The Manchurian Candidate Movie Review

Perhaps the best political thriller of the 1960s is still sharp and shocking today, and tons of fun to watch. Tells the story of an American Korean War vet who suspects that he and his platoon may have been brainwashed during the war, with his highly decorated, heroic friend programmed by commies to be an operational assassin. The film was years ahead of its time in the amount of visual information that's packed into the screen. (Notice the way images of Lincoln are repeated in the background.) The attitudes on sex and race are equally avant-garde. It's also a bitter satire on the naivete and machinations of the left and right. Excellent performances by an all-star cast, with Angela Lansbury, James Gregory, Henry Silva, and Khigh Deigh particularly delicious as the villains. But Laurence Harvey is the real star, and his performance becomes more impressive with repeated viewings. He gives his Raymond Shaw character the emotional depth of a true tragic hero and easily overshadows co-star Frank Sinatra. In many ways, this film was the high-water mark for everyone involved – the cast, director John Frankenheimer, writer/producer George Axelrod, even novelist Richard Condon. Though they've all done fine work since, none has approached this level. Tape features a special interview with Sinatra and Frankenheimer in which Sinatra is deified.

1962 126m/B Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Angela Lansbury, Janet Leigh, James Gregory, Leslie Parrish, John McGiver, Henry Silva, Khigh Deigh; D: John Frankenheimer; W: George Axelrod, John Frankenheimer; M: David Amram. Golden Globe Awards ‘63: Best Supporting Actress (Lansbury); National Board of Review Awards ‘62: Best Supporting Actress (Lansbury); Nominations: Academy Awards ‘62: Best Film Editing, Best Supporting Actress (Lansbury). VHS, Beta, LV MGM