Today’s IMDB Top 250 Guest Review comes from Rob of MovieRob. He also reviewed Saving Private Ryan HERE. Thanks for the reviews, Rob! 🙂 Now let’s see what he has to say about The Manchurian Candidate, IMDB rank 200 out of 250…
There are still some movies up for grabs if anyone wants to do a guest IMDB Top 250 review. You can find the list of remaining films HERE. See the full list & links to all the reviews that have already been done HERE.
Also, I’ve never thought to mention it but if you’d like to add a link to your IMDB Review(s) on your own blogs, feel free to use any of the logos I’ve used at the top of any of these guest reviews. I know I’ve made a few that are specific to the movie being reviewed. I’ll also do an IMDB update post soon & will post some more logos.
Raymond Shaw is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life. ” – Bennet Marco
Number of Times Seen – Between 5 – 10 times (cable in the 90’s, video, DVD, 28 Jan 2001 and 10 Aug 2014)
Brief Synopsis – An Army Captain has recurring nightmares of strange occurrences that possibly happened after his unit was ambushed while on patrol in Korea.
My Take on it – Frank Sinatra is mostly known for his singing career, but he also had an impressive run in the movies too.
Most people think that his best role was the one that earned him a best supporting actor Oscar in From Here to Eternity (1953), but I believe that this is his best performance.
This movie explores some amazing themes for a movie from the early 60’s.
Hypnotism and mind control wasn’t such a prevalent theme in mainstream thrillers at the time, but this film brought those ideas into the common lexicon of high standard movies.
To also add in a conspiracy theory theme at the peak of the Cold War was ingenious and the thrilling scenes just keep coming throughout the two hour plus running time.
The beginning of the movie is so important for understanding the rest of it, so make sure you pay close attention!
This is unfortunately no longer on the current IMDB top 250 list, but it deserves to be back there because it is so well constructed.
I loved how they left the possible incestuous relationship very ambiguous leaving the decision up to the viewer regarding character motivations because it works well both ways.
Besides Sinatra, the rest of the cast are each nearly perfect in their respective roles.
Laurence Harvey plays the hero of Sinatra’s patrol who may or may not be under a foreign influence.
Janet Leigh is a woman who Sinatra meets and enlists help from in order to prove his theory of mind control.
And Angela Lansbury is at her best as Harvey’s mother who is very involved in politics and in EVERY aspect of her son’s life.
Solitaire anyone?????
Bottom Line – One of Sinatra’s best roles. Great conspiracy movie that unfolds nearly perfectly before our eyes. Highly recommended!
Rating – Oscar Worthy
Cinema Parrot Disco 
Thanks Mutant. Sorry for the wordpress glitches, hope you weren’t too worried
Thanks Rob! Was a little worried. ; ) I saw this movie when I was quite young but remember thinking it was pretty great. Nice review : )
much better than the remake, that’s for sure (will be reviewing that early next week).
You should check this out if you haven’t seen it in that long.
Next month, I wont have my blogathon keeping me busy, so I’ll send the review as close to the 1st as possible, just had too many Hitchcock films to see.
sincerely apologize.
Any preference as to which to review for next month?
I also owe you a replacement for Mystic River, so let me know whats available to add to my list instead
Reblogged this on and commented:
Here is my review of The Manchurian Candidate for Cinema Parrot Disco’s IMDB Top 250
cannot believe this is not in the top 250.one of the best things made in Hollywood in the 1950s. I always liked the fact that it works both as a deadly serious conspiracy thriller and also as a hysterical political satire
It’s a shame the classics that have disappeared from the top 250 since I first posted the list (1/1/13). They’re being replaced by modern movies that loads of people rate way too highly. This was a great movie. : )
yea, I was quite disappointed too that it was dropped, this is such a great movie.
Thanks Niall
I’ve only seen the remake – which I actually liked – I’ve never been arsed to see the original 🙂
Lol. Arsed….
I’ve only seen the original. : )
so, considered yourself arsed 🙂
watch the original, it is sooo much better than the remake.
Fine work, great film.
Agreed. : )
Thanks 3RB! it really is!
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