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The Manchurian Candidate (1962): To Cloud Men's Minds
Review Copyright Roger Zotti, 2002
In The Manchurian Candidate, Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) has the last word about Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey). Marco delivers them flawlessly: "Made to commit acts too unspeakable to be cited here by an enemy who has captured his mind, his soul. He freed himself at last. In the end, heroically and unhesitatingly he gave his life to save his country. Raymond Shaw. Hell. Hell."
A fitting, chilling tribute for one of the screen's most doomed characters.
Upon his return from Korea, Shaw is awarded the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of all but two of his platoon. In truth, his platoon was brainwashed into believing he saved them.
And Shaw, too, has been brainwashed. The Red Chinese have programmed him to be an assassin. After he returns to the United States, he will kill the Republican party's presidential nominee.
Enter Major Marco. Plagued by recurring nightmares of his Korean imprisonment, Marco vaguely recalls the brainwashing. Soon, he realizes that something isn't right about the entire Shaw situation: Piece by piece he puts the puzzle together.
Soon after Richard Condon's paranoid novel was published in 1959, director John Frankenheimer and screenwriter George Axelrod bought its rights. Major studios, however, weren't interested. It was only after Frank Sinatra signed on as executive producer and star that United Artists agreed to finance the property.
A scathing indictment of American extremist politics, the film blends reality and satire. Film critic Pauline Kael hailed it "the most sophisticated political satire ever made in Hollywood."
The key to the film's emotional wallop is found in Shaw and his domineering, power-mad mother (Angela Lansbury). Married to right wing senator John Yerkes Iselin (James Gregory), Mrs. Shaw is the power behind her dim-witted, pompous husband's bid to become his party's presidential nominee.
Lansbury gives the performance of her career. Her voice is frightening, as she pronounces every word too perfectly. Her glares are just as scary. She's the monster mother. She's evil incarnate.
Watch for several scenes. One, early on, involves Shaw's reaction to his mother's vicious diatribe against liberal senator Thomas Jordan. To shut her out, he covers his ears, like a helpless child. The other scene occurs near the end of the film. After giving her son his final instructions, she incestuously kisses him. Then she sends him on his mission.
Both scenes demonstrate Mrs. Shaw's absolute control over Raymond, how diabolical she is, and how tragic Raymond's life has been.
The Manchurian Candidate is a terrific paranoid thriller that holds up after repeated viewings. It's as timely now as when it was first released.
Grade: A
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