Manchurian Candidate Narrative
1. Techniques.
- live TV directness (like Playhouse 90) - long takes, stationary camera, static image.
- deep focus, German expressionism, very strong visual images, static, bizarre
- brainwashing sequence filmed 3 times (viewpoint of Garden Club ladies, Russians, the black soldier) with 3 different sets and intercut during the sequence
- realistic details in sets of Richard Sylbert, such as Miss Gertrude's bar
- Defense Secretary press conference - 1st film use of live TV screens, conflict within frame
- Sen. Iselin dressed as Lincoln cuts American flag cake (as Michael Corleone would cut a cake of Cuba in the Puzo/Coppola 1974 film Godfather II)
- central character of war veteran Marco is one of Sinatra's best performances
2. Structure.
- cold war spy thriller black comedy
- "the most sophisticated political satire ever made in Hollywood" (Pauline Kael)
- "cartoon strip plot" with flashback sequences
3. Themes.
- anti-extremism (satire of both Left and Right), paranoia, brainwashing, momism, incest
- historical context of 1950s: rise of McCarthyism and Far Right, growing liberalism of Civil Rights and Big Government, the Affluent Society of commercials and corporatism, Cold War mind control and paranoia, political corruption
- "With the air full of international tension, the film pops up with a rash supposition that could serve to scare some viewers to death - that is, if they should be dupes enough to believe it, which we solemnly trust they won't." (Bosley Crowther)
- "Few films attempt to anatomize a whole sick society, to dissect the mortal betrayals of country, friend, lover and family. This Candidate delivers." (Richard Corliss)
- "The Manchurian Candidate is a rather risky film, one that gives an even more sleazy picture of American mores and politics than Advise and Consent, ... some good movie-making and an outstanding cast succeed in giving the fantastic events a realistic tone." (Philip Hartung in Commonweal 1962)
REFERENCES:
- Condon, Richard. The Manchurian Candidate. New York: New American Library, 1960, 1959. NOTES: 351 p.; 18 cm. A Signet book novel. CALL #: PS3553.O487 M4 XX DESCRIPTION: is also the author of the novels The Oldest Profession (1958) and Prizzi's Honor (1982) and Prizzi's Family (1986).
- Drury, Allen. Advise and Consent. Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday 1959. NOTES: 616 p. illus. 24 cm DESCRIPTION: This novel was the basis of the Otto Preminger film released June 6, 1962, about Robert Leffingwell (Henry Fonda), the candidate for Secretary of State with past communist affiliations.
- Pratley, Gerald. The Cinema of John Frankenheimer. New York, A. S. Barnes, 1969. NOTES: 240 p. illus., ports. 16 cm. Series: The International film guide series. SUBJECTS: Frankenheimer, John, 1930- CALL #: PN1998.A3 F786
- Champlin, Charles. John Frankenheimer: a Conversation. Burbank, Calif.: Riverwood Press, 1995. NOTES: 241 p. : ill. ; 28 cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. 230-232) and index. Videography: p.213-226; additional research and text by Lisa Mitchell ; filmography by Karl Thiede. Notes: "This volume of interviews...was commissioned in 1993 by Director's Guild of America Special Projects..."--P. vii SUBJECTS: Frankenheimer, John, 1930- Motion picture producers and directors -- Interviews. CALL #: PN1998.3.F7 C43 1995
- Bonanno, Margaret Wander. Angela Lansbury a Biography. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1987. NOTES: 225 p., [8] p. of plates : ill. ; 22 cm. SUBJECTS: Lansbury, Angela, 1925- Actors -- United States -- Biography. CALL #: 792.028 DESCRIPTION: was born Oct. 16, 1925 in London; mother Mayna MacGill was stage actress from several generations of stage performers; father George.
- Jewell, Derek. Frank Sinatra: a Celebration. London : Pavilion in association with Michael Joseph, 1985. NOTES: 192 p.: ill., ports.; 29 cm., with a film commentary by George Perry. Notes: Filmography: p. 181-192. Discography: p. 144-148. SUBJECTS: Sinatra, Frank, 1915- Singers -- United States -- Biography. CALL #: ML420.S565 J48 1985b
- Ringgold, Gene and Clifford McCarty. The Films of Frank Sinatra. New York, Citadel Press, 1971. NOTES: 249 p. illus. 29 cm. SUBJECTS: Sinatra, Frank, 1915- CALL #: ML420.S565 R5 Stacks DESCRIPTION: Sinatra had made Suddenly in 1954 directed by Lewis Allen about attempt to assassinate a President in which he played the hired killer John Baron who used the small town house of pacifist widow Ellen Benson.
- Marks, John D. The Search for the "Manchurian Candidate": the CIA and Mind Control. New York: Times Books, 1979. NOTES: 242 p. ; 24 cm. Includes index. SUBJECTS: United States. Central Intelligence Agency. Behavior modification. CALL #: JK468.I6 M4 1979
revised 4/8/03 by Schoenherr | Manchurian Candidate | Filmnotes