Women and ‘the prisoner’

The only female character, Nadia Ruskov, portrayed by the late Nadia Gray, is an Estonian who is brought to The Village in full view of Number Six - who almost akins himself and his situation to her. He offers her free information and advice about The Village and the whereabouts of Number 2. Again, he is betrayed but not before he has been lured into thinking that Number 2 will torture Nadia until he tells them his resignation secret. Nadia and Number 6 become allies and even seem to escape from The Village, only for Number 6 to discover that it was all part of a very elaborate hoax. 

A. B. & C.

Three very different women dominate this story, from the very dedicated doctor, Number 14, played by Sheila Allen, to the highly flamboyant Parisienne, Engadine (Katherine Kath), and the enigmatic ‘B’ (Annette Carrell) who even looks like a spy. Manipulation and self-control make Number 6 the winner in this story. In a way, I believe that Number 14 really cares for Number 6, particularly when she tries to stop Number 2’s (Colin Gordon) plans and by the way she almost gloats when she says, “He was going away on holiday.” Engadine, the rather over-the-top hostess with the mostest, and ‘B’, are both manipulator and manipulated. Engadine “seems to be an ally” and ends up just part of a trick by Number 6. 

Free For All

The character which we first meet as Number 58 (Rachael Herbert) seems to be as enigmatic as ‘B’ but more mysterious for she speaks in her strange gibberish, almost driving Number 6 to drink (God forbid!). Again, in the Prisoner, a shock is delivered to the viewer and Number 6 when this young woman, in perfect English, says, “Will you never learn.  She also seems to enjoy the pain she inflicts on Number 6.  A real sadist -similar to Patrick Cargill in Hammer into Anvil.

The Schizoid Man

Alison (Jane Merrow) is also an unwilling betrayer but gets the chance to beg forgiveness with the man, she alone (or so she thinks), believes to be Number Six.  He accepts it, not realising that he is part of a trap that even Alison couldn’t be part of.  She seems enthralled by the winning streak - entering every competition that The Village offers to its entrapped members.

The General

Acharacter that seems to be not part of Village life is the Professor’s wife (the late Betty McDowell). She lives rather a secluded and isolated life - that seems to be very privileged. She cares deeply for her husband and is shocked when Number 6 crashes the poker on to the mask of the Professor’s face, a brilliant piece of filming by Patrick McGoohan and a man who must have nerves of steel, Peter Howell, who plays the Professor (actually, I don’t think Peter was ever in shot during the poker scene, but I’m prepared to be corrected - Ed). His wife’s day seems to revolve around her art classes and creating her sculptures and The Village seems miles away.

Many Happy Returns

Mrs Butterworth (Georgina Cookson) seems to be, on the surface, a wealthy widow - almost one who is looking for her Number 2 (husband that is!). She offers kindness, understanding and friendship to Number 6 that he hasn’t seen for ages and even offers to bake him a birthday cake when he returns from looking for The Village! The trap is set and Number 6 gets his birthday cake delivered not by Mrs Butterworth but by her real identity, yet another Number 2. 

Dance Of The Dead

This episode is often known as the women’s episode because of the high percentage of women involved in and behind the camera. Number 2 (played by the late Mary Morris) is mysterious as the character she plays in the carnival, Peter Pan. She always seems to have the upper hand with Number 6 - note her superior tone when in the ‘Mr Tuxedo’ scene and the way she tells Number 6 that even the cat is hers. Number 240 (Norma West) again believes she has the upper hand - but as seen on the Belvedere outside scene, she is revealed to be yet another ‘pawn’. When she offers to observe someone else and is told by the supervisor (Camilla Hasse) that the person is dead, she seems to be genuinely upset as when she is tricked in the trial scene. The other female of note is the maid played by Denise Buckley who, like Number 2, has the upper hand - note her very superior airs and graces when she becomes Queen Elizabeth the First! 

Checkmate

The White Queen, Number 8 (played by Rosalie Crutchley) is trapped by her feelings (although drug induced) for Number 6. He sums up The Village by, “Everyone is so near, far too near.” She, like Number 9 and the maid in ‘Arrival’ resorts to tears to get Number 6’s sympathy - he even offers his handkerchief to her! The other major female role is the first psychiatrist played by Patricia Jessell. With great sneering villainy, she says, “I would love to know his breaking point.” His reply, “you could make it your life’s ambition” is not far from the truth. 

Hammer Into Anvil

The major female character in this episode is Number 73 (played by Hilary Dwyer) who is seen as a victim of Number 2 (Patrick Cargill) in the opening scenes of this episode. One can only feel sorry for her as it seems suicide is her only way out, although you never really find out if her husband did have an affair. 

It’s your Funeral

Monique, the watchmaker’s daughter (Annette André), in the first scene of the episode is to be yet another victim of the Village authorities to trap Number 6 by gaining his sympathy and getting him to prevent an assassination. He seems to believe her story even though it seems to be rather flimsy. At the end, Number 6 does have the upper hand over the new Number 2 (Derren Nesbitt). The other female character is the computer operator played by Wanda Ventham but she is only seen very briefly and is not fully defined (oh, I wouldn’t say that! - Sorry! Ed).

A Change Of Mind

Angela Browne (Number 86) seems to be the model of efficiency and knowledgeable about her job but as the episode progresses she is shown to be easily led and can be manipulated by the man she is trying to trap! A favourite scene is when she describes the lobotomy operation and its equipment to her eager public watching on television. (note: although some do not think too highly of her acting in that scene, I heard somewhere that the hammed-up Tomorrows World’ style was deliberate - Ed). 

Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling

In this episode we discover that rather incredulously, Number 6 is engaged to his boss’s daughter, Janet Portland (Zena Walker). I always feel that Number 6 played by Nigel Stock in this programme is more suited to Janet rather than Patrick McGoohan. Janet seems to be a ‘yuppie of her day with her constant round of parties and dress fittings. 

Living In Harmony

As mentioned in the section on ‘Arrival, I feel that Kathy (the late Valerie French) is an innocent victim of circumstances beyond her control. Both in the town of Harmony and the Village she seems to get far too involved with the man who she has helped. She lies dying in the arms of Number 6 and confesses she wishes it had been very real so I think perhaps, she falls in love with him although the love is not returned. 

The Girl Who Was Death

Sonia Schnipps (Justine Lord) and her real life counterpart in the Village are as different as chalk and cheese. Sonia is a figment of Number 6’s imagination – a fantasy character who seems to be invincible like a super villain’ - note the car chase. The Village character is seen very briefly and is very annoyed along with her boss, Number 2 (Kenneth Griffith) to find that Number 6 has been telling a fairy tale and wouldn’t even drop his guard with his own grandmother!

In Conclusion...

Once Upon a Time and Fall Out

These episodes are womenless which works perfectly although as I mentioned at the beginning of this article (issue 30) the episodes would have been very different if women were involved.

I would be very interested in other people’s views on the female characters in the programme. Please write c/o The Penny Farthing.