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The Manchurian Candidate

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The Manchurian Candidate

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Summary

Psychological thriller starring Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey. Raymond Shaw returns from the Korean War a hero, but his fellow soldiers' memories of his bravery seem vague. When the commander of his platoon, Bennett Marco, begins to suffer from inexplicable nightmares, an investigation begins into exactly what happened during the conflict.

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Review

A star rating of 5 out of 5.

Anna Richards

Director John Frankenheimer's masterpiece of Cold War paranoia was withdrawn from circulation in the wake of the death of JFK, its assassination plot a chilling mirror to contemporary events. More than 50 years on, it has lost none of its ability to thrill and provoke. Laurence Harvey has returned from the Korean War a hero, recipient of the Medal of Honor and saviour of his platoon. Why, then, is his former commanding officer (Frank Sinatra) plagued by nightmares in which the repressed Harvey coolly kills one of his comrades under the orders of a Chinese general? Exploiting contemporary fears about Communist brainwashing while cleverly exposing the hysterical anti-Communist lobby (the McCarthyist Senator Iselin makes for a superb stooge), this is a dazzling critique of its times that functions first and foremost as a superbly constructed and almost unbearably tense thriller. Harvey is perfectly cast, while Sinatra has one of his very best roles as the tormented officer. But stealing the show is Oscar-nominated Angela Lansbury as Harvey's mother (though she was just 37 to Harvey's 34) - monstrous, manipulative and completely power-crazed, she is an unforgettable creation.

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7.9/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameBennett MarcoFrank SinatraRaymond ShawLaurence HarveyRosieJanet LeighRaymond's motherAngela LansburyChunjinHenry SilvaSenator John IselinJames GregoryJocie JordonLeslie ParrishSenator Thomas JordonJohn McGiverYen LoKhigh Dhiegh Corporal MelvinJames Edwards

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Crew

rolenameDirectorJohn Frankenheimer

Details

Theatrical distributor

Park Circus

Released on

2010-04-16

Languages

English | Spanish

Guidance

Contains violence.

Available on

video, DVD and Blu-ray

Formats

Black and white

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