|
Patrick
McGoohan
as:
The Prisoner Although, as a fanzine we do assume readers know all about the series, for the benefit of those who are wondering: "What's it all about?" TPF presents a Rough Guide to The Prisoner. The guide is not meant to be exhaustive, basically we have listed the episodes in original screening order (we are not going to go back to that old chestnut of episode order here!) with the synopsis as blatantly nicked from the back of the videocassettes (!) in italics, and my own brief comments afterward. The pennyfarthing rating is my own opinion, your views are welcome. On the last page there is a poll - please let us know your favourite episode! All images copyright © Granada Ventures.
ARRIVAL
Written by: George
Markstein, David Tomblin. Directed by: Don Chaffey.
Number 2: Guy
Doleman, George Baker. Guest stars: Paul Eddington, Virginia Maskell.
A high ranking
Government official resigns from his Top Security job. He returns home to
pack for a holiday, but while doing this anaesthetic gas billows into the
room. When he awakes he finds himself in a beautiful but isolated
community called THE VILLAGE. Here men and women are stripped of their
identities and reduced to mere numbers. He is NUMBER SIX. His captors
want to know why he resigned but one thing is for sure, there is no escape
for… THE PRISONER.
The opening episode may be the most straightforward to follow, but there is so much action packed into the 50 minutes or so you are left wanting more immediately. Plenty of Village scenes along with two attempts to escape, and even a change of Number Two. For those reasons this episode remains my personal favourite. The 'alternative' version of Arrival is now available to buy on DVD; for a review of this DVD click here or for a more in-depth analysis of the episode, click here. THE CHIMES OF
BIG BEN
Written by:
Vincent Tilsley. Directed by: Don Chaffey.
Number 2: Leo McKern. Guest stars:
Nadia Gray, Finlay Currie.
Number 6
devises a complex plan to escape from the Village with the aid of a
beautiful new arrival. But the chimes of Big Ben still seem a long way
away.
The interplay between McGoohan's character and Leo McKern as Number Two makes this episode a popular one among Prisoner fans. A nice twist to the end... although Number Six would not have thought so! The "alternative" version of "Chimes" has been released on video again, and includes a scene deleted from the "official" broadcast version and different opening/closing sequences, as well as minor differences in the soundtrack.
A, B & C.
Written by:
Anthony Skene. Directed by: Pat Jackson.
Number 2: Colin
Gordon. Guest Stars: Sheila Allen, Peter Bowles, Katherine Kath.
The Village
continues its desperate attempts to extract the reason for Number Six’s
resignation. Using a new and dangerous drug Number Two is able to enter
the Prisoner’s mind and control his dreams. Was he going to sell out?
The answers lie with A… B… and C!
The first episode to feature some "far-fetched" technology, clearly The Village is already getting impatient and Number Two is under immense pressure to deliver. The backlot used towards the end of the episode appears again... and again in later episodes! :-) FREE FOR ALL
Written and
directed by: Patrick McGoohan.
Number 2: Eric
Portman. Guest Star: Rachel Herbert.
Against the
colourful background of an election campaign The Prisoner stands as
candidate for the position of the new Number Two. Will he gain control of
the Village? Is this his chance to organise a mass breakout? Or are the
sinister forces of the old administration simply manipulating his every
move?
Another episode to feature many outdoor scenes, it was with the advent of colour television that this episode really came into its own, the many colourfully dressed Villagers made it particularly memorable. Seen by many as a cynical swipe at real election campaigns, its message remains relevant today. |
=
Sensational
= Satisfactory
= Somewhat lacking
= Sh... LOTS of Number Twos!! 
