Changes

Scholars have concluded there was no such brainwashing but it was a real fear at the time. The film picks up and elaborates on this fear.  The film was based on the 1959 novel by John Condon.  The 1954 film "Prisoner of War" also is based on brainwashing POW's in Korea.  

Scholars have concluded there was no such brainwashing but it was a real fear at the time. The film picks up and elaborates on this fear.  The film was based on the 1959 novel by John Condon.  The 1954 film "Prisoner of War" also is based on brainwashing POW's in Korea.  

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 dubious tales of Communist mind-control techniques. Some critics who analyzed the film in 1962-63, however, saw the film as a commentary on McCarthyism - the character of Senator Raymond Shaw bears striking resemblances to Joseph McCarthy. The film's real target was "Momism," since it was the invasive upbringing of the protagonist by his mother that made him a good candidate for brainwashing.<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 dubious tales of Communist mind-control techniques. Some critics who analyzed the film in 1962-63, however, saw the film as a commentary on McCarthyism - the character of Senator John Ickes Iselin, the stepfather of Staff Sergeant Raymond Shaw, bears striking resemblances to Joseph McCarthy. The film's real target was "Momism," since it was the invasive upbringing of the protagonist by his mother that made him a good candidate for brainwashing.<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]] an unsuspecting prisoner into committing [[murder]]: