Commentary from Movie Maverick Mike
The Manchurian Movie Market
#kspscinema
Hollywood is currently wrestling with Chinese officials on release dates for their films in the Middle Kingdom. Disney in particular has suffered, since blockbusters “Black Widow”, “Eternals”, and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (which was made for Asian audiences) have not been granted access to Chinese cinemas.
The reason this is significant for Saturday Night Cinema, is that our feature “The Manchurian Candidate” would not get made in today’s environment, since the story suggests Chinese government corruption and skullduggery. In fact, the 2004 remake starring Denzel Washington substituted the Manchurian of the title with a “sinister multinational corporation”, rather than a meddling nation-state, to ensure acceptance by foreign markets.
Appeasing Chinese censors by removing unflattering portrayals wasn’t a concern for our film in 1962, as it is today … or is it? If the Middle Kingdom remains closed to Hollywood productions, we might see more films “freed” to criticize or otherwise question foreign powers and their leaders.
So “The Manchurian Candidate” has become topical, in a way, 50 years after its initial release, if only in terms of self-censorship. The viewer will have to decide on Saturday Night Cinema.
Featuring little-known films and blockbusters alike, Saturday Night Cinema has been entertaining KSPS audiences since 1985. Enjoy dramas, comedies, mysteries, musicals and more; with film introduction and commentary by KSPS hosts: Shaun O’L. Higgins, Ryan Tucker, Mikayla Daniels, and our movie maverick, Mike Hoff.
Upcoming Movies
| 04/15/23 | Manchurian Candidate | Mikayla |
| 04/22/23 | Sweet Smell Of Success | Shaun |
| 04/29/23 | Yours, Mine And Ours | Ryan |
| 05/06/23 | Birdcage, The | Mikayla |
| 05/13/23 | Fiddler On The Roof | Shaun |
| 05/20/23 | Kind Hearts & Coronets | Shaun |
| 05/27/23 | West Side Story | Ryan |
| 06/17/23 | Lilies Of The Field | Ryan |
| 06/24/23 | Paths Of Glory | Mikayla |
| 07/01/23 | Baby Boom | Ryan |
| 07/08/23 | Beach Blanket Bingo | Shaun |
| 07/15/23 | Pride | Ryan |
| 07/22/23 | Run Silent, Run Deep | Ryan |
| 07/29/23 | Wargames | Mikayla |
| 08/05/23 | Big Country, The | Mikayla |
| 08/26/23 | Hoosiers | Ryan |