Amazon.co.uk Review
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 centre 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. --Jim Emerson
Customer Reviews:
In the end,it pays not to miss!.......2007-09-22
This film is now 45 years old, but still stands up as a massive achievement.
I won't ruin the plot, but an army platoon's disappearance behind enemy lines in the Korean War leads to an award for their Staff Sargeant, whose stepfather just happens to be a rabid right-wing senator. It isn't the correctness of the honour's bestowal that needs to concern you, either!
The film is lit up by Frank Sinatra, as the platoon's Major, who slowly realises something evil happened, but he can't guess what, let alone why for ages. Sinatra's face in this film is expessive beyond belief-starting like a guy with a pebble in his shoe,and mildly irritated, it gradually collapses as the enormity of what might have happened sinks in, especially when he's left alone to try and reverse the seemingly inevitable conclusion.
Laurence Harvey, as the Staff Sargeant, is perfect casting-he often acted with hardly-supressed boredom and a stony expression & that suits the man he has become. But glimpses of what he actually was break through now and again, and the question boils down to which part will do what in the climax of the film.
As if that wasn't enough, Angela Lansbury, as Harvey's manipulative mother, puts in a third cracking performance. How she got to be Miss Marple after this is beyond belief-very naughty girl indeed!!
So, that's more than enough reasons to buy it-go get that credit card now!
THIS CLASSIC HAS DATED WELL.......2006-02-19
Possibly the best film of the 1960`s,definately John Frankenheimer`s best and in my opinion Harvey,Lansbury & Sinatra`s best performances.It`s hard to believe the film`s forty odd year`s old,it really does hold up well.I`ve not yet seen the remake but although it`s had mixed review`s i must confess i`m rather looking forward to it,especially the performances (Washington,Streep & Schreiber),however good or bad it is,as with all remakes it will never be as good as the original!
The turn of a friendly card.......2005-08-02
During the Korean War a platoon was mislead and abducted for nefarious purposes. This was well planned as there was only one person in the platoon that would serve further purpose SSgt. Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) and was already in a position needed for the future. The rest of the platoon is used to support a story to help Raymond get the Congressional Metal of Honor
One other in the platoon Cap. /Maj. Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) finally realizes what happed and is in a position to thwart the plot this is because he is with Army Intelligence. As with real life luck would have it that he is assisted be a quirky woman who sees his potential and dumps her old beau for the new challenge.
What is the plot and will it succeed?
Or will Marco be able to foil it?
Who is the mysterious American Control?
Who are we supposed to root for?
Watch as the story unfolds and remember they can not hear you when you say "Watch out!"
----------------------------------------------------------
I was shocked to see Angela Lansbury, "Murder She Wrote" not being quite as nice as I remember her. A real advantage was not recognizing Laurence Harvey from anywhere and so this did not distract from his acting.
I really enjoyed watching this just as a movie and not trying to make any connections to underlying messages. But I was really surprised to find out who the American control was. And so much for the theory that you can't be forced to do anything that is not within your nature. I was surprised to the last.
With out the immediate threat of the cold war the movie still holds suspense for us. John Candy did a parody of this in the movie "Volunteers"
Not quite as good as I remembered.......2005-07-19
I watched this again to prove to my teenage son that sometimes the originals are better than the remakes. Well..... I'm not quite so sure anymore. Sinatra was only just better than Washington; Streep was much better than Lansbury and Laurence Harvey was just a bit too mannered (although since I can't remember much about Liev Schrieber that probably says enough).
Although the basic plot line is -- obviously -- the same it has to be said that for my money the remake is a tighter piece of film-making. Better photography and sharper acting all help in that respect. But this film is still pretty sharp, although the slightly mawkish final words from Sinatra probably were instrumental in knocking some of the edge off the remembered impact of the original for me.
Truly a classic.......2004-12-29
More than forty years after its original release, The Manchurian Candidate has lost none of its edge. Unlike many classics it is good not just retrospectively and for its time, but will captivate the modern, jaded cinema goer even today - the mark of a real classic. With a plot that leaves the audience guessing and confused through much of the film, The Manchurian Candidate manages to keep the viewer in suspense until the very end. Nothing is what it seems in this groundbreaking story about Raymond Shaw, a US soldier brainwashed in the Korean War. Frank Sinatra puts in a stellar performance as the man trying to get to the bottom of a series of mysterious events, and Angela Lansbury, despite being only two years older than the actor who plays Raymond, is utterly convincing as his mother.
Amazon.co.uk Review
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 centre 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. --Jim Emerson
Customer Reviews:
In the end,it pays not to miss!.......2007-09-22
This film is now 45 years old, but still stands up as a massive achievement.
I won't ruin the plot, but an army platoon's disappearance behind enemy lines in the Korean War leads to an award for their Staff Sargeant, whose stepfather just happens to be a rabid right-wing senator. It isn't the correctness of the honour's bestowal that needs to concern you, either!
The film is lit up by Frank Sinatra, as the platoon's Major, who slowly realises something evil happened, but he can't guess what, let alone why for ages. Sinatra's face in this film is expessive beyond belief-starting like a guy with a pebble in his shoe,and mildly irritated, it gradually collapses as the enormity of what might have happened sinks in, especially when he's left alone to try and reverse the seemingly inevitable conclusion.
Laurence Harvey, as the Staff Sargeant, is perfect casting-he often acted with hardly-supressed boredom and a stony expression & that suits the man he has become. But glimpses of what he actually was break through now and again, and the question boils down to which part will do what in the climax of the film.
As if that wasn't enough, Angela Lansbury, as Harvey's manipulative mother, puts in a third cracking performance. How she got to be Miss Marple after this is beyond belief-very naughty girl indeed!!
So, that's more than enough reasons to buy it-go get that credit card now!
THIS CLASSIC HAS DATED WELL.......2006-02-19
Possibly the best film of the 1960`s,definately John Frankenheimer`s best and in my opinion Harvey,Lansbury & Sinatra`s best performances.It`s hard to believe the film`s forty odd year`s old,it really does hold up well.I`ve not yet seen the remake but although it`s had mixed review`s i must confess i`m rather looking forward to it,especially the performances (Washington,Streep & Schreiber),however good or bad it is,as with all remakes it will never be as good as the original!
The turn of a friendly card.......2005-08-02
During the Korean War a platoon was mislead and abducted for nefarious purposes. This was well planned as there was only one person in the platoon that would serve further purpose SSgt. Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) and was already in a position needed for the future. The rest of the platoon is used to support a story to help Raymond get the Congressional Metal of Honor
One other in the platoon Cap. /Maj. Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) finally realizes what happed and is in a position to thwart the plot this is because he is with Army Intelligence. As with real life luck would have it that he is assisted be a quirky woman who sees his potential and dumps her old beau for the new challenge.
What is the plot and will it succeed?
Or will Marco be able to foil it?
Who is the mysterious American Control?
Who are we supposed to root for?
Watch as the story unfolds and remember they can not hear you when you say "Watch out!"
----------------------------------------------------------
I was shocked to see Angela Lansbury, "Murder She Wrote" not being quite as nice as I remember her. A real advantage was not recognizing Laurence Harvey from anywhere and so this did not distract from his acting.
I really enjoyed watching this just as a movie and not trying to make any connections to underlying messages. But I was really surprised to find out who the American control was. And so much for the theory that you can't be forced to do anything that is not within your nature. I was surprised to the last.
With out the immediate threat of the cold war the movie still holds suspense for us. John Candy did a parody of this in the movie "Volunteers"
Not quite as good as I remembered.......2005-07-19
I watched this again to prove to my teenage son that sometimes the originals are better than the remakes. Well..... I'm not quite so sure anymore. Sinatra was only just better than Washington; Streep was much better than Lansbury and Laurence Harvey was just a bit too mannered (although since I can't remember much about Liev Schrieber that probably says enough).
Although the basic plot line is -- obviously -- the same it has to be said that for my money the remake is a tighter piece of film-making. Better photography and sharper acting all help in that respect. But this film is still pretty sharp, although the slightly mawkish final words from Sinatra probably were instrumental in knocking some of the edge off the remembered impact of the original for me.
Truly a classic.......2004-12-29
More than forty years after its original release, The Manchurian Candidate has lost none of its edge. Unlike many classics it is good not just retrospectively and for its time, but will captivate the modern, jaded cinema goer even today - the mark of a real classic. With a plot that leaves the audience guessing and confused through much of the film, The Manchurian Candidate manages to keep the viewer in suspense until the very end. Nothing is what it seems in this groundbreaking story about Raymond Shaw, a US soldier brainwashed in the Korean War. Frank Sinatra puts in a stellar performance as the man trying to get to the bottom of a series of mysterious events, and Angela Lansbury, despite being only two years older than the actor who plays Raymond, is utterly convincing as his mother.
Amazon.co.uk Review
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 centre 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. --Jim Emerson
Customer Reviews:
In the end,it pays not to miss!.......2007-09-22
This film is now 45 years old, but still stands up as a massive achievement.
I won't ruin the plot, but an army platoon's disappearance behind enemy lines in the Korean War leads to an award for their Staff Sargeant, whose stepfather just happens to be a rabid right-wing senator. It isn't the correctness of the honour's bestowal that needs to concern you, either!
The film is lit up by Frank Sinatra, as the platoon's Major, who slowly realises something evil happened, but he can't guess what, let alone why for ages. Sinatra's face in this film is expessive beyond belief-starting like a guy with a pebble in his shoe,and mildly irritated, it gradually collapses as the enormity of what might have happened sinks in, especially when he's left alone to try and reverse the seemingly inevitable conclusion.
Laurence Harvey, as the Staff Sargeant, is perfect casting-he often acted with hardly-supressed boredom and a stony expression & that suits the man he has become. But glimpses of what he actually was break through now and again, and the question boils down to which part will do what in the climax of the film.
As if that wasn't enough, Angela Lansbury, as Harvey's manipulative mother, puts in a third cracking performance. How she got to be Miss Marple after this is beyond belief-very naughty girl indeed!!
So, that's more than enough reasons to buy it-go get that credit card now!
THIS CLASSIC HAS DATED WELL.......2006-02-19
Possibly the best film of the 1960`s,definately John Frankenheimer`s best and in my opinion Harvey,Lansbury & Sinatra`s best performances.It`s hard to believe the film`s forty odd year`s old,it really does hold up well.I`ve not yet seen the remake but although it`s had mixed review`s i must confess i`m rather looking forward to it,especially the performances (Washington,Streep & Schreiber),however good or bad it is,as with all remakes it will never be as good as the original!
The turn of a friendly card.......2005-08-02
During the Korean War a platoon was mislead and abducted for nefarious purposes. This was well planned as there was only one person in the platoon that would serve further purpose SSgt. Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) and was already in a position needed for the future. The rest of the platoon is used to support a story to help Raymond get the Congressional Metal of Honor
One other in the platoon Cap. /Maj. Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) finally realizes what happed and is in a position to thwart the plot this is because he is with Army Intelligence. As with real life luck would have it that he is assisted be a quirky woman who sees his potential and dumps her old beau for the new challenge.
What is the plot and will it succeed?
Or will Marco be able to foil it?
Who is the mysterious American Control?
Who are we supposed to root for?
Watch as the story unfolds and remember they can not hear you when you say "Watch out!"
----------------------------------------------------------
I was shocked to see Angela Lansbury, "Murder She Wrote" not being quite as nice as I remember her. A real advantage was not recognizing Laurence Harvey from anywhere and so this did not distract from his acting.
I really enjoyed watching this just as a movie and not trying to make any connections to underlying messages. But I was really surprised to find out who the American control was. And so much for the theory that you can't be forced to do anything that is not within your nature. I was surprised to the last.
With out the immediate threat of the cold war the movie still holds suspense for us. John Candy did a parody of this in the movie "Volunteers"
Not quite as good as I remembered.......2005-07-19
I watched this again to prove to my teenage son that sometimes the originals are better than the remakes. Well..... I'm not quite so sure anymore. Sinatra was only just better than Washington; Streep was much better than Lansbury and Laurence Harvey was just a bit too mannered (although since I can't remember much about Liev Schrieber that probably says enough).
Although the basic plot line is -- obviously -- the same it has to be said that for my money the remake is a tighter piece of film-making. Better photography and sharper acting all help in that respect. But this film is still pretty sharp, although the slightly mawkish final words from Sinatra probably were instrumental in knocking some of the edge off the remembered impact of the original for me.
Truly a classic.......2004-12-29
More than forty years after its original release, The Manchurian Candidate has lost none of its edge. Unlike many classics it is good not just retrospectively and for its time, but will captivate the modern, jaded cinema goer even today - the mark of a real classic. With a plot that leaves the audience guessing and confused through much of the film, The Manchurian Candidate manages to keep the viewer in suspense until the very end. Nothing is what it seems in this groundbreaking story about Raymond Shaw, a US soldier brainwashed in the Korean War. Frank Sinatra puts in a stellar performance as the man trying to get to the bottom of a series of mysterious events, and Angela Lansbury, despite being only two years older than the actor who plays Raymond, is utterly convincing as his mother.
DVD:
- The Man Who Knew Too Much [1955]
- The Night Of The Generals [1966]
- The Night Of The Hunter [1955]
- The Parent Trap [1961]
- The Producers Special Edition [1968] [1967]
- The Seventh Seal (50th Anniversary Special Edition) [1957]
- The Sweet Smell Of Success [1957]
- The Thing From Another World [1951]
- The Thin Man Collection : The Thin Man / Shadow Of The Thin Man / The Thin Man Goes Home / After The Thin Man / Another Thin Man / The Song Of The Thin Man (6 Disc Box Set) [1934]
- This Gun For Hire [1942]
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