Frankenheimer's other film, Seconds
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Manchurian Candidate
Pearl_Jade — 14 years ago(November 19, 2011 01:59 AM)
Has anyone seen Frankenheimer's 1966 film
Seconds
starring Rock Hudson? That was a movie that was truly ahead of its time. It also employs many of the same techniques (and also has several similar plot points) as
The Manchurian Candidate
:
SEMI-SPOILERS BELOW (these don't give away the ending or premise of
Seconds
, but they do reveal certain scenes so read at your own risk):- both are filmed in black and white
- both have an eerie and dark aura to them
- both have a nightmarish dream sequence in which a person's actions are manipulated
- both involve an organization with a rather sinister agenda
- both feature inventive camera work and distinctive visual motifs; the camera angles are especially unconventional in
Seconds - common theme: paranoia, being "handled" and "watched"
END OF SEMI-SPOILERS
Like
TCM
,
Seconds
is also based on a novel and is visually innovative in telling its story and creating an atmosphere.
Seconds
is even bolder and more cutting-edge than
TCM
in that regard. If you liked
TCM
, I recommend it.
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franzkabuki — 13 years ago(June 19, 2012 06:20 PM)
The first 40 minutes of Seconds in particular is one of the greatest stretches/acts in all of film history. Things go somewhat downhill from the moment Hudson appears.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan -
ilpohirvonen — 13 years ago(June 25, 2012 08:57 AM)
Yea it's really an amazing film. The way it portrays total dissatisfaction is something truly monumental. I also always loved the way how Frankenheimer carries out the social themes of TMC even further in Seconds on the level of individual existence.
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first-things-first — 12 years ago(July 27, 2013 04:08 AM)
I own a copy of Seconds, and agree it is a great movie. And I realize today that I didn't have any sympathy for the protagonist. His actions at the end affect his friend.
"as long as people can change, the world can change" -
steve-carrasco — 9 years ago(November 11, 2016 03:17 PM)
I find it very difficult to watch. I think it's an astounding film, but so bleak and depressingso sad. I think maybe I equate Rock's character with himself and it's ultimately tragic.
That said, I was certain that James Wong Howe was the cinematographer on both films - but it turns out, he was just DP on Seconds. So, more credit to Frankenheimer for the visual style of both films - and being able to communicate that to his DP's.