Saw the original "Manchurian Candidate" on video first time this weekend.

[arbusto_baboso]

DAMN! I was floored, even after having heard people TALK about the plot before.

John Frankenheimer hit some real interesting points in that film, and it's surprising how prophetic he was in several senses. In the movie, the most strident anti-communist Republicans were actually tools or even agents of the international communist conspiracy (soviet flavor).

I was gobsmacked with how many parallels one could draw to today's "war on terror".

I've never been a LIHOPer before, much less a MIHOPer, but now I'm not so sure....

[Another Bill C.]

1. Read the book.

I read the book a week before JFK was shot. The book is much better than the movie. Scary.

[terrya]

2. Isn't it eerie how prescient it is?

I saw it...again, hell I've probably seen it about 10 times already...and it's amazing how timely it is.

What chilled me in the movie...when Angela Lansbury's character tells her son near the end of the film "And we'll be swept into the White House with powers that will make martial law seem like anarchy". Now, does that sound a bit familiar?

[arbusto_baboso]

3. Yes, that's EXACTLY the part I was thinking about!

I had chills, and not the good kind!:scared:

[poliguru]

4. It's a fantastic movie.

That's how I got my husband into black and white films. I haven't yet seen the remake that's out, and I'm curious to compare.

[asjr]

6. I have not seen the remake. But Angela Lansbury's role in the

original was tops. I can't remember if she was nominated for an award or not, but she nailed it.

[cmkramer]

10. She got an Oscar nomination

She lost to Patty Duke in "The Miracle Worker". Incidentally, Frankenheimer's original choice to play the mother was Lucille Ball.

I've got it on VHS and I just can't see how the remake could be any better. I'm sure it's good in it's own way though.

[candy]

5. I refuse to see the new one because the original----

was perfection.

Glad you saw it!

[Nlighten1]

7. The original movie is the best IMO

[slojim240]

9. I agree. The original is far superior to the recent release.

Thanks .

[Lisa]

8. I have to admit, I burst out laughing during the bit with the ketchup!

The filmmakers couldn't have forseen Theresa Heinz Kerry, but it was a nifty coincidence.

The original film was a lot funnier than the remake, I noticed. (The reverse of what happened with the Stepford Wives movie.)


p.s. I donated a copy of the DVD to the local library's collection -- will do the same with the new version, since I think they're both relevant to current conditions!