The Manchurian Candidate. Called by critic Charles McCarthy "arguably the best thriller ever written," Condon's novel depicts an American soldier brainwashed by the Chinese during the Korean War and turned into a controlled assassin. The novel reflects American politics during the McCarthy era. It would be adapted as a controversial film in 1962, starring Frank Sinatra. Condon was a film publicist before publishing his first novel, The Oldest Confession (1958).
Winter Kills. Condon gains a critical and commercial success with this taut thriller about a CIA-influenced presidential assassination with clear Kennedy echoes.
Prizzi's Honor. Condon's black comedy depicts a mob hit man who falls in love with his contract--also a hired killer. Condon would cowrite the screenplay for a successful 1985 film version.
Career Highlights: The Manchurian Candidate, Prizzi's Honor, Winter Kills
First Major Screen Credit: The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Biography
Author Richard Condon had several of his novels turned into well-regarded movies. His debut novel, The Oldest Confession (1958), was made into a movie starring Rita Hayworth and Rex Harrison in 1962 while his most famous book, The Manchurian Candidate, was filmed by John Frankenheimer in 1962. Condon himself adapted his novel Prizzi's Honor to the screen for John Huston in 1985. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
After service in the United States Merchant Marine, Condon achieved moderate success as a Hollywood publicist, ad writer and Hollywood agent. Condon turned to writing in 1957. Employed by United Artists as an ad writer, he complained that he was wasting time in Hollywood and wished to write a novel. Without Condon's knowledge, his boss, Max E. Youngstein deducted amounts from his salary then fired him after a year giving him the amount of money he had deducted in the form of a Mexican bank account and the key to a house overlooking the ocean in Mexico. Youngstein told him to write his book.[3] His second novel, The Manchurian Candidate (1959), featured a dedication to Youngstein. The movie made from it in 1962, made him famous. Prizzi's Honor (1982) was likewise made into a successful movie.
Condon's writing was known for its complex plotting, fascination with trivia, and loathing for those in power; at least two of his books featured thinly disguised versions of Richard Nixon. His characters tend to be driven by obsession, usually sexual or political, and by family loyalty. His plots often have elements of classical tragedy, with protagonists whose pride leads them to a place to destroy what they love. Some of his books, most notably Mile High (1969), are perhaps best described as secret history. And Then We Moved to Rossenara is a humorous autobiographical recounting of various places in the world where he had lived and his family's 1970s move to Rossenarra, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.
