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THE SCHIZOID
MAN
Written by:
Terence Feely. Directed by: Pat Jackson.
Number 2: Anton
Rodgers. Guest star: Jane Merrow.
The Prisoner
wakes with a new identity and finds his home occupied by an identical
twin. Why can’t he tell his left from his right? And why has the
telepathic link with Alison been broken?
Another example of advanced Village technology, this time in the guise of a perfect doppelgänger of Number Six. Stuntman "Fearless" Frank Maher is featured heavily as the double although you would never guess - the effect is very convincing (remember this is the Sixties!) I presume the white jacket is so we viewers know which one is the "baddie"! :-) THE GENERAL
Written by: Joshua
Adam. Directed by: Peter Graham Scott.
Number 2: Colin
Gordon. Guest stars: John Castle, Peter Howell, Betty McDowall.
A new
subliminal teaching method called “Speedlearn” has taken over the Village
but The Prisoner suspects that its use might be applied to more sinister
subjects than mere history. Behind it all is the mysterious unseen
influence of The General. Who is he? And why is the Professor so
desperate to escape?
Although the computer equipment seen in this episode would make today's nerds laugh themselves silly, back then bigger equipment meant more power! The "Speedlearn" technology is however another example of superior Village technology with a sinister twist. Colin Gordon returns for another crack at the Prisoner, but is defeated with a simple question posed by No.6 to his pride and joy - "The General". MANY HAPPY
RETURNS
Written by:
Anthony Skene. Directed by: Patrick McGoohan.
Guest Stars:
Georgina Cookson, Patrick Cargill, Donald Sinden.
It seems as
though the Village has died overnight. The houses are empty, the power
cut off, the whole place deserted. The Prisoner seizes his chance to
escape – first by sea, where he narrowly escapes death at the hands of
gunrunners – then overland back to London. But will his former colleagues
believe his strange story? Can he trust them? And is he really free at
last?
For the first twenty minutes or so there is no dialogue whatsoever in this episode... since there is nobody for Number Six to talk to that is hardly surprising! It does however make for an unusual approach, and there is yet again a cruel twist. Does he never learn! DANCE OF THE
DEAD
Written by:
Anthony Skene. Directed by: Don Chaffey.
Number 2: Mary
Morris. Guest stars: Norma West, Duncan MacRae, Aubrey Morris.
It’s carnival
time in the Village. There will be happiness and joy… by order! Down on
the beach the Prisoner discovers a corpse and his attempts to alert the
outside world to the existence of his tormentors lead to a bizarre trial
for his life and he learns never to trust a woman – even the four-legged
kind!
Some memorable dialogue, along with stunning photography using the Village beach and the colourful costumes make this a favourite with many fans. The scene at the end where Number Six destroys a machine only for it to start working again confirms the power the Village has over him. CHECKMATE
Written by: Gerald
Kelsey. Directed by: Don Chaffey.
Number 2: Peter
Wyngarde Guest stars: Rosalie Crutchley, Ronald Radd, George Coulouris.
The Prisoner
participates in a game of human chess and he talks of escape with the
White Queen. A method of telling who are the prisoners and who are the
guardians is put to the test and he soon gathers an escape team. But can
he trust them? And can they trust him?
Another to feature many Portmeirion scenes quite strongly, the human chess game is the most striking image from this episode. The Prisoner's method of distinguishing between the prisoners and the warders backfires on him at the crucial moment, resulting in another Village victory. |
