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At the time of its release in 1962, the film defied plot analysis or genre categorization, but the film's subject of US soldiers brainwashed by Chinese forces during the Korean War found particular resonance in US popular culture. Beginning in 1952, popular journalists frightened and titillated their readers with sometimes dubious tales of Communist mind-control techniques. Some critics who analyzed the film in 1962-63, however, saw the film as a [[leftist]] commentary on McCarthyism - the character of Senator John Ickes Iselin, the stepfather of Staff Sergeant Raymond Shaw, bears striking resemblances to Joseph McCarthy, if only as parody and burlesque. The film's real target was "Mom-ism," since it was the supposedly invasive upbringing of Raymond Shaw by his mother that made him a good candidate for brainwashing according to some, and viewed by others as a subtle attempt to help break down the nuclear family by [[liberals]]. <ref>Susan L. Carruthers, "The Manchurian Candidate (1962) And The Cold War Brainwashing Scare." ''Historical Journal of Film, Radio And Television'' 1998 18(1): 75-94. 0143-9685</ref>

At the time of its release in 1962, the film defied plot analysis or genre categorization, but the film's subject of US soldiers brainwashed by Chinese forces during the Korean War found particular resonance in US popular culture. Beginning in 1952, popular journalists frightened and titillated their readers with sometimes dubious tales of Communist mind-control techniques. Some critics who analyzed the film in 1962-63, however, saw the film as a [[leftist]] commentary on McCarthyism - the character of Senator John Ickes Iselin, the stepfather of Staff Sergeant Raymond Shaw, bears striking resemblances to Joseph McCarthy, if only as parody and burlesque. The film's real target was "Mom-ism," since it was the supposedly invasive upbringing of Raymond Shaw by his mother that made him a good candidate for brainwashing according to some, and viewed by others as a subtle attempt to help break down the nuclear family by [[liberals]]. <ref>Susan L. Carruthers, "The Manchurian Candidate (1962) And The Cold War Brainwashing Scare." ''Historical Journal of Film, Radio And Television'' 1998 18(1): 75-94. 0143-9685</ref>

A key premise of the movie was that it was possible to [[brainwash]] an unsuspecting prisoner into committing [[murder]]:

A key premise of the movie was that it was possible to [[brainwash]] or hypnotize an unsuspecting prisoner into committing murder. This was a widespread fear in the 1950s, and Ronald Reagan had starred in another film anbout brainwashing of American POWs in Korea.

:... a tall, bald [[Communist Chinese]]/Korean doctor-spylord Yen Lo ... introduces the captured, passive and impotent men, all drugged and hypnotized [for] a public demonstration of the powers of [[hypnotism]]. One reviewer called this premise "far-fetched".<ref name="filmsite"> "Although the film initially failed at the box-office and its plot was considered far-fetched, it anticipated the American obsession with conspiracy theories in the early to mid-60s." [http://www.filmsite.org/manc.html] </ref>

:... a tall, bald Communist Chinese/Korean doctor-spylord Yen Lo ... introduces the captured, passive and impotent men, all drugged and hypnotized for a public demonstration of the powers of hypnotism.  

(The notion that ''The Manchurian Candidate'' was a box-office failure is not completely accurate. However, one year after the assassination of President [[John F. Kennedy]], the creative rights to the film reverted to Frank Sinatra. He, after failing to come to terms with the production company ([[United Artists]]), shelved the film rather than allow UA to benefit materially from a work that he now owned and for which they were unwilling to compensate him fairly. At the time, many suspected that Frank Sinatra had the film pulled from circulation after the Kennedy assassination, in the fear that his film had provoked [[Lee Harvey Oswald]] to commit this act.<ref name=Osborne>Osborne, Robert. End-of-film commentary on ''The Manchurian Candidate''.</ref> However, Ben Mankiewicz now says that that was "a Hollywood version of an urban myth."<ref name=Mankiewicz>Mankiewicz, Ben. Introduction to ''The Manchurian Candidate''.</ref>)

Although the film was not a major hit, and its conspiracy plot was considered far-fetched, it anticipated the American obsession with conspiracy theories after Kennedy's assassination.  

 

One year after the assassination of President [[John F. Kennedy]], the creative rights to the film reverted to Frank Sinatra. He was unable to come to financial terms with the production company ([[United Artists]]), so Sinatra shelved the film. At the time, some suspected that Frank Sinatra had the film pulled from circulation after the Kennedy assassination, in the fear that his film had provoked [[Lee Harvey Oswald]] to commit this act.<ref name=Osborne>Osborne, Robert. End-of-film commentary on ''The Manchurian Candidate''.</ref> However, Ben Mankiewicz now says that that was "a Hollywood version of an urban myth."<ref name=Mankiewicz>Mankiewicz, Ben. Introduction to ''The Manchurian Candidate''.</ref>)

=== Manipulation of fact ===

=== Manipulation of fact ===