A Review by Phil Calabro
**HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**
1962, United Artists, Dir. John Frankenheimer, Starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva, James Gregory, Leslie Parrish, John McGiver, Khigh Dhiegh
During the ages of the Cold War, everybody of all cultures believed that the impossible could happen - entire countries were destroyed by nuclear warfare, world conquest - practically everything could happen. Two movies hold great light to the paranoia released by the Cold War, those would be Dr. Strangelove and The Manchurian Candidate. The Manchurian Candidate, however, was quite possible, and set out to be more thrilling then enlightening - and it does just that.
After coming back from the Korean War, SSgt. Raymond Shaw (Harvey), the son of senator’s wife Mrs. Iselin (Lansbury), has been awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor, but none of his fellow troops or captains know why he received it. However, his captain, Bennett Marco (Sinatra) begins to have recurring nightmares about his troops, including Shaw, stuck in a room full of Communists, and Shaw kills two of his own troops. When these dreams keep recurring, Bennett decides to investigate, and what he uncovers something so shocking that could change the face of US History as we know it - he has been brainwashed to assasinate the president to put his evil Commie-ridding stepfather in power.
The acting here is tremendous - Frank Sinatra is at his peak, moving all his Rat Pack movies to shame - his character is nerved by his dreams, and his facial expressions and ticks are very realistic. Laurence Harvey wins the props here for being the most chilling brainwashed soldier, who can not control his thoughts or actions, due to the powers of his mother Angela Lansbury, who is equally impressive. Janet Leigh’s character doesn’t accomplish much more than give Sinatra a love interest, but is a cute sideshow.
The direction here is very reminiscent of the new age techniques. I felt like I was watching a more recent movie than one of the past - the acting was more realistic and powerful, the violence was surprising, and the climatic ending is so thrilling you’ll be gripping your seat for the last five minutes. Frankenheimer still kept the same direction even to his more recent films like Ronin and Reindeer Games, and this film puts him down as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time (if only he had stayed alive to make Exorcist 4!)
The Manchurian Candidate is thrilling, horrifying, and captivating. It is one of the great war movies, and one of the greatest suspense films of the 60s. I hope that before the remake comes out this week, everybody gets the chance to take a look at where it all started from, and get a clean slate.
4/4 stars
