Character Studies

By Isobel Smith  

As regular readers of TPF will know, I am a great fan of Patrick McGoohan as a villain and have even written an article for this magazine about this (‘Getting into Character’).  In this article I will be writing about the other film roles that (Six of One's) Honorary President has portrayed during his career – all of them very different and highly enjoyable.  He always makes a film interesting and worth watching. 

As Jess, one of the gypsies in the ‘Gypsy and the Gentleman’ he is again playing the villain but for the first and possibly the only time on screen, a spurned lover. He resents the love that Belle (the late Melinda Mercouri) had for him has been transferred to Sir Paul Deverill (Keith Michell) so for revenge Jess plans to kidnap Keith Michell’s character’s sister to get his own back.  An extremely rare occurrence is this film’s rather full-blown kiss in the stable between Belle and Jess, although I heard it was Frank Maher who performed the kiss with Belle!!? (now, that’s what I call a stand-in! – Ed.)  All villains do get their prey and Jess ends up kidnapping Belle and they end up on a terrifying carriage ride and…well, I won’t spoil it for you! 

Whilst filming ‘the Prisoner’, Patrick McGoohan had a major role, that of David Jones (one never finds out if this is his character’s real name) in the film ‘Ice Station Zebra’, which he made during the filming of ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling’.  The character has shades of John Drake in the later series of ‘Danger Man’ and one never knows on which side the character’s loyalty truly is.  The film captures perfectly the Alistair McLean novel on which it is based and sums up the problem of the Cold War which was at its height at the time the film was made. 

Smuggling and its effect on others appears twice in the Patrick McGoohan character lists – Joss Merlyn in ‘Jamaica Inn’ and the Reverend Dr. Christopher Syn in ‘Doctor Syn’.  The latter was the first ever film I saw Patrick McGoohan in, appropriately in Kent, not far from Dynchurch where the real Doctor Syn undertook his smuggling disguised as a scarecrow.  Both these characters are very different – Joss drinking to forget the death and destruction he has caused.  As he tells his niece Mary Yellan (an over-pretty Jane Seymour) “It’s life and death, Mary… and when I drink I am bathed in glory… and it will be the death of me”.  Joss treats his wife Patience (a wonderful performance from Billie Whitelaw) so badly that she is near to madness.

On the other hand, Doctor Sym cares deeply for his parish, providing them with various items so they can keep their heads above water, as the Government of the day has bled them dry with constant high prices.  He assists an American, Simon Turner (played by Tony Britton) to escape under the very noses of the garrison where the American had been placed, as like the American he believes in the freedom of the individual. 

Although Patrick McGoohan has never played any Shakespearean roles on screen, which is a great pity as at the age is now he would make a wonderful King Lear (I agree – Ed), he got very near when he played the role of Johnny Cousin in the film ‘All Night Long’.  This film was an updating of the Shakespeare play ‘Othello’.  Set in a jazz club in the early 1960’s, his role was based on Iago (another missed role), the villain of the piece.  I recall that for the part he had to learn to play the drums (which he does so with ease and brilliance!) and I’m sure he drove Joan and the children potty!!  He plots the downfall of his friend Rex (Paul Harris) and his wife, Delia (Marti Stevens), when Delia refuses to join his band when he decides to go solo.  Another rare occurrence in this film is Patrick McGoohan’s character taking drugs - which he forces upon Cass (Keith Michell, yet again!).  In the end Johnny is shown to be completely insane and very alone, even his own wife Emily (Betsy Blair) deserting him after constant bad treatment, with just his drum kit for company. 

James Stuart, Mary Queen of Scots’ half brother in the film of the same name, seems to be the forerunner of the real historical characters that Patrick McGoohan has played.  A vulpine character who crosses and double-crosses his way to power in his belief that he is the true heir to the throne.  From what I have read on James Stuart, Patrick’s performance is very accurate and he does look very fetching in his doublet and hose, unlike some other members of the cast! 

It was a complete reversal of character when Patrick McGoohan played the role of Chief Olin T Blackwell in ‘Escape from Alcatraz’.  A real character who was as hard as he is portrayed on screen and it is no wonder that they closed the prison after the famous escape.  Creepy is the only way I can describe the way the character is played, especially in the scenes where the canary and the flower.  It is as if he is one step away from insanity. 

I have mentioned just a few of my personal favourites and I hope some of them are yours as well.