THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE
US, 1962, 126 minutes, Black and White.
Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, James Gregory, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva, John Mc Giver.
Directed by John Frankenheimer
The Manchurian Candidate is one of director John Frankenheimer's most significant films (a strong director, especially in the '60s with such films as Birdman of Alcatraz, The Train, Seconds). With the impact in the early '60s compounded by the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Frank Sinatra withdrew the film from circulation. It appeared again in the late '80s - with its reputation enhanced, especially by hindsight. Films like JFK corroborate such conspiracy theories dramatised in this film.
The film is based on a novel by Richard Condon, a master of conspiracy theories with Winter Kills and the Prizzi books. The screenplay is by George Axelrod, better known for his comedies. Other technical aspects of the film are first class.
The setting is the Korean War and the stories of brainwashing associated with that war. They are then linked with the brainwashing of an upright American officer to be influenced by the Queen of Diamonds card to become an assassin. The irony is that his controller is his mother, allegedly a loud Right- Winger, masterminding her ineffectual husband's senatorial career, veering him towards the White House. While this may have seemed preposterous in the early '60s, nothing seems so impossible in later decades. Frank Sinatra is the sympathetic hero. Laurence Harvey has a role that suits his rather impassive style as the manipulated victim. Angela Lansbury almost steals the film as the strong mother. The supporting cast is very good, including James Gregory as the senator, Henry Silva as the Korean servant, John Mc Giver as a senator. Janet Leigh and Leslie Parrish are the romantic interests.
A film of its time but one which received a new lease of life several decades later.
1.The status of the film? Impact in its time? The withdrawal and the reputation for the unseen film? A classic status?
2.The writings of Richard Condon, wit, observation on things American, conspiracy theories? The writing of George Axelrod - comedy and irony? John Frankenheimer's work in the '60s?
3.The release of the film in 1963-63, the age of assassinations? The film echoing the pre-assassination period, the height of the cold war, American and Soviet and Communist paranoia, espionage, infiltration of American institutions? The experience of the Korean War and brainwashing? The brainwashed assassin - and theories about Lee Harvey Oswald? The sense of anticipation in the film?
4.The stance of the writer and the director: the criticisms of the villainous Left, the criticisms of the lunatic Right? The two extremes coming together in conspiracies and paranoia?
5.The stylish black and white photography, stylised compositions, atmosphere? Reality and unreality? Nightmares? The imagination at work in the brainwashing? Editing and pace? Musical score?
6.The title, the Korean War, the brainwashing, assassinations, the controller?
7.The opening with Korea, the platoon, the war experience, under fire, fighting? Chun Jin and his role? Raymond Shaw as leader? Unpopular? People praising him and his public decorations? The story that was brainwashed into the men? The truth?
8.The significance of the dreams? Marco's dream and the white people at the flower show? Melvyn's dreams and the black group? The perceptions in the dreams, the communist controllers? Yen Lo and the meetings? In the brainwashing sessions? The observers? The transition to the Washington hotel, the doctors and their control? The murders? The Queen of Diamonds and the hypnosis? The dreams of Marco and Melvyn, disturbed, having to do something about them, precipitating the crisis?
9.The story they repeated - knowing that it was not true? The Queen of Diamonds? Raymond and the brainwashing, his committing the murders during the session and not knowing, not remembering? Being taken to Washington? The test and his confronting the newspaper boss, killing him in his bedroom? His killing Senator Jordan and Josie? The irony of his literally jumping in the lake when suggested? The Queen of Diamonds setting him off, Josie's dress, finally, his mother?
10.The portrait of Raymond, his unpopularity? Seeing himself as unlovable? The influence of his mother and his hatred of her? His despising of Iselin? The return and the fuss, the decorations? His mother's push, getting a job, work? Marco's visit? The letter from Melvyn? Chun Jin's appearance and becoming his valet? Marco and the discussions, his puzzle, jumping in the lake? His memories, the story of Josie and Senator Jordan, his mother's interference? Her change of heart? The marriage, the party, the Queen of Diamonds? His being guided to kill the senator and Josie? His coming to the knowledge of the truth? His decision, going to the convention? His taking aim at the presidential candidate? The climax and his killing his mother and Iselin? Finally turning the gun on himself? The complete victim?
11.Frank Sinatra as Marco, in the war, sensible, his work on return, his nightmares and discussions? Given time off by the army? Going on leave, travelling on the train, meeting Rosie, the discussions, reliance on her, her coming to his support? His going to see Raymond? The truth, the danger, his giving advice, the convention? His handling of the crisis?
12.Melvyn, place in the platoon, his nightmares, his writing the letter to Raymond Shaw?
13.Rosie, on the train, her story, attracted to Marco, talk, helping him out, a sounding board for Marco and his problems?
14.Angela Lansbury's strong presence as Eleanor: welcoming her son home, pushing him, the decorations, her control over Johnny, his drinking? His outburst on communists in the military? Inaccurate statistics? Her strategy of pushing him on, generalisations? Her reaction to journalists? Johnny being dependent on her, her control over Raymond? Her intervention in Raymond's love affair with Josie, getting rid of Josie? Changing her attitude, Josie's return, arranging the marriage? The death? Her political ambitions, the final revelation to Raymond that she was the controller? The years of waiting, her ambitions? Her rehearsing the lines with Raymond? On the platform, Iselin and his stances, performance? Their both being shot? The film's caustic comment on American politicians in the portrait of the idiotic, alcoholic and controlled Senator Iselin?
15.The contrast with Senator Jordan, his integrity, the red smear? His stances? Josie, her love for Raymond, the lyrical times together, the marriage broken off? The happy return home - and the tragedy of the deaths?
16.The picture of American politics as perceived in the '50s and early '60s? Ambitions, democracy, the role of conventions? The use of violence in American political history?
17.The Cold War, paranoia, political assassinations, the infiltration by Soviet officials into American institutions? The fanaticism of Left and Right?
