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The Manchurian Candidate (1962), a review by Antares

The Manchurian Candidate





Year: 1962
Film Studio: United Artists, M.C. Productions
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Length: 126 Min.

Director
John Frankenheimer (1930)

Writing
Richard Condon (1915)...Novel
George Axelrod (1922)...Screenplay

Producer
George Axelrod (1922)
John Frankenheimer (1930)
Howard W. Koch (1916)

Cinematographer
Lionel Lindon (1905)

Music
David Amram (1930)...Composer

Stars
Frank Sinatra (1915) as Maj. Bennett Marco
Laurence Harvey (1928) as Raymond Shaw
Janet Leigh (1927) as Eugenie Rose Chaney
Angela Lansbury (1925) as Mrs. Iselin
Henry Silva (1928) as Chunjin
James Gregory (1911) as Sen. John Yerkes Iselin
Leslie Parrish (1935) as Jocelyn Jordan
John McGiver (1913) as Sen. Thomas Jordan

Review
       John Frankenheimer had spent his first decade as a director doing live dramas on television, most notably on Playhouse 90. His transition to mainstream film brought him quick acclaim following his success with The Birdman of Alcatraz. The Manchurian Candidate would prove that Frankenheimer would be a force to be reckoned with as a filmmaker and innovator over the next decade of his career. Based on the novel by Richard Condon, the plot revolves around a platoon of G.I.'s captured by the Communists during the Korean War. In a span of just one week they are brainwashed by a Chinese doctor, menacingly portrayed by Khigh Dhiegh, who is best remembered as the sinister Wo Fat from Hawaii 5-O. One of the soldiers (Laurence Harvey) has been programmed to kill on command and the platoon is returned to the front lines, with a pre-planted story to explain their disappearance for the previous week.

       After the war, Major Marco (Frank Sinatra) is having nightmares about the week in captivity, although he has no true memory of the brainwashing. He contacts Sergeant Shaw (Harvey) and learns that another soldier in the platoon has contacted Shaw about similar nightmares. Will Marco unravel the mystery before Shaw is triggered by his Communist handlers to perform the assassination that he has been programmed to complete? You'll have to watch the movie to find the answer.

       One interesting side note; this movie was released just one year before the assassination of President Kennedy, the one time Senator from Massachusetts. In one scene in the film, Shaw (Harvey) as the assassin is in Madison Square Garden prior to a political party convention. As he is walking across the convention floor with his hidden rifle, we can see the placards of the State delegations. It's a tracking shot of Shaw as he makes his way to complete his mission. Just as he passes below the Massachusetts placard and as the other state placards disappear from the shot, the scene changes. Was it prophetic or just coincidence?


Review Criterion4 Stars - Historically important film, considered a classic.

(From The Manchurian Candidate (1962) on July 1st, 2010)

Heartless, a review by dfmorgan

Title: Heartless
Year: 2009
Director: Philip Ridley
Rating: 18
Length: 109 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, Commentary: PCM: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English

Stars:Plot:
This gritty faustian tale set in the East End of London follows Jamie, a troubled young man with a birthmark on his face, which has left him feeling isolated and fearful, hiding from the world outside. He lives in the East End of London, an area notorious for its violent hooded gangs. According to news reports, the gangs are now wearing demon masks. But, one night, Jamie discovers the terrifying truth: the gangs are not wearing masks. They are real demons. And when Jamie's mother is killed by them in a brutal attack, he realises he can no longer hide away. Jamie vows vengeance and turns vigilante. But the world outside is more of a nightmare than he ever imagined. From acclaimed director Philip Ridley and starring an impressive British cast including Eddie Marsan, Timothy Spall, Noel Clarke and Jim Sturgess.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Gallery
Music Videos



Watched on 29th May 2010

First of this is presented in 1080i, BDInfo shows 1080i/25fps, not that it says anywhere on the cover that it's 1080p but somehow I had got used to films being presented in 1080p. Apart from music BD's I think I have one other film that is 1080i.

As to my thoughts on the film. OK I was confused, I have had another look this morning and I am still confused. This is my first Philip Ridley film and I bought this because the premise looked interesting in the e-tailer reviews and overviews. It does appear, at the beginning, to be a fairly general horror film with the lead character selling his soul to the devil following a major upheaval in his life. But later on it seems to turn into an allegory where the lead is fighting his own demons to find his way forward and eventually accepting his fate.

I may have to watch this again but listening to the director's commentary, I think in all my discs I have only listened to maybe 4 or 5 commentary tracks, to see what he was hoping to show and to see if my view was anywhere near.

At the moment, on the 30th May 2010, I will give this a 2

Dave

edited to correct a typo

(From Heartless (2009) UK Blu-ray on May 30th, 2010)

Babylon 5: Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: The attacks on alliance ships have been increased and the alliance races point fingers at each other of who is being repsonsible for the attackes. And the blips have made things worse because they spied on the ambassadors and have stolen their secrets to ransom a homeworld of their own. Meanwhile Londo and his bodyguard G'Kar have arrived on Centauri Prime where the regent seems to be under the influence of a foraign power.

My opinion: Now we know that the Centauri or at least a part of them is behind the attacks and that the regent is influenced and so will his successor as seen in "War Without End". But this episode also marks the beginning of the end. From now on more and more main characters will leave Babylon 5.


Synopsis: The teeps are becoming a real problem to Captain Lochley, especially since they've threatened to reveal the secrets of the ambassadors. Lochley asks Bester for help and he comes again to the station. Meanhwile Londo and G'Kar discover a forgotten prisoner in one of the palace's prison cells.

My opinion: Teeps again, but at least the Londo/G'Kar story was worth watching and funny to see how Londo got the prisoner out of the palace.


Synopsis: Bester and his Bloodhound units hunt one part of the teeps down, while the other has sealed themselves off and has gone to a hunger strike. But the first group takes hostages, Michael and Stephen among them and Byron (who is with the second group) has to act.

My opinion: Byron and his storyarc is gone! Good riddance! Now the season can really begin and it sadly does this with Michael starting to drink again.


Synopsis: While G'Kar was on Centauri Prime, his book, the "Book of G'Kar" has been gotten in the hands of other Narns and they copied it - about 500 to 600,000 times. G'Kar is treated like a religious icon although he does not want to be. Meanwhile another attack on a ship has taken place and this time there was a survivor. Garibaldi gets the job of getting him out of the Drazi homeworld.

My opninion: Now Sheridan knows that a fraction of the Centauri is involved but I worry for Michael who's drinking more and more. It was a good episode, better than the last ones.

(From Babylon 5: Marathon on February 2nd, 2008)