SHOCKED at how EVIL she is! The Manchurian Candidate Movie Reaction!! 

What are your thoughts on The Manchurian Candidate?

After all the absolutely deserved accolades for Lansbury here, I have to drop in a word of appreciation for Laurence Harvey as Raymond: he had to carry the heaviest weight of the story on his shoulders, and pulled his character through many rich, dark colors, from his cold, unapproachable introduction to us to his breaking down, bit by bit till nothing but the pain is left. He was magnificent.

Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Iselin is basically an example of a hidden villain done right - as she's initially introduced as just an annoying smothering if opportunistic mother character not that different from her turn as Elvis' mother in Blue Hawaii the year earlier. The viewers' attention would have been much more focused on the more obvious espionage element than they would just her character and at some point it looks like she's just going to be framed as the typical parent antagonist trying to keep the hero away from the woman he loves for bigoted reasons (which would be bad enough). Its only then that you gradually start to see that she's the one pulling the strings of her husband's red baiting and by the time she pulls open the drawer with the cards and says "there's something you must do" you KNOW the depths of how dangerous she is. It brings far greater weight to her final speech that has almost an incestuous feel to it - and brings to light her sheer monstrousness in full.

Finally, somebody does the original. Great cast of characters. Angela Lansbury plays a totally despicable mother and yes, Frank Sinatra is a hell of an actor too! Von Ryan's Express and From Here to Eternity are two great movies of his to add to your list. On a separate note, would love you to do The French Connection if you haven't already.

"She's looking at this man like he's *psycho*." Ha! Excellent 👌

It's very meaningful that he put the Congressional Medal of Honor on at the end. Because he knows he didn't deserve getting it in the first place, but at that point, when he saved his country, he knew he'd finally earned it.

"The Manchurian Candidate" is said to be the first American film to ever feature martial arts in a fight scene.

I'm somewhat shocked that no one else has reacted to this on RU-vid before. It's a great movie.

In the scene where Sinatra smashed the table he actually broke his hand. In real life.

Great reaction! I always thought that the reason he aims at the “correct” target until the last second is because part of him IS still struggling against the programming, even if it’s not in full control anymore. That may also be partially why he kills himself right after: because he feels like he’ll never be able to fully trust his own mind and impulses again, and doesn’t want to live with that uncertainty.

Simply, one of the greatest films, ever. This era was AMAZING for cinema: FAIL SAFE, 7 DAYS IN MAY, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, INHERIT THE WIND, THE CRANES ARE FLYING….

Angela Lansbury is so amazing in this role, especially considering how counter it is to everything we know about her actual character. James Gregory, who plays Johnny, was a wonderful character actor, who made a name for himself as the eccentric, outspoken, dense Inspector Luger in the wonderful tv series "Barney Miller": ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tc2zBQMjD3U.html

One of the best films ever made. All of John Frankenheimer's early films are well worth a watch (7 Days in May is my favorite). Thank you and well done!

Great reaction to one of my favorites. Another good Sinatra movie and is a little similar but Sinatra plays the villain is "Suddenly".

The line "He couldn't be doing more damage to America right now if he was a Soviet agent" was a real thing said about Joseph McCarthy, which the writer of the original book heard and wondered, what if he actually was?

Henry Silva who played Chunjin was born this day in 1926. Unfortunately he passed away last year.

When Raymond initially asks to marry Josie it was intended as a joke. And when the bartender uses the phrase "go jump in the lake", Raymond, under the post-hypnotic suggestion, complies.

Great reaction! The same director's SECONDS is even darker and wilder, another amazing film nobody's reacted to. But have something cheerful to look at immediately afterwards, if you do it!

It was based on a 1959 novel (which I've read). The relationship between Janet Leigh and Frank Sinatra characters got truncated a bit in the movie, it made a bit more logical sense in the book.

God, Angela Lansbury is so good in this movie. She's mostly known as playing likeable, sweet matriarchs a la Mrs. Potts, but she was so good at playing a villain. I'd absolutely recommend checking out her film debut, Gaslight, which garnered her an Oscar nomination at the age of 18. And that movie is actually where the term "gaslighting" comes from. But it's a very intense thriller from 1944 that also stars Ingrid Bergman, who won her first Oscar for the movie. And Frank Sinatra had a great acting career! It surprised me too, the first time I learned that. But he won an Oscar for From Here to Eternity (another great recommendation) and was a part of the Rat Pack, which included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Shirley Maclaine and more...and they made a few movies together, like the original Oceans 11.

This film has more punches to the gut than a prize fight on pay per view, lol. So many thrilling or unexpected moments! Love it. TMC has such brilliant compositions, lighting, pacing, blocking, direction, acting, writing, and suspense. Lansbury gives a chilling turn; her scene where she instructs Raymond about his task is mesmerizing and so powerful the way she does it. I love that the movie isn't bogged down with a lot of background score the way some movies can be. It remains one of the most engrossing and taut thrillers I ever experienced. And the first time I saw this, on a VHS tape in the 1990s, I remember when Raymond's mother casually asks him "Why don't you pass the time by playing a little Solitaire?", well, I gasped from revulsion and surprise. That line brought Mrs. Iselin into the rogues gallery of Evil Mothers in Cinema. Yes, this is a strange movie, but such a good one. It's nice to see a young person reacting to classic films sometimes, instead of modern stuff, or instead of the remake of "The Manchurian Candidate" with Denzel and Meryl and Liev (which was mediocre at best for me). Thanks.

1950's Senator Joseph McCarthy had a supposed list of communists and spies (and often a prop piece of paper) which had a variable number ~100-200. In the end he used 57.

You make me so happy!!!!! I love this movie. My jaw was on the floor the first time when I found out.... well, you know.

Janet Leeee. Sinatra won an Oscar for From Here to Eternity. The character of Johnny Fontane in the Godfather is ostensibly based on Sinatra getting that role. Thanks for reacting to this awesome movie.

Loved your reaction. This movie was sort of gray listed for a number of years, in the wake of JFK’s assassination (probably because distributors thought it would be too traumatic). It did get TV airing (I think) in the 1960s, but it pretty much disappeared until it was screened again at the NY Film Festival in 1987, followed by a national re-release in 1988 (which is when I first saw it).

"The Man With the Golden Arm" Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak. I believe this would be right up your proverbial alley.

I saw this when I was a kid before Frank Sinatra pulled it from theatrical release. Sinatra was great and Angela Lansbury was a revelation.

NICE! One of the best political thrillers ever made!

Wow so surprised to see this movie reacted to. My great-grandfather is in il. He was the bald guy running the mind control program.😅 My mom will be so tickled to see this, she loves unexpected instances of seeing her grandfather on screen.😁

James Gregory as the dad is an important component here also. He was good at playing irritating characters. Check him out in "PT 109" where he's a bitter Navy man going toe-to-toe with young JFK played by Cliff Robertson.

Another Frank Sinatra movie with lots of other great actors would be from here to eternity

Angela Lansbury was quite criminally robbed of the Academy Award and it should have been for Best Actress, not Best Supporting Actress. With all due respect to the wonderful Janet Leigh who is technically the female lead her role is obviously supporting. Lansbury IS the female lead and should have been nominated as such. And won.

Angela Lansbury is beloved for all her Disney stuff and Murder She Wrote but in my opinion she played the most evil character in cinema and completely nailed it

"real snake or a love snake"? literally made me laugh out loud. your line reading was brilliant.

I watched this movie in college for a "Film as Lit" class themed around conspiracy theories. Brilliant movie, brilliant class. ETA: Sinatra doesn't get enough credit as an actor. He's been in some absolute classics. You need to watch From Here to Eternity, Guys & Dolls, and Ocean's 11 (the original).

Excellent movie choice Chris. Your patrons are spot on. This one really shook me to the core when I first saw it. The fight between Sinatra and the Korean guy is the first use of martial arts in American cinema. Also when Sinatra misses and breaks the table, he breaks two or three fingers, but ever the professional he doesn't even stop until the director yells "cut". I think Eleanor Iselin is the best villain in the history of cinema, and she is absolutely terrifying as well.

A classic film, well made with a brilliant cast. Fabulous reaction from yourself.

I first saw this film as a teenager, and it devastated me as much as it devastated you. The moment where Raymond kills Josie ripped me apart. This film also proved to me that Frank Sinatra could really act. I’ve also read the novel, but I think the film is actually more powerful. Of course, you have probably already been told that this movie is based on the premise that Joe McCarthy was a Soviet agent, since he did as much harm to the US as such an agent would want.

Nice reaction to one of my favourite films. I first saw this film years ago when I was about eight. At the time, the garden party scene completely flummoxed me. But from the get-go, I loved the film. Angela Lansbury is absolutely fantastic in it, an incredible performance. Another one of those great films the younger generation is completely ignorant about. That's their loss. For many years, you couldn't see this film because it was withheld from distribution. I don't know if the Kennedy assassination had something to do with that or not. I also like the political thrillers "Seven Days in May" and "Advise and Consent." Both also from the same era.

The positioning and movement of actors is called blocking.

This version by far is the supreme version. Yes, I know, Denzel Washington was in the remake but Denzel has been in and done better movies than the 2004 remake of this remarkable classic. This version has you on edge from beginning to end and with Angela Lansbury playing a villanous role is worth the price of owning the DVD. (The mother and son kiss towards the end was highly controversial for the time). As always, a great job Chris. I think we all saw how caught up in this film you were which made it much more exciting to watch. Frank Sinatra had done some other great films . I'm sure "Von Ryan's Express" and "From Here To Eternity" is high on the list, but there is "The Miracle of the Bells," "The Man with the Golden Arm," and "The List of Adrian Messenger" a mystery which has an all star guess who did it cast.

why aren't more reactors doing this film?? it has so much! the performances! the direction!! the script!! the ride it takes one on!!! PLUS--it's rather timely for right now in America. I mean come on-! all the reactors should be watching this film. I want to see different reactors watching that first scene with the ladies auxiliary/brainwashing. that sequence is so stunning. or the costume party--Raymond why don't pass the time--. Jocelyn and her father--the milk! the milk!! so many thrills in this film!! reactors!! this is a hidden treasure chest for you to find!! go for it! ps. casual nerd--i love your channel, you have such a kind soul, and such a generous and open take on life. it is refreshing. thank you. it gives one hope in these less than hopeful times. thanks for posting.

The private plane shown in the beginning was Frank Sinatra's personal plane and the bar where Marco and Raymond meet was a favorite New York hangout of Sinatra's.

The "I have a list of xxx known Communists" was a close parody of Joe McCarthy.

If you decide to, The Alamo (1960) with John Wayne as Davy Crockett, Richard Wydmark (Ratchett from Murder on Orient Express) as Jim Bowie of the Bowie Knife, Laurence Harvey as Colonel Travis, and a young Frankie Avalon as Crockett’s protege! It’s not the most accurate telling of the Battle of the Alamo, but is breathtaking in cinematography.

Wish that when I was depressed, trying to light a cigarette, questioning my reality...that Janet Leigh (Janet Lay, Chris?) would randomly show up, light me a smoke and tell me to come to her apartment. 🤗 This one of the 2 or 3 differences between Frank Sinatra's life and mine.

After JFK was assassinated Frank Sinatra Had this movie withdrawn and it remained unseen for 2 decades.

Fun fact: Laurence Harvey was the father of Domino Harvey who became a model and bounty hunter and subject of the amazing pretend biopic "Domino". That movie is so much more fun than a lot of the crap that people recommend to you.

Brilliantly made. My favorite move of all time.

Thank you for choosing to react to this film, in my opinion one of the greatest political thrillers ever made. Loved watching how much it affected you!

I have to admit I did chuckle at the psycho joke.

The guy talking about "Communists in the defense department" is a take on the real Joe McCarthy.

When Sinatra put his fist through the table in the fight with the houseboy it was real and Sinatra permanently damaged his pinky (evident when Sinatra salutes during the National Anthem).

Been waiting for one of the youtube movie reactors to play this one...thanks! Angela was pretty hot at age 37 here. My favorite Sinatra performance. 12:03 If you've seen any of The Pink Panther movies with Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau, his constant karate battles with his valet, Kato, are based on this scene. 30:15 Yes, a very brilliant script.

Yippee! You’re doing it, buddy! Can’t wait!

Sen. Iselin is obviously a buffoonish parody of Communist "witch-hunter" Joseph McCarthy, but there's some debate over whether the urban legend of that eggs-and-ketchup "57 Communists!" scene actually happened to McCarthy, or was just the cultural influence of this movie. Even I'm not sure, even though my history professor in college taught us it as true. 🤔

Frank Sinatra was not only an actor, but he earned more Oscar nominations than Harrison Ford. And won an Oscar for best supporting actor.

I believe it's pronounced Janet "Lee" (Leigh), as in her daughter is Jamie Lee Curtis.

Johnny was based on Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Although he played Asian characters throughout his career (most notably Wo Fat in the original HAWAII FIVE-O) The actor playing the Chinese agent was actually an American from New Jersey of French and Sudanese ancestry,

This is a great movie, and the remake is pretty good too. John Frankenheimer directed a lot of classic movies that you should check out.

15:31 Senator Jordan: "I really think that pale yellow Chrysler looks much prettier than the blue one." Mrs Iselin: "I HATE pale yellow, you COMMUNIST!"

The film was made in 1962 so none of the Koreans actually look Korean. The communist agent Chunjin was played by Sicilian/Spanish American actor Henry Silva who only passed away last year. In his fight scene with Sinatra where Frank takes out a chunk of table with a karate chop Frank actually broke a finger.

One of my favourites. Wonderful reaction. Thank you.

When I first saw this I thought "Cool Angela Lansbury as a villain." Then when she kissed her son implying incest I was shocked she would take a role like this. After I recovered I started to check out her pre-tv movies when she was younger. Great actress all around. Its almost a crime she's known for the tv show now.

11:35 - "How about a factual number?" 🤣 That caught me off guard for some reason and made me laugh out loud. Point taken! 17:26 - All these years I never noticed that he's coming out of Jilly's! That was famously a favorite haunt of Sinatra's, he was friends with the owner Jilly Rizzo, would drop Jilly's name in song lyrics, etc. I'll bet that was Frank's idea....perhaps even demand! 😄/ Fantastic reaction and spot-on relating it to today's politics. This is definitely one of those movies that definitely comes up. I can't remember it happening, I'd bet everything I have that The Simpsons referenced it at least once, if not building an entire episode around it. A few years ago in political punditry, "Is this guy a Manchurian Candidate?" was something you'd hear all the time. (two other movies come to mind that also come up in politics/conversational shorthand: a "Zelig" and a "Sophie's Choice". Oh, and of course "gaslighting"! If you say those, or say a "Manchurian Candidate", it means something so specific, people understand instantly, lol) (or some people, anyway!). PS: Angela Lansbury is in "Gaslight" by the way. Super young Angela Lansbury! I think she was 17! Great movie. Ingrid Bergman from Casablanca and young Angela. PSS: Hey, I have to re-do my Patreon subscription! I had done a year subscription last time and I must have gotten a new card in the interim so I'll be back come October 1! Just waiting out the month!

Wow. I thought this was a good movie. I had a strong feeling he was going to kill his mother at the end but didn't see it coming when he killed himself. I wish it had ended on a happier note but I still enjoyed it as a whole.

My one complaint about this movie is that Janet Leigh serves no purpose to the story except that apparently they thought the hero needed a warm body to be in bed with by the end, just like the lesser Bond girls. A lot of reviewers say that on their first viewing, they assumed she was going to be a secret agent on one side or the other keeping an eye on Marko after his allegations, which is helped by just how weird that first conversation between them is (even Frankenheimer didn't understand it, and only put it in because it's in the book), but nope, she's just some random woman on the train. This is the one place where the 2004 film is superior.

I remember first seeing this movie in the theater with my parents. It was the second feature playing with a film titled "The List of Adrian Messenger" (1963). Two of the most confusing films you could ever take a seven-year-old to see. In those days, kids were expected to adapt and handle such complicated mysteries. Must've worked because I didn't suffer any nightmares. I've since seen both movies many times and now realize I should've been severely traumatized. LOL. No, not recommending "Messenger" because I haven't seen it since the '70's. Just wanted to say thanks for another great reaction. 😃

Angela Landsbury was only 3 years older than her 'son' Lawrence Harvey.

Wow. I did not expect a reaction to this John Frankenheimer classic. Although I'm not sure why not. LOL Well, as far as movies nobody has reacted to...I'm pretty sure nobody has reacted to IN AMERICA, which is one of my top 5 favs all time. Anyway, thanks for reacting to all these interesting films!

The Korean houseboy was played by an Italian-American actor.

I haven't even started watching yet but have to say I am glad you watched the original and not the remake. I am not against remakes but this is a powerful film.

Thank you for reactions that are enjoyable and not filled with profanity.

After seeing this movie it took a while to see Angela Lansbury as a likable person. If you have ever seen The Godfather then you will remember the singer trying to get cast in a major movie leading to the horse head in the bed. The legend is that the singer is patterned after Frank Sinatra and the movie was From Here To Eternity. This is directed by the great John Frankenheimer who directed some other wonderful films.

The film is wonderfully directed and excellently acted by all but this belongs to Angela Lansbury and no one else! She was Oscar nominated but lost to Patty Duke in The Miracle Worker. It's impossible to fault Patty Duke's performance of Helen Keller but she didn't belong in the supporting category. Anne Bancroft and she were co-leads both offering superlative performances and while it's great both were acknowledged the category fraud cost Angela her richly deserved reward. She plays the role so perfectly it's now impossible to imagine anyone else in the part but the person originally considered by the producers and Sinatra was Lucille Ball. It's a fascinating possibility but John Frankenheimer had just directed Angela in the dark family drama "All Fall Down" and was determined for her to be cast. He persuaded Sinatra to watch that film before a final decision was made and once seen Sinatra was fully behind her casting.

I think Angela Lansbury is younger than Laurence Harvey. My other favorite Lansbury movies are National Velvet and Gaslight.

With the political turmoil we're experiencing since 2016, I've been suggesting this movie. If it was reality, it would be interesting to see the aftermath of this, why did he kill his parents and himself, how much would be revealed to the public (they got so close)?

If you love this film then you will also love "Seconds"

One of my Top 5 MOVIES. ❤

Wow after watching your free patreon post of titanic yesterday what a treat to find another reaction available today....and since it's raining cats and dogs....what a way to spend the day! Thanks for all the entertainment!

Frank Sinatra bought the movie rights to the book. His daughter Tina owns them now. The remake is good but i like this version best.

He asks if she is Arabic because he was reading a book about it earlier in the film

The girl on the train is an op.

9:35 No! *gets spray bottle* Bad! Bad!

I can't believe, in the entire history of RU-vid, nobody has reacted to this movie until You now. Is it that you have great courage, or everybody else has none?

I hope you'll be reacting to the 2004 remake as well. It's directed by Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs,Philadelphia) and stars Denzel Washington. A comparison would be most interesting for me.

Sinatra was a close friend of President John Kennedy, I understand that after the assassination Sinatra had this film pulled from distribution because of the depiction of a political assassination

Denzel did a remake but there's nothing like the original.

There is a theory that Janet Leigh's character was a secret agent.

You should watch SHE'S FUNNY THAT WAY

Frank Sinatra made a lot of movies; a lot of them weren't very good, but in the right role he could be very good as he is in this film - others include From Here to Eternity or The Detective.

Excellent choice and reaction… first time I watched this, the garden scenes blew me away! A very subversive film…

I can't watch a grown man weep over a movie

Hey, Chris. Love the channel, brother. This is one of those films where the remake is actually better than the original (IMO). Don't get me wrong, I love the original. But the remake is closer to the truth. The Empire is more under threat from within than from without. Regards to Florida (I once lived in Pompano Beach) from Illinois. ✌

The remake, in my opinion, is superior to the original. Directed by Jonathan Demme, the director of The Silence of the Lambs.

This is such a great film. The remake is not so good.

The remake is appallingly bad! This film, other than the original novel, is pure perfection from beginning to end.

The book is better.