The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

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PG-13
2h 6min
Drama, Thriller
24 Oct 1962 (USA)
Movie

7.9 (82,195)

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An American POW in the Korean War is brainwashed as an unwitting assassin for an international Communist conspiracy.

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

Richard Condon, George Axelrod, John Frankenheimer

Stars:

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 7 nominations.
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Reviews:

Photos and Videos

Still of Reggie Nalder in The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Still of Henry Silva in The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

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142 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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	Frank Sinatra	...	Major Bennett Marco
	Laurence Harvey	...	Raymond Shaw
	Janet Leigh	...	Eugenie Rose Chaney
	Angela Lansbury	...	Mrs. Eleanor Shaw Iselin
	Henry Silva	...	Chunjin
	James Gregory	...	Senator John Yerkes Iselin
	Leslie Parrish	...	Jocelyn Jordan
	John McGiver	...	Senator Thomas Jordan
	Khigh Dhiegh	...	Dr. Yen Lo
	James Edwards	...	Corporal Allen Melvin
	Douglas Henderson	...	Colonel Milt
	Albert Paulsen	...	Zilkov
	Barry Kelley	...	Secretary of Defense
	Lloyd Corrigan	...	Holborn Gaines
	Madame Spivy	...	Female Berezovo
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Joe Adams	...	Psychiatrist (uncredited)
	Alyce Allen	...	Woman (uncredited)
	Benjie Bancroft	...	Chauffeur (uncredited)
	Frank Basso	...	Photographer (uncredited)
	Mary Benoit	...	Woman in Lobby (uncredited)
	Jack Berle	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Whit Bissell	...	Medical Officer (uncredited)
	Nicky Blair	...	Silvers (uncredited)
	Merritt Bohn	...	Jilly (uncredited)
	Nick Bolin	...	Berezovo (uncredited)
	Paul Bradley	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	George Bruggeman	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Robert Burton	...	Convention Chairman (uncredited)
	Evelyn Byrd	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
	Harry Carter	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
	James J. Casino	...	Delegate (uncredited)
	Albert Cavens	...	Delegate (uncredited)
	Spencer Chan	...	Foreign Official (uncredited)
	Lana Crawford	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
	Ray Dailey	...	Page Boy (uncredited)
	George DeNormand	...	Delegate (uncredited)
	Mimi Dillard	...	Mrs. Melvin (uncredited)
	Joan Douglas	...	Woman in Lobby (uncredited)
	Minta Durfee	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
	Estelle Etterre	...	Woman in Lobby (uncredited)
	Joe Evans	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Mickey Finn	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Duke Fishman	...	Foreign Official (uncredited)
	Bess Flowers	...	Gomel's Lady Counterpart (uncredited)
	Lee Tong Foo	...	Man in Lobby (uncredited)
	John Francis	...	Hiken (uncredited)
	Raoul Freeman	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Paul Frees	...	Narrator (uncredited) (voice)
	Wesley Gale	...	Caterer (uncredited)
	Ralph Gambina	...	Man in Lobby (uncredited)
	Richard George	...	Gaucho at Costume Party (uncredited)
	Rudy Germane	...	Delegate (uncredited)
	Kenneth Gibson	...	Delegate (uncredited)
	James Gonzalez	...	Make-Up Artist (uncredited)
	Herschel Graham	...	Delegate (uncredited)
	Joe Gray	...	Soldier (uncredited)
	Stuart Hall	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Tom Harris	...	FBI Agent (uncredited)
	Maggie Hathaway	...	Woman in Lobby (uncredited)
	Chester Hayes	...	Foreign Official (uncredited)
	Maye Henderson	...	Chairlady (uncredited)
	Lars Hensen	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
	Sam 'Kid' Hogan	...	Man in Lobby (uncredited)
	Harry Holcombe	...	General (uncredited)
	George Holmes	...	Campaign Worker (uncredited)
	John Indrisano	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Miyoshi Jingu	...	Miss Gertrude (uncredited)
	Kenner G. Kemp	...	Man Seated Next to Projector (uncredited)
	Rita Kenaston	...	Woman in Lobby (uncredited)
	Colin Kenny	...	Senator (uncredited)
	Paul King	...	Foreign Official (uncredited)
	Helen Kleeb	...	Mrs. Henry Whitaker - Chairlady (uncredited)
	Lou Krugg	...	Manager (uncredited)
	Joseph La Cava	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Jack Latham	...	TV Newscaster (uncredited)
	John Lawrence	...	Grossfeld (uncredited)
	Richard LePore	...	Private Ed Mavole (uncredited)
	Carl M. Leviness	...	Delegate (uncredited)
	Tom Lowell	...	Private Bobby Lembeck (uncredited)
	Wilbur Mack	...	Delegate (uncredited)
	Rankin Mansfield	...	Delegate (uncredited)
	Maurice Marks	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Michael Masters	...	FBI Agent (uncredited)
	William Meader	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Midori	...	Communist Party Observer of Soldiers Being Hypnotized (uncredited)
	Harold Miller	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Marquita Moll	...	Soprano (uncredited)
	Mike Morelli	...	Projectionist (uncredited)
	Reggie Nalder	...	Gomel (uncredited)
	Frances E. Nealy	...	Woman in Lobby (uncredited)
	Karen Norris	...	Secretary (uncredited)
	Richard Norris	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Julie Payne	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
	Charles Perry	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
	Robert Riordan	...	Benjamin K. Arthur (uncredited)
	Bernard Sell	...	Officer (uncredited)
	Anna Shin	...	Korean Girl (uncredited)
	Stephen Soldi	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
	Ray Spiker	...	Policeman (uncredited)
	Irving Steinberg	...	Freeman (uncredited)
	Norman Stevans	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Bert Stevens	...	Officer (uncredited)
	Hal Taggart	...	Senator (uncredited)
	William Thourlby	...	Little (uncredited)
	Arthur Tovey	...	Second Reporter (uncredited)
	Raynum K. Tsukamoto	...	Man in Lobby (uncredited)
	Jeanne Vaughn	...	Nurse (uncredited)
	Anton von Stralen	...	Officer (uncredited)
	Kai J. Wong	...	Foreign Official (uncredited)
	James Yagi	...	Chinese Officer (uncredited)

Directed by

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John Frankenheimer

Written by

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Richard Condon	...	(based upon a novel by)

George Axelrod	...	(screenplay)

John Frankenheimer	...	() (uncredited)

Produced by

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George Axelrod	...	producer
John Frankenheimer	...	producer
Howard W. Koch	...	executive producer

Music by

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David Amram

Cinematography by

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Lionel Lindon

...

director of photography

Editing by

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Ferris Webster

...

film editor

Editorial Department

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Carl Mahakian

...

assistant film editor

Production Design by

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Richard Sylbert

Art Direction by

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Philip M. Jefferies

...

(uncredited)

Set Decoration by

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George R. Nelson

Costume Design by

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Moss Mabry

Makeup Department

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Ron Berkeley	...	makeup artist
Jack Freeman	...	makeup artist
Bernard Ponedel	...	makeup artist
Gene Shacove	...	hair stylist: Janet Leigh
Mary Westmoreland	...	hair stylist
Dorothy Parkinson	...	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Joseph C. Behm	...	assistant director (as Joseph Behm)
Read Killgore	...	assistant director (uncredited)
David Salven	...	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Arden Cripe	...	property master
Philip M. Jefferies	...	assistant art director
Richard Borland	...	props (uncredited)
Lucius O. Croxton	...	set dresser (uncredited)
John M. Elliott	...	set dresser (uncredited)
Seymour Klate	...	set dresser (uncredited)
Richard M. Rubin	...	props (uncredited)
Gaylin P. Schultz	...	props (uncredited)
Joseph S. Toldy	...	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Joe Edmondson	...	sound mixer
Del Harris	...	sound effects editor
Buddy Myers	...	re-recordist
Bill Flannery	...	boom operator (uncredited)
Paul Wolfe	...	recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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A. Paul Pollard

...

special effects (as Paul Pollard)

Stunts

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Gordon Doversola	...	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Beau Vanden Ecker	...	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Joe Gray	...	stunts (uncredited)
Robert 'Buzz' Henry	...	stunt double Frank Sinatra (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited)
John Indrisano	...	stunt coordinator (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited)
Al Wyatt Sr.	...	stunt double Henry Silva (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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John Mehl	...	operative cameraman
Felix Barlow	...	camera assistant (uncredited)
Robert Campbell	...	gaffer (uncredited)
Bill Craemer	...	still photographer (uncredited)
Eugene Levitt	...	camera assistant (uncredited)
William Read Woodfield	...	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Wesley Jeffries	...	costumer (as Wesley V. Jefferies)
Angela Alexander	...	wardrobe (uncredited)
Morris Brown	...	wardrobe (uncredited)
Ron Talsky	...	wardrobe (uncredited)
Rose Viebeck	...	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department

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David Amram	...	conductor
Richard Carruth	...	music editor
Vinton Vernon	...	music recordist
David Amram	...	musician: french horn (uncredited)
Vince De Rosa	...	musician: french horn (uncredited)
Paul Horn	...	musician: flute (uncredited)
Manny Klein	...	musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Harold Land	...	musician: tenor saxophone (uncredited)
Jack Nimitez	...	musician: baritone saxophone (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Amalia Wade	...	script supervisor
Grace Dubray	...	script supervisor (uncredited)
Mollie Kent	...	script supervisor (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Thom Conroy	...	dialogue coach
Gene Martell	...	production assistant (uncredited)
Lillian Michelson	...	researcher (uncredited)

Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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M.C. Productions (copyright holder)

Distributors

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United Artists (1962) (United States) (theatrical)
United Artists (1962) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
Les Artistes Associés (1962) (France) (theatrical)
United Artists (1963) (West Germany) (theatrical)
United Artists (1963) (Sweden) (theatrical)
United Artists (1963) (Argentina) (theatrical) (as Artistas Unidos)
United Artists (UA) (1963) (Japan) (theatrical)
Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1963) (Norway) (theatrical)
Dear Film (1963) (Italy) (theatrical)
C.B. Films S.A. (1963) (Spain) (theatrical)
CBS (1965) (United States) (tv) (original airing)
National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1974) (United States) (tv)
United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Finland) (theatrical)
TV3 (1991) (Finland) (tv)
France 3 (1993) (France) (tv) (French subtitles)
Warner Home Video (1996) (United States) (VHS)
Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
MGM Home Entertainment (1997) (United States) (VHS) (laserdisc)
MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (United States) (DVD)
Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1999) (Finland) (tv)
Fox Video Japan (2000) (Japan) (DVD)
MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
Egmont Entertainment (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
NHK-BS2 (2002) (Japan) (tv)
MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (United States) (DVD)
MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (United States) (DVD)
Park Circus (2010) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (re-release)
Yleisradio (YLE) (2011) (Finland) (tv)
The Criterion Collection (2016) (United States) (Blu-ray)
The Criterion Collection (2016) (United States) (DVD)
OFDb Filmworks (2020) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
OFDb Filmworks (2020) (Germany) (DVD)
The Criterion Channel (2021) (United States) (tv) (digital)
9Gem (2022) (Australia) (tv)
Epoca (Argentina) (VHS)
Pluto TV (2021) (United States) (video)
Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

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Howard Anderson Digital Effects (photographic effects)

Other Companies

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American Map Company Inc. (maps: provided through the courtsey of)
Ruser (jewels)

Storyline

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Plot Summary	Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) is an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. He served valiantly as a Captain in the Korean war and his Sergeant, Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), even received the Medal of Honor. Marco has a major problem however: he has a recurring nightmare, one where two members of his squad were killed by Shaw. He's put on indefinite sick leave and visits Shaw in New York City. Shaw has established himself well, despite the misgivings of his domineering mother, Mrs. Eleanor Shaw Iselin (Dame Angela Lansbury). 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 stepfather, ineffectual U.S. Senator John Iselin (James Gregory), who is intent on seeking higher office. When Marco learns that others in his Korean War unit have had similar nightmares, he realizes that something happened to all of them in Korea and that Raymond Shaw is the focal point. Written by garykmcd/Robert Sieger Plot Summary Plot Synopsis
Plot Keywords	anti-communism conspiracy american-politics grudge double-cross See All (148) »
Taglines	When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it! See more »
Genres	Drama Thriller
Parents Guide	View content advisory »
Certification	Argentina:16 Australia:A Australia:M Brazil:14 Canada:PG Denmark:15 Finland:K-16 Finland:(Banned) Finland:(Banned) France:Tous publics Germany:16 India:A Italy:VM14 Mexico:B Netherlands:16 Netherlands:18 New Zealand:G Norway:16 Norway:15 Portugal:M/14 South Korea:15 Spain:13 Sweden:15 United Kingdom:12A United Kingdom:15 United Kingdom:A United States:PG-13 United States:Approved West Germany:16

Additional Details

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Also Known As	El embajador del miedo (United States, Spanish title) The Candidate of Manchuria (India, English title) Un crime dans la tête (France) Botschafter der Angst (Germany) El mensajero del miedo (Spain) See more »
Runtime	126 min
Country	United States
Language	English Spanish
Color	Black and White
Aspect Ratio	1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix	Mono (Westrex Recording System) Dolby Digital
Filming Locations	Jilly's, 52nd Street at 8th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA See more »

Box Office

Budget

$2,200,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia	Frank Sinatra broke the little finger of his right hand on the desk in the fight sequence with Henry Silva. Due to on-going filming commitments, he could not rest or bandage his hand properly, causing the injury to heal incorrectly. It caused him chronic discomfort for the rest of his life. See more »
Goofs	In the opening sequence, set in 1952, the bar in Korea has a US flag with 50 stars. In 1952, the US included only 48 states, and the flag had only 48 stars. There are also some 50-star flags alongside period correct 48-star flags during the convention scenes. See more »
Movie Connections	Edited into EBN: Commercial Entertainment Product (1992). See more »
Soundtracks	The Washington Post See more »
Crazy Credits	The closing credits specify, "Released thru United Artists". This uses an informal spelling of the standard "through". See more »
Quotes	Bennett Marco: Raymond Shaw is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life. See more »

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