◆ SpookStack

"The Hollywood Reporters i tp the story, ae in'the tradition:- a OCT 12 Be flagyl 3 col |+2 QO - Suspense Drama ustains Int@res THE MANCHURIAN PANDIDATE Executive producer....doward W.Koch Producers ..-..-...00--++ George Axelrod, John Frankenheimer Director .............. John Frankenheimer Screenplay ..0002..000.--- George Axelrod Based on the nove! by Richard Condon Photography .........---00.. Lionel Lindon Art direction .......... ....Richard Sylbert Set decoration George R. Netson Musie 00.0... eee David Amram Joe Edmondson Film editor Ferris Webster Assistant director .......... Joseph Behm Cast: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva, James Gregory, Leslie Parrish, John McGiver, Knigh Dhiegh, James Edwards, Douglas Henderson, Albert Paulsen, Madame Spivy, Barry Kelly, Joe Adams, Lloyd Corrigan, Whit Bis- sell, Mimi Dillard, Anton von Straten, John Laurence, Tom Lowell, Richard LaPore, Nick Bolin, Nicky Blair, Wil- liam Thourlby, Irving Steinberg, John Francis, Robert Riordan. (Running time-—126 minutes} A suspense melodrama with political background, exploring and exploiting some dramatic projections of commu- nist brain-washing, “The Manchurian Candidate” is tautly made, with strong boxoffice potential. The premise is somewhat far-fetched, and its devetop- ment strains belief in the final se- quences, but accepting it on its own terms it sustains interest. George Axel- rod and john Frankenheimer produced, with Frankenheimer directing Axel- rod’s screenplay. The M.C. production is being released by United Artists. \ Based on a book by Richard Condon, “The Manchurian Candidate’ is taken from reports of brain-washing by Chi- nese communists of U.S. troops cap- tured in the Korean war, Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey are two such servicemen, members of asquad forced to undergo the involuntary psychologi- cal indoctrination. When Harvey is re~- turned to the U.S. with other squad members, he has become, under cer- tain conditions, an automaton respond- ing slavishly to orders from Soviet agents, His final rebellion provides the climax to the story. So far, so good, The story gets into murky areas in its development. The Soviet spy apparatus, no doubt, as any espionage machinery, would be amaz- ing to most simple citizens, so a broad scope of speculation is legitimate. Axel- rods screenplay, however, uses more — ‘than is really necessary. [nthe final: ‘stretch, when Harvey's mother—wife* ‘of a US. Senator—s disclosed as a top , |Soviet agent; when killing Is piled on. ikitling-—four murders and one suicide * 1—it will be for many stretching credu-* ‘lity to the breeking point. It is too bad,” x because not all this detail ‘is .es- im anc pill ettes ; Bissell, Robert Riordan.in: 3% UL CEE ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED E ees: a: A oe wat LCZLEI ruption of the mind, is imaginativ film-making. In the more realistic po tions, there is terse character exposi tion and propulsion. Sinatra gives a reasoned and in man ways More mature performance tha he has ever done before. Harvey is competent but never seems completely convincing as an American Gl. Janet , Leigh gives evidence of considerable, 7 enlargement of her screen personality,’ ’: with more depth and fegitimate “sex”: than she has hitherto shown, Angela Lansbury gives another strong perform-" ance as Harvey's mother. Henry Silva, has a good character portrayal, James’, Gregory and John McGiver tre. con: sistently interesting, -both: playing | against their usual typing. Others of special interest include. Khigh ‘Dhaene James Edwards, Douglas” Hendergon:*! Albert. Paulsen, Madame me. Splyy, ~ Barrys : Kelly, Joe Adams, ' Lioyd Corrigan, ; whit vee Lionel” Lindon's Black-and=y Ree ~ #; in —_