Angela Lansbury on THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE

With its simmering tensions and fractured psyches, John Frankenheimer’s 1962 Cold War thriller THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE presented an ideal platform for its cast to deliver some of the finest work of their careers. As Major Bennett Marco, Frank Sinatra is heroic yet vulnerable in his search for the truth, and Laurence Harvey is fascinating as Raymond Shaw-alternately a dead-eyed, brainwashed assassin and a lovesick loner. But it’s Dame Angela Lansbury’s chilling and complex portrayal of Mrs. Eleanor Shaw Iselin, the sinister matriarch of a political family, that remains one of the film’s most captivating elements.
Here, watch a clip from our interview with Lansbury, who visited Criterion back in November, in which she discusses the importance of imagination in acting and how she drew on that quality for the film’s shocking climax.

[@2Majesties]

Lansbury's work in this film is beyond great, literally as perfect a performance as I've ever watched. Matching her to this monstrous character, letting her flesh out this role is what made this film work so well on so many levels.

[@lindaeasley4336]

Many people felt she deserved the Oscar for that role but it went to Patty Duke instead for The Miracle Worker

[@tristanlaferriere5194]

@@lindaeasley4336 They were both great performances, but I agree that Lansbury should have won for this movie. Mrs. Elanore Iselin is one of the top movie villains of all time.

[@sungod86]

Angela Lansbury is over 90 and looks amazing!

[@dollyrawlins5470]

Isn't she amazing.

[@stephenmarino6753]

this phenomenal actress explaining her technique: humbled to the last...

[@SilverGram]

That was one intense movie, well done Ms Lansbury, thank you.

[@AllenMQuinn]

I wish Angela could do one more big film so she could finally get an Oscar.

[@nstix2009xitsn]

Hear, hear!

[@nicholas4727]

She won for Manchurian Candidate, didn't she?

[@dollyrawlins5470]

Oh yes let's hope.
Or an Emmy winning performance in TV.
I was hoping she would do game of thrones.

[@emerybayblues]

@@nicholas4727 No Patty Duke won for Miracle Worker.

[@c7261]

The Oscars are an irrelevant facade dictated purely by fashion, politics and public relations. Angela deserved the highest motion picture accolade at the time for her performance. I don't hold any investment in mainstream motion picture awards as their selections have often been execrable. I see more captivating performances at a local theater than a large amount of Oscar winners.

[@Buffaloc]

Great actress and great movie.

[@raiderdanCA]

It's an incredible scene, as riveting as ever put on film. There is never been a film like this ...

[@francism.4525]

Great Actress !!

[@ricardocantoral7672]

I love that scene. Mrs. Iselin watches in horror as her plans turn to shit.

[@MissPerriwinkle]

ICONIC FILM AND ICONIC ANGELA !!

[@dornravlin]

Angela Lansbury was amazing in this movie so menacing

[@KenKen3593]

Please get her in the Criterion closet.

[@bradobrien2539]

The weird thing was she was only a few years older than Lawrence Harvey who portrayed poor Raymond.

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

Dismiss the TV drivel and be amazed at how good she is... and on stage as well if you were ever so blessed.

[@shaunpearson7905]

Took me 20+ years to appreciate her because of Murder She Wrote which was everywhere in the 80s and 90s and I hated it. :)

[@dollyrawlins5470]

@@shaunpearson7905 murder she wrote is awesome.

[@shaunpearson7905]

@@dollyrawlins5470 Well now we know where we both stand on the whole Murder She Wrote issue.

[@brockmeeks1695]

Shaun Pearson snob

[@chriscanale9535]

awesome actress

[@robertwagnersuber-coolside3332]

Still alive!

[@amyclarke41]

tops

[@garrison6863]

She got that in two takes?

[@ninninin656]

Queeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!!!!!!!

[@alexyoungen]

Thanks for ruining the ending.

[@Bestillivoze]

He was shot from the front, so the head should have been dropped forward and to the right (according to the "Lone Gunmen Theorists).