Summary
The discussion centers on the political thriller "The Manchurian Candidate," a film that has gained a mythical status since its release in 1962. The hosts explore its themes of brainwashing and political conspiracy, particularly in the context of the Cold War. They note that the film's plot, involving a soldier manipulated into becoming an assassin, reflects fears of communist influence in America, while also serving as a critique of McCarthyism.
The hosts highlight the film's lasting cultural impact, with the term "Manchurian Candidate" becoming synonymous with political manipulation. They discuss the film's portrayal of political figures and its commentary on the era's paranoia, drawing parallels to contemporary political events. The conversation also touches on the film's production, including its notable cast and the director's influence on its execution. Overall, the hosts appreciate the film's craftsmanship and its relevance, despite its age, while expressing interest in comparing it to the 2004 remake in future discussions.
Show Notes
Cory has gone rogue and changed the running order of the episode! Is that because he was kidnapped and brainwashed while out fighting in Korea? Or because we're talking about that classic of Cold War paranoia, The Manchurian Candidate? Mark and Cory talk about why it's important for Communist front companies to make a profit, highlight how the film skewers both left and right, and debate whether the dastardly conspiracy at the heart of the plot actually makes any sense. The Roger Ebert reviews which are referenced in the episode can be read here and here. Cory’s email newsletter is Paperback Rioter and Mark has a family of email newsletters. Subscribe to our newsletter for some additional bonus content and to get alerted whenever a new episode comes out. Our theme tune is “Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” by Kevin MacLeod/incompetech.com and licensed under the Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License. Next time, we're talking about Charlie Wilson's War.
More from Political Fictions: political drama on screen and on the page
Top author and newsletter writer Sam Freedman joins us this week to talk about The Thick of It special episodes 'Rise of the Nutters' and 'Spinners and Losers'. We talk about how prescient the episodes are about both the rise of Gordon Brown and the Conservative rebranding under David Cameron, top political advice about how you can ensure you get a good desk in an office, Cory gets massively distracted by the cricket, and we end by wondering whether the show has been misunderstood. Sam's newsletter is Comment Is Freed, and you can listen to Mark's previous chats with Sam about his writing here and here. If you are in the UK, you can watch these episodes on BBC iPlayer. Next time, we're talking about The Manchurian Candidate. Cory’s email newsletter is Paperback Rioter and Mark has a family of email newsletters. Subscribe to our newsletter for some additional bonus content and to get alerted whenever a new episode comes out. Our theme tune is “Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” by Kevin MacLeod/incompetech.com and licensed under the Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.
Mark and Cory conclude their discussion of the classic TV series State of Play. Mark reports back on his correspondence with a cast member and also auditions for a role as a defence counsel, whilst they also talk about which elements of the plot remain realistic today and which are complete MacGuffins. The Guardian article Cory refers to can be read here and the previous podcast episode, covering State of Play episode 1, is here. Next time, Sam Freedman joins us to talk about The Thick Of It specials The Rise of the Nutters and Spinners and Losers, both of which you can watch on BBC iPlayer. Cory’s email newsletter is Paperback Rioter and Mark has a family of email newsletters. Subscribe to our newsletter for some additional bonus content and to get alerted whenever a new episode comes out. Our theme tune is “Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” by Kevin MacLeod/incompetech.com and licensed under the Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.
Mark and Cory begin their two-part series on the classic TV series State of Play by discussing episode one. It begins with Mark recoiling in horror at the low score Cory intends to give it, almost causing an irreparable rift in Political Fictions Towers. Thankfully, they manage to repair the relationship by talking about what the show tells us about politics in the early 2000s, praise the excellent cast (especially those who are able to stand awkwardly in the background very effectively) and undertake some seriously impressive letterbox-based investigative work. You can view more about State of Play, including details of where it's currently streaming, here. Next week, we'll be returning to talk about the rest of the series. Cory’s email newsletter is Paperback Rioter and Mark has a family of email newsletters.
Mark and Cory discuss The Lives of Others, a modern classic about Stasi surveillance in 1980s East Germany. They start off talking about how to cope with a terrible dictatorship and how the film is about the power of art. However, they quickly get sidetracked with some suspicious behaviour of the Stasi officers including keeping bottles of tomato sauce in the sink and drawing floorplans of flats a little too quickly. (A note of caution: this episode does contain discussion of themes including suicide and sexual assault where this is relevant to the film's plot.) Anna Funder's article on the film which Cory references can be found here, and the more academic article on suicide can be found here. Timothy Garton Ash's The File is highly praised by both Cory and Mark in the episode, whilst you can also buy tickets for the play here.
Mark and Cory talk about a giant of American political drama for the first time this week, as they tackle The West Wing. They talk about Let Bartlet Be Bartlet, the nineteenth episode of series one. In it, Mark wonders if The West Wing is actually the epitome of the "Boris Johnson school of politics", Cory outmanoeuvres Mark into confirming we will record a Christmas Special about Love, Actually and they debate whether the central message of this episode has been misunderstood. Next time, we're discussing The Lives of Others. Cory’s email newsletter is Paperback Rioter and Mark has a family of email newsletters. Subscribe to our newsletter for some additional bonus content and to get alerted whenever a new episode comes out. Our theme tune is “Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” by Kevin MacLeod/incompetech.com and licensed under the Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.