themanchuraincandidate.docx

1、themanchuraincandidateThe Manchurian Candidate(Political drama) (1962) 2004 by Raymond WeschlerMajor CharactersRaymond.Laurence HarveyA solider in the US army who is captured during the Korean War (1950-1953), who is later celebrated as an American war hero for having helped himself and his fellow s

2、oldiers to escape from the enemy.Major Bennett Marco Frank SinatraRaymonds commanding officer who had recommended that he receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, but who slowly becomes convinced that Raymond was not the hero that he and others had thought he was.Mrs. Iselin.Angela LansburyRaymonds

3、 mom, who is a bossy, mean-spirited rich Republicanwho spends much of her time complaining about communists. Senator John Iselin.James GregoryRaymonds step-father, who is a stupid right-wing Republican who spends much of his time complaining about communists in the US government (He resembles the re

4、al Senator Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin). Rosie.Janet Leigh A beautiful and somewhat mysterious young woman who Marco meets and soon falls in love with. Senator Thomas Jordan.John McGiver A liberal Republican Senator who is a political rival of Senator Iselin.JocieLeslie ParrishSenator Jordans cute you

5、ng daughter, who had met Raymond beforehe entered the army, and who becomes his girlfriend after he returns.Yen LoKhigh DhieghThe evil (but kind of funny) Chinese spy who is in charge of brainwashing Raymond, Marco and the other American soldiers who were captured during the war.Chunjin.Henry SilvaA

6、 US army Korean translator, who is actually a Chinese spy, who returns to the US after the war in order to work for Raymond as a house boy (cleaner, cook, driver, etc)Plot SummaryThis is a classic film, and a great reflection of the anxiety-filled times in which it was produced. It is the story of a

7、 group of American soldiers who are captured during the Korean War, and secretly taken to Manchuria, China. There, they are brainwashed by a group of communist Chinese officials, who have learned the latest in mind control, the subconscious and modern psychology from their Russian allies. After just

8、 a few days, the soldiers are released, but because of the brainwashing, they mistakenly believe that they had escaped in a hard fought battle, and that Raymond was the hero who was most responsible for their freedom. In reality, all of them had been drugged and psychologically manipulated before be

9、ing released, and Raymond in particular had been chosen to later serve as a spy for his Chinese and Russians “bosses.” Of course, because nobody knows when theyve been brainwashed, Raymond is totally unaware of what he is doing and how he is being used. Thus, he comes home as part American war hero

10、and part communist robot.In the years after the war, Major Marco begins to have the same nightmare about his experience in Korea, and slowly realizes that in fact, Raymond was not a real war hero, but a brainwashed communist killer who was not aware of his own actions. Nobody in the army seems to be

11、lieve Marco, but as other soldiers soon tell of the same nightmares and confused memories, it gradually becomes clear that something terrible was happening, and that in fact, Raymonds Chinese and Russian controllers were going to use him to not only spy, but todo everything they could to take contro

12、l of the American government!Some Brief background about the Korean War and the Cold War: The Korean War was fought between 1950 and 1953, and was the first major battle between the American lead capitalist West and the Russian lead communists. The communist Chinese fought actively on the side of th

13、e communist North Koreans, and the Americans had entered the war in defense of the South Koreans. In this film, it was the Chinese who take the Americans prisoner and send them to Chinese Manchuria in order to be brainwashed (Manchuria is a large province in Northern ChinaFor this film, more importa

14、nt than the Korean War is the presence of the Cold War, the great battle for influence and power in the world, between the capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union. In the 1950s, many Americans were convinced that communists were everywhere within the US government, and some politicia

15、ns (especially Senator Joe McCarthy) built their entire careers on scaring people into such a belief. It is within this historical context that The Manchurian Candidate was made, and ultimately, the film itself is a great reflection of Americas greatest fears during those tense Cold War years.The Ma

16、jor Ranks in the US Military: It will be easier to understand this film if one is familiar with the following words, which occur frequently and refer to the various ranks or levels in the US Army, in approximate order from most powerful to weakest:General Sergeant Major Captain Colonel Lieutenant Co

17、rporeal PrivateSome Words and Expressions that You May not Know Raymond Shaw returns from Korea as a decorated war hero.Come on, Serge, Gertrude buy you a beer.“Come on” is the most versatile phrasal verb in all of English, meaning everything from hurry up to, as in this case, be reasonable. “Serge”

18、 is short for Sergeant, which is a high rank in the US army. Whats so bad about it? : Tricky. Swamp all around. If a situation is “tricky,” it is difficult or possibly dangerous. A “swamp” is a wetland covered by water, grasses and woody vegetation.Nobody said anything about quicksand. A type of loo

19、se sand in which anything that goes on it starts to sink into it.The next 200 yards. : Reject. Its not tactical to travel forward in a single line.A “yard” is a unit of measurement about three feet long. If something is “tactical,” it is thought to help advance a general plan or larger purpose.Ok, p

20、ass the word. One way of saying “tell other people.”The nation jealously guards its highest award for valor; The Congressional Medal of Honor. A powerful word meaning great bravery or courage.With 5,770,000 men engaged, only 77 men were so honored.In this case, “engaged” means actively involved in (

21、of the millions who served in the Korean War, 77 won the Congressional Medal of Honor).Staff Sergeant Raymond Shawwas flown from combat directly to Washington D.C., to be decorated personally by the President of the United States. A “staff sergeant” is a position or rank in the army. “Combat”refers

22、to the actual era of fighting during a war.The presence of any Medal of Honor winner issufficient to bring Generals to their feet, saluting.If something is “sufficient,” it is just enough for what is needed. In this case, a “General” is a high ranking member of the army, and “to salute” is to bring

23、your hand to your forehead while addressing a superior or someone in the military.Senator, how about a statement? An important word for an official remark or declaration, often made to the news media.The Senator is Raymonds step-father. Your step-father is the husband of your mom, but not your own f

24、ather. You organized this three ring circus.Literally, a giant circus with three large tents, but more generally, any planned event that is considered ridiculous, often because it is a huge waste of money and time. Youve been a mess the last few months.If a person is a “mess,” they are usually in ve

25、ry bad physical or emotional state, or having great trouble just taking care of themselves.Say cheese. The one word that people are supposed to say when their picture is being taken so that it will look as if they are smiling.Why, you publicity sick.boob.If a person is “publicity sick,” they despera

26、tely want to be in the news.A “boob” is a slang word for a stupid person (and for a female breast). Whos kidding who? One way of saying that no one really believes what is being said.Youve got it all figured out, havent you? “To figure out” a problem is to find the solution to it, usually after thin

27、king about it quite seriously.His citation, attested to by his commanding officer, Captain Bennett Marco, and the nine surviving members of his patrol, read in partIn this case, a “citation” is an official statement of respect for having done something brave, and if a statement is “attested to” by s

28、omeone, it is claimed to be true by them. A soldiers “commanding officer” is the leader who is in charge of them, and a “patrol” is a group of soldiers.:Displaying valor beyond the call of duty, did single handedly save the lives of nine members of his patrol, capturing an enemy machine gun nest “To

29、 display valor” is to show great courage. “The call of duty” is an official way of referring to what is expected of a person in a particular job or position. To do something “single-handedly” is to do it without the help of others, and a “nest” of enemy soldiers is a group of them.and taking out in

30、the process a full company of enemy infantry.”In this case, “to take out” a group of enemy soldiers is to kill them,and “infantry” is a military word for any solider who fights on foot.He then proceeded to lead his patrol, which had been listed as missing in action for three days, back through the e

31、nemy lines to safety.“To proceed to” do something is to start to do it. If a solider is “missing in action,” they cannot be found, and may be dead or taken prisoner. “Enemy lines” refers to the farthest advance that enemy soldiers have made into an area of land.Anything to take the pain out of campa

32、igning. In a political context, “to campaign” is to endlessly travel around making speeches, trying to get voters to voter for you.Hes not a communist, mother. As a matter of fact, hes a Republican.In this film, a “communist” is a believer in the political system of the old Soviet Union and China during the Cold Wa