The Manchurian Candidate(1962)- User Reviews

"The Manchurian Candidate" created such a major impact at the time that it was was unfortunately shelved from further release after the tragic assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. This film was a high-impact very disturbing political thriller that turned in wonderful performances from Old Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, Angela Lansbury, Lawrence Harvey and Janet Leigh. Directed by the legendary John Frankenheimer, the screenplay based on Richard Condon's classic novel, "Winter Kills" demonstrates how media frenzy and one person's political aspects could cause a devastating turnaround seen through the behavior of one man's political beliefs.Sinatra's role as Korean War veteran Maj. Bennett Marco as a man who's completely dedicated by his position as a prisoner of war during those three years in hell, is truly a an honorably complex role as man who's after a Staff Sargent who could strike at any moment. Marco is motivated by the traumatic nightmares he's encountered with during the three year war and releasing his conscience in order to unravel the mystery and to question a brainwashed platoon member of the Korean War soldiers that was under this lunatic's command.

Sinatra is accompanied by plethora of very talented performers,especially Lawrence Harvey as the titular character, the former drill Sargent Raymond Shaw, who was raised in an upper class American family who is now fanatical about the Korean War, someone who is manipulated into becoming an enraged lunatic at any second, one brainwashing code words are implanted into his head. His over-controlling mother played by Angela Lansbury is played to perfection, while James Gregory who play's her husband who's a McCarthy influenced Senator is working his
way to progression to have a seat in the Oval Office.

Through further questioning with other POW's, Marco starts to have doubts about his own memories, which feels superficial and somewhat untrue, but through his hallucinations at night, he starts to progressively get closer to the whole truth. The plot really starts to piece together as the conclusion is unraveled with a surprising finale that will shock everyone. The choreography and the cinematography is elegant and brilliantly done with the type flair that Frankenheimer was
famous for. as it's well patterned from the twists and turns that were uncovered by Marco. This was a brilliant thriller that will shock you, keep your mid guessing and very real characters. Plus the mystery element will always be the ultimate riddle that should both entertain you as well as keep you guessing in the film's entirety.