Has anyone ever seen this TV series THE PRISONER (1967) ? Someone told be about it an I've seen the DVD at Best Buy, but never thought to much about it thinking it was another FUGITIVE type series. Someone at work told me that his theater class had shown it this week and that it was interesting and after reading some reviews on the show I'v become interested in what it's about. Has anyone seen this British TV Show?
(http://www.billsuniverse.com/movies/covers/prisoner.jpg)
(http://www.asbarese.it/img/prisoner.jpg)
Post Edited (09-18-04 17:33)
I've got the whole set. Watched it as a kid in the early 70s, it's like nothing else. It gives you a lot to think about such as in terms of the relationship of the individual to society.
Here's one website on it: http://www.sixofone.org.uk/
Excellent. The show "Nowhere Man" was supposed to be a cross between this and "The Fugitive", because we all know that any show that's just two other shows mashed together is GOLDEN. I probably shouldn't even get started, but this show is right up there with the Twilight Zone, and Number Six (the protagonist) is right up there with Mulder.
A very surreal 60's series, which is too weird for some's taste. They show it on Friday nights on BBC America along with The Avengers and The Saint.
It has always been debated whether the character Number Six was actually John Drake, Patrick McGoohan's character from the UK series Danger Man. One of the Danger Man series was broadcast on CBS in the states and retitled Secret Agent and featured the Johnny Rivers theme "Secret Agent Man".
Wow, that is certainly a possitive response to a show that I've never really heard of. I use to get BBC America then they took if from my cable package. Well, at least I now have my radar up for this one. Thanks.
I'm in the camp that holds that #6 IS John Drake, even though McGoohan claims otherwise. It just makes sense, having been devoted to both series.
* * * * * *
"Who is #1?"
"I am #2 -- You are #6 . . . "
* * * * * *
Leo McKern -- "Rumpole of the Bailey", "The Mouse that Roared" -- made by far the best #2.
I just love the damn show. I remember when it ran first-run in Virginia. All of us in the 6th & 7th grades were devoted to it. Nobody's parents got it. I think children have an easier time with surrealism & odd nonsense than adults do, as this is how the world seems to them anyway.
* * * * * *
The giant, floppy balloon-bubble things that acted as the guard dogs of The Village are far and away the weirdest "shock troops" ever seen in film or TV. I've seen parodies of them a million times -- mostly on BBC comedies -- but nothing in a serious science-fiction show to match their pure strangeness.
peter johnson/denny crane
I have the whole DVD set too. One thing the A&E set does is include MPI Home Video's guide to the Prisoner documentary. It explains much of the symbolism in the show and gives some great background info.
I mentioned in another thread Peter Wyndegarde (the Innocents, Flash Gordon). He was a Number 2 also.
My two favorite episodes are "Living In Harmony" and "Free For All."
What does The Prisoner and Seinfield have in common?
The final episode features both shows main characters being put on trial. The shows also sort of start over at the end. Jerry and George have the same discussion they were having in the pilot at the end of the final episode. At the end of the Prisoner were see Number Six driving back to headquarters to turn in his resignation.
Another fan of "The Prisoner" here. First saw it when it aired on A&E in the early 90s, after years of reading about it. One of the few times the goods lived up to the hype, for me anyway.
Definitely not for all tastes, and definitely a series where episodes bear repeat viewing because of the deliberately bewildering nature of the stories. I love that the themes of conformity, the individual vs. society, paranoia, distrust of authority, loyalty, and the types of rebellion are dealt with so strongly while still being an entertaining show. Not many series can sustain interest and quality when at the end of each episode the "hero" has failed yet again in his only true goal - to escape the Village?
Some of my favorites are episodes like "Hammer into Anvil" (No. 6 turns the tables on the very nasty current inhabitant of the No. 2 post), "The Chimes of Big Ben" (the first appeareance of Leo McKern on the show), and "The Girl Who Was Death" (a clever dig at fans who wanted stories closer to the old John Drake series). The final duo of "Once Upon a Time" and "Fall Out" of course are great as well. The dialogue in parts of "Fall Out" is amazing just on its own.
I have the entire series on DVD. I remember watching the show as a kid. It is very surreal (and has a very 1960s look to it). It won't appeal to everyone, but I enjoy it.
i am a big fan of the show also. anyone everysee the pardoy of the prisoner on the simpsons? "see you on the island".
Wow, still can't believe I haven't seen this series. Sounds great !
Post Edited (09-19-04 21:27)
RIch, I caught that when it first aired and enjoyed the hell out of it, which is odd since I quit watching "The Simpsons" on a regular basis years ago.
I don't know if I've seen every Prisoner episode, but I saw many of them, including the finale, on one channel (SciFi?) several years ago.
One piece of advice for anyone who has never seen the show; Don't expect it to make sense, especially the ending.
I saw one where they joined a cult and Marge tried to escape, but was chased by a giant bubble. The Prisoner theme played in the background.
I agree #6 is Drake . . .
In the "Dangerman" series, Drake goes to a Soviet spy training camp that remakably resembles aspects of the village.
Thoughts?
Rob Phillips
According to a book I've got, that "Secret Agent" episode which filmed at the resort town of Portmeirion, which also "portrayed" The Village in "The Prisoner", kind of eventually led to McGoohan's idea for "The Prisoner". He liked the architecture and atmosphere of the place and thought it should be used for a project. When he was preparing material to pitch the idea for "The Prisoner" to Lew Grade about two years later, he had photos of Portmeirion included.