IMDb > The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
The Manchurian Candidate
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The Manchurian Candidate (1962) More at IMDbPro »

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The Manchurian Candidate (1962) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
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Up 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

Richard Condon (novel)
George Axelrod (screenplay)
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Contact:

View company contact information for The Manchurian Candidate on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

24 October 1962 (USA) more

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller more

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 4 nominations more

NewsDesk:
(34 articles)

Birthday Suits: Good Hair, and Good Music.
 (From FilmExperience. 14 November 2009, 7:29 AM, PST)

Shadows of Russia Schedule
 (From Alternative Film Guide. 3 November 2009, 11:31 PM, PST)

User Comments:

Politics Aside, A Riveting Film more (247 total)


Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
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Additional Details

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1964) (cut) | Finland:(Banned) (1964) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (1989) (uncut) | UK:A (1962) (cut) | West Germany:16 (f) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:PG-13


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

Prior to the commissioning of the book as a movie, Arthur Krim, then President of United Artists and Finance Chairman of the Democratic Party, is known to have felt uneasy about its subject matter. President John F. Kennedy, as a favor to his friend Frank Sinatra, called Krim to let him know that he had no objection to a film version being made. more

Goofs:

Continuity: Rosie lights a cigarette and gives it to Marco on the train. He smokes it, then stamps it out, then is seen smoking it again, then finishes grinding it out. The long shots don't match the closeups. more

Quotes:

Raymond Shaw: You couldn't have stopped them, the army couldn't have stopped them. So I had to. more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Live and Let Die (1973) more

Soundtrack:

The Star-Spangled Banner more


FAQ

Who is the "Manchurian candidate"?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
How closely does the movie follow the book?
more
25 out of 41 people found the following comment useful.
Politics Aside, A Riveting Film, 19 May 2006
9/10
Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

The first time I saw this film, about 10 years ago, I thought it was really fascinating. One year later, I still enjoyed but was a bit perplexed: was this the usual Liberal Hollywood taking shots at right-wingers or is this actually the reverse with the left-wingers, the Communists really being shown as the "bad guys?" After a third and final viewing a few years later, I felt it was both but the leaned toward Liberal, which is par for the course. The general plot had left wingers brainwashing an influential American family into looking like extreme right wingers and gaining access to the White House through political influence and assassination. Most of the movie featured a Joe McCarthy-ish senator (James Gregory) and his conniving wife (Angela Lansbury) as the villains. They were portrayed as right wingers, of course, but were really just dupes of the Communists (left wing)! Got that??!

Suffice to say the movie had messages from both the Right and Left but politics aside, the film boasts an involving story that keeps your interest for most of the two hours and six minutes, and had some very interesting characters who are fascinating to watch. That includes the supporting roles. It didn't hurt to have John Frankenheimer direct, either. His films usually were outstanding.

I thought Lansbury and Laurence Harvey had the best parts of the film. The only really stupid and/or annoying character in the movie was played by Janet Leigh. Her romance scenes with Frank Sinatra added nothing to this riveting film. Eliminated, it would have made for a tighter, even better movie. Also, Sinatra found out too easily where Harvey was hiding in Madison Square Garden. Nobody could figure it out that fast! Nonetheless, the ending was a bit surprising and I won't spoil it for anyone who has not seen this.

The movie has endured the test of time and, from what I hear, would have been best left on its own instead of watering down the name of this film with an insipid re-make. This is "The Manchurian Candidate" version you want to see.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The real reason it's not a great film Bluemoon_Royale
Angela Lansbury's Accent eldnepm
Was the Sentator Iselin meant to look like Nixon? ribak
A QUESTION dwaitkoss-1
Something you don't see nowadays bruchsie7
Ending changed from book? [WARNING : SPOILERS!!!] partnerfrance
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