The Manchurian Candidate

Director: John Frankenheimer John Frankenheimer

Overview

"A brilliant movie that successfully straddles the lines between suspense, black comedy, politics, romance, and social commentary, The Manchurian Candidate gets a fine DVD release. The widescreen transfer shows off Lionel Lindon's striking black-and-white cinematography and the Dolby soundtrack is equal to the one used in the film's 1987 theatrical re-release. This DVD edition makes plain that even without parallels with real political assassinations and fabricated scandals, The Manchurian Candidate would succeed as a movie. Frankenheimer's no-nonsense DVD audio commentary states that the film was a balancing act between plot and character and he gives ample credit to the superb cast. The commentary is full of silent stretches, but it's refreshing to have a director speak only when he's got something to say. Frankenheimer points out the contributions made by Lindon and production designer Richard Sylbert, and contrasts Axelrod's changes to Richard Condon's book. Besides knowing when to stick with the book and when to add his own touches, Axelrod slightly reworked Condon's ending and made it infinitely more powerful. Also included on the DVD is a short 1987 interview with Frankenheimer, Axelrod, and Frank Sinatra in which the humbled singer shows off his disfigured hand that was broken during the movie's kung-fu sequence."

Product Details

Release Date:	03/25/1998
UPC:	0027616701329
Original Release:	1962
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Mgm (Video & Dvd)
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[B&W, Wide Screen, Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital]
Language:	English
Time:	2:09:00
Sales rank:	15,587

Special Features

Interview with Frank Sinatra, George Axelrod, and John Frankenheimer; Feature-length audio commentary by director John Frankenheimer; Trivia and production notes; Original theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Laurence Harvey	Raymond Shaw
Frank Sinatra	Bennett Marco
Angela Lansbury	Raymond's Mother
James Gregory	Sen. John Iselin
Janet Leigh	Rosie
Henry Silva	Chunjim
Leslie Parrish	Jocie Jordon
John McGiver	Sen. Thomas Jordon
Khigh Dhiegh	Yen Lo
James Edwards	Cpl. Melvin
Douglas Henderson	Colonel,Chairlady
Albert Paulsen	Zilkov
Barry Kelley	Secretary of Defense
Lloyd Corrigan	Holborn Gaines
Madame Spivy	Berezovo's Lady Counterpart
Joe Adams	Psychiatrist
Whit Bissell	Medical Officer
Mimi Dillard	Melvin's Wife
Anton von Stralen	Officer
John Lawrence	Gossfeld
Tom Lowell	Lembeck
Richard La Pore	Mavole
Nicky Blair	Silvers
William Thourlby	Little
Irving Steinberg	Freeman
John Francis	Haiken
Robert Riordan	Nominee
Reggie Nalder	Gomel
Harry Holcombe	General
Miyoshi Jingu	Miss Gertrude
Anna Shin	Korean Girl
Bess Flowers	Gomel's Lady Counterpart
Helen Kleeb	Chairlady
Mickey Finn	Reporter
Richard Norris	Reporter,Secretary
John Indrisano	Reporter
Lou Krugg	Manager
Mike Masters	FBI Man,Actor
Tom Harris	FBI Man
Mariquita Moll	Soprano
Robert Burton	Convention Chairman
Jean Vaughn	Nurse
Ray Spiker	Policeman
Merritt Bohn	Jilly
Frank Basso	Photographer
Lana Crawford	Guest at Party
Evelyn Byrd	Guest at Party
Ray Dailey	Page Boy
Estelle Etterre	People in Hotel Lobby
Mary Benoit	People in Hotel Lobby
Rita Kenaston	People in Hotel Lobby
Maggie Hathaway	People in Hotel Lobby
Joan Douglas	People in Hotel Lobby
Frances Nealy	People in Hotel Lobby,Woman in Lobby
Ralph Gambina	People in Hotel Lobby
Sam 'Kid' Hogan	People in Hotel Lobby
James Yagi	Chinese Men in Hotel Lobby
Lee Tung Foo	Chinese Men in Hotel Lobby
Raynum K. Tsukamoto	Chinese Men in Hotel Lobby
Nick Bolin	Berezovo
Richard LePore	Mavole
Julie Payne	Party Guest
Margaret Mason	Actor
David Amram	Composer

Technical Credits

George Axelrod

John Frankenheimer	Director,Producer
George Axelrod	Producer,Screenwriter
Howard W. Koch	Executive Producer
Paul Pollard	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

A brilliant Cold War satire, The Manchurian Candidate is a chilling commentary on political power, international conspiracy, and the gullibility of the American people. A paean to paranoia, it was ahead of its time yet reflected the tensions of its era, and modern-day viewers can use it as a guide to the political and moral climate of the early years of Cold War America. One doesn't have to look hard to find a thinly veiled Senator Joseph McCarthy in zealous anti-Communist Senator Iselin or fears of female dominance in Angela Lansbury's megalomaniacal Mrs. Iselin. In addition to its status as one of the great political satires, The Manchurian Candidate remains a classic for its sharp, often hilarious script, for John Frankenheimer's fine-tuned direction, and for its uniformly excellent performances. Though Laurence Harvey, Frank Sinatra, and Janet Leigh are all thoroughly effective, and James Gregory is pricelessly stupid as Senator Iselin, the film belongs to Lansbury. Her Mrs. Iselin remains one of the screen's most terrifying maternal presences, a queen bee intent on clearing the hive of anyone who stands in her way. Like her clueless husband, the audience can only react dumbly to her, marveling at her single-minded rampage towards world domination. Unavailable for years due to a dispute between Sinatra and United Artists, The Manchurian Candidate is a film that should not be missed. Equal parts satire, political thriller, sly commentary, and history lesson, it has become a terrifying postcard from a time that should not be forgotten.