In the midst of the Gulf War, soldiers are kidnapped and brainwashed for sinister purposes.In the midst of the Gulf War, soldiers are kidnapped and brainwashed for sinister purposes.In the midst of the Gulf War, soldiers are kidnapped and brainwashed for sinister purposes.
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 1 win & 12 nominations total
Joe Alessi
- Boy Scout #2
- (as Joseph Alessi)
Raymond Anthony Thomas
- Scout Dad
- (as Ray Anthony Thomas)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaTina Sinatra, who was instrumental in deciding to remake the film, inherited the production rights from her father, Frank Sinatra, who played Bennett Marco in the 1962 version.
- GoofsMen and women in military uniforms are shown on stage at the convention. It is against the law for military personnel in uniform to participate in partisan political activity.
- Quotes
Eleanor Shaw: The assassin always dies, baby. It's necessary for the national healing.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Jonathan Demme and the Making of 'the Manchurian Candidate' (2004)
- SoundtracksFortunate Son
Written by John Fogerty (as John C. Fogerty)
Performed & Produced by Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean performs courtesy of J Records
Featured review
Limp and lackluster
The 1962 version of "The Manchurian Candidate" - starring Frank Sinatra and Lawrence Harvey - caught the conspiratorial mood of the time when so many Americans saw a commie round every corner. The current 'war of terror' might have seemed like an apposite time to attempt a remake. I've been a fan of Denzel Washington since he played Steve Biko in "Cry, Freedom" and I regard Meryl Street as the finest actress of her generation, so the chance to see the two starring together for the first time was an attractive one. Since I'm a political animal, the vehicle of a political thriller appeared to add to the attraction. But Jonathan Demme's remake of John Frankenheimer's classic, although it has a certain style, is overall a real disappointment. Frankly it is lackluster when it is not simply silly.
Streep gives a bravado performance as the manipulative mother of the Vice-Presidential candidate who is under external control and Washington is always watchable, but Liev Schreiber as the brain-drilled war hero and politician is robotic even when he is not 'activated'. The 'up-dating' of the story to make corporations rather than Communists the enemy is a well-worn theme, ranging from the Peter Sellers' movie "Being There" to the more recent television series "24". What this new version of Richard Condon's 1959 novel tells us is that Americans are no less fearful and paranoid than they were in the Cold War and Hollywood is no better at remakes than it ever was.
Streep gives a bravado performance as the manipulative mother of the Vice-Presidential candidate who is under external control and Washington is always watchable, but Liev Schreiber as the brain-drilled war hero and politician is robotic even when he is not 'activated'. The 'up-dating' of the story to make corporations rather than Communists the enemy is a well-worn theme, ranging from the Peter Sellers' movie "Being There" to the more recent television series "24". What this new version of Richard Condon's 1959 novel tells us is that Americans are no less fearful and paranoid than they were in the Cold War and Hollywood is no better at remakes than it ever was.
helpful•4437
- rogerdarlington
- Nov 21, 2004
- How long is The Manchurian Candidate?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Ứng Cử Viên Bị Giật Dây
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $80,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $65,955,630
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $20,018,620
- Aug 1, 2004
- Gross worldwide
- $96,105,910
- Runtime2 hours 9 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
![Denzel Washington in The Manchurian Candidate (2004)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZDU2YjA4MmItODk0OS00OTllLWFmNzUtMTg2ZmM3YWYzOGFmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjU0OTQ0OTY@._V1_QL75_UY133_CR2,0,90,133_.jpg)