Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		0.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Manchurian Candidate 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 9, 2023

John Frankenheimer's "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features the release include archival audio commentary with John Frankenheimer; archival video interview with John Frankenheimer, Frank Sinatra and George Axelrod, archival program with William Friedkin; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles are for the main feature. Region-Free.

John Frankenheimer’s The Manchurian Candidate is a prime example of a film that is every bit as brilliant as the novel that inspired it. It is most unfortunate that the Academy members never saw it as such.

The film opens up during the Korean War and follows closely Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey, Darling, The Alamo) after he returns home as a hero. Shaw is enthusiastically greeted by his influential mother, Eleanor Shaw Iselin (Angela Lansbury, Please Murder Me!, Death on the Nile), and his stepfather, Senator John Yerkes Iselin (James Gregory, A Distant Trumpet), but before they can fly him back home he announces that he has accepted a job with one of their political opponents. Then, while trying to reacclimatize to civilian life, Shaw begins to experience intense flashbacks that quickly evolve into horrific nightmares.

Around the same time, Shaw’s former captain, Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra, Ocean's 11), who has also struggled with nightmares after returning home from Korea, is ordered to begin a complex investigation. While gathering information, Marco meets Shaw and discovers that their nightmares are oddly similar.

Like Richard Condon’s terrific novel, the film oozes paranoia and moral ambiguity. Indeed, numerous events are seen from different angles and for a long period of time one remains uncertain how to deconstruct them. There are unusually quick character transformations that also seem completely out of sync.

Then everything begins to make sense -- slowly, yes, but the scattered pieces of the puzzle gradually become bigger and easier to arrange. One begins to understand how Shaw’s brain functions, who the people in his nightmares are, what the purpose of the solitaire game is, and where America is headed. The finale is stunning but, sadly, proved prophetic.

The brilliance of this film comes from the incredible vision of its creator. It is carefully structured as a pseudo-documentary -- the unusual camerawork and sharp editing routinely give it an edge and pace that feel strikingly contemporary -- but it has the visual elegance of a classic noir picture as well. More importantly, the dissection of America’s socio-political reality of the late ‘50s is so precise that it seems odd that at the time the powers that be were not alarmed by its message. (Or maybe not so much, because the exact same political hysteria that makes the film so fascinating to behold is now again part of our reality and yet very few appear to be alarmed by its presence).

There are brilliant performances as well. Harvey is tremendous as the emotionally unstable hero. Sinatra is equally convincing as the former captain looking for logical answers. Gregory also leaves a lasting impression as the overly ambitious senator. The true star of the film, however, is Lansbury, whose astonishing performance should have earned her an Oscar award.

Frankenheimer shot the film with acclaimed cinematographer Lionel Lindon. The atmospheric soundtrack was created by David Amram (Elia Kazan’s Splendor in the Grass, The Arrangement).

In 1994, The Manchurian Candidate was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

The Manchurian Candidate 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kino Lorber's release of The Manchurian Candidate is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. However, The Manchurian Candidate is available only on 4K Blu-ray. The Blu-ray has only bonus features.

In 2016, Criterion introduced a brand new 4K restoration of The Manchurian Candidate with this release, which was outstanding. The film was framed in the 1.75:1 aspect ratio. Kino Lorber's release presents the film in the 1.85:1 ratio. I do not find the discrepancy to be significant. The film looks as convincing in 1.75:1 as it does in 1.85:1.

The native 4K presentation is outstanding. I used Dolby Vision to view it in its entirety and then performed numerous comparisons with the 1080p presentation. I think that vast portions of the presentation can easily be used to demonstrate 4K black-and-white 'reference material'. Also, I think that the larger the screen is, the easier it becomes to appreciate its strengths because there are many. For example, in native 4K The Manchurian Candidate reveals some of the very best clarity I have seen from a black-and-white film. (Touch of Evil looks outstanding in native 4K too, but its cinematography emphasizes a wide range of unique shadows that produce striking contrasts). Depth is always impressive as well. The grayscale is excellent as well. However, I must mention that even with Dolby Vision the difference between the native 4K presentation and the previous 1080p presentation is quite small. Why? Because the dynamic range of the 1080p visuals was already outstanding. Fluidity is great. However, I was unable to detect any improvements. There are some minor grain fluctuations but they are part of the original cinematography. I did not see any age-related imperfections to report in our review.

The Manchurian Candidate 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the film with the 2.0 track (Stereo). It is serviceable and free of problematic age-related anomalies, but it is not the same restored track that is present on the Criterion release, which is LPCM 1.0 (Mono). So, some viewers will undoubtedly be presented with a very difficult dilemma. I usually choose the original audio track, but on this release there isn't one. I did not encounter any audio dropouts or distortions to report in our review.

The Manchurian Candidate 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - in this audio commentary, director John Frankenheimer explains how the rights to Richard Condon's novel were secured, how specific sequences were shot (with some excellent comments about a very difficult segment with Frank Sinatra that was left in the film "as is" despite the fact that it appears slightly out of focus), how large portions of the film were edited, etc. Indeed, this is a very technical commentary that reveals what an enormously challenging project The Manchurian Candidate was. The commentary also appears on the first U.S. release of the film as well as on the Criterion release.

BLU-RAY DISC

• The Manchurian Candidate Interviews - in this archival interview, John Frankenheimer, Frank Sinatra and George Axelrod discuss the production history of The Manchurian Candidate, the shooting of key scenes from the film (including the notorious karate fight during which Frank Sinatra broke his finger), some of the political overtones in the film, etc. The interview also appears on the MGM and Criterion releases. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• Queen of Diamonds - in this archival interview, Angela Lansbury explains how she was offered her part in The Manchurian Candidate and recalls what it was like to work with John Frankenheimer and some of the other great actors that contributed to the film. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• How to Get Shot - in this archival piece, Angela Lansbury discusses a difficult scene. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• A Little Solitaire - in this archival program, William Friedkin explains why John Frankenheimer was his idol and discusses some of the unique strengths of The Manchurian Candidate. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Phone Call - a hillarious archival piece with William Friedkin. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage U.S. trailer for The Manchurian Candidate. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

The Manchurian Candidate 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo release of The Manchurian Candidate is not as easy to recommend as it should be. I am perfectly fine viewing the film in 1.85:1 and 1.75:1 ratios but understand why some viewers may not be as flexible. However, not having the restored Mono track from the Criterion release, or at least another solid Mono track, is a much bigger deal. So, should you consider an upgrade? If you wish you spoil yourself, yes, because the 4K restoration looks outstanding in native 4K. However, it will be just as easy to stay with the excellent Criterion release and spend your cash on another 4K Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber's catalog.