Korea 1952. An American patrol is captured and brainwashed by Russian and Chinese communists in an elaborate and convoluted attempt to install a commie puppet in the White House. Returning home as heroes, one (Laurence Harvey) is awarded the Medal of Honor. Conveniently he happens to be the son of a conniving major player in the plot (Angela Lansbury) finding himself plagued with doubt. Others (Frank Sinatra) voice their concern when they begin to have flashbacks.
Made during the cold war and just before the assassination of JFK, The Manchurian Candidate met a lot of controversy in its day that only added to the well metered suspense provided here by director John Frankenheimer and editor Ferris Webster.
Harvey is miscast as the dislikable sergeant, yet registers emotionally. Sinatra doesn't quite stretch enough while Janet Leigh handles her role solidly. James Gregory is comically buffoonish as the step dad VP candidate but Angela Lansbury walks away with the film as the ambitous mom. Cold as ice she delivers a stunning monologue towards the close that is one hard lesson in realpolitik.
There are moments of incredulity such as the relationship between Sinatra and Leigh developing at warp speed along with a nod to the trailer with a totally superfluous kung fu battle between Frank and Henry Silva. These are minor complaints however to a somewhat surreal, a touch darkly comic film with an intriguing opening at a ladies' garden club and pulse pounding finish at a Madison sq. Garden convention.
Made during the cold war and just before the assassination of JFK, The Manchurian Candidate met a lot of controversy in its day that only added to the well metered suspense provided here by director John Frankenheimer and editor Ferris Webster.
Harvey is miscast as the dislikable sergeant, yet registers emotionally. Sinatra doesn't quite stretch enough while Janet Leigh handles her role solidly. James Gregory is comically buffoonish as the step dad VP candidate but Angela Lansbury walks away with the film as the ambitous mom. Cold as ice she delivers a stunning monologue towards the close that is one hard lesson in realpolitik.
There are moments of incredulity such as the relationship between Sinatra and Leigh developing at warp speed along with a nod to the trailer with a totally superfluous kung fu battle between Frank and Henry Silva. These are minor complaints however to a somewhat surreal, a touch darkly comic film with an intriguing opening at a ladies' garden club and pulse pounding finish at a Madison sq. Garden convention.
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