The Manchurian Candidate

Name: The Manchurian Candidate
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: October 24, 1962
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 94
Cast: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey

1962

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Universal acclaim based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 116 Ratings

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8.1

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 116 Ratings

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The Manchurian Candidate

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Movie Details & Credits

United Artists | Release Date: October 24, 1962 | Approved

Starring: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey

Summary: John Frankenheimer's gripping political thriller about a group of American soldiers who are captured and brainwashed into becoming sleeper agents. (MGM)

Director: John Frankenheimer

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: Approved

Runtime: 126 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Pauline Kael

It may be the most sophisticated political satire ever made in Hollywood. (As quoted by Roger Ebert)

100

Jay Scott

This is an oddball classic that leaves you weak with pleasure. [11 Mar 1988]

100

Sheila Benson

The Manchurian Candidate proves that its fascination is intact. [12 Jan 1998, p.C1; Re-Release]

100

Desson Thomson

Manchurian, with its fatalistic, dreamlike quality, comprises two of [Frankenheimer's] finest hours. [Re-release] Read full review

Hal Hinson

An exceedingly loopy satire of the entire American political circus, and could be viewed as offensive to the sensitive-souled in either camp. And time hasn't in the least softened its bite. [Re-release] Read full review

Richard Corliss

The performances are daring and assured, especially Lansbury's holy terror of Momism and Harvey's snide, pathetic pawn, brainwashed by both KGB AND CIA. [21 March 1988, p.84]

Bosley Crowther

The film is so artfully contrived, the plot so interestingly started, the dialogue so racy and sharp, and John Frankenheimer's direction so exciting in the style of Orson Welles when he was making Citizen Kane and other pictures that the fascination of it is strong. So many fine cinematic touches and action details pop up that one keeps wishing the subject would develop into something more than it does. Read full review

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User Reviews

PatC.

Apr 6, 2006

One of the Essentials. Both a well constructed film and an insightful articulation of the fears, suspicions and intrigue of the cold war era. Seems a litle over the top today, but hey, we still don't really know what really happened when Kennedy was shot. And that happened after this One of the Essentials. Both a well constructed film and an insightful articulation of the fears, suspicions and intrigue of the cold war era. Seems a litle over the top today, but hey, we still don't really know what really happened when Kennedy was shot. And that happened after this movie was made.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

ThomasW.

Jan 28, 2007

Excellent! Spell binding!!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Frostbite

Oct 13, 2010

Not many movies focus on the topic of brainwashing, and that's what makes The Manchurian Candidate such an amazing and unique film. The movie follows a military veteran as he tries to figure out why he doesn't remember his friend performing an amazing act of heroism that saved two soldiersNot many movies focus on the topic of brainwashing, and that's what makes The Manchurian Candidate such an amazing and unique film. The movie follows a military veteran as he tries to figure out why he doesn't remember his friend performing an amazing act of heroism that saved two soldiers and awarded him the medal of honor. Another man in their squad talks of strange dreams, and soon after that the movie is launched into a story of politics, intrigue, and of course, brainwashing. The story leads to a great ending that wraps up everything nicely.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

EpicLadySponge

Apr 22, 2016

The Manchurian Candidate never fails to leave any of its people behind and that's not all, there's still more coming up after you see this movie available wherever its still sold at.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

lasttimeisaw

May 27, 2015

Speaking of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, contemporary audience may still recall the 2004 remake headlined by Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep, directed by Jonathan Demme (a 6/10), which is a proficient political thriller and grafts the timeline from Korean War to Gulf War. Now it is time toSpeaking of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, contemporary audience may still recall the 2004 remake headlined by Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep, directed by Jonathan Demme (a 6/10), which is a proficient political thriller and grafts the timeline from Korean War to Gulf War. Now it is time to revisit the original version directed by John Frankenheimer, the only film I have watched among his prolific filmography before this one actually is his final big screen feature, the romance-thriller mixed-bag REINDEER GAMES (2000, 5/10), Frankenheimer passed away in 2002, and this 1962 black-and-white stunner is no doubt above a few notches over its comparatively problematic remake, substantially due to the Harvey-Lansbury pair’s Oscar-worthy performances.

keep reading my review on my blog, google: cinema omnivore, thanks!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

FilipeNeto

Jan 16, 2022

This is one of the great political drama and suspense films of the 60s, a film that essentially addresses the subversive communist threat on American soil, a topic that was at the top of American concerns at the time. In fact, the film was even withdrawn from circulation after theThis is one of the great political drama and suspense films of the 60s, a film that essentially addresses the subversive communist threat on American soil, a topic that was at the top of American concerns at the time. In fact, the film was even withdrawn from circulation after the assassination of President Kennedy, which shows us how plausible it could be, for the people, the idea that the communists had killed the president. Of course, such a film was never authorized on Soviet soil, and it was only shown in Russia after 1991.

The script is based on how a platoon of American soldiers was captured by communist forces during the Korean War. This platoon comprised Major Ben Marco and Sergeant Raymond Shaw, among other soldiers. After the war, Shaw is decorated as a hero for allegedly saving his comrades. However, Marco and other survivors are haunted by a recurring nightmare, where they see Shaw, under hypnosis, killing captured American soldiers, and several of his companions being brainwashed. Given these facts, Marco begins to suspect that something really dark has happened in Korea and Shaw is not as innocent as he may seem.

The best thing about this movie is, really, its complex and appealing plot, and all the mystery that goes around involving what happened to the soldiers. Topics such as hypnosis, behavioral control, subversive warfare, paranoia and the corruption of power are discussed. Expertly directed by John Frankenheimer, the film is good in many ways, though not perfect. For example, I felt the pacing is uneven, being too slow in its first half...in fact, the first half of the movie is grueling, with an exaggeration in the introductory effort that gets us bored before things really heat up and get interesting. I think the movie would have gained with a cut of about thirty minutes on the editing table. The dialogue isn't particularly well written either, and there are a lot of scenes where I feel like the movie is just wasting our time. Romantic subplots aren't particularly happy either.

The great singer and actor Frank Sinatra confidently holds one of the main roles in the film, and it's really fascinating to see him here, as most people only know him from his songs. This is, by the way, his great contribution to the seventh art, being considered his most important and memorable acting work. Laurence Harvey brought Shaw to life in an intelligent and charismatic way. The film also gives us the impeccable Angela Lansbury, in an exceptional dramatic interpretation of an excessively controlling and rude mother.

Technically, the film has some great value points, especially when it comes to cinematography, which seeks to express the latent paranoia in some characters with tighter shooting angles and framing and well-defined close-ups that give different moments in the film a feeling claustrophobic. The sets and costumes also seem to be fine, and the soundtrack is tolerable.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Jan 6, 2017

Cette histoire de lavage de cervelle juste après la guerre de Corée de bons et fidèles soldats américains par l'Institut Pavlov (sic !) est indéniablement créative et il y a là matière à quelqu'intrigue digne d'intérêt ma foi. Même le couineur Sinatra s'en sort avec les honneurs (du momentCette histoire de lavage de cervelle juste après la guerre de Corée de bons et fidèles soldats américains par l'Institut Pavlov (sic !) est indéniablement créative et il y a là matière à quelqu'intrigue digne d'intérêt ma foi. Même le couineur Sinatra s'en sort avec les honneurs (du moment qu'il ne chante pas, tout va bien) en dépit du fait que le vrai rôle est attribué à cet acteur inconnu au bataillon mais fort convaincant.

Hélas, le film ne se départit pas de son côté vieillot, peu clair et très poussif comme un vieux tacot bringuebalant qui refuse obstinément d'avancer (à moins qu'il ne s'agisse d'un âne), singeant ainsi à l'insu de son plein gré les pires épisodes-somnifères de la série "Mission Impossible". Dans ce Crime à dormir debout comme dans son remake tout aussi abrutissant réalisé dans les années 2000, force est de constater que le développement et la mise en oeuvre d'un tel sujet semblent décidément maudits et voués aux gémonies.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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