“The Manchurian Candidate” is an exciting political thriller about a Korean War veteran who was brainwashed by his captors while being held as a POW. Director John Frankenheimer (“The Birdman of Alcatraz” 1962) and screenwriter George Axelrod crafted this engrossing picture from the 1959 novel of the same name by Richard Condon. Frankenheimer procured some fine performances from a diverse group of big name stars.
Laurence Harvey played a trouble staff sergeant and Frank Sinatra portrayed his commanding officer, both held for three days as POW’s, then released. Sinatra’s character was having nightmares about the confinement, while Harvey proceeded ahead with his brainwashed-induced assignment. Angela Lansbury and James Gregory play Harvey’s mother and stepfather, a U. S. Senator, with Janet Leigh as Sinatra’s love interest. Other cast include Henry Silva, John McGiver, Leslie Parrish, James Edwards, Khigh Dheigh, Douglas Henderson, and Whit Bissell in an uncredited role as a medical officer.
“The Manchurian Candidate” was successful at the box office for producers John Frankenheimer and George Axelrod, MC Productions, and United Artists. It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Lansbury) and Best Film Editing. (It is an interesting footnote that Lansbury played Harvey’s mother, despite being only three years older. She was also only ten years older than Elvis Presley when playing his mum in “Blue Hawaii.”) A remake of the same name was released in 2004 starring Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
cinema
My Review
“The Manchurian Candidate” is an exciting political thriller about a Korean War veteran who was brainwashed by his captors while being held as a POW. Director John Frankenheimer (“The Birdman of Alcatraz” 1962) and screenwriter George Axelrod crafted this engrossing picture from the 1959 novel of the same name by Richard Condon. Frankenheimer procured some fine performances from a diverse group of big name stars.
Laurence Harvey played a trouble staff sergeant and Frank Sinatra portrayed his commanding officer, both held for three days as POW’s, then released. Sinatra’s character was having nightmares about the confinement, while Harvey proceeded ahead with his brainwashed-induced assignment. Angela Lansbury and James Gregory play Harvey’s mother and stepfather, a U. S. Senator, with Janet Leigh as Sinatra’s love interest. Other cast include Henry Silva, John McGiver, Leslie Parrish, James Edwards, Khigh Dheigh, Douglas Henderson, and Whit Bissell in an uncredited role as a medical officer.
“The Manchurian Candidate” was successful at the box office for producers John Frankenheimer and George Axelrod, MC Productions, and United Artists. It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Lansbury) and Best Film Editing. (It is an interesting footnote that Lansbury played Harvey’s mother, despite being only three years older. She was also only ten years older than Elvis Presley when playing his mum in “Blue Hawaii.”) A remake of the same name was released in 2004 starring Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep.