I was a young woman during the period when The Manchurian Candidate was first released. It was a compelling movie even in my youth. Very seldom do we come across such a fascinating suspenseful thriller.
The Manchurian Candidate is one of my husband's all time favorite movies. I recently purchased the video to give to him as a surprise. He couldn't wait to watch it once again. Neither of us had seen it since it was originally released in 1962. I believe that Frank Sinatra held the rights to the movie, and it was only re-released in 1987. Most people believe the reason he did this was because of the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963. Sinatra and Kennedy were friends for a period of time. After Kennedy became President, Kennedy separated himself from Sinatra because of Sinatra's alleged ties to the mafia. Perhaps we will never really know the true reason Sinatra held the film.
A Bit of History
During the 50s and 60s, "brainwashing" was part of our vocabulary. We would hear stories of Korean War prisoners coming home after being "brainwashed." No one was really sure what the term meant, but it was pretty scary to think something like this could really happen. We lived in a time when bomb shelters were being built, and during school there were actually "bomb drills" where we were instructed to get beneath our desks and stay away from windows.
There was plenty of paranoia, to be sure, but in 1962, the Cuban Missle Crisis occurred which put Russian missles only 90 miles from our shore. We also knew that the first Russian satellite was put into space in 1958. It was called Sputnik. Our fears were increased by the assumption that the Russians were now ahead of us in technology areas.
During the early 50s, McCarthyism was in full swing. Senator Joe McCarthy was one of the most powerful and frightening men of this century. He, and those like him, accused many innocent people of being Communists. He was responsible for destroying many lives.
Richard Condon wrote the book in 1952, and George Axelrod adapted the film released in 1962. It is important to realize what the times were like when Condon wrote the book and the film was released. It was certainly a time of fear and uncertainty in the U.S.
The Manchurian Candidate
The film is a chilling, edge of your seat, fascinating story about ultimate mind control. Can a person really be controlled enough to kill when such an act would be against their will? In the Manchurian Candidate, Sergeant Raymond Shaw played by Lawrence Harvey, makes you believe that it is really possible. Frank Sinatra plays the Major, and does an outstanding job as his character discovers the real truth about the Sergeant, who has been awarded the Medal of Honor. Angela Lansbury is wonderful as Harvey's mother, although in reality, she is only one year older than Harvey is. Her portrayal of the character is unforgettably evil. She received an Academy Award Nomination for her performance.
Other members of the cast include Henry Silva, Janet Leigh, and James Gregory. Gregory plays plays the McCarthy-like Senator and stepfather of Harvey's character. James Gregory is an excellent character actor who did many films and TV appearances. You may remember him as a recurring character on "Barney Miller" as the blustering superior officer.
There is an unforgettable scene when the captured prisoners believe they are attending a ladies garden party. While the brainwashed captives are sitting on a stage, the ladies literally turn into the real captors and then back again. Several times this happens during the scene, and it is so frightening to see the control that the "Chinese scientist" from the Pavlov Institute has over all of them.
The film is shot in black and white and is so much better because of this. It adds to the film and to its stark realism. The ending is a surprise, at least to me, both times that I have seen it.
Once one has seen this movie, can one ever completely forget the quote:
"Raymond Shaw is the kindest, bravest, warmest most wonderful human being I've ever known..."
I highly recommend you purchase this video for your collection. It is available online from amazon.com and unitedartists.com. It is available in VHS and DVD format. You might also find a copy on ebay. If you haven't seen it, you are missing one of the great movies or our time.
Eerie, shocking, daring, thrilling and mesmerizing, The Manchurian Candidate will leave you breathless (People)! Featuring an all-star cast, including...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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