The Manchurian Candidate

Year: 1962
Rating: (out of )
Rating: 9.7 (out of 10)
Director: John Frankenheimer
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva
Novel by: Richard Condon
Screenplay by: George Axelrod
Duration: 126 minutes

Directing: Astonishing. Some scenes reminded me of Citizen Kane. Several scenes were so powerful and shocking that, if it wasn't for the black and white medium (which was totally appropriate), I would have thought it was made in '92, not '62.

Acting: Sinatra, Harvey, and Lansbury are simply brilliant.

Writing: An incredible story thanks to novelist Condon. The biggest problem (just about the only one) also lies in the script. However, the problem is the screen writer, not the novelist. Janet Leigh's character was introduced with fascinating complexity, yet questions about her identity were never solved in the film. Those who have read the book will know.

: Classic
: Highly recommended; Excellent
: Recommended
: Okay; Passable
: Time-Killer
: Ill-advised cure for boredom
: Keep an alarm clock beside you, also usually suitable to end a relationship
: Try to restrain yourself from inflicting pain to anything nearby, including yourself and the screen, on realisation of how much time and money you have wasted
Zero: This is a film?

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� 1999 Michael Chen