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Manchurian Candidate | 
 enlarge | Director: John Frankenheimer
Actors: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: Video
List Price: $14.95
Buy Used: $1.40
You Save: $13.55 (91%)
New (8) Used (15) Collectible (7) from $1.40
Rating:  196 reviews
Sales Rank: 15090
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 129 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0792831101
UPC: 027616585035
EAN: 9780792831105
ASIN: B00000408I
Theatrical Release Date: October 24, 1962
Release Date: August 6, 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com essential video
You will never find a more chillingly suspenseful, perversely funny, or viciously satirical political thriller than The Manchurian Candidate, based on the novel by Richard Condon (author of Winter Kills). The film, withheld from distribution by star Frank Sinatra for almost a quarter century after President Kennedy's assassination, has lost none of its potency over time. Former infantryman Bennet Marco (Sinatra) is haunted by nightmares about his platoon having been captured and brainwashed in Korea. The indecipherable dreams seem to center on Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), a decorated war hero but a cold fish of a man whose own mother (Angela Lansbury, in one of the all-time great dragon-lady roles) describes him as looking like his head is "always about to come to a point." Mrs. Bates has nothing on Lansbury's character, the manipulative queen behind her second husband, Senator John Iselin (James Gregory), a notoriously McCarthyesque demagogue. --Jim Emerson
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| Customer Reviews: Read 191 more reviews...
 Original Manchurian Candidate July 1, 2008
Michael Canant (Albuquerque, NM, USA)
This is a very good quality DVD of the one of the classic cold war thrillers.
 Disturbing Thriller But Too Bad About the DVD! June 5, 2008
Frederick Baptist (Singapore)
This is one of my favourite films because of the performance of the cast and the uniqueness of the story. One of my favourite scenes of all-time has to be the garden party scene which for me deserves 5 stars already. I never thought I could hate Angela Lansbury that sweet little old lady from "Murder She Wrote" so much as I did here which to me is a sign of great acting on her part and I thought Lawrence Harvey was excellent here as well. Sinatra was okay but nothing close to his performance in "From Here To Eternity". Overall, the film for me was an exciting and chilling thriller although the ending bit with Sinatra's monologue was rather poor as I was hoping for a better way to end what otherwise was a good film.
The problem here lies with the DVD which hasn't been restored well leading to a poor overall picture quality although it was nice to have both the Standard and Widescreen versions on either side of the disc but it goes without saying that the best way to view this film is Widescreen. The sound quality is not that great and there are no special features worth mentioning as well. Let's hope they make a much better effort with the Blu-ray version with better sound quality options as well as much better picture quality improvements.
Entertaining drama although you may want to wait for a better restored version to surface and give this particular version a miss.
Sinatra and Frankenheimer's nightmare May 12, 2008
Dennis W. Wong
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Hard to believe that at the time of it's release that this film's premise was judged to be implausible. As time passes many of this film's ideas have proven to be true. I have seen the remake with Denzil Washington & Meryl Streep and despite their efforts and Jonathan Demme's skilled direction, they can't hold a candle to this paranoid classic!! Sinatra has never had a finer role than this and this cements his status as one of the best screen actors of all time!! Laurence Harvey may not have been a great actor since many critics have judged him to be very wooden yet this will probably remain the role he will best be remembered for. As for Angela Lansbury, her Oscar nominated performance as the wicked Mother of Harvey clearly outshines Streep's interpretation of the role. The only fly in the ointment I find with this film is Italian/Spanish Henry Silva as an evil Mongolian--Hollywood has done it again!! But this carp aside, this film along with "Seven Days in May" and "Black Sunday" will rank among John Frankenheimer's achievements as a great director.
Relevant Political Thriller March 6, 2008
tvtv3 (Sorento, IL United States)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
After returning home from the Korean War, Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) is decorated with the Congressional Medal of Honor. The other members of his unit claim that Shaw saved their lives and showed exemplary courage in the face of daunting danger. Yet, what each member says seems rote and no one can remember specific details. When Shaw's commanding officer, Ben Marco (Frank Sinatra) begins having "nightmares" about his Korean experience, he begins to suspect that Shaw isn't everything he seems to be and that there might be some powerful people with ulterior motives at work. His suspicions increase when Shaw's mother, Elanor Iselin (Angela Lansbury) begins using her son for her own political purposes.
THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE is one of the best political suspense films ever made. The film works on a number of different levels and the issues that it touches upon are still relevant today. Besides a great story that has been directed with great skill by John Frankenheimer, the film is also notable for its powerful acting performances. Frank Sinatra might best be known as a singer, but he was just as talented as an actor and stunt person (in the kung-fu fight scene he broke his hand, but for filming purposes it wasn't cast--it never healed properly and he had problems for it the rest of his life). Laurence Harvey isn't as well known as some other members of the cast, but he gives one of the best film performances of his career. Janet Leigh is as beautiful as ever as Shaw's love interest, Eugenie Rose Chaney, but is also allowed to show some range instead of just being a pretty face. Lastly, Angela Lansbury gives an amazing showing as one of the most evil and wicked woman ever seen on film, Mrs. Iselin.
A great drama that anyone interested in film or politics should see at least once.
The DVD includes some very good special features including an interview with Frank Sinatra, George Axelrod, and John Frankenheimer; audio commentary with director Frankenheimer; "Queen of Diamonds" featurette with Angela Lansbury; "A Little Solitaire" featurette with William Friedkin; the original theatrical trailer; and a photo gallery. I most enjoyed the director's audio commentary and the "Queen of Diamonds" featurette.
 a masterpiece of political and psychological horror December 10, 2007
Satchet Aryal (NY)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
"The Manchurian Candidate" a masterpiece of political and psychological horror, inspired by the ridiculous heights of the Cold War and the terror of McCarthyism. An extraordinary film about political agitations, assassinations, and Communist fiddling, probably one of the best politically based fiction movies ever made by Hollywood. It had been out of release immediately following President John F. Kennedy's death in 1963, but the film's producers and United Artists decided to call it back for its subject matter resonating with the tragedy and conspiracy surrounding the death of JFK. Fallowing its release in 24th October 1962, the film faced various acquisitions, some critics said the story line was somewhat un-AMERICAN, some thought of it being pro-communist, and in certain countries protesters stigmatized it as rightist propaganda. The film deals with a Communist plot to send a brainwashed American war hero to assassinate a presidential candidate. But the most shocking aspects of the story are who truly sponsored it and who Raymond (the protagonist) is ultimately destined to assassinate. The mind reeling aspect of the film is to watch how the protagonist is relentlessly manipulated by those who use him, while those who want to save him deal with insuperable obstacles. Raymond wouldn't allow himself to enjoy any pleasure in his life. He surely found himself guilty for the crimes he had committed. He was frequently spellbound by his mother and executed every transgression operation his mother wanted him to perpetrate.
What was really interesting watching was the character of Raymond's despicable and domineering mother Mrs. Iselin, whose evil amply propels the storyline, the difficulty to believe in her cobwebby evil brilliance. The acme of Momisms: What She Says and What She Really Means. Actress Angela Lansbury portrays a character of a mother who is both scathing and self-deprecating. One of the prime focuses of the story is the obsession with motherhood and the impossible standards which that obsession promotes.Watching Angela Lansbury play her character of a rugged and powerful mother will certainly make any viewer's blood run cold. Tone in the way she talks favors the sarcasm and black humor rather than her daunting attitude. Some scenes are too funny to be takes seriously and that is why her character is addictive.
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