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The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
DVD (1 discs
)
Blu-ray (1 discs
)
Digital ✓
Genre: Thriller
Aspect Ratio: Wide
Sound: DD 1.0
Academy Awards:
2 Nominations
Synopsis
The most dangerous enemy may be the one hiding in plain sight, wearing a hero's medal. John Frankenheimer's "The Manchurian Candidate," adapted by George Axelrod from Richard Condon's novel, is one of the most chillingly suspenseful, darkly funny and savagely satirical political thrillers ever made, and it hasn't lost any of its power over time. Frank Sinatra stars as Maj. Bennett Marco, a Korean War veteran tormented by nightmares that his platoon was captured and brainwashed by Communist agents. His strange dreams seem to revolve around Sgt. Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), a decorated Medal of Honor winner and a cold, lonely man whom the men of the platoon can only describe, almost mechanically, as kind and brave. Angela Lansbury gives one of the greatest villainous performances in movie history, earning an Oscar nomination as Raymond's domineering, ruthlessly ambitious mother, a woman who would make Norman Bates' mother seem gentle. She's the scheming power behind her second husband, Sen. John Iselin (James Gregory), a bumbling, McCarthy-style anti-Communist demagogue. As Marco digs deeper, he uncovers a sinister conspiracy that reaches all the way to a presidential nominating convention. Janet Leigh co-stars. After President Kennedy's assassination, the film was rarely seen for many years before its celebrated rerelease in 1988.
Cast
James Gregory
Frank Sinatra
Laurence Harvey
Janet Leigh
Angela Lansbury
Henry Silva
Director
John Frankenheimer
Awards & Nominations
- Oscar Nominee: Best Actress In A Supporting Role
- Oscar Nominee: Best Film Editing
Keywords
AFI Top 100 (1998)
AFI Top 100 Thrillers
Classics
National Film Registry
Spies/Secret Agents
Thrillers
Technical Specifications
Audio Languages
English, Spanish
Subtitle Languages
English, French, Spanish
Special Features
- Audio commentary
- Featurettes/Behind-The-Scenes/Documentaries
- Interviews
- Photo gallery
- Trailers/TV spots
- Audio commentary from 1997 featuring director John Frankenheimer
- Interview With Frank Sinatra, George Axelrod and John Frankenheimer,
- "A Little Solitaire" Featurette With William Friedkin
- "Queen of Diamonds" Featurette With Angela Lansbury
- New interview with actor Angela Lansbury
- New piece featuring filmmaker Errol Morris discussing his appreciation for ""The Manchurian Candidate""
- New interview with historian Susan Carruthers about the Cold War brainwashing scare