A U.S. Army platoon, captured in the Korean conflict, is whisked to Manchuria for three nightmarish days of experimental drug-and-hypnosis-induced conditioning to carry out the orders of the enemy upon release. When a decorated Korean War veteran who has been brainwashed is used by his mother to promote her Joseph McCarthy-like husband's political career by committing political assassinations, his old military commander begins to suspect and must stop him.

Based on the novel by Richard Condon. Originally released as a motion picture in 1962. Special features include: commentary track by John Frankenheimer ; cast and crew interviews ; Queen of diamonds (featurette with Angela Lansbury) ; A little solitaire (featurette with William Friedkin) ; original theatrical trailer.