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[Pow]

Wikipedia: The Manchurian Candidate was based upon the novel by Richard Condon (1915-1996). The screenplay/producer of the film was George Axelrod (1922-2003).
The director was John Frankenheimer (1930-2002) who also directed such terrific movies as Seven Days in May (1964), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), The Train (1964), and the chilling SF film Seconds (1966).

TMC was released by United Artists on October 24, 1962, coproduced by Frank Sinatra and had a budget of $2.2 million dollars.

Bill Warren: This is without a doubt the best film John Frankenheimer directed; it contains a good performance by Frank Sinatra, one of the few good ones by Lawrence Harvey, and a superlative one by Angela Lansbury.

The movie is based upon the 1959 novel of the same name by Richard Condon, and is an accurate reproduction of the book.

The film was made relatively swiftly---39 shooting days---almost entirely in Hollywood, with a few days of shooting at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and at Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles.

The science fictional aspects of the film are subdued but not minor. The type of brainwashing depicted is still impossible.

Furthermore, the plot hinges on an attempt by the Communist world to take over the United States, pushing the film into the realm of political science fiction---a real subgenre, but one not often recognized as such.

Synopsis: In Korea, antagonistic, aristocratic Sgt. Raymond Shaw (Lawrence Harvey) and his platoon are captured by enemy soldiers.
Shaw & his platoon are subjected to powerful & sophisticated brainwashing techniques with the aim to utilize Shaw to ultimately conquer America.

[Pow]

Bill Warren:

The films incredible, even outrageous plot is developed through a visual scheme that emphasizes reality to the point that some rather stupefyingly called it semi-documentary.

In fact, it's anything but; reality is carefully controlled and shaped, and every tool of live-action filmmaking is employed, at times extravagantly. In some ways, the film had almost as much influence as Citizen Kane, but its great influence has rarely been noted.

There rarely has been a more sardonic view of American politics. In fact, The Manchurian Candidate caused great confusion among both American right-and left-wing groups. The former thought it was nothing less than Communist propaganda, while the latter thought it was a vicious attack on Communism.

The Los Angeles Herald-Examiner (November 23, 1962) remarked that the film featured a vicious and impossible portrayal of a U.S. senator.

Sidebar: Oh my, how times have changed. Media and much of the American citizenry once upon a time respected and believed in its politicians. They were viewed as honorable and decent. Incorruptible, working hard on the behalf of Americans everywhere.
This was a myth about American politics before, during, and after this movie. Sadly, some folks continue to buy into it. Just like Jesse & Frank James were the Robin Hoods of the 19th century. Bonnie & Clyde were simply a pair of good but crazy mixed up kids.
And America never enters into a war unless the cause is just and honorable.

The American Legion seems to have found a sinister motive in the film's gleeful satire, feeling that it depicted the conservative senator as it did in a successful attempt to create a hostile image of patriotism in the minds of the audience.

[Bud Brewster]

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Excellent comments from Bill Warren and you, Pow.

Yes, the sad fact of the matter is that the trust we used to put in our politicians, our policemen, and even our priest has been damaged beyond repair.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)