Rating: 
Summary: Chilling! Shocking! Frighteningly good.
Review: First of all, be very careful of some of the reviews written on this page. Mr. Dressler gives some spoiler information that robs the film of one of its' most shocking plot twists.Next, let me say that as my husband and I popped this film in one rainy afternoon, we were unprepared for the absolute shock value of this film. It is frighteningly well made. The camera shots are very remniscent of Hitchock and Citizen Kane. The story line is deliciously twisted and enough to make the most peaceful mind paranoid for some time to come. No wonder Frank Sinatra bought the rights to this film and yanked it from print everywhere a year after it was released - the same year that John F. Kennedy was assasinated. The similarities were too uncanny to be ignored. JFK was assasinated by a man with a bizarre history involving a communist country, in fact, he was a card carrying member - and was said to have been in an almost trance like state. EEEEK. Twenty five years later, the public was once again allowed to indulge in this glorious piece of film making and conspiracy hysteria. It has stood the test of time and is ranked #67 by the American Film Institute. The performances by Angela Lansbury, Frank Sinatra, Janet Leigh, and of course Laurence Harvey are superb. The use of black and white film seems symbolic of the story itself and makes good use of eery and intense lighting techniques. It simply would not have been the same in color. You owe it to yourself to check out one of the greatest additions to film history. Take a word of advice, don't watch it by yourself. You're going to want someone around to talk about it when it's all over. Hang on for the ride!
Rating:
Summary: A Haunting Look at the Past/ Korean War/"Brainwashing"/Fear
Review: We saw this when it was first shown, then of course, were not able to find it for YEARS. It haunted us and kept us wondering. We so wanted to share it with others so there would be someone else to talk to about its mysteries. It's a true classic depiction of the concerns people had at the time. Loved it, still love it, and am still mystified by its twists and turns.
Rating:
Summary: The turn of a friendly card
Review: I must be a late bloomer as I only recently saw this for the first time. I was shocked to see Angela Lansbury, "Murder She Wrote" not being quite as nice as I remembered her. The real advantage was not recognizing Laurence Harvey from anywhere and so this did not distract from his acting. I really enjoyed watching this just as a movie and not trying to make any connections to underlying messages. I could anticipate most of it. But I was really surprised to find out who the American control was. And so much for the theory that you can't be forced to do anything that is not within your nature. I was surprised to the last. With out the immediate threat of the cold war the movie still holds suspense for us. John Candy did a parody of this in the movie "Volunteers" ASIN: 6301932838
Rating: 
Summary: Top Political Thriller
Review: Laurence Harvey returns to the United States as a war hero following the end of the Korean War. What few realize is that he returns a brainwashed tool of enemies of the US government, trained to follow all of their orders, no matter what. Fellow soldier Frank Sinatra is having horrible nightmares about having been brainwashed as well, but he can't put it altogether. There is a brilliant scene from his nightmare at the beginning where a meeting of communist leaders to introduce the brainwashed men (who have had their brains tricked to believe they are actually at a Ladies horticulture club meeting) is both brilliantly funny and frightening. To add to his problems, Harvey's mother (Angela Lansbury) is a cold, manipulative backroom politician angling to get her second husband a place in the White House. Sinatra's growing concerns about what really happened to him and Harvey, Lansbury's political ambitions, and Harvey's controlled state of mind all mesh together to make a terrific political thriller that never lets up. Sinatra is excellent as the troubled soldier wanting answers, both impassioned and on the edge. Harvey is necessarily robotic in a way, but very convincing in his role as the soldier that was basically re-wired during the war. Lansbury is most impressive in a very uncharacteristic role, shrewd, cold, and frighteningly obsessed with all her objectives. A lot of credit must go to director John Frankenheimer, who keeps the tension building, and who employs a lot of unique shots and angles as the story unfolds and tightens. The script is excellent, showing us how television (even back in the Fifties and Sixties) changed the rules of the political game, especially for those who knew how to use it best. Could Hollywood please make some more smart thrillers like this one?!?!
Rating:
Summary: A Vote For "The Manchurian Candidate"
Review: I have seen this John Frankenheimer movie three times in theaters and about three times on video. "The Manchurian Candidate" takes viewers back to a time when John Frankenheimer knew how to make great movies. Captain Bennett Marco(Frank Sinatra), Sergeant Raymond Shaw(Laurence Harvey), and the rest of their platoon return from the Korean War. Shaw receives a Congressional Medal Of Honor and Marco later discovers that the Soviets and Red Chinese have brainwashed Shaw into becoming an assassin. "The Manchurian Candidate" may be the greatest political paranoia thriller in the history of cinema. The film is a seamless blend of several different genres: Film Noir, Espionage, Political Paranoia, and Satire. Frankenheimer makes excellent use of a great cast. Sinatra gives one of the finest performance of his career. Harvey is excellent as the manipulated Shaw. Angela Lansbury proves herself to be one of the very most versatile and talented character actresses of cinema. Lansbury's Mrs. Iselin may be the greatest villainess in movie history. I'm astonished that this same actress would go on to play the gentle Jessica Fletcher of TV's "Murder, She Wrote." Sinatra and movie villain Henry Silva appear in one of the greatest fight scenes ever put on film. Silva is perhaps best known to movie audiences as a staple of countless forgettable B-movies and I'm amused that he once appeared in a film as distinguished as "The Manchurian Candidate." The film doesn't have one dull moment from start to finish. I definitely plan to see this movie again. "The Manchurian Candidate" is for all fans of John Frankenheimer, Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, and Angela Lansbury as well as anyone who loves political paranoia thrillers.
Rating:
Summary: This Film Deserves Everyone's Vote!
Review: A perfect film gives you four things; atmosphere, acting, dialogue and plot and The Manchurian Candidate uses these elements better than any thriller than I have ever seen period! The plot throws you into the pool of Sinatra (Bennett marco) nightmare head first. Harvey (Raymond Shaw) is the receipent of the Medal Of honor for rescuing his troop Marco included and saving their lives but Sinatra has these reocurring nightmare where visions of death andn torture are played out ny th ehands of his beloved Harvey, the man who saved his life, the man who is the ultimate good guy! As the film pushes forward we meet some most vile and disgusting people the leader of the bunch is Shaw's mother masterfully played by Angela Landsbury. She not only runs her son life she wants to run the country by controlling her not to bright senator husband poltical career. The utlimate key in to the entire film is a simple deck of cards i truly do not want to give away any of the plot but the ending will leave you jaw dropped! Now as for the atmosphere, acting, and dialogue. Even though color was the mainstay Frakenheimer used black and white to give the film a visual raunch and punch to it in the same vein as Hitchcock's Psycho. The acting is first rate but even though Sinatra's Marco is the central character it's Harvey in the role of the decontruced self loathing Sergeant Shaw who tears the film's dialogue and even adds to the films atmosphere! His cold eyes and chilling english bravado is pure power and the dialogue is witty and always pointed to the plot. For all it's worth The manchurian Candidate has to be seen to be appreciated it never treats the viewer as a viewer but as witness!
Rating:
Summary: "To Dream , perchance to .........
Review: - everything seems OK, but why does the nice lady have 5 o'clock shadow? THOSE are the images that come back to haunt you about this movie, and the "in-your-face" violence, rare for that time. Fortunately in Black and White [could not work in color], this movie for years "withdrawn" still crowbars you across both knees. ANGELA LANSBURY is all consuming in this perfect vehicle for her still untapped talent. A brilliant picture of depraved ambition - what could well be termed "MacBeth Washington style" - she's magnificent as the manipulating mama behind the "throne". She conveys this great chilly beauty, a fatal attraction fortunately not explored but only hinted at in the scenes with her son, bold acting choices. Reminiscent of Visconti's later and equally disturbing "The Damned" this excursion into the mind of a brain-washed hero/assassin is contemporary. Laurence Harvey [no replacement yet] devastates as the somnambulisted killer [Dr. Caligari territory], Sinatra, Janet Leigh and other sterling performers perfectly realise this work by Richard Condon, a searing vision of the horror of power gone awry by Director John Frankerheimer who subsequently went on to direct the equally terrifying and also ahead of it's time "Seconds" I was barely a teenager when I first saw this movie, pre-Viet Nam, and definately too young for the graphic close-ups provided. It still shocks today.
Rating:
Summary: A mystery in a riddle
Review: An American classic that is a very different film from what it's often said to be. It's described as one of the first to attack the McCarthy communism trials, when in fact, when all is said and done, it portrays communism as a very real threat. The movie is said to point out the fallacy of those who investigated communism, but that can only be said by those who didn't watch the entire film - in a bizarre and suspenseful manner (I'm trying to say this without giving away too much), those who appear to be using communist witch hunts for personal gain are shown, in fact, to be justifiably concerned, although perhaps - as the film portrays it - in spite of themselves, in a way. The film begins with Major Bennett Marco, played very convincingly by the legendary Frank Sinatra, as a Korean War veteran who is experiencing very stark nightmares related to his experiences in the war and his capture by the Chinese. (Many people in alive today, especially younger generations, have no idea that many of the greatest casualties and fiercest fighting during the war known as "The Korean War" actually involved the Communist Chinese. Nor do many people know that China was - and still is - a communist country, and that communist leaders historically have avowed that one of their ultimate goals is the destruction of the United States. This is not Hollywood, this is history, but Hollywood uses - and often abuses - this fact for dramatic effect. It remains a fact nevertheless, regardless of the degree to which Hollywood often tries to discount the threat.) It turns out that his brainwashed mind is attempting to break down the walls of confusion, although his mind alone is having difficulty breaking down the barriers. The issues of mind control that the film explores were reportedly treated seriously by the intelligence communities of the superpowers involved in the film. You could argue if this movie is "science-fiction" or "science-fact", and I would say that "science-fact" would win. But decide for yourself. This is one of the many classic films that so deftly navigates through suspense, mystery, intrigue, and horror, without the predictable full color surgery-cable-channel-style special effects that too many modern films resort to. This is an example of intelligent film making, and of a movie that had a significant impact on American culture. The VHS box includes these facts about the movie: "Withdrawn from circulation after the assassination of President Kennedy and later subject to a distribution dispute, the film was re-released to wide acclaim in 1987. Although she played his mother, Best Supporting Actress Oscar-nominee (1962) Angela Lansbury was only three years older than Laurence Harvey." Highly recommended. Rated PG-13, a rating that didn't exist when the film was first created, but is appropriate. Not for kids, but not due to language or violence, rather for intense and sometimes disturbing plot.
Rating:
Summary: A little solitaire
Review: This is a great movie to see on your own, when you can give it your full attention. At first glance it may seem trite and no different really than the thousands of other political thrillers that have been made. Except this one has something that the others lack. Only a few minutes into this film you realize that this film is original. Not just original, but THE original. Even without having to be told, you know after watching this movie that it was the first time a story was ever treated like this. It has the mark of something that is breaking new ground, and every political thriller you see after this will give you a somewhat stale taste in your mouth since you have now experienced what true freshness is. The story of a medal of honor winner who may not have deserved it after all is a study in psychology, mystery, and family. It combines these elements flawlessly though it does add what might otherwise be some unnecessary plot elements. The picture does not do enough with Janet Leigh so she gets slightly marginalized and her scenes seem extra almost. I recommend this movie highly as the definition of what a true political thriller is, and what all current ones should strive to be.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: My wife had to watch this movie as part of a college course. I read the description on the back of the box and thought BORING. It was definitely not borrng,and after watching it I had to buy it, it is a great movie.
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