The Manchurian Candidate [Criterion Collection] [4K] [Blu-ray]

The Manchurian Candidate [Criterion Collection] [4K] [Blu-ray]

Director: John Frankenheimer Cast: Laurence Harvey
Laurence Harvey
, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
, Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury
, James Gregory
James Gregory
John Frankenheimer
The Manchurian Candidate [Criterion Collection] [4K] [Blu-ray]

The Manchurian Candidate [Criterion Collection] [4K] [Blu-ray]

Director: John Frankenheimer Cast: Laurence Harvey
Laurence Harvey
, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
, Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury
, James Gregory
James Gregory
John Frankenheimer

Blu-ray (Black & White)

$39.99 
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Overview

An unusually tense and intelligent political thriller, The Manchurian Candidate was a film far ahead of its time. Its themes of thought control, political assassination, and multinational conspiracy were hardly common currency in 1962, and while its outlook is sometimes informed by Cold War paranoia, the film seemed nearly as timely when it was reissued in 1987 as it did on its original release. It opens with a group of soldiers whooping it up in a bar in Korea as their commander, Sgt. Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), arrives to inform them that they're back on duty. These men obviously have no fondness for Shaw, and he feels no empathy for them. While on patrol, Shaw and his platoon are ambushed by Korean troops. Months later, Shaw is receiving a hero's welcome as he returns to the United States to accept the Congressional Medal of Honor, and several of the soldiers who served under Shaw repeatedly refer to him as "the bravest, finest, most lovable man I ever met." It soon becomes evident that after their capture by the Koreans, Shaw and his men were subjected to an intense program of brainwashing prior to their release. While several are troubled by bad dreams and inexplicable behavior, it's Capt. Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) who seems the most haunted by the experience. In time, Marco is able to piece together what happened; it seems Raymond Shaw was programmed by a shadowy cadre of Russian and Chinese agents into a killing machine who will assassinate anyone, even a close friend, when given the proper commands. On the other side of the coin, Shaw is also used for political gain by his harridan mother (Angela Lansbury), who guides the career of her second husband, John Iselin (James Gregory), a bone-headed congressman hoping to win the vice-presidential nomination through a campaign of anti-Communist hysteria. The Manchurian Candidate features a host of remarkable performances, several from actors cast cleverly against type. Frank Sinatra's edgy, aggressive turn as Marco may be the finest dramatic work of his career; Laurence Harvey's chilly onscreen demeanor was rarely used to s better advantage than as Raymond Shaw; James Gregory is great as the oft-befuddled Senator Iselin; and Angela Lansbury's ultimate bad mom will be a shock to those who know her as the lovable mystery writer from Murder, She Wrote. George Axelrod's screenplay (based on Richard Condon's novel) is by turns compelling, witty, and horrifying in its implications, and John Frankenheimer's direction milks it for all the tension it can muster. While Frankenheimer's career has had its ups and downs, The Manchurian Candidate and Seconds (1966) suggest that he deserves to be recognized as one of the most brilliantly paranoid American filmmakers of the '60s. Entertaining yet unsettling, both films indicate that things in the '60s were not what they seemed, with a resonance that still echoes uncomfortably in the present.

Product Details

Release Date: 03/15/2016
UPC: 0715515170215
Original Release: 1962
Rating: PG-13
Source: Criterion Collection
Region Code: A
Presentation: [B&W]
Language: English
Time: 2:06:00
Sales rank: 9,318

Special Features

New, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack; Audio Commentary from 1997 featuring Director John Frankenheimer; New Interview with Actor Angela Lansbury; New piece featuring filmmaker Errol Morris discussing his appreciation for The Manchurian Candidate; Conversation between Frankenheimer, Screenwriter George Axelrod, and Actor Frank Sinatra from 1987; New Interview with Historian Susan Carruthers about the Cold War brainwashing scare; Trailer; Plus: An essay by critic Howard Hampton

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Laurence Harvey Raymond Shaw
Frank Sinatra Bennett Marco
Angela Lansbury Raymond's Mother
James Gregory Sen. John Iselin
Janet Leigh Rosie
Henry Silva Chunjim
Leslie Parrish Jocie Jordon
John McGiver Sen. Thomas Jordon
Khigh Dhiegh Yen Lo
James Edwards Cpl. Melvin
Douglas Henderson Colonel,Chairlady
Albert Paulsen Zilkov
Barry Kelley Secretary of Defense
Lloyd Corrigan Holborn Gaines
Madame Spivy Berezovo's Lady Counterpart
Joe Adams Psychiatrist
Whit Bissell Medical Officer
Mimi Dillard Melvin's Wife
Anton von Stralen Officer
John Lawrence Gossfeld
Tom Lowell Lembeck
Richard La Pore Mavole
Nicky Blair Silvers
William Thourlby Little
Irving Steinberg Freeman
John Francis Haiken
Robert Riordan Nominee
Reggie Nalder Gomel
Harry Holcombe General
Miyoshi Jingu Miss Gertrude
Anna Shin Korean Girl
Bess Flowers Gomel's Lady Counterpart
Helen Kleeb Chairlady
Mickey Finn Reporter
Richard Norris Reporter,Secretary
John Indrisano Reporter
Lou Krugg Manager
Mike Masters FBI Man,Actor
Tom Harris FBI Man
Mariquita Moll Soprano
Robert Burton Convention Chairman
Jean Vaughn Nurse
Ray Spiker Policeman
Merritt Bohn Jilly
Frank Basso Photographer
Lana Crawford Guest at Party
Evelyn Byrd Guest at Party
Ray Dailey Page Boy
Estelle Etterre People in Hotel Lobby
Mary Benoit People in Hotel Lobby
Rita Kenaston People in Hotel Lobby
Maggie Hathaway People in Hotel Lobby
Joan Douglas People in Hotel Lobby
Frances Nealy People in Hotel Lobby,Woman in Lobby
Ralph Gambina People in Hotel Lobby
Sam 'Kid' Hogan People in Hotel Lobby
James Yagi Chinese Men in Hotel Lobby
Lee Tung Foo Chinese Men in Hotel Lobby
Raynum K. Tsukamoto Chinese Men in Hotel Lobby
Nick Bolin Berezovo
Richard LePore Mavole
Julie Payne Party Guest
Margaret Mason Actor
David Amram Composer

Technical Credits
John Frankenheimer Director,Producer
George Axelrod Producer,Screenwriter
Howard W. Koch Executive Producer
Paul Pollard Special Effects
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