of the other men, Bennett Marco, (Frank Sinatra) has to find out the meanings of these dreams and discover the truth. He uncovers a giant conspiracy theory, piece by piece, involving mind controlling and communist conspiracies. The assassination plot in this film foreshadowed the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and his brother, Robert (The latter of whom was a friend of Frankenheimer). In fact, the film was withdrawn from release after JFK assassination in 1963 and wasn't released again until 1988. According to Roger Ebert, it was "as powerful as ever and, sadly, even more timely." (He might have stated that because of that year's presidential campaign and election). But, though I think this movie works great as tense, thrilling entertainment, no doubt several people will point out some faults. Since I have to write a fair, balanced review, here are a few I found (Though I didn't hold them against it): 1. The New York Times' original review for the movie points out how Raymond was brainwashed in a short period of time, yet would still be operable two years later. I think this is just one of those "Hollywood" things that we are supposed to accept and continue on with. 2. It's possible some issues in the movie may no longer be relevant (Brainwashing, communism). The communism subplot seems mostly an attempt at political satire, with Senator Ieslin, the stepfather of Raymond, being a McCarthy like senator, who's figures about the supposed number of communists in the defense department changing every time he speaks. 3. Most of the performances, especially those by Harvey, Sinatra and Angela Lansbury as Shaw's mother, are superb (Lansbury is especially cold-hearted. Surprisingly, she was only a few years older then Harvey). Janet Leigh, however, isn't exactly at her best here. And the romance subplot between her and Sinatra could have either been better worked out better into the plot or it could have been cut out altogether. 4. I don't know what it is, but something just doesn't ring true in this movie. For example, the relationship between Shaw and another girl isn't too well explained. And events like how Raymond's mother and stepfather were working together for world conquest (?) were somewhat confusing. Or maybe they were explained, but I just wasn't paying attention? Who knows. That said, this is still a great flick and can be enjoyed without understanding it. As for the datedness, I think that many movies, even some that came out just last week, have aged in certain areas. I believe that if the movie is still enjoyable or still carries out it's message, then it succeeds. This is one of my favorites from the 1960's. Though you do have to suspend disbelief in some areas here, try not to let it ruin the film for you. And name one movie which doesn't require suspension of disbelief. Anyway, with various plot twists and turns, wonderful performances, photography, direction and dark humor, plus one of the most suspenseful endings on film, this is one worth getting. Enjoy the show.
Rating:
Summary: great movie and the basis
Review: to many researchers for the RFK assassination.
the movie is about a a group of soliders who get captured and one of them, Mr. Harvey becomes the candidate who basically gets brainwashed.
he losses his soul, and is now under the complete control of the people who control him. the key to controlling him, are a deck of playing cards. in particular, the Queen of diamonds if i'm not mistaken.
when he sees this card, he automatically is under control, and once he does what he is supposed to do, he doesn't know what he just did. sound familiar, check out the status of Sirhan right after he "shot" Bobby Kennedy. but anyway, i'm not going to give away the ending.
this is a very good movie, especially a movie for it's time, 1962.
it has been the subject of numerous books on Bobby Kennedy's assassination and was also the disease that effected Mel Gibson in conspiracy theory. mind controlling innocent civilians to kill and then they would have absoutley no recollection of what occured. once again, sound familiar?
ummm...Sirhan Sirhan...umm
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