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The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

8.1
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Ratings: 8.1/10 from 49,521 users   Metascore: 94/100
Reviews: 276 user | 112 critic | 14 from Metacritic.com

A former Korean War POW is brainwashed by Communists into becoming a political assassin. But another former prisoner may know how to save him.

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(based on a novel by), (screenplay), 1 more credit »
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Title: The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) on IMDb 8.1/10

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Top 250 #203 | Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 4 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

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Khigh Dhiegh ...
James Edwards ...
Douglas Henderson ...
Albert Paulsen ...
Barry Kelley ...
Lloyd Corrigan ...
Madame Spivy ...
Female Berezovo
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Storyline

Major Ben Marco is an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. He served valiantly as a captain in the Korean war and his Sergeant, Raymond Shaw, even won the Medal of Honor. Marco has a major problem however: he has a recurring nightmare, one where two members of his squad are killed by Shaw. He's put on indefinite sick leave and visits Shaw in New York. Shaw for his part has established himself well, despite the misgivings of his domineering mother, Mrs. Eleanor Shaw Iselin. She is a red-baiter, accusing anyone who disagrees with her right-wing reactionary views of being a Communist. Raymond hates her, not only for how she's treated him but equally because of his step-father, the ineffectual U.S. Senator John Iselin, who is intent on seeking higher office. When Marco learns that others in his Korean War unit have nightmares similar to his own, he realizes that something happened to all of them in Korea and that Raymond Shaw is the focal point. Written by garykmcd

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

If you come in five minutes after this picture begins, you won't know what it's all about! When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it! See more »


Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

24 October 1962 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Botschafter der Angst  »

Box Office

Budget:

$2,200,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Westrex Recording System)| |

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The topic of the movie was considered politically so highly sensitive it was censored and prohibited just before its theatrical release in many of the former 'Iron Curtain' countries, such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria - and even in neutral countries such as Finland and Sweden. The theatrical premiere for most of those countries was held after the collapse of Soviet Union in 1993. See more »

Goofs

As Shaw arrives at the airport at the beginning of the film, several discrepancies on his uniform coat can be seen: he has two overseas bars at the bottoms of both sleeves (should be only on the left sleeve); he wears no three-year service stripes, even though he has obviously been in the service longer than three years; and he wears no ribbons for the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, or for World War II service (his age and rank indicate he would also have served during that war). See more »

Quotes

Raymond Shaw: My dear girl, have you ever noticed that the human race is divided into two distinct and irreconcilable groups: those that walk into rooms and automatically turn television sets on, and those that walk into rooms and automatically turn them off. The trouble is that they end up marrying each other.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) See more »

Soundtracks

"The Washington Post"
(1889) (uncredited)
Music by John Philip Sousa
Played by a band in the first scene after the opening credits
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
A perfect suspense film
8 August 2007 | by (Bradenton, Florida) – See all my reviews

I cannot comment about the similarities or dissimilarities between this film and its recent remake. That's because the original film was so perfect, so exciting, so well acted and written, there was no reason for a remake and there is no conceivable way any remake could have improved on the original story--it was THAT good!

The story begins in a Chinese Communist indoctrination camp as an officer demonstrates how thoroughly he has indoctrinated a group of American POWs from the Korean War. Then, suddenly, the scene changes to America years later. The brainwashed prisoners are now home and have no idea that their minds were changed. I'd say more, but don't want to ruin the suspense. All I really want to say is that Angela Lansbury does NOT play a nice character like "Mrs. Potts" in this film. In fact, she is at her most evil and amazing. Additionally, Frank Sinatra has one of his finest on-screen performances in this amazing film. It's a must-see--it's THAT good!

This is yet another amazing drama from director John Frankenheimer. See this and try some of his other brilliant films such as SEVEN DAYS IN MAY and SECONDS.


5 of 7 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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Janet Leigh, a Red Herring? greendahlias
Do Johnny + Mrs. Iselin remind you of anyone? Bob_Schuka
Too Many Flaws To Be a Great Movie brianoh2
the ending?! casafras92
You're a Communist if you Disagree technotrone
Was the Sentator Iselin meant to look like Nixon? ribak
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