CONSPIRACY THEORY
by
David Elstad
by
David Elstad
The Manchurian Candidate has been called a political fantasy, a satire, and a
thriller. It is all of these things and more. At the heart of this film is the notion
that the political right and left meet at the extremes. Indeed, whether you be
liberal or conservative, you can pretty much read into this movie whatever you
want. Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey play a couple of American soldiers
taken prisoner during the Korean War. In a sequence involving an impressive
use of editing and camera movement, they are brainwashed by the communists.
Harvey is picked to assassinate a presidential candidate. The other soldier
meanwhile, is deprogrammed by the FBI, and assigned to trail Harvey.
Sinatra had already proved that he could act, in such films as From Here
to Eternity and The Man with the Golden Arm. Those roles were full of tricks
however, and a little over the top. His restrained intensity here was a revelation.
I think it's the best thing he ever did.
thriller. It is all of these things and more. At the heart of this film is the notion
that the political right and left meet at the extremes. Indeed, whether you be
liberal or conservative, you can pretty much read into this movie whatever you
want. Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey play a couple of American soldiers
taken prisoner during the Korean War. In a sequence involving an impressive
use of editing and camera movement, they are brainwashed by the communists.
Harvey is picked to assassinate a presidential candidate. The other soldier
meanwhile, is deprogrammed by the FBI, and assigned to trail Harvey.
Sinatra had already proved that he could act, in such films as From Here
to Eternity and The Man with the Golden Arm. Those roles were full of tricks
however, and a little over the top. His restrained intensity here was a revelation.
I think it's the best thing he ever did.
Photo Courtesy UNITED
ARTISTS
ARTISTS
Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) kills a comrade
during the brainwashing sequence in The Manchurian
Candidate, while Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) sits in
a daze. Both victim and chair are knocked across the room.
during the brainwashing sequence in The Manchurian
Candidate, while Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) sits in
a daze. Both victim and chair are knocked across the room.
Frank Sinatra was also
instrumental in getting this
story to the screen. United
Artists refused to distribute
the film. Arthur Krim was
both president of United
Artists AND national
finance chairman for the
Democratic Party. Krim
felt the material was too
controversial, and could be
damaging to Democrats.
Well, Frank Sinatra went
right to President Kennedy.
Not only did JFK love the
Richard Condon novel, he
also thought it would make
a terrific motion picture!
Sinatra urged the President
to contact Krim. After a
phone call from Jack
Kennedy, Krim relented
and The Manchurian
Candidate became a reality.
A year later, Kennedy
would be dead from an
assassin's bullet. It's ironic
that
instrumental in getting this
story to the screen. United
Artists refused to distribute
the film. Arthur Krim was
both president of United
Artists AND national
finance chairman for the
Democratic Party. Krim
felt the material was too
controversial, and could be
damaging to Democrats.
Well, Frank Sinatra went
right to President Kennedy.
Not only did JFK love the
Richard Condon novel, he
also thought it would make
a terrific motion picture!
Sinatra urged the President
to contact Krim. After a
phone call from Jack
Kennedy, Krim relented
and The Manchurian
Candidate became a reality.
A year later, Kennedy
would be dead from an
assassin's bullet. It's ironic
that
the same Sinatra who helped get the picture made would also prevent its
re-release for decades.
Condon's novel was adapted for the screen by the iconoclastic George
Axelrod. He gives the film its satirical edge. This was counter-balanced by the
cinematic razzle-dazzle of director John Frankenheimer. Frankenheimer was a
graduate of television's "Playhouse 90" series. His heart was in film though, not
theater. His later political thrillers - Seven Days in May, and Black Sunday were
solid, if unremarkable. The Manchurian Candidate, however, feels like the work
of a virtuoso. Released in 1962, it remains the high water mark in a long career.
His energy and vitality inform the entire project. Like Sergeant Raymond Shaw
(Harvey), the movie itself becomes a ticking time bomb, just waiting to go off.
Each sequence builds to the famous climax at Madison Square Garden.
re-release for decades.
Condon's novel was adapted for the screen by the iconoclastic George
Axelrod. He gives the film its satirical edge. This was counter-balanced by the
cinematic razzle-dazzle of director John Frankenheimer. Frankenheimer was a
graduate of television's "Playhouse 90" series. His heart was in film though, not
theater. His later political thrillers - Seven Days in May, and Black Sunday were
solid, if unremarkable. The Manchurian Candidate, however, feels like the work
of a virtuoso. Released in 1962, it remains the high water mark in a long career.
His energy and vitality inform the entire project. Like Sergeant Raymond Shaw
(Harvey), the movie itself becomes a ticking time bomb, just waiting to go off.
Each sequence builds to the famous climax at Madison Square Garden.