directed
by John Frankenheimer
USA 1962
A reluctant director, Frankenheimer has created some of the American cinemas true hidden gems, The Manchurian Candidate being his jewel in the crown. His ability to express his political and philosophic views throughout his films has become renowned. The Manchurian Candidate was hidden for over 20 years after its initial release at Frank Sinatra's enforcement following the assassination of president John F. Kennedy.
Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey ), returns home from the Korean War and as a hero is presented with the Medal of Valor in Washington. His domineering mother (Angela Lansbury) and Stepfather Senator Iselin (James Gregory) wrestle to grab as much positive political coverage out of his heroics and name as possible. Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) and others who served alongside him remember Shaw differently, however, in duplicated nightmares as a killer brainwashed by Dr Yen Lo, an evil hypnotist from Communist China (Khigh Dhiegh) with Russian top political brass looking on in an amphitheatre. Shaw's mother, Mrs. Iselin, playing a Joseph McCarthy representation, is revealed to be a calculating Communist Agent and her maneuvering is meant to position her husband to the presidency through assassination, with her son being the mentally manipulated hired gun.
NOTE:
Sinatra made two films with a plot revolving around a Presidential assassination (the other being Suddenly), but Suddenly became infamous when it was learned Lee Harvey Oswald had watched the film just a few days before he shot President Kennedy. After learning of this, Sinatra had the prints of Suddenly and The Manchurian Candidate removed from circulation.Gary Tooze's review found here
Posters
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Theatrical Release: Oct. 24, 1962
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
MGM (Old FF) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM (Old WS) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM (New WS) - Region 1 - NTSC
Big thanks to Enrique B Chamorro for all the Screen Caps!
(MGM (Old FF) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. MGM (Old WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. MGM (New WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)
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| Distribution |
MGM Region 1 - NTSC |
MGM Region 1 - NTSC |
MGM Region 1 - NTSC |
| Runtime | 2:06:20 | 2:06:20 | 2:06:16 |
| Video |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio |
1.75:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
1.75:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate:
MGM (Old FF)
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MGM (Old WS)
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Bitrate:
MGM (New WS)
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| Audio | English, French, Spanish DD 1.0 |
English, French, Spanish DD 1.0 |
English DD 5.1 & 1.0, Spanish DD 1.0 |
| Subtitles | English, French, Spanish, none | English, French, Spanish, none | English, French, Spanish, none |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 36 |
Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: 03/24/98 Chapters 36 |
Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: 07/13/04 Chapters 36 |
| Comments |
The new SE DV D is sharper,
brighter and has superior contrast. It's interesting to see what you were
missing from the 'Full-frame' side of the initial DVD (zoomed in). Where the old edition
showed some film grain (excessive), the new one SE can seem somewhat
flattened. Certainly there are better black and white transfers out there. I
suspect the old version as having some contrast boosting as the brightness
can appear quite uneven throughout a viewing. It is also very dull with a
brown/sepia sheen over the image. The new SE has both the original audio and
a boosted 5.1 track that can make the world of difference in certain scenes
(for non-purists), but mostly the film is dialogue driven. The director
commentary is the same as in the initial DVD offering, so is a 'reunion'
interview with screenwriter George Axelrod, director John Frankenheimer and
Frank Sinatra for the initial 1988 release (Sinatra purchased the rights and
kept the film theatrically buried for over 25 years). Two new featurettes include an
interview with Angela Lansbury and another with director William Friedkin
(director of 'The Exorcist'). There is also a trailer (same as old), a photo
gallery and a couple of 'easter eggs'. Not too hard a choice at all - new SE
for sure. - Gary Tooze |
Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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Film Noir: An Encyclopedia Reference to the American
Style by Alain Silver, Elizabeth Ward |
The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir by Foster Hirsch |
Somewhere in the Night: Film Noir and the American City by Nicholas Christopher |
Film Noir Reader 4 : The Crucial Films and Themes
(Film Noir Reader) by Alain Silver |
The Art of Noir: The Posters and Graphics from the
Classic Era of Film Noir by Eddie Muller |
The Little Black and White Book of Film Noir:
Quotations from Films of the 40's and 50's by Peg Thompson, Saeko Usukawa |
Film Noir by Alain Silver |
More Than Night: Film Noir in Its Contexts by James Naremore |
DVD Menus
(MGM (Old FF) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT
vs. MGM (Old WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. MGM (New WS) - Region 1 -
NTSC - RIGHT)
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Subtitle Samples
(MGM (Old FF) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (Old WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. MGM (New WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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Screen Captures
(MGM (Old FF) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (Old WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. MGM (New WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(MGM (Old FF) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (Old WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. MGM (New WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(MGM (Old FF) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (Old WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. MGM (New WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(MGM (Old FF) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (Old WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. MGM (New WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(MGM (Old FF) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (Old WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. MGM (New WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(MGM (Old FF) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (Old WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. MGM (New WS) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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Report Card:
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Image: |
New SE |
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Sound: |
New SE (thanks for keeping the original track!) |
| Extras: | New SE |
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Menu: |
New SE |
| DVD Box Covers |
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| Distribution |
MGM
(Widescreen + Full Screen) Region 1 - NTSC |
MGM Region 1 - NTSC |
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|
Gary Tooze 1775 Rowntree Court Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 4V3 CANADA |
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Many Thanks...
