Crazy question - SPOILERS SPOILERS
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Manchurian Candidate
GiaJake — 12 years ago(July 24, 2013 01:20 PM)
I loved this movie and have watched it about twenty times, but I was wondering kind of a weird thing. It always seemed extremely clever that RS was triggered by the red Queen. I mean how often would you see a red Queen unless you were playing cards? However, I grew up in a poker playing family, and often played solitaire, particularly back then. After all, wasn't Frank Sinatra playing solitaire at the bar? RS had to encounter the red Queen since he was discharged from the service, when it wouldn't be necessary for brainwashing. I wonder what occurred if that happened. I know he went in the water when he saw FS 's red Queen, then had no recollection of his actions. It was extremely ironic that his future wife dressed as a red Queen.
I know it's a goofy question, but I was just curious. I don 't think most people could avoid seeing a red Queen for years, but of course I could be wrong. -
first-things-first — 12 years ago(July 24, 2013 01:52 PM)
My family played cards too. I think gin rummy, but I can't remember the names of the games. I love solitaire too. I only remember the face cards when playing cards. The board games of the sixties where checkers, chess, candyland. I mostly remember playing cards.
"as long as people can change, the world can change" -
Syrinx9 — 12 years ago(August 04, 2013 03:10 AM)
I think that he would only have been affected through a combination of hearing the sentence about playing solitaire followed by seeing the red queen. (which is what happened in the bar) The only time the red queen worked without the sentence was when his girlfriend's costume brought him out of the trance.
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rayshaw44 — 12 years ago(August 06, 2013 03:22 PM)
Yes, he needed to hear the phrase, "Why don't you pass the time by playing a little solitaire." Once hearing that he would seek out a deck of cards and play solitaire until the Queen of Diamonds appeared at which time he would stop completely and await instructions. When Josie appeared, Raymond's mother had just left taking with her the queen of diamonds saying, "It might do mischief". So at that point Raymond was in essence immobilized not being able to see the queen of diamonds. The appearance of Josie makes him open to instruction which leads to the interesting question of at what point after reuniting with Josie does Raymond begin to act on his own volition since it seems at least after initially seeing Josie, he'd do whatever she asks.