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The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
24 October 1962 (USA)
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Tagline:
When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it! more
Plot:
A former Korean War POW is brainwashed by Communists into becoming a political assassin. But another former prisoner may know how to save him. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Korean War
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Nightmare
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Army
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Korea
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Medal Of Honor
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Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars.
Another 6 wins
&
4 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(34 articles)
Birthday Suits: Good Hair, and Good Music.
(From FilmExperience. 14 November 2009, 7:29 AM, PST)
Shadows of Russia Schedule
(From Alternative Film Guide. 3 November 2009, 11:31 PM, PST)
(From FilmExperience. 14 November 2009, 7:29 AM, PST)
Shadows of Russia Schedule
(From Alternative Film Guide. 3 November 2009, 11:31 PM, PST)
User Comments:
All by itself it raises my opinion of everyone involved.
more (248 total)
Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Frank Sinatra | ... | Maj. Bennett Marco | |
| Laurence Harvey | ... | Raymond Shaw | |
| Janet Leigh | ... | Eugenie Rose Chaney | |
| Angela Lansbury | ... | Mrs. Iselin | |
| Henry Silva | ... | Chunjin | |
| James Gregory | ... | Sen. John Yerkes Iselin | |
| Leslie Parrish | ... | Jocelyn Jordan | |
| John McGiver | ... | Sen. Thomas Jordan | |
| Khigh Dhiegh | ... | Dr. Yen Lo | |
| James Edwards | ... | Cpl. Allen Melvin | |
| Douglas Henderson | ... | Col. Milt | |
| Albert Paulsen | ... | Zilkov | |
| Barry Kelley | ... | Secretary of Defense | |
| Lloyd Corrigan | ... | Holborn Gaines | |
| Madame Spivy | ... | Female Berezovo |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
126 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Finland:(Banned) (1964) (cut) |
Finland:(Banned) (1964) (uncut) |
Finland:K-16 (1989) (uncut) |
UK:A (1962) (cut) |
West Germany:16 (f) |
South Korea:15 |
Australia:M |
Norway:15 (re-rating) |
Norway:16 (original rating) |
Sweden:15 |
UK:15 |
USA:Approved (original rating) |
USA:PG-13
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
All the members of the platoon in Korea are named after cast and crew of "The Phil Silvers Show" (1955).
more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): While speaking on the Senate floor, Iselin addresses the chair as "Mr. Speaker"; the presiding officer of the US Senate is the "President" (a post officially held by the Vice President), not the "speaker", thus the form of address is "Mr. President".
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Quotes:
Bennett Marco:
You in the railroad business?
Eugenie Rose Chaney: Not anymore. However if you will permit me to point out, when you ask that question, you really should say: Are you in the railroad line?
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Eugenie Rose Chaney: Not anymore. However if you will permit me to point out, when you ask that question, you really should say: Are you in the railroad line?
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Psycho Lover (1970)
more
Soundtrack:
The Star-Spangled Banner
more
FAQ
A Note Regarding SpoilersHow much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Who is the "Manchurian candidate"?
more
more (248 total)
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Wow! I was expecting right wing propaganda, or possibly even (a distant outside chance) left wing propaganda: I certainly wasn't expecting THIS. It isn't propaganda at all. Deriving any kind of message at all from the film is difficult - one might be tempted to conclude that we ought to never trust people who cry cheap political insults like "communist!" or "fascist!" or "racist!" at the first opportunity, but that's just a thought. At any rate, in order to get a message we have to think about the story for ourselves, very carefully, which makes it the very opposite of propaganda.
Here's another bit of advice: don't make the mistake, as I did, of thinking now and then that Frankenheimer is drifting from the point. He knows exactly what he's doing at all times. Whenever it seems he's offering some interesting diversion from the main story he's really telling the main story by other means. How good the story is I cannot convey without saying too much. Probably the central conceit everyone knows already, which was why Frankenheimer was right to spill most of the beans as soon as possible - but he does has one or two in reserve. One great thing about the story is that it doesn't rely at all on us thinking it likely.
Everyone, from composer to cameraman, did a fine job, and the cast does an even finer one. Angela Lansbury gives the performance of her life. Frank Sinatra I had never seen in a movie before, and I was surprised to discover that he can act - very well, too. It permeates down to the minor roles. Leslie Parrish as the charming innocent is certainly charming, but also subtle. "The Manchurian Candidate" would easily be the best of its kind even if it weren't the only of its kind.