The Manchurian Candidate a Cold War Thriller
Political Intrigue and Deception With Amazing Twists and Turns
Aug 23, 2009
The Manchurian Candidate, 1962, is an intense political satire and dramatic thriller with sinister twists and turns . The drama stars Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Angela Lansbury, Janet Leigh, Leslie Parrish and James Gregory. The movie was directed by John Frankenheimer.
The Manchurian Candidate a Political Thriller
The Manchurian Candidate is the story of political intrigue set during the Cold War between the communist countries and the United States. Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) is a heroic Korean War veteran with a wooden personality. Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) is a fellow Korean War veteran who has nightmares about disturbing events in Korea. When Marco finds out that other vets are having the same nightmares, he investigates and finds that the entire platoon had been captured and brainwashed by Chinese Communists.
The icy Mrs. Iselin (Angela Lansbury) is Raymond's domineering and conniving mother who is married to a Senator John Iselin, the puppet husband who carries out her orders. When Raymond has a romance with Eugenie Rose (Janet Leigh) Mrs. Iselin forces him to break up the romance, but later decides that the match is beneficial to her husband's career, so manipulates to get the couple back together. When the bride's father does not agree to back Mr. Iselin she orders Raymond to kill his father-in-law.
The Queen of Diamonds
Marco learns that Raymond was brainwashed as an assassin, to carry out orders when he sees the card, the Queen of Diamonds, the cue that he is to follow the next command. Marco works with Raymond to overcome the power that the red queen has on the robotic assassin.
Angela Lansbury, as the power seeking Mrs. Iselin plays the role with scary intensity. Lansbury was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of what may the the scariest mom ever. Laurence Harvey is the robotic assassin with the glassy stare, who seems to have no soul. Frank Sinatra is likeable as the good guy who tries to help Raymond as he gets to the bottom of the mystery of what happened in Korea.
The Manchurian Candidate is a classic film that still has a smart and snappy feel, as the viewer attempts to keep up with the stunning plot twists to an amazing and creepy conclusion.
Cast of The Manchurian Candidate
- Frank Sinatra as Bennett Marco
- Laurence Harvey as Raymond Shaw
- Angela Lansbury as Raymond's mother, Mrs. Iselin
- Janet Leigh as Eugenie Rose
- Leslie Parrish as Jocie Jordon
- James Gregory as Senator John Iselin
- Director: John Frankenheimer
- Producers Howard W. Koch, George Axelrod, John Frankenheimer
- Screenplay: George Axelrod
- Novel by Richard Condon
The Manchurian Candidate may sometimes be seen on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). The movie is also available on DVD.
Resources: The Manchurian Candidate and Turner Classic Movies
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