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The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

PG_13  126 min  -  Drama | Mystery | Thriller   -  24 October 1962 (USA)
8.2
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Ratings: 8.2/10 from 41,872 users   Metascore: 94/100 
Reviews: 263 user | 96 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.

Writers:

Richard Condon (based on a novel by), George Axelrod (screenplay), and 1 more credit »
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Top 250 #183 | Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 4 nominations See more awards »
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
Frank Sinatra ...
Laurence Harvey ...
Janet Leigh ...
Angela Lansbury ...
Henry Silva ...
James Gregory James Gregory ...
Leslie Parrish Leslie Parrish ...
John McGiver John McGiver ...
Khigh Dhiegh Khigh Dhiegh ...
James Edwards James Edwards ...
Douglas Henderson Douglas Henderson ...
Albert Paulsen Albert Paulsen ...
Barry Kelley Barry Kelley ...
Lloyd Corrigan Lloyd Corrigan ...
Madame Spivy 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

Plot Keywords:

Political | Korean War | Army | Nightmare | Korea  | See more »

Taglines:

When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it! See more »

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Official Sites:

MGM | Add/edit official sites  »

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Botschafter der Angst See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$2,200,000 (estimated)
See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

M.C. Productions See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) | Dolby SR  | Dolby Digital

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Famous for his use of innovative camera angles, director John Frankenheimer was widely acclaimed for a shot that is slightly out of focus. John Frankenheimer said that rather than the shot being evidence of inspiration, it was an accident and merely the best take for actor Frank Sinatra. See more »

Goofs

Revealing mistakes: Long shots of the convention floor use stock footage from different conventions, with delegates' placards sometimes white, sometimes black. See more »

Quotes

Raymond Shaw: Senator Iselen is not my father. Repeat: he is not my father. If you learn nothing else on your visit to this country, memorize that fact.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in "Chuck: Chuck Versus First Class (#3.5)" (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

"The Star-Spangled Banner"
(1814) (uncredited)
Music based on "The Anacreontic Song" by John Stafford Smith
Lyrics by Francis Scott Key
Sung by Marquita Moll at the convention See more »