Major Characters
Raymond...........................Laurence Harvey
A 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 soldiers to escape from the enemy.
Major Bennett Marco...............Frank Sinatra
Raymond’s 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 Lansbury
Raymond’s mom, who is a bossy, mean-spirited rich Republican
who spends much of her time complaining about communists.
Senator John Iselin..............James Gregory
Raymond’s 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 real 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.
Jocie............................Leslie Parrish
Senator Jordan’s cute young daughter, who had met Raymond before
he entered the army, and who becomes his girlfriend after he returns.
Yen Lo...........................Khigh Dhiegh
The 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 Silva
A 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 Summary
This is a classic film, and a great reflection of the anxiety-filled times in which
it was produced. It is the story of a 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 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 being
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 they’ve 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 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 believe 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, Raymond’s Chinese and Russian controllers were going to use him to
not only spy, but todo everything they could to take control 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 the 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 China
For this film, more important 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 politicians (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 America’s greatest fears during
those tense Cold War years.
The Major 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
Corporeal
Private
Some Words and Expressions that You May not KnowRaymond 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" is
short for Sergeant, which is a high rank in the US army.
What’s 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 loose sand in which anything that goes on it starts to sink into it.
The next 200 yards. :: Reject. It’s 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, pass 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 (of the millions who
served in the Korean War, 77 won the Congressional Medal of Honor).
Staff Sergeant Raymond Shaw...was 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 to the actual era of fighting during a war.
The presence of any Medal of Honor winner is
sufficient 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 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 Raymond’s step-father.
Your step-father is the husband of your mom, but not your own father.
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.
You’ve been a mess the last few months.
If a person is a "mess," they are usually in very 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 desperately want to be in the news.
A "boob" is a slang word for a stupid person (and for a female breast).
Who’s kidding who?
One way of saying that no one really believes what is being said.
You’ve got it all figured out, haven’t you?
"To figure out" a problem is to find the solution
to it, usually after thinking about it quite seriously.
His citation, attested to by his commandingofficer, Captain Bennett
Marco, and the nine surviving members of his patrol, read in part...
In this case, a "citation" is an official statement of respect for having
done something brave, and if a statement is "attested to" by someone, it is
claimed to be true by them. A soldier’s "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 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 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 missingin action for three days, back through the enemy 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 campaigning.
In a political context, "to campaign" is to endlessly travel
around making speeches, trying to get voters to voter for you.
He’s not a communist, mother. As a matter of fact, he’s a Republican.
In this film, a "communist" is a believer in the political system of the old
Soviet Union and China during the Cold War. A "Republican" is a member of the
Republican Party, which generally speaking, is and was more anti-Communist
and conservative than the Democratic party.
What could you possibly have in common with that dreadful old man?
An excellent word for awful, horrible or totally depressing.
For one thing, we discovered that we both loath and despise you and Johnny.
"To loath" a person is to hate them with great passion or anger.
"To despise" means the same thing as to loath, though it’s more common.
Major Marco is haunted by nightmares of Korea and Raymond’s actions while there, and soon Marcos is transferred to a public relations job.
The war in Korea was over. Captain, now Major Bennett Marco,
had been reassigned to army intelligence in Washington.
"Captain" and "Major" are two ranks or levels of position in the military.
"To reassign" a person is to place them in another job (which in this case
is in another place). "Army intelligence" refers to that part of the army
responsible for spying and collecting information on others.
It was, by and large, a pleasant assignment.
"By and large" means generally speaking, and if
something is "pleasant," it is enjoyable or pleasing.
Night after night, the major was plagued by the same recurring nightmare.
If a person is "plagued" by something, they are greatly worried or
disturbed by it. If a nightmare is "recurring," it happens over and over.
I noticed magnificenthydrangeas on the hills, where the drainage was
perfect, and very poor specimens or perhaps nothing at all in the valleys.
"Magnificent" is an alternative to wonderful or splendid. "Hydrangeas" are a
type of plant, "drainage" is the ability of water to flow away, and "specimen"
is a scientific word for a single animal or plant that belongs to a larger
group or classification.
Thus it was the hydrangea that gave the first pointer
in another discovery of horticultural importance.
A "pointer" is a clue, or a small amount of information that serves
to instruct. "Horticulture" refers to the study of plants and gardening.
A number of varieties originally found in Japan, not
all of which, of course, have the same characteristics.
A "characteristic" refers to a quality, such as, in this
case, the ability to live a long time without water.
Allow me to introduce our American visitors—I must
ask you to forgive their somewhat lackadaisical manner.
If a person has a "lackadaisical manner,"
they have no real energy, passion or spirit.
I have conditioned them, or brainwashed them,
which I understand is the new American word.
"To condition" a person is to train or teach them to respond in a certain
way to certain situations. "To brainwash" is a very powerful verb which means
to use psychological means to totally change the way a person thinks, so that
they will accept things they wouldn’t normally (such as a new religion or
philosophy) and do things that they may not even be aware that they are
doing. A critical verb for this film.
They believe they are waiting out a storm in the lobby of a small hotel
in New Jersey, where a meeting of the Ladies Garden Club is in progress.
"To wait out" a storm is to wait for it to end. "The lobby" of a hotel
is the open hallway or large room where guests often check in.
I’ve allowed my people to have a little fun in
the selection of bizarretobacco substitutes.
"Bizarre" means very strange or odd. "Tobacco" is the plant used to
make cigarettes, and thus this may be a reference to drugs like marijuana.
Now then, comrades.
A word popular among communists that basically meant fellow citizen.
You’ve flown 8,000 miles to a dreary spot in Manchuria.
A good word for gray and depressing. Manchuria is a province in Northern China.
I’m sure you’ve all heard the old wives tale that no hypnotizedsubject
may be forced to do that which is repellant to his moral nature.
An "old wives tale" is a generally believed fact or story that is not true.
If a person is "hypnotized," they are put in a type of subconscious state
where they could become easily influenced to do things they wouldn’t normally
do. A "subject" is a person in an experiment. If something is "repellant," it
is disgusting or very disagreeable, and a person’s "moral nature" is a way
of referring to what they believe to be right and wrong.
You note takers might...consult Brennan’s paper "Experiments in
the Hypnotic Production of Anti-social and Self-injurious behavior."
"To consult" an academic paper is to read or study it. If a person’s
behavior is "self-injurious," they are hurting or harming themselves.
If it offends you, only the West is working to
manufacture more crime and better criminals.
In the context of the Cold War, "the West" generally referred to the
US and its European allies, and "to manufacture" means to produce or create.
My dear Yen, as you grow older, you grow
more long-winded. Can’t we get to the point?
If a person is "long-winded," they tend to talk on and on. If a person
"gets to the point," they say exactly what it is they are trying to
communicate, rather than talking in stories or analogies.
I keep forgetting...your attention span is limited.
A person’s "attention span" refers to the maximum amount
of time they are able to concentrate on one thing.
Raymond has been a crack shot since childhood.
:: Marvelousoutlet for his aggression.
A "crack shot" is a person who is able to shoot a gun with great accuracy.
"Marvelous" is another word for wonderful or great, and an "outlet" is
an opening through which something, such an anger, can be let out.
May I have the bayonet please?
A rifle with a large steel blade or knife attached to it.
You notice that he is always drawn to authority?
If a person is "drawn to authority," they’re attracted to powerful people.
Now then Raymond, take this scarf and strangle Ed Malvole.
A "scarf" is a cloth worn around one’s head or neck. "To strangle"
a person is to choke them, or violently cut off their air supply, perhaps
by squeezing on their neck.
Hey, Serge, cut it out! :: Quiet, Ed!
An excellent colloquial expression which means "Stop it."
Doesn’t it strike anyone as curious that
Malvole was one of the two men lost in action?
If something "strikes a person as curious," they think of it as strange.
Raymond Shaw, his life, his background, his habits and
his friends and associates have been under scrupulous examination.
A person’s "associates" are the people that they interact with in everyday
life, often at work. If an examination is "scrupulous," it is done extremely
carefully and looks into every detail.
The facts speak for themselves.
One way of saying that what is happening is totally clear or obvious.
It’s inconceivable that... :: Major, as the consulting psychiatrist,
I’d be most interested in hearing your personal feelings about Shaw.
If something is "inconceivable," it does not seem possible.
A "psychiatrist" is a psychologist who is also a medical doctor
(and a "consulting" one is responsible for a particular person or case).
Raymond Shaw is the kindest, bravest, warmest most
wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life.
"Kind" is another word for nice, gentle or considerate.
I’d recommend that the matter of Raymond Shaw be dropped and that Major Marco
be reassigned to less strenuous, and if I may say so, less sensitive duties.
In this case, "matter" is another word for case. "Strenuous" means
exhausting or very tiring, and in this context, "sensitive duties" refers
to jobs that involve secret matters of intelligence or national security.
A few months of detached service to perhaps the publicrelations corps should put the major right back in the pink.
"Detached" means separated, in this case from the army. "The public relations
corps" of the military is responsible for keeping its good reputation with the
public. If a person is "in the pink," they have a lot of energy and feel very healthy.
I’ll give you an equally simple minded answer.
If an answer is "simple minded," it is silly or not very thoughtful.
There’s no great naval power menacing the free world today.
"To menace" a person or country is to threaten it or make it feel weak or
vulnerable. In the context of the Cold War, "the free world" referred to
those countries in the non-communist West.
The navy’s overwhelming preponderance of surface
ships seems to be superfluous. Hence, the cut in budget.
"Preponderance" means superiority, usually in strength or intelligence.
If something is "superfluous," it is extra and not needed.
If there are no further questions for the
secretary, I think that about wraps things up.
"To wrap things up" is a common colloquial way of saying to finish them.
Evasion? What the hell are you talking about?
"Evasion" is the act of evading, avoiding or escaping a responsibility.
Note that "the hell" is added to WH questions to express emotion such as
anger or frustration.
I don’t think it’s good public relations to talk that
way to a United States Senator, even if he is an idiot.
An excellent word for a jerk, moron, ass or stupid person.
I have a list here of the names of 207 persons who are
known as being members of the Communist party.
Note that in the 1950s, many Americans were wrongly
accused of being members of the Communist Party.
There will be no covering up, Sir.
To "cover up" something illegal or scandalous is to try and hide it from the public.
Major, throw that lunatic out of here!
A fun and excellent word for a person who is completely crazy.
You no longer have my confidence! :: You’re an idiot, you’re out of your mind!
"To have a person’s confidence" is to be trusted by them.
If a person is "out of their mind," they are crazy.
What are you on?! Get out of here!
Note that to be "on" a drug is to be using it (If you are on
marijuana, you will act stoned or in a drugged manner).
I’d like to verify that number, Sir. How many communists did you say?
"To verify" a fact is to confirm or establish its truth or accuracy.
There are 104 card-carrying communists in the defense department at this time.
If a person is a "card carrying" member of an organization, they are full
members who generally believe in that organization’s principles.
Raymond’s communist "operators" program Raymond to kill his boss, and Marco meets Rosie on his way to New York.
When you are returned to patrol headquarters, what duties will you perform?
The building or place where a group of soldiers is based.
He took out a complete company of Chinese infantry.
In this context, "to take out" a group of soldiers is to kill them.
A "company" in the military is a division, and "infantry" soldiers
are those that fight on foot (as opposed to in planes or tanks).
We can spare an imaginary company of infantry for this particular plan.
"To spare" means to give up or use (Note that homeless people
on city streets will ask if you can spare some change).
If we are out to humiliate our great Chinese ally in the newspapers
of the world, we might as well make it a full battalion.
"To humiliate" a person is to embarrass them or make them feel bad about
themselves. In a war, an "ally" is a nation that is fighting on its side
against a common enemy. "Might as well" means should, and a "battalion"
is a large division in the military.
If we may proceed with the demonstration;
Who’s that little fellow sitting next to the captain?
"To proceed" with something is to start or continue
it. "Fellow" is another word for man or guy.
Our mascot, I guess you’d call him.
A person, animal or object that becomes the public
symbol of a team, business or other type of organization.
Shoot Bobby through the forehead.
The part of the head above the eyes.
What makes it so awful is to keep dreaming
a thing like that about Sergeant Shaw.
A powerful word meaning terrible or horrible.
I think I’m going nuts.
A common colloquial expression meaning to go crazy.
The dream has a lot of Chinese people,
and a lot of big brass from the Russian army.
"Brass" is a word that refers to important or powerful people.
It’s pretty rough; You have to take my word for that.
In this case, "rough" means hard or difficult. "To take a person’s
word" for what they just said means to believe them.
Raymond, why don’t you pass the time by playing a little solitaire.
A card game that is played alone, and a critical game in this film!
You will be taken to the sanitarium. We want
you there for a check up; Is that clear?
A "sanitarium" is a rest home for old people. In this context,
a "check up" is a medical or psychological examination.
He was run down in the street by a hit and run driver.
If a person is "run down," they are hit or run over by a car. A "hit and run"
driver is one who does not stop, but who drives away immediately from the scene
of an accident.
It just came over the AP; Good heavens.
The "AP" is the Associated Press, which distributes news over their
wire service. "Good heavens" is a gentle way of expressing surprise or shock.
We will not tell him on the chance there is some sort of prearranged code.
A "code" is a system of letters, numbers or other symbols that are used
to communicate to some people while being unreadable to all others.
I was flown in last night under embassy quota. Revolting journey.
A "quota" is a number of spaces or slots that are reserved for a particular
group of people. If something is "revolting," it is totally disgusting.
We’re going through this elaborate procedure simply out of precaution.
An "elaborate procedure" is a complicated and well thought out plan
or scheme, and if it’s done "out of precaution," it’s done as a way
of preventing what could be a possible threat or danger.
It’s one of the few Sovietoperations in America
that actually showed a profit at the end of the fiscal year.
"Soviet" refers to the former Soviet Union, the communist state centered on Russia
that fell apart at the end of the Cold war. In this case, "operations" refers to an
office or business. "Fiscal year" is a term from accounting that refers to the
business year.
Beware my dear Zilkov. The fires of capitalism are highly infectious.
"Beware" is a dramatic way of telling a person to be careful because there is danger
near. If a disease is "infectious," it can be easily passed from one person to another.
You should try, comrade Zilkov, to cultivate a sense of humor.
"To cultivate" something is to grow or nurture it.
Captain Marco sent up some low flares,
so it was easy to see what was happening.
A "flare" is a controlled fire of light that is used to
light up the sky or to communicate with others far away.
The enemy had a fix on the position. They
were killed instantly by a high mortar shell.
In this case, to have a "fix on a soldier’s position," is know where
they are located. A "high mortar shell" is a powerful explosive used in war.
Do you realize, comrade, the implications of
the weapon that has been placed at you disposal?
"The implications" of something are the logical result or outcome
(If A is larger than B, and B is larger than C, the implication is A is larger
than C). If a weapon is "at a person’s disposal," it is available for their use.
Having been relieved of those uniquely American symptoms,
guilt and fear, he cannot possibly give himself away.
If a person is "relieved" of an unpleasant symptom, they no longer suffer from it.
If a person who has done something illegal "gives themselves away," they accidentally
do something that the police or others realize shows that they did that illegal action.
Raymond will remain an outwardly normal, productive,
sober, and a respected member of the community.
If a person is "outwardly normal," there is nothing about them which appears
strange to others. A person who is "sober" is calm, stable and in control of
themselves, as opposed to drunk.
And entirely police-proof. His brain has not only
been washed, as they say, it’s been dry cleaned.
In this case, if a plan is "police-proof," the police won’t be able to find
out about it. "Dry cleaned" clothes are washed with chemicals, not water.
Sealed floors or no, you will permit him to have visitors.
If a floor is "sealed," it is tightly closed off from the rest of the building.
It will take about a week...to check the mechanism completely.
A "mechanism" refers to the small parts of a machine, or how
the various parts of a machine or plan fit together to work.
You’ll want to be sure the linkages are still functioning correctly.
"Linkages" are the parts of a machine or plan that
connect two or more separate parts together.
I thought to spend my afternoon at Macy’s.
Madame Yin has given me the most appalling list.
"Macy’s" is a famous department store. "Appalling" is a strong
adjective meaning disgusting, or causing horror or revulsion.
You say the man has been built as an assassin.
Very well, then, let him assassinate someone!
An "assassin" is a person who murders a powerful person,
most often a politician (Note that the verb is to assassinate).
I’m shocked you would risk an asset as
valuable as Raymond out of sheer nervousness.
An "asset" is anything of real value, from stock in a company to a house
or car. "Sheer" as an adjective means total, pure, utter or unqualified.
If kill we must, for a better New York, why should it
not be his superior at the newspaper, Mr. Holborn Gaines?
In this context, a person’s "superior" is their boss or employer.
With Mr. Gaines out of the way, might he
not be given the very influential job himself?
If somebody is "out of the way," they are far enough away that they can’t
cause problems. If a writer is "influential," they effect the way people
think about things (An influential job simply means a powerful position).
I’m sorry to disturb you, Sir.
"To disturb" a person is to bother or annoy them,
or in certain contexts, to emotionally upset or scare them.
What the devil are you doing here at 4:00 in the morning?
A very old-fashioned version of "the hell," which is added
to Wh questions to express emotion such as anger or surprise.
You’re not going to pour out your heart with the details
of some sordid love affair or anything like that, are you?
"To pour out your heart" is to confide in someone by emotionally telling them
of all your tragic secrets, often concerning a failed romance. "Sordid" is a fun
little adjective which means dirty, filthy or vile, and is often used in sexual contexts.
Who is this mysterious "they"?
Note how a pronoun can be used as the subject of a question!
Scotch all right? :: Fine.
A type of hard liquor.
I got a guy who picks them out for me at random.
"To pick out" something is to choose it from a larger possible choice.
If you pick out something "at random," you pick it without any particular
logic or reason, but just by chance.
He ships them to me. Where I happen to be stationed.
If a solider is "stationed" at a place, that is where he lives and works.
They’d also make great insulation against an enemy attack.
In this case, "insulation" is a layer of protection (In houses, insulation
is any kind of material that is used to keep a house warmer or cooler).
I’m interested in the principles of modern banking, and the history of piracy.
"Piracy" is the act of robbing or stealing while on the high seas or oceans.
Among other things, you permitted the Secretary to make a number of
unfortunate remarks to that idiot Iselin, which started him off on a rampage.
Note that a "Secretary" can be a powerful officer who heads an entire department
or branch of government (In this case, the Secretary of the Navy). An "unfortunate
remark" is a gentle way of referring to a harmful statement that never should have
been said. A "rampage" is a violent, angry and often abusive speech or other
type of action.
For the last six months, I’ve been driven nearly
out of my mind by the same recurring dream.
If a person is "out of their mind," they are crazy, and if
a dream is "recurring," it happens over and over again.
There’s something phony about me, about Raymond
Shaw, about the whole medal of honor business.
"Phony" means misleading or fake. If a person is phony,
they are pretending to be somebody that they are not.
In fact, he’s one of the most repulsive human beings I’ve ever known.
An extremely negative adjective that means totally disgusting.
Public relations has bounced you back to me, and in
your present state, there’s no possible way I can use you.
"To bounce" a worker from one job to another is to move
them between position (A ball bounces against a wall).
As of this moment, I’m placing you on indefinitesick leave.
If a period of time is "indefinite," it is unclear or has no exact limits.
"Sick leave" is a paid break from work in which an employee is allowed to
stay home and try to recover or feel better.
Maryland is a beautiful state. :: This is Delaware.
Two small East Coast states, between New York and Washington DC.
I know, I was one of the original Chinese
workman who laid the track in this state.
Note the verb; Railroad track is "laid" when railroad lines are built.
So is Ohio, for that matter. I guess Columbus is a tremendousfootball town.
Another word for incredible or amazing. A "football town"
is a city where (American) football is extremely popular.
Of the two names, I’ve always favored "Rosie"
because it smells of brown soap and beer.
As a verb, "to favor" something is to prefer it.
I could never figure out what that phrase meant, "more or less."
A "phrase" is an expression, and "more or less" means basically.
I’m a production assistant for a man named Justin, who had two hits last season.
A "production assistant" helps the producer or director of a movie or play.
In the movie business, a "hit" is a film that is very popular.
I’m a tea-privileges member, no cream.
If a person has "tea privileges" at an exclusive or rich social club,
they’re allowed to have tea in the dining area, but they are not considered
full members with all the privileges and rights of full membership.
I got sick, and now I’m on leave, and I’m gonna spend it in New York.
If a worker is "on leave," they have official time off from their job.
Note that "going to" ----> "gonna" in rapid speech.
I’m gonna look up an old friend of mine whose a newspaper man.
"To look up" a person is to try and find them or visit them.
Chunjin gets a job with Raymond, and Marco learns of Raymond’s love for Jocelyn before he had entered the army.
There were no oriental gentlemen in the army with me.
Note that this a very dated way of referring to Asian people.
He is very insistent Sir. :: All right, show him in.
If a person is "insistent," they continue to request or demand what they want
over a period of time, even if they’ve been told they can’t have it. "To show
a person in" is to lead them into an office or room.
I was interpreter, attached to Charlie Company, 52nd regimen.
"Charlie Company" is a famous division in the US army, and in the
army a "regimen" is a large group of soldiers who train and fight together.
I’m a tailor and mender. I am cook. I am cleaner and scrubber.
A "tailor" sews clothes, a "mender" repairs things, and
a "scrubber" scrubs or cleans things, such as dirty dishes.
I ask for job with you because you’re a great man
who saved my life. :: I could use a valet, I think.
A French word for a person who drives for their rich employers.
You will have every Thursday and every other Sunday off. $60 a week.
If a worker has Thursdays "off," he does not work on that day.
You’re gonna be perfectly marvelous this afternoon.
An alternative to wonderful or fantastic.
I’d be a lot happier if we could just settle on the number
of communists that I know are in the Defense Department.
When two people "settle" on a number, they agree what it will be.
The way you keep changing the figures on me...
makes me look like some kind of a nut, like an idiot.
In this case, a "figure" is a number. A "nut" is a slangy way of referring to
a crazy or very unstable person, and an "idiot" is a fool, jerk, moron, etc..
Point of order, Mr. Speaker!
"Point of order" is a formal way of demanding that an organization, in this
case the US Senate, follow its own rules of procedure of how things are done.
"Mr. Speaker" is a way of referring to the person in charge of running the Senate
or House of Representatives in the Congress.
You know what I was doing when you so cleverly had the police call me?
"Clever" is a popular adjective meaning smart,
skillful or marked by a quick sense of humor.
I telephoned my fiancée. I told you I wasn’t
married, I never said I wasn’t engaged.
A person’s "fiancée" is the person they plan to marry, and if
a person is "engaged," they are officially planning to marry.
I gave him his ring back and I tried to convey my
regrets for whatever pain I might be causing him.
"To convey" is to communicate. If a person "regrets" having done
something, they feel bad that they did it (This can be a noun or verb).
You had the police call to invite me to the 24th precinct.
A "precinct" is a specific administrative area of a city, especially one that
limits the territory that the police at a station are responsible for covering.
I grabbed my coat and kissed my fiancée on the cheek
for the last time we would ever kiss, and I ran.
"To grab" something is to take it quickly.
You had just beaten up a very large Chinese gentleman.
"To beat up" someone is to physically attack and badly hurt them.
According to Washington...you must be somebody very important indeed.
A popular British word that means in fact.
If they were the tiniest bit puzzled about you, they could’ve asked me.
"Tiny" means extremely small or slight, and if you are "puzzled" by
someone, you are confused or mystified by them or their behavior.
They called me in Washington to tell me that you had
broken into my apartment and beaten up my house boy.
"To break into" a house is to enter secretly, usually by force through a
window or a locked door, in order to rob it. A "house boy" is a very
old-fashioned expression for a person who is hired to help around the house.
I’ve never seen you look so awful.
A good word for extremely bad or horrible.
You know how much the guys in the outfit hated me.
Another word for a group of soldiers or others that work as a team.
The poor simple boob...he said he was going out of his mind.
A gentle slang word for a fool or idiot (as well as a female breast).
Turkish wrestlers, pastoral psychiatrists...and various officers of
the USSR, the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet army.
"Pastoral" refers to religious leaders in the Christian Church, and a
psychiatrist is a psychologist who has a medical degree. The USSR is
a famous acronym for the old Union of Soviet Socialist republics.
He had a loud voice, and it grated.
If a person’s voice is "grating," it is unpleasant and annoying.
His staff dressed in civilian clothes. They looked a little like FBI men.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is the famous federal police force.
He’s a member of the central committee.
In countries run by a communist party, the "central committee"
was a group of the country’s most powerful leaders.
His staff was uniformed, varying from a full colonel to a full lieutenant.
A person’s "staff" are the various people who work directly for them.
A "uniform" refers to the clothes that are associated with a particular
job or organization (It’s rarely used as an adjective, as it is here).
I’m going to recommend setting up a jointintelligenceCIA-FBI unit based out of New York.
A "joint intelligence unit" is a group of spies and other investigators set up
by two or more organizations, in this case the FBI and the CIA. The CIA is the
Central Intelligence Agency, which spies outside the US (In fact, it rarely
worked with the FBI until the terrorist attacks of 9/11, 2001).
He was very reluctant to go. :: That’s probably because
Chunjin is a Buddhist and he doesn’t celebrate Christmas.
If a person is "reluctant" to do something, they are hesitant or don’t
want to do it, perhaps because they fear something bad will happen.
He would have had to send me a card on
the Buddha’s birthday, to save face, right.
"To save face" is to avoid looking weak or foolish (For example, some men
feel they must fight even if they don’t want to, in order to save face).
One day of Christmas is loathsome enough.
A strongly negative adjective meaning disgusting, horrible or detestable.
It’s rather like listening to Orestes gripe about Clytemestra.
"To gripe" is to complain in an annoying and incessant fashion
(Orestes and Clymestra are characters from ancient Greek plays).
She’s lovely.
A popular British word meaning pretty or attractive.
I am not loveable. No, no, don’t contradict me.
"To contradict" a person is to say the exact opposite of what they say.
You’re not supposed to move. It makes the poison circulate.
If poison "circulates" in the blood, it travels throughout the body.
He’s just absolutely scared diddly about snakes in this part of the country.
An extremely dated way of saying very scared. Today, you’re
much more likely to hear that a person is scared shitless.
I know it sounds terribly Freudian, but in this case, I don’t think it is.
If a comment is "Freudian," it is likely based on subconscious thoughts,
accidentally said, and often of a sexual nature. The adjective is named
after the famous Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, who died in 1939.
Daddy’s going to be thrilled about this. All summer
long, daddy’s just been raving about snakes.
To be "thrilled" about something is to be very excited about it. "To rave"
about something is to talk about it in an excited or enthusiastic manner.
Oh, there’s no swelling above or below.
If a part of your body "swells" after being hit by a ball,
it expands or grows in size beyond what is normal.
You’re not by any chance a mute, are you?
"By any chance" is a way for the speaker to express uncertain
belief. A "mute" is a person who can’t speak or hear.
According to the quaint local custom, it’s your turn to tell us what your name is.
If a tradition is "quaint," it is pleasing or charming, but in a very
old- fashioned way. A "custom" is a tradition or particular type of behavior
that has been practiced by a particular group of people for a long time,
usually over many generations.
There is still the traditional folk remedy
against snake bite, which we haven’t applied.
A "folk remedy" is a treatment used by local people to try and cure
various medical problems, from colds to snake bites. They often include
the use of herbs, and may or may not be approved by modern medicine.
I once found it necessary to sue your mother
for defamation of character and slander.
"To sue" a person is to force them into a civil trial in order to try and
legally get money from them for they’re having done something wrong against
you. "Defamation of character" is the harming of a person’s reputation, and
"slander" is writing something untrue about somebody.
One of your mother’s endearing traits is the tendency to
refer to anyone who disagrees with her as a communist.
An "endearing trait" is a character or quality about a person that is much
liked or admired (Here, Jordan is being sarcastic, or joking). If a person
has a "tendency" to do something, they usually do it quite a lot over time.
What hurt her more than the money was the fact that I donated all
of it to an organization called the American Civil Liberties Union.
"To donate" money is to give it away without asking anything in return.
The American Civil Liberties Union is still a well known civil rights
group that is best known as the ACLU.
I would very much like to ask your permission to marry Jocelyn.
Note that it is considered extremely old-fashioned today for men to ask
the parents of their girlfriends for their permission to marry them!
The communist tart?
A old-fashioned but fun slang word for a sexually loose or promiscuous woman.
Are you going to crucify me?
"To crucify" a person is to kill them by hanging them on a cross, the way Jesus
was said to die in the Bible (More generally, to crucify a person means to treat
them cruelly, or to strongly criticize or ridicule them).
Raymond, if we were at war and you were suddenly to become infatuatedwith the daughter of a Russian agent, would you expect your mother to object?
If you become "infatuated" with a person, you fall madly in love with, or obsessed
by them, even if you don’t know them well. Here, an "agent" is a spy or other
official who works for the (Russian) government.
I will show you documentedproof that this man stands for evil, and
that his whole life is devoted to undermining everything you and I believe in.
"Documented proof" is evidence that proves the truth of something, usually in the
form of official papers. If a person "stands for" something, they become a symbol
for that belief or cause. "To devote" oneself to something is to work extremely
hard for it, and to "undermine" a country or organization is to work hard to
overthrow or destroy it.
It was a terrible, vile, disgusting letter.
Another powerful adjective for disgusting or morally repulsive.
The next day I enlisted in the army and I never saw her again.
"To enlist" in the army is to officially join or sign up for it.
Come on, kid. It’s time for you to call it a night.
"To call it a night" is a colloquial way of saying to go to sleep.
This lousy brother-in-law of mine. I say "You think
you’re a poker player? I got a flash for you."
"Lousy" is an excellent adjective meaning bad or very poor quality.
A "news flash" is a sudden and just learned piece of news.
If I was you, I’d get myself another line of action.
Note correct grammar would be "if I were you." A "line of action"
is Marco’s slangy way of saying a job or type of work.
When I got married to my old lady, I got no
idea that this guy comes in the same package.
"My old lady" is a ridiculously dated way of
referring to your wife (or possibly mother).
For 11 long years, I got this guy tied around
my neck, and believe me, it’s no bargain.
A "bargain" is a good deal or value. This is Rosie’s way of saying that
her ex-husband was a pain to be around and that she had a horrible relationship
with him.
Raymond’s mom and Senator Iselin have a party for Raymond, Senator Jordan and Jocelyn, and soon after Raymond and Jocelyn get married.
Why don’t you go and get yourself a cab and
go up to Central park and jump in the lake?
A "cab" is a taxi, and note that an interesting
insult expression is "Go jump in the lake."
You bolted out of the bar, jumped in a cab, drove here and jumped in the water.
"To bolt out" of a building is to leave it by running out very quickly.
Obviously, the solitaire games serves as some kind of trigger mechanism.
"Solitaire" is a card game that is played alone. A "trigger mechanism" is any
device, part or action that causes something to happen (In this case, which
causes Raymond to fall in a hypnotic state that will allow his programmers
to tell him what to do).
I suggest we discard the various number
systems and concentrate on the face cards.
"To discard" something is to ignore, not use, or throw it away.
Humans…develop psychic injuries as they collide with one another.
"Psychic injuries" refer to deep emotional or psychological pain.
If two objects "collide," they violently slam or run into each other.
Most mortal of all are those gotten from the parent fish.
If a human or animal is mortal, it will eventually die
(If something is immortal, it will live forever).
To cheat at Solitaire is a form of regression.
"Regression" is the act of going backwards (the opposite of progress).
I can see that Chinese man standing there and smiling like Fu Man Chu,
and saying "The Queen of Diamonds is reminiscent in many ways...
If an object or person is "reminiscent" of something else, it reminds
people of that other object or person (i.e.…they are similar).
....of Raymond’s dearly loved and hated mother, and it is the
second key to clear the mechanism for any other assignment."
This is Yen Lo’s way of saying that the Queen of Diamonds puts Raymond
into the hypnotic trance, so that he can be controlled by others.
"...Until the peril of international communism is
driven from every dark corner of this great nation."
"Peril" is a powerful noun meaning great danger. "International communism" refers
to the belief during the Cold War that so-called communist nations like the USSR
and China were trying to take over the world by attracting dissatisfied people
in other nations.
I have devoted considerable thought to the problem, and it has occurred to me
that Tom Jordan’s daughter Jocelyn—You remember her, that mousy little girl.
"To devote considerable thought" to a problem is to think about it a lot.
If something "occurs" to you, it suddenly enters your head and you start to think
about it without having planned to do so. "Mousy" means small and weak, like a mouse.
I might have been a little bit hasty, and times change and
I now think she’d make Raymond an excellent wife.
If a person acts in a "hasty" manner, they act in a hurry,
without careful thought about what they are doing.
You’re very good at a great many things, but thinking just isn’t one of them.
A wonderful insult from Raymond’s mom to her husband.
You just keep shouting "point of order!" into
the television cameras and I will handle the rest.
"To handle" a problem or situation is to take care of it.
I think a June wedding would be nice, right before the convention.
This is a reference to the Republican Party political convention, in which
party members get together at a giant conference in order to decide who will
be their party’s nominee to run for President.
The steaks are to be broiled for exactly 11 minutes, no more,
no less, on each side in a pre-heated grill at 400 degrees.
"To broil" meat is to cook it over direct heat or fire, and a "grill" is a
cooking device of parallel bars in which food is directly exposed to heat.
This is a purely social event, however.
A "social event" is a party or other gathering in which
people get to talk and have fun, rather than to do business.
Johnny and I are giving an enormous party, a costumeball actually, at the summer house on Long Island.
"Enormous" means extremely big and a "costume ball" is a party in which people
dress up as both things and people, from a tree to the President (The term
costume party is much more common).
Do you remember a darling girl we met the
summer before you went into the army?
As an adjective, "darling" means very cute or pleasing.
She’s been living abroad for the last several years.
If a person is "living abroad," they live in a foreign country.
I thought that given the rathershabby way you treated her, it might
be a rather graciousgesture if I gave her a coming home party.
As an adverb, "rather" means somewhat or generally. "Shabby" means of poor
quality, or in this case, poorly or unfairly. If an act is "gracious," it
is done with kindness or politeness. A "gesture" is any small action that
communicates an attitude, such as writing an old friend a letter.
Don’t be such a jerk. Get yourself a drink or a tranquilizer or something.
A "jerk" is a very negative word for an idiot, creep, asshole, etc.
A "tranquilizer" is any type of medicine that makes a person very sleepy.
Raymond can certainly be a royal pain.
A "royal pain" is a person who is always causing problems when
you’re around them (A more widely used expression is a pain in the ass).
I am here at this fascistrally because my daughter has assured
me it was important to her happiness that I come.
If a person is "fascist," they generally believe in the absolute power
of the state or a dictatorship to control people’s lives. A "rally" is a
big gathering of people, often for a cause such as supporting a specific politician.
I’ll take this one; It might bring mischief if I leave it.
"Mischief" is a fun word for trouble, especially the type
of trouble that children get into if their parents are away.
Alright dear, run along. The grown ups have to talk.
"Run along" is a parent’s way of telling their child to leave.
A "grown up" is a somewhat dated word for an adult.
If Johnny’s name were put forward at the convention
next week, would you attempt to block him?
In this case, "to block" a person at a political convention is to try and prevent
them from being nominated or chosen to represent their party in that year’s election.
There are people who think of Johnny as a clown and a buffoon.
A "buffoon" is a very negative word for a ridiculous or stupid fool.
I despise John Iselein and everything that Iselisim has come to stand for.
"To despise" a person is to hate them with great passion. If a person
"stands for" something, he has come to represent or symbolize it.
I think of John Iselin were a paid Soviet agent, he could
not do more harm to this country than he’s doing now.
In this context, an "agent" is a spy or other secret official.
If you attempt to deal with the delegates, or cause Johnny’s name to be brought
forward on this ticket, or if you canvas the delegates by telephone...
In a political context, "delegates" are representatives for the candidates
at a political convention. A "ticket" is the name of the candidate for President
and Vice-President in a political party. "To canvas" a large group of people is
to try and contact them in order to get their support.
...I will bring impeachment proceedings against your
husband on the floor of the United States Senate.
"Impeachment proceedings" are official legal actions that are designed to officially
remove a person from a political office for having done something illegal or immoral.
For one million bucks, pick a card...Card tricks.
A "buck" is a common slang word for a dollar. "Card tricks" are the use
of a deck of cards to fool or deceive a person, often in the form of magic.
We certainly are in good spirits tonight, aren’t we?
If a person is "in good spirits," they are happy and feel good.
A nice long chat about the good old days in Korea
and some old Russian and Chinese friends of ours.
A "chat" is a casual or informal conversation.
I used to be convinced that as a baby, I was
the sole survivor of a ship that overshot Mars.
As an adjective, "sole" means only or single. "To overshoot" a destination
is to go so fast that you travel past without being able to stop in time.
Aren’t you going to pop champagne or at least kiss the bride?
"To pop open" a bottle of champagne is to open it, and usually in such
a way that the cork flies off the opening and a loud poping sound is made.
There must be some...anchovies in the box.
A small and smelly type of fish that some people love and most hate.
Crack open whatever it is. We’ve all got to have some drinks.
"To crack open" a container is a slangy way of saying to open it.
Bustle! Make like a housewife. I’ll get out of this idiot suit.
"To bustle" is to act in a very busy manner, doing lots of things quickly.
"Make like" a housewife is a slangy way of telling a person to act like a
housewife, and a "suit" is a formal set of pants and jacket (Note that
idiot can be used as an adjective).
The reason I came here this morning is to ask Raymond to voluntarily
put himself under arrest. To surrender himself to some questioning.
To be put "under arrest" is to be held at a police station because of
suspicion that a crime has been committed (Usually, the police arrest
the suspect, rather than the suspect putting themselves under arrest!).
He’s the healthiest man I’ve seen in my whole life. You can tell
that just by looking at him. :: That’s not the kind of sick I mean.
Note that if a person is "sick," it can be either physical or psychological.
He’s tied up inside in 1,000 knots, but you
can see for yourself how he is with me.
If a person is "tied up inside in 1,000 knots," they are suffering great
psychological or emotional stress and are not sure what to do about it
(A "knot" is a sting, rope or other things tied together in a small
ball, or more generally, a big problem).
Senators Jordan and Iselin clash, the unconscious Manchurian candidate tragically kills again, and Mrs. Iselin prepares for the unthinkable at the Republican Convention.
We’re already wired for a room.
In this case, if a room is "wired," it has been fitted with small
electronic devices that can listen in on what is being said.
Have you noticed how the human race is divided
into two distinct and irreconcilable group.
If two groups are "distinct," they are quite different from each other and
usually easy to tell apart. If two people have differences in opinion that
are "irreconcilable," they will not be able to come to a solution or
agreement, or more generally, repair their relationship.
It appears though that the Montague-Capulet note will have
little effect on the feud now raging between the party leaders.
A "feud" between two people is a bitter or angry war of words or general
hostility. If a feud "rages," it continues with loud or uncontrolled anger
(The Montagues and Capulets were feuding families in Romeo and Juliet).
I now charge this man, Thomas Jordan, with high treason.
"To charge" a person is to officially accuse them of having committed a crime.
"High treason" is the serious offense of having worked for the enemy, against
the interests of your own country.
I assure you, the moment the Senate reconvenes, I shall move for this man’s impeachment.
"To assure" a person of something is to promise them you will do it, or to make
them feel secure in what is being said. When a meeting "reconvenes," it starts
up again after having stopped for a break. "Impeachment" is the act of removing
a person from their office or position of power, for having done something illegal.
Convey my personal apologies; I’ll join you there later.
"To convey" is to communicate or signal.
I’m going to beat this vile, slandering son of a numbskull to a bloody pulp.
"To beat" a person is to physically attack them. "Vile" is disgusting or
repulsive, and "to slander" a person is to say untrue things about them which
will harm their reputation. A "numbskull" is a dated but fun word for a dumb
person and "pulp" is tiny little bits of soft fruit, or more generally,
anything that’s been crushed into tiny little pieces.
Something very important has come up.
If a problem "comes up," it suddenly appears or arrives.
She turned in about a quarter to three.
In this context, "to turn in" is to go to sleep.
I’ll force some good whiskey on you, celebrate
your wedding, soothe you after a trying day.
"To soothe" a person is to relieve, clam them down or make them
feel relaxed. If a day is "trying," it has been difficult and tiring.
I only hope you haven’t been too upset by these idiotic attacks of Iselin.
"Upset" is emotionally disturbed, angry or worried. If something
is "idiotic," it is completely ridiculous, stupid or foolish.
I take the position that any attack by Iselin is a great honor.
Note that "position" can mean opinion.
What the hell is that in your hand? :: It’s a pistol, Sir.
A common word for small gun.
Is that a silencer?
A device on a gun that allows it to shoot without making any noise.
My wife is prostrate over the loss of this dear
and wonderful girl she loved as a daughter.
An interesting word which means to be overwhelmed or weakened
by emotion (It also means to be lying flat on one’s back).
I’m in a hotel room across from the Garden.
"Madison Square Garden" is a famous convention center in New York.
What do you know! They just handed the Vice
President nomination to that idiot Iselin!
"What do you know!" (not in the tone of a
question) is a way of expressing great surprise.
The patrol was taken by a Russian airborne unit and
flown by helicopter across the Manchurian border.
A "patrol" is a group of soldiers, and an "airborne unit"
is a military division that travels and fights with airplanes.
We were worked on for three days by a team of
specialists from the Pavlov Institute in Moscow.
The "Pavlov Institute" is a medical research organization (Pavlov was a
19th century Russian scientist who was famous for training or conditioning
rats and other animals to behave in certain ways).
They developed a technique for descent into the
unconscious mind, part light induced and part drug.
A "technique" is a method or process. "Descent" is the act of going down,
and the "unconscious mind" is the part of a person’s thought process or
thinking that they are not aware of. If something is "induced" by light,
it is caused or triggered by light.
We were drilled for three days.
If a prisoner is "drilled," they are aggressively questioned,
or in this case, aggressively brainwashed!
I strangled Ed Marole and shot Bobby Lemeck.
To strangle" a person is kill them by violently cutting off their air supply.
They picked me to see if my linkages still worked
before they turned me over to my American operator.
A "linkage" is a connection, or in this case, the mental connections in the
brain that cause a deep hypnotic state. Raymond’s "American operator" is the
American responsible for controlling him and telling him what to do.
Something somebody said in the bar accidentally triggered it.
"To trigger" an event is to cause it or set it off.
Their beautifully conditioned links are over; They’re smashed
as of now because we say they are to be smashed.
If something has been "smashed," it has been crushed or destroyed.
We’re busting up the joint, we’re tearing up all the wire.
"To bust up" something is to destroy it or turn it into a mess. A "joint"
is a slangy word for a small building or room. "To tear up" wire is to rip
or pull it out so that it is made useless.
Anybody invites you to a game of solitaire, you
tell them "I’m sorry Buster, the game is over."
"Buster" is a very slangy way of addressing a person.
The convention is adjourned. It reconvenes at 9:00 for the acceptance speeches.
A "convention" is a large gathering of people, often for a political purpose.
If a meeting is "adjourned," it stops, and if it "reconvenes," it starts up
again later. At a political convention, "acceptance speeches" are made to
accept the nominations of a party to run for an office.
I’ve got 500 people at my disposal, 1,000 if needed.
If you have something "at your disposal," it’s available to use.
It’s been decided that you’ll be dressed as a priest
to help you get away in the pandemonium afterward.
In this case, to "get away" is to escape. "Pandemonium" is
an excellent word for general chaos and violent, loud disorder.
Chunjin will give you a two piece Soviet
sniper’s rifle that fit’s nicely into a special bag.
A "sniper" is a person who shoots at people from a hidden place.
There’s a spotlightbooth that won’t be in use.
A "spotlight" is a very bright and powerful light that can be seen
from far away. A "booth" is a stand or stall for selling goods at a convention.
You are to shoot the Presidential nominee through
the head, and Johnny will rise gallantly to his feet.
The "nominee" of a political party is the person chosen by that party to
run for a particular office (in this case, President). To rise "gallantly"
is to stand with great confidence and power, like a king.
The speech is short, but it’s the most rousing speech I’ve ever read.
It’s been worked on here and in Russia for over eight years.
If a speech is "rousing," it causes great emotion
or excitement among the people who hear it.
Rallying a nation of television viewers into hysteria, to sweep us up
into the White House with powers that will make martial law seem like anarchy.
"To rally" people is to get them excited about a particular cause or event.
"Hysteria" is uncontrolled emotion or excitement. "Martial law" is strict
rule by the military, and "anarchy" is the lack of law or government, or a
more general word for chaos or disorder.
...he finishes the phrase "Nor would I ask any American to give something
in defense of his freedom that I would not gladly give myself."
A "phrase" is an expression or set of words.
I know you will never entirely comprehend this Raymond,
but you must believe I did not know it would be you.
"To comprehend" is to understand.
I am on the point of winning them the greatest foothold they’ll ever have
in this country and they paid me back by taking your soul away from you.
To be "on the point of" doing something is to be about to do it (Today, it’s much
more common to say on the verge of doing something). A "foothold" is a starting
position that can be used as a base for later advance or expansion. A person’s
"soul" is the non-physical part of who they are, which in theory lives on
after one dies.
I told them to build me an arsenal and they chose you,
because they thought it would bind me closer to them.
An "arsenal" is a plant for the building and storage of weapons.
"To bind" one person to another is to hold or stick them close together.
And when I take power, they will be pulled down and ground into dirt for what
they did to you, and what they did in so contemptuouslyunderestimating me.
"To ground" a person into dirt is to crush them into little pieces. If a
person acts "contemptuously," they behave in a snobby way, looking down
on the person they are dealing with. "To underestimate" a person is to
believe they are not as smart, talented, strong, etc. as they really are.
With help from Major Marco, Raymond escapes from his communist brainwashing, but he still pays a terrible price.
It was a calculated risk; You were right to take it.
A "calculated risk" is an action that involves danger, but that is
done only after intelligently thinking about how much risk is really involved.
If Stieman doesn’t take off that stupid hat and stop messingaround with those broads, I’m gonna bust him into a PFC.
"To mess around" with someone is to joke around with them or to pass time
with them in a not very serious manner. "Broad" is a ridiculously dated
slang word for a woman. In this case, "to bust" a person is to beat them,
and in the military, PFC means Private First Class, which is one of the
lowest levels or ranks.
Ok, Milt, I blew it.
"To blow it" is an excellent expression which means to do something very
badly, or even to forget entirely to do something that needed to be done.
If the Pentagon ever wants to open up a stupidity
division, they know who they can get to lead it.
"The Pentagon" is the five sided building in Washington that houses
the US military, and more generally, the US military command itself.
That’s what I figured. Let me get the hell out of here.
"To figure" is a common way of saying to think or believe.
"The hell" is a filler added to express emotion such as frustration.
If you got a tip there was bomb planted here, you’d stop it fast enough.
A tip is an important and often secretly given piece of information
that helps a person solve a problem, or in this case, avoid something bad.
I tell you there’s a bomb just waiting to go off.
If a bomb "goes off," it explodes.
Ladies and gentleman, our national anthem.
The official song of a country (In the US, it is "The Star Spangled Banner").
Stop twitching; Raymond’s never missed with a rifle in his life.
"To twitch" is to move one’s muscles about nervously or in sudden jerking
motions. A "rifle" is a gun with a long barrel through which the bullets pass.
Were in like flint, lover.
An old-fashioned expression which means to have succeeded
at something difficult so that you are now in a good situation.
It’s with humility, albeitenormouspride, that I must humbly and
gratefully accept this nomination for the highest office in our land.
"Humility" is a feeling of being humble, or almost of not feeling like you
truly deserve what you’ve been given. "Albeit" is another word for although or
even though. "Enormous" means huge or extremely big and "pride" is the feeling
of being proud of oneself.
The years of decision, and if I may be permitted
a phrase of my own, the years of striving.
A "phrase" is a brief expression, and "to strive" means to
work hard for something or toward a much desired goal.
You should read some of the citations sometime.
Here, "citations" are official expressions of appreciation and gratefulness.
Killing four enemies in the process when one arm and one leg was shattered.
If a person’s leg has been "shattered," it has been blown into pieces.
He could only crawl because the other leg had been blown off.
"To crawl" is to move on your hands and knees, like a baby.
He pulled two of his men to safety amid 69 dead and 203 casualties.
"Amid" means surrounded by or in the middle of. A "casualty" is a person
who has been killed or seriously wounded, often during a war.
Made to commit acts too unspeakable to be cited
here, by an enemy who had captured his mind and soul.
If an act is "unspeakable," it is so horrible or disgusting that people don’t
want to talk about it. Here, "cited" means officially listed or mentioned.
He heroically and unhesitatingly gave his life to save his country.
This is a rare adverb which means to do something without hesitation, doubt or delay.
The Manchurian CandidatePossible Topics for ESL Class Discussion
1. Do you think people can really be brainwashed?
Do you know anybody who has? Have you?!
2.. Was Raymond the only brainwashed American? Is it possible Major Marco was too?
Is it possible that Rosie was Marco’s "American operator"?
3. What does the role of Raymond’s mother tell us about how Americans viewed the
communist threat back in 1962? Were the communists (the Soviets and the Chinese)
really as evil as they appear in this movie?
4. Are there any similarities between communism and organized religion?
Indeed, is communism a religion?
5. Why do you think they decided to make a remake of this movie in 2004?
6. Was this movie a drama or science fiction? Or even a comedy?
7. Was the plot believable?
8. What did you like and not like about this film?