The Manchurian Candidate
When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it!
Overview
Near the end of the Korean War, a platoon of U.S. soldiers is captured by communists and brainwashed. Following the war, the platoon is returned home, and Sergeant Raymond Shaw is lauded as a hero by the rest of his platoon. However, the platoon commander, Captain Bennett Marco, finds himself plagued by strange nightmares and soon races to uncover a terrible plot.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
Released during the height of the Cold War, 'The Manchurian Candidate' reflects the paranoia and fear of communist infiltration that permeated American society at the time.
- The movie is a political thriller that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats with its complex and suspenseful plot.
- It features strong performances by actors such as Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, and Angela Lansbury.
- The film tackles relevant themes like brainwashing, mind control, and the corrupting influence of power, making it a thought-provoking watch.
- Its Cold War era setting provides a historical backdrop that adds to its overall intrigue.
Fun Facts
- Laurence Harvey's character Sergeant Raymond Shaw was originally written as a female character named 'Rosemary'.
- The movie was initially met with controversy and was banned in some countries due to its political content.
- Director John Frankenheimer was so committed to the realism of the film that he had the actors trained by actual Army drill sergeants.
Available Languages
English
US
Title:
"When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it!"
Deutsch
DE
Title: Botschafter der Angst
""
suomi
FI
Title: Mantshurian kandidaatti
""
Italiano
IT
Title: Và e uccidi
"Quando avrai visto tutto, giurerai che non c'è mai stato niente di simile!"
Français
FR
Title: Un crime dans la tête
"Quand vous aurez tout vu, vous jurez qu'il n'y a jamais rien eu de tel !"
Português
PT
Title: O Enviado da Manchúria
"O inimigo oculto."
Where to Watch
Cast
Crew
Reviews
An outstandingly (and Golden Globe winning) vile performance from Angela Lansbury - well and truly putting her silly old maid roles to one side, makes a magnificent contribution to one of the most thought-provoking thrillers ever to come out of 1960s Hollywood. Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey return from the Korean War - the latter to great acclaim, winning the Medal of Honour. Both suffer from terrible nightmares and when Sinatra discovers that other survivors from their unit are also suffering; and that somehow Harvey is the fulcrum of it all we descend into an abyss of manipulation, brain "dry-cleaning", mind-control and red-bashing that is really quite unsettling - and entirely plausible. Janet Leigh, James Gregory and a truly malevolent Khigh Dhiegh as "Dr. Yen Lo" all gel well to create a masterpiece of tension and threat with the tightly shot direction; subtle use of light and music and a truly gripping dialogue contributing to a truly menacing adaptation of Richard Condon's visionary novel. A must see...
Oscar Awards
Wins
Haven't Won A Oscar
Nominations
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - 1962
Angela Lansbury
FILM EDITING - 1962
Ferris Webster
Media
Featurette
Angela Lansbury Looks Back at the Making of 'The Manchurian Candidate' | TCMFF 2016
Featurette
Angela Lansbury on THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE
Trailer
THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE - Original Theatrical Trailer