An eerie fact is that a film dealing with the assassination of a presidential candidate came out just shortly before the real-life assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
LAURENCE HARVEY always had a rather sleep-walker kind of expression on his unlined face and here it serves him well as a man who has been hypnotized (brainwashed is a better word) into believing that he must kill the next presidential candidate of the U.S. because his mama wants him to.
Mama is ANGELA LANSBURY, in probably the wickedest role of her long career. She soothingly explains to the transfixed Harvey exactly at what point during the ceremony he must take aim at his target--and kill. It's the most chilling scene in the movie, except for the finale which is really spellbinding, as it takes place in a crowded Madison Square Garden with FRANK SINATRA hot on the trail of the would-be killer.
Sinatra's almost immediate discovery is what throws reality off a bit at this point. He sees a pinpoint of light in the far distance and knows exactly which stairway, which exit, which floor to go to in a matter of seconds. Well, it's called taking dramatic license for the sake of art, I suppose.
All in all, a very chilling reminder of the time Americans were living through in the McCarthy era, only occasionally flawed by distracting things like the love interest for Sinatra (JANET LEIGH) in a totally unnecessary sub-plot that does nothing to further the action.
John Frankenheimer gets every ounce of suspense out of pivotal scenes and you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat as the final scene unfolds.
A final word about the performances: ANGELA LANSBURY has never been more mesmerizing.
LAURENCE HARVEY always had a rather sleep-walker kind of expression on his unlined face and here it serves him well as a man who has been hypnotized (brainwashed is a better word) into believing that he must kill the next presidential candidate of the U.S. because his mama wants him to.
Mama is ANGELA LANSBURY, in probably the wickedest role of her long career. She soothingly explains to the transfixed Harvey exactly at what point during the ceremony he must take aim at his target--and kill. It's the most chilling scene in the movie, except for the finale which is really spellbinding, as it takes place in a crowded Madison Square Garden with FRANK SINATRA hot on the trail of the would-be killer.
Sinatra's almost immediate discovery is what throws reality off a bit at this point. He sees a pinpoint of light in the far distance and knows exactly which stairway, which exit, which floor to go to in a matter of seconds. Well, it's called taking dramatic license for the sake of art, I suppose.
All in all, a very chilling reminder of the time Americans were living through in the McCarthy era, only occasionally flawed by distracting things like the love interest for Sinatra (JANET LEIGH) in a totally unnecessary sub-plot that does nothing to further the action.
John Frankenheimer gets every ounce of suspense out of pivotal scenes and you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat as the final scene unfolds.
A final word about the performances: ANGELA LANSBURY has never been more mesmerizing.