Returning from the Korean War, the surviving members of Raymond Shaw's (Harvey) unit can't remember quite what their commanding officer did to receive his hero's welcome, they just know that he is the single greatest person any of them have ever met. However, postwar trauma appears to be effecting many of the men, manifested as troubled dreams of a nightmarish ladies circle presentation on gardening which seems to require murder. Major Marco (Sinatra) slowly comes to the realization that the unit were brainwashed and something implanted deep in their subconscious, but doesn't know who did it, why, or what the trigger is.
The Manchurian Candidate is a classic political thriller.
It is a surprisingly layered and aware movie, touching on political corruption and motivation, oedipal relations, brainwashing and patriotism. Also the dream flashbacks are trippy beyond their years, with the meeting of the communist mind-controllers truly weird. Although very dated in some points with acting and tone, a host of excellent performances mean it retains a deserved reputation. Angela Lansbury is fantastic as the controlling mother of Shaw's human timebomb (don't worry, she doesn't solve any of the murders or even write one word about them), while Sinatra is coolly panicked as the Major trying to unlock his officer's mind. The Manchurian Candidate is a mature, confident movie which provides a compelling watch. |
