In the wake of September 11th, The Manchurian Candidate seems more relevant today than after it was released in 1962.  Although Frank Sinatra had doubts about starring in the political thriller, the legendary crooner-actor received endorsement from his close friend John F. Kennedy.  Ironically, the film was pulled from circulation after the President’s assassination the next year.  The parallels between the movie’s focal character and Lee Harvey Oswald were just too disturbing.

Raymond Shaw (Lawrence Harvey) is a Korean War veteran, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for extreme valor during a mission in which his unit was captured.  His comrades remember him as the “kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being who ever lived.”  But they are haunted by nightmares in which Raymond is not an all-around great guy but a brainwashed, killing machine.  When Major Bennett Marco (Sinatra) finds out Raymond is an unwitting sleeper agent for a diabolical conspiracy, he takes steps to reclaim his friend’s soul.  But salvation comes at a heavy price.

There are several layers of evil in The Manchurian Candidate.  Senator Johnny Iselin (James Gregory) is evil because he is willing to destroy his political enemies’ careers to advance his own.  Raymond’s mother, Mrs. Iselin (Angela Lansbury), is evil because she schemes to control her son rather than ensure his happiness and well-being.  But most evil are the conspirators who have forced Raymond to commit atrocities.  In so doing, they have stripped him of his most human, God-given trait—free will.

Film essay by Thom Parham, PhD
Discussion follows screening featuring panelists Peter Malone, Temma Kramer and John Goldingay.