The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
B&W – 126m
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 – Widescreen (MGM Blu–ray) / 1.75:1 – Widescreen (Original Depending on Source & Criterion Collection Format)
Novel By: Richard Condon
Screenplay By: George Axelrod
Dir.: John Frankenheimer
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva, James Gregory, Leslie Parrish, John McGiver, Lloyd Corrigan, Paul Frees and Colin Kenny.
A former prisoner of war (POW) is brainwashed to be an unwitting assassination in an international Communist conspiracy. Arguably one of the best political thrillers of all time this film holds up splendidly many years after its original release. The wonderful talent on both sides of the camera, are to be praised for this achievement. The film is haunting and heart racing never letting up.
Trivia: Frank Sinatra broke the little finger of his right hand during a fight scene with Henry Silva. Due to the film schedule he was not able to get it bandaged and allow for time for it to heal. As such it was never set properly and was crooked for the rest of his life, often causing him discomfort. Most of the scenes involving Frank Sinatra are from the first take. Only if there were something that went wrong with a take, would an alternant take be used. And finally: It has been widely reported over the years that Frank Sinatra requested that this film be withdrawn from circulation after the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) along with his other political assassination thriller, The Manchurian Candidate (1962). The Sinatra family went through great lengths to make it known that Frank Sinatra made no such request. However, the films were out of circulation for many years. It was discovered in the 1980’s that Sinatra had the legal right to restore them to public circulation (see his interview with Larry King for more details), and they were.
Oscar® nominated for: Best Supporting Actress – Angela Lansbury and Best Film Editing. Angela Lansbury got a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe for her performance. John Frankenheimer was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Director.
Rated: [NOT RATED] – Original Release
[PG–13] – Rerelease Rating
This is Out Of Print on VHS but available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy through MGM. It is also available on Blu–ray and DVD through The Criterion Collection.
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
C – 129m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Novel By: Richard Condon
Original Screenplay By: George Axelrod
Screenplay By: Daniel Pyne and Dean Georgaris
Dir.: Jonathan Demme
Producers: Jonathan Demme and Tina Sinatra
Starring: Jeffry Wright, Anthony Mackie, Dorian Missick, Denzel Washington, Live Schreiber, Bill Irwin, Kimberly Elise, Al Franken, Jon Voight, Meryl Streep, Roger Corman, Zeljko Ivanek, Ann Dowd, Obba Babatunde, Harry Northup, Sakina Jaffrey, Simon McBurney, Charles Napier, Vera Farmiga, Dean Stockwell, Miguel Ferrer, Tracey Walter and Sidney Lumet.
In the midst of the Gulf War soldiers are kidnapped and brainwashed via chips in their heads for sinister purposes. This reviewer must admit outright that upon seeing this film in the theater he was repulsed by it. Upon viewing it years later, the film is actually a smart updating of the classic, though it holds no candle to the original. Fine performances by the talents on screen here, and Jonathan Demme was in good form as a director. Worth a look, if only for comparison’s sake…
Trivia: Jane Fonda turned down the role originally played by Angela Lansbury, Meryl Streep here, because she didn’t want her Hollywood comeback to be as a villainess. Though many believe Meryl Streep was playing Hillary Clinton here, she cites: Peggy Noonan, Condoleezza Rice and Dick Cheney. And finally: Brian De Palma was considered as a director for this film.
Rated: [R] – Violence & Some Language
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy