The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
“Raymond Shaw is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life.”
This quote, the most memorable quote in 1962’s The Manchurian Candidate, is a quote used to describe the brainwashed Raymond Shaw. This satire/drama is a politically charged movie that you will never forget. Nearly sixty years after the film’s release and more than twenty years since the end of the Cold War, this film remains as shocking and prevalent as ever. Perhaps that is a reason why the film was remade in 2004. That said, the film takes no side. Conservative, liberal, independent-the film goes after these parties. I certainly liked the depiction of McCarthyism here. The film does the job showing how the political spectrum works and how the mass and individuals could be brainwashed by this system.
The film is based off a Richard Condon novel which has a heavy bite to his words. Condon admitted that he was surprised when writer George Axelrod transferred the biting satirical tone from the novel. The film was also directed by John Frankenheimer, a notable television director. He gave the movie a distinct visual style with the use of odd angles and black-and-white photography. There is shot towards the end which is very famous. The shot itself is out of focus but was kept in because star Frank Sinatra’s subsequent takes were not as good. Instead, audiences and critics felt like they were viewing the scene from Sinatra’s distorted view which received heaps of praise.
Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for saving the men in his Korean platoon. After arriving back in the United States, he tries to stay clear of his commanding mother, Eleanor Shaw (Angela Lansbury) and her second husband, Senator John Iselin (James Gregory). His commanding officer, Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) has these weird, recurring nightmares which leads him to believe that the events which transpired Shaw for winning the medal are circumspect. His superiors fail to believe him and in fact, dismissed him. Eventually, another platoon member has very similar nightmares which leads Marco’s superiors to believe something is up. Could, perhaps, Eleanor Shaw be behind all the political madness?
I never really considered Frank Sinatra as an actor, although he has been in quite a handful of films. That said, he gave a very convincing performance as the man slowing beginning to lose his mind. I also liked Laurence Harvey’s performance. His character was cold and selfish, and Harvey captured that demeanor. The film’s winning performance, however, is that of Angela Lansbury. Her villainous performance is one of the greatest in all of film history-yes, it’s really that good. Her scheming political ways are very reminiscent of modern politics. That infamous kiss scene shows/tells it all. Janet Leigh also has a role of Eugenie, Bennett’s romantic interest. Her character is very mysterious, and I loved the conversation the two had when they first met, about her leaving her fiancée. I wish there was more to her character, but the performance was great.
This film also received attention for coming out just before the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Keep in mind the ending of the movie focuses on a presidential assassination. There was a long-standing rumor that Sinatra took the film out of distribution in 1964 and kept anyone from seeing it until 1988. He did deny that ever took place. Regardless, people wonder is this film was in any way at all associated with Kennedy’s death. There are, of course, many conspiracy theories that were floated including the use of this movie.
The Manchurian Candidate did receive a remake in 2004, one that I still think is really good. However, the original film is a tense, politically charged film that is a must-see. Frankenheimer made very bold, risky choices that paid off big dividends in terms of quality. People in 1962 are not used to these sort of films, which I know increased the shock factor. The scene where we are introduced to the brainwashing soldiers for the first time still scares me. Just imagine after being hypnotized, you are given the order to casually shoot someone in the head, and then you cannot recall it. It’s super scary, and one that the American government claimed communist nations such as The Soviet Union or China would do. In the end, the American government can be just as bad. Anyway, this is a great, tense film!
My Grade: A-
“Raymond Shaw is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life.”
This quote, the most memorable quote in 1962’s The Manchurian Candidate, is a quote used to describe the brainwashed Raymond Shaw. This satire/drama is a politically charged movie that you will never forget. Nearly sixty years after the film’s release and more than twenty years since the end of the Cold War, this film remains as shocking and prevalent as ever. Perhaps that is a reason why the film was remade in 2004. That said, the film takes no side. Conservative, liberal, independent-the film goes after these parties. I certainly liked the depiction of McCarthyism here. The film does the job showing how the political spectrum works and how the mass and individuals could be brainwashed by this system.
The film is based off a Richard Condon novel which has a heavy bite to his words. Condon admitted that he was surprised when writer George Axelrod transferred the biting satirical tone from the novel. The film was also directed by John Frankenheimer, a notable television director. He gave the movie a distinct visual style with the use of odd angles and black-and-white photography. There is shot towards the end which is very famous. The shot itself is out of focus but was kept in because star Frank Sinatra’s subsequent takes were not as good. Instead, audiences and critics felt like they were viewing the scene from Sinatra’s distorted view which received heaps of praise.
Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for saving the men in his Korean platoon. After arriving back in the United States, he tries to stay clear of his commanding mother, Eleanor Shaw (Angela Lansbury) and her second husband, Senator John Iselin (James Gregory). His commanding officer, Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) has these weird, recurring nightmares which leads him to believe that the events which transpired Shaw for winning the medal are circumspect. His superiors fail to believe him and in fact, dismissed him. Eventually, another platoon member has very similar nightmares which leads Marco’s superiors to believe something is up. Could, perhaps, Eleanor Shaw be behind all the political madness?
I never really considered Frank Sinatra as an actor, although he has been in quite a handful of films. That said, he gave a very convincing performance as the man slowing beginning to lose his mind. I also liked Laurence Harvey’s performance. His character was cold and selfish, and Harvey captured that demeanor. The film’s winning performance, however, is that of Angela Lansbury. Her villainous performance is one of the greatest in all of film history-yes, it’s really that good. Her scheming political ways are very reminiscent of modern politics. That infamous kiss scene shows/tells it all. Janet Leigh also has a role of Eugenie, Bennett’s romantic interest. Her character is very mysterious, and I loved the conversation the two had when they first met, about her leaving her fiancée. I wish there was more to her character, but the performance was great.
This film also received attention for coming out just before the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Keep in mind the ending of the movie focuses on a presidential assassination. There was a long-standing rumor that Sinatra took the film out of distribution in 1964 and kept anyone from seeing it until 1988. He did deny that ever took place. Regardless, people wonder is this film was in any way at all associated with Kennedy’s death. There are, of course, many conspiracy theories that were floated including the use of this movie.
The Manchurian Candidate did receive a remake in 2004, one that I still think is really good. However, the original film is a tense, politically charged film that is a must-see. Frankenheimer made very bold, risky choices that paid off big dividends in terms of quality. People in 1962 are not used to these sort of films, which I know increased the shock factor. The scene where we are introduced to the brainwashing soldiers for the first time still scares me. Just imagine after being hypnotized, you are given the order to casually shoot someone in the head, and then you cannot recall it. It’s super scary, and one that the American government claimed communist nations such as The Soviet Union or China would do. In the end, the American government can be just as bad. Anyway, this is a great, tense film!
My Grade: A-
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