The Manchurian Candidate (DVD, Special Edition)

This Cold War-era political thriller is based on Richard Condon's novel of the same name. It involves 2 soldiers, Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) and Sgt Raymond Shaw(Laurence Harvey) who return from the Korean War, thanks to Shaw's heroism, only to enter different nightmares. Marco keeps having horrible dreams about their platoon that don't make sense. Shaw has to deal with his mother (Angela Lansbury) who is using his hero status to try and get her husband, Senator Iselen(James Gregory), elected to the White House. Janet Leigh appears in a small role as Marco's love interest Eugenie. This film was controversial at the time of it's release and still has relevant themes today. There are allusions to McCarthyism, references of Communism, multiple examples of hypnotic suggestion, and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) brought on by combat. All of these elements create a scary situation that is somewhat believable and sad at the same time. It has a few loose threads but is overall an entertaining story with a worst case scenario of how people can be manipulated by those we trust.
The special edition dvd has some great extras including an interview with Sinatra, screenplay writer George Axelrod, and director John Frankenheimer. It also has an interview with Anglea Lansbury and commentary by Frankenheimer. These are wonderful additions for anyone wanting to know more about the film.
I have viewed this movie and its 2004 remake staring Denzel Washington and this is definitely the better of the two. The new version lacks the Cold War elements, hypnotism, and Communist elements that make the original so haunting and memorable. They instead substitute physical brain implants and Multinational conglomerates as a more familiar foe that doesn't quite do the job. I was never scared of the old men planning evil behind closed doors in this updated adaptation. Give me long time foreign enemy governments who'd like nothing better than to control our country through an unsuspecting war hero turned political candidate any day. I hope this review of the film and its dvd presentation if helpful.

Directed by John Frankenheimer ("Ronin," "Raindeer Games), "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962) is an excellent suspense/political thriller and some crafty twists and turns leading up to a thrilling conclusion!

Laurence Harvey plays a soldier Raymond Shaw returning from the Korean War, not knowing that he has been brainwashed by the enemy. Frank Sinatra plays a fellow soldier Bennet Marco, whose head was also messed with, and he must figure out what the enemy is planning and how to prevent it.

Sinatra and Angela Lansbury (who plays Raymond's mom and was only three years older than Harvey!) turn in superb acting performances, but the best acting performance in the film is by Harvey.

Janet Leigh ("Psycho"}, Leslie Parrish, and character actor James Gregory have short but memorable roles in the film

Along with the fine acting, there are some unpredictable twists in this film, which will have you guessing until the suprise ending! Suspense film buffs will love this film!

The film could have been edited a little bit better, as there are two or three scenes with extremely long dialog, but this is just a nitpick, and doesn't distract the viewer from enjoying this extraordinary film!

Rated PG-13

Special Features on "The Manchurian Candidate: Special Edition" DVD include:

Widescreen 1.75:1 B&W
Audio Commentary by John Frankenheimer
Interview with Frank Sinatra, George Axelrod, and John Frankenheimer
"A Little Solitaire" featurette with William Friedkin
"Queen Of Diamonds" featurette with Angela Lansbury
Photo Gallery
Original Theatrical Trailer
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French


Fans of classic "Black & White" films and suspense thrillers should definitely add this DVD to their collection. Everyone else should see this film, but would be satisfied with a rental.

There are two film versions of The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon's paranoid Cold War novel. While Jonathan Demme's 2004 movie is entertaining, John Frankenheimer's 1962 film is a classic.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962, 126 min.) “Raymond Shaw is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known,” says Major Marco (Frank Sinatra). What makes him speak so affectionately about a man no one likes? The answer is Cold War paranoia, but darn entertaining. Using striking photography and almost no soundtrack, Frankenheimer spins a tense tale about the capture and programming of American soldiers during the Korean War, an ironically red-baiting politician, his steely wife, and political ambition that dwarfs All the King’s Men. Sinatra is natural in his role as the soldier whose nightmares about Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) don’t quite jibe with reality. Angela Lansbury dominates her scenes as one of the least maternal mothers you will ever see (despite being only 37; Harvey was 34). As the Queen of Diamonds in a murderous game of solitaire, she makes Lady MacBeth seem like an underachiever. John McGiver hits the right notes as her political victim. Other key characters give performances that might ordinarily be criticized, yet work in the movie's surreal context. Harvey plays the cold Shaw with wooden acting and a European accent, but they fit his robotic character. James Gregory’s Sen. Iselin is hardly plausible as a blustery, over-the-top demagogue, yet he has remarkable presence. Janet Leigh plays Sinatra’s love interest with an odd, knowing mysteriousness that doesn’t make much sense, yet it adds to the uncanny tone of the film. Even the goofy fight between Sinatra and the Korean spy works, although the spy doesn’t look Korean, punches don’t quite land, and furniture breaks too easily. The story is taut and, despite paranoid overstatement, surprisingly real. Its pace is sure and its humor wry.

The Manchurian Candidate (2004, 130 min.) Obey your mother. Demme makes some changes in updating Frankenheimer’s mind-control classic. It begins in Kuwait, rather than Korea; makes Shaw (Liev Schreiber) a candidate for the vice presidency, rather than his father; places Shaw on the floor of the convention, rather than in the eaves; and changes Marco’s (Denzel Washington) role in the climactic scene. Otherwise, it apes the 1962 thriller’s major details faithfully, although not as convincingly. As in the original, Marco was Shaw’s superior officer when his patrol was ambushed. Neither has a clear recollection of what happened next, except that Shaw returns to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, and Marco becomes a career military officer with bad dreams. Meryl Streep takes over Lansbury's part as a driven political mother (she’s a Senator here). The main failing of Demme’s version is that it plays things totally straight, lacking the original’s dark humor. The absence of the Sen. Iselin character here leaves a void. While the original had flaws, its odd logic worked as entertainment. Here, Demme gives us some new dramatic—and entertaining—episodes, but they sometimes weaken the story’s appeal. E.g., Marco dramatically removes his implant with a knife and bites out Shaw’s, yet it has no adverse effect on the mind control of either. Also, Demme gives us a back story about the mysterious woman who is interested in Marco, giving the movie a more conventional feel.

You will never find a more chillingly suspenseful, perversely funny, or viciously satirical political thriller than The Manchurian Candidate, based on the novel by Richard Condon (author of Winter Kills). The film, withheld from distribution by star Frank Sinatra for almost a quarter century after President Kennedy's assassination, has lost none of its potency over time. Former infantryman Bennet Marco (Sinatra) is haunted by nightmares about his platoon having been captured and brainwashed in Korea. The indecipherable dreams seem to center on Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), a decorated war hero but a cold fish of a man whose own mother (Angela Lansbury, in one of the all-time great dragon-lady roles) describes him as looking like his head is "always about to come to a point." Mrs. Bates has nothing on Lansbury's character, the manipulative queen behind her second husband, Senator John Iselin (James Gregory), a notoriously McCarthyesque demagogue. This is a great DVD with many excellent bonus features, including the Director's commentary that adds so much to the understanding of how the film was made. The film was shot primarily with wide angle lenses which heightens the effect of some very frightening screens. For example is there anything more incredible than the scene where the captured, brainwashed prisoners believe they are attending a ladies' garden party, while actually on stage as human guinea pigs in a meeting of communist cadres. Just an amazing juxtaposition of images! The storyline is well developed and never loses the taut feeling of suspense from start to finish. Laurence Harvey, Frank Sinatra, and Angela Lansbury are particularly fine in their roles. If there is only one criticism, it is that Harvey lapses at times into his original British accent, which is disconcerting. But given the power of his performance in this role, this is a minor detail that can easily be overlooked. The film is shot in black and white, which is far better suited to its cold war images. Just puzzled why MGM issued the cover for this DVD in color? Anyway, highly recommend this DVD! On a scale of 1 - 10, 10 being a great buy and 1 absolutly tanking I would give this dvd a 9 out of 10!

I bought this because I had it on VHS and it was time to get it on DVD. This is easily one of John Frankenheimer's best films! When I saw the trailers for the remake, I was appalled--no reason to remake a classic into a stultified, brainless piece of thinly-veiled partisan politics! This version, the original, captures the essence and depth of the (rather thrilling) novel, leaving out none of the sarcastic undertones. It is also a masterful example of conceptual realizations on film. The brainwashing scenes at the beginning of the film are actually more poetically and strikingly done than in the novel! The acting is well-done and brings the story together into a believable whole. A must-see if you enjoy political thrillers that don't need explosions to carry them through weak plots!