This film stars Frank Sinatra as Major Bennett Marco, who was in command of a group of soldiers, in The Korean War, who were rescued by Sgt. Raymond Shaw, played by Laurence Harvey. Shaw because of his heroic actions, was awarded The Congressional Medal of Honor. The problem is that Major Marco, can’t recall the events surrounding Shaw’s heroism. Adding to that, Marco is having nightmares about what really happened. It turns out that the Major and the remaining soldiers, were taken by the Russians into Manchuria, and brainwashed by Dr. Yen Lo, played by Khigh Dhieh. Not only were the soldiers duped, but Sgt. Shaw has been turned into a killer, triggered by seeing the queen of diamonds, and a command. He murders two of the captured G. I.’s.in front of the others.
Raymond Shaw has come back to the U.S. in a comfortable civilian life; overseen by his evil domineering mother, Mrs. Eleanor Shaw Iselin, (Angela Lansbury), an agent for the Russians. She is married to Senator John Yerkes Iselin, played by James Gregory, an anti -communist, who wants to be on the presidential ticket as the Vice President. His mother has come up with a plan to use her son to kill the presidential candidate, so her husband can then get the nomination, allowing her and her communist friends control of the country. Meanwhile, Major Marco, has figured things out, and recognizes Shaw’s assistant, as one of the Korean military brass, who witnessed the brainwashing in Manchuria. He gets into a vicious fight with him. He is arrested, and his superiors place him on leave.
Marco’s superiors find out that another soldier who was under his command, is also having nightmares. The brass put things together, and order Marco to work with Shaw. He finds out that Shaw is a tortured soul, who hates his mother and his stepfather. As a way of rebelling, he has married his sweetheart, Jocelyn Jordan, played by Leslie Parrish, whose father is Senator Thomas Jordan. Senator Jordan is a fierce opponent of Senator Iselin, and has stated he would oppose his vice presidential nomination. Shaw’s happiness ends when his wife is dressed as the queen of diamonds, for a costume party. His programming takes over. He walks in and kills his father-in-law, as well as his wife, who is a witness. Major Marco, has figured out the queen of diamonds link, and gets hold of Shaw, and tries to break the link. He tells him that if anyone shows him the card, tell them the game is over.
Raymond Shaw’s mother gets hold of him, unaware that Major Marco, has spoken to him. She uses the card, and tells him to go to the nominating convention, and kill the presidential nominee. He goes, disguised as a priest. Sinatra sees him and runs through the crowd, pursuing him. Major Marco can’t catch him in time, and Shaw gets ready to pull the trigger. He fires on the target, but the target is his stepfather and his mother. They are killed and Sinatra arrives just to see Shaw turn the gun on himself.
Frank Sinatra does well in an understated role as Major Marco. He’s good in his scenes with Laurence Harvey. He’s especially good, when his character tells Shaw to tell people who show him the queen of diamonds, that the game is up. Another good scene is the fight with Shaw’s assistant, when the truth comes to Marco about what happened. Sinatra’s frantic chase after Laurence Harvey’s character is a thrilling scene, Sinatra proves in this movie, that he’s come a long way from his singing days.
Laurence Harvey does a great job, as the tortured Raymond Shaw. He goes about his civilian life, after becoming a national hero. He is unhappy even with the honor, because of his mother, who is always asserting control over him. His only true happiness is disrupted by his brutal murder of his wife, after he has killed her father. Harvey shows the grief and pain, over this brutal act, that he doesn’t remember. He shows this suffering even more, when he kills himself over the murders, he’s committed in his mental state.
The only thing that can be said about Angela Lansbury’s portrayal of Mrs. Eleanor Shaw Iselin, is that she has given one of the best portrayals of evil on the screen. She shows her horror, when Raymond announces that he is marrying Jocelyn Jordan, the daughter of her husband’s arch rival. Her final evil act defines her character, when she uses her son, to kill the presidential nominee. Angela Lansbury with her performance nearly steals this movie from Sinatra and Harvey.
The Manchurian Candidate is a disturbing film about control and power. It is also about the ability of strong minds to overcome mental control. The most unsettling aspect of this movie is a foreign power, gaining influence over weak minds. It is a film that should be seen for its political message and superb acting.