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Summary: That bubble is disturbing
Review: I was in a college class where we had to watch this. Being used to television of today, the plot moved comparably slower, making it a little difficult to sit through.When we discussed the "Arrival" episode, most thought that the bubble was a little distubing. Compared with shows of today (Alias, for example), it was just 'unnatural.' I did like what I saw. I think that a classic television is good, not only for study (as I had to do), but also because modern television seems to move too quickly at times. They have to tell a complete story in a hour, minus the commercials.
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Summary: classic british tv series
Review: One of the best television series from a golden era of British television and cinema, The Prisoner formed out of actor Patrick McGoohan's reluctance to continue with his Dangerman series, which he felt had gone its distance. The Prisoner is one of the most surreal shows of that period: only The Avengers can match its oddball features, but that one had a lighter touch. The Prisoner takes aim at the conflict between society's and the individual's interests, and the result is continually thought-provoking and crafted to resemble a continuous suite of Magritte paintings.
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Summary: "I am not a number, I'm a free man!"
Review: Back in 1967, an allegorical television show emerged that has yet to be topped by any other English television series. The show: The Prisoner. Starring Patrick McGoohan, he plays the role of No. 6, a former secret service agent who resigned for unknown reasons and then finds himself knocked unconscious and trapped in a seemingly peaceful place called "the Village." Each episode features a new No. 2 (with a few exceptions), who watches his every move and strives to find out why he resigned. The only superior is the unseen No. 1, the supposed ruler of the Village. The only other characters that reoccur are The Supervisor (also called Controller), played by Peter Stanwick, and The Butler, played by Angelo Muscat. In "Arrival," we first get a glimpse of the Village and of The Prisoner's plight. He tries hard to escape, but the Village has a lethal enforcer called "Rover," which is generally a weather balloon with a mind of its own. There isn't much to analyze in this episode, however there are a few things to analyze that reoccur throughout the show that I will talk about later. In "Free For All," The Prisoner decides to run for Number 2's position in hopes meeting Number 1. This is one of my favorites as it portrays a supposedly free democratic election as being filled with corruption and deceit. HIGHLY recommend watching this. In "Dance of the Dead," they attempt mind-manipulation on him to find out why he resigned. In here, they use females (even a female cat) to persuade him to cough up what he knows. Even the Number 2 featured here is female. The Prisoner's name is never mentioned. Patrick McGoohan probably wanted us to believe that you or me could be he. After all, we're prisoners in the social order, aren't we? Rover could also be compared to government oppression, as we get a glimpse of Rover endangering one of the townspeople out of spite. And why is The Prisoner numbered 6? Why not 5, 55, 100, and so on? McGoohan once said that it's the only number when flipped upside down, it becomes something else... and that's what I believe No. 6 to be. More than just a number. He's a man, and we all strive to become more than just a "unit in society." It is also been conjectured that 6 means the "sign of the beast," but it's also been argued that it means "equilibrium" or "great strength." Whatever the case is, I believe that it's meant to portray that No. 6 is not just any ordinary human being. The show uses the North Portmeiron Hotel of North Wales as its set and the visuals and the beauty of the place is used to great effect. This is truly a great show. The acting is quite good and the writing is top notch. This isn't just a tv show. It's a milestone. I particularly like this fan-preferred order that A&E brought us, but I'll get to that in a later article. I highly suggest purchasing and watching this phenomenal series, but get it in the boxed set.
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Summary: OUTSTANDING
Review: I love this British TV show. It doesn't seem as old as it is. ARRIVAL is a real mind blower.
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Summary: In the beginning
Review: This dvd contains the first "Prisoner" episode that sets up the whole seiries, so of course you got to see it to understand the whole seiries. Patrick McGoohan is a top secret agent - something has happened to change his mind about his job and he wants out. He resigns, but let's face it, a top secret agent isn't just going to retire to the South of Wales and tend his garden - or will he? I'd love to have been a close friend of Patrick McGoohan's at the time this seiries was made just to know what was going thru his head - was it a political comment? Did he feel trapped by fame? I wonder that as I type the review, but it doesn't enter your mind when you're watching the show - you're just totally caught up in the moment. Patrick McGoohan shines as a man whose determination to be his own person is never daunted by the various obstacles put in his way - and formidable obstacles exist. Rover alone is enough to give you nightmares. Buy this dvd and the other ones and appreciate how truly great television was and might still be one day - and check out Mr McGoohan's car - it's a beauty and he made it from a kit!
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Summary: Poor sound quality on Chimes of Big Ben
Review: First of all, I would like to say I'm a huge fan of the Prisoner! I LOVE it, it's my favorite t.v. series next to Twin Peaks! I agree with all the reviews, and if you haven't seen The Prisoner yet, please do so! The entire series is stellar! However, it's only fair someone should mention the sound quality on the alternate version of "The Chimes of Big Ben". It's AWFUL!!! I had the volume turned up ALL THE WAY and still could barely hear it. Am I the only person who experienced this disappointment? It's my only gripe. Quite a shock after viewing the first chapter of the dvd, the sound quality is fine there.
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Summary: Fantastic British Series aimed to confuse!
Review: Although slightly confusing, this series presents an odd situation that a retired British secret agent ends up in. Each episode assumes you have never seen it before, however, it clearly passes on information between episodes. It's even a mystery for you to figure out what the basis of the show is, and what the full plot is. I have seen most episodes, and I'm still not tired of watching them again and again, looking for missed details. The style of film is incredibly colorful. This is a must see for any British film or Spy fans.
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Summary: Be seeing you!
Review: This is a remarkable collection of the first three "episodes" of the PRISONER. McGoohan is excellent throughout. The sets and the screenplay are wildly entertaining. Parnaoia has never had it so good!
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Summary: What Makes this Series so Great after nearly 40 years?
Review: Before commenting on the contents of this tape it might be worth pointing out why the TV series is 17 episodes long (a very NON-standard number of episodes). The fact is that McGoohan only made his original pitch to ITC boss Sir Lew Grade for a 7 episode series. Sir Lew, with an eye on foreign markets, especially the USA, wanted a 26 episode series. McGoohan tried to meet the 26 episode target, but production and financial over-runs brought the whole endeavour to a halt at 17. This does NOT, by the way, mean that the story is incomplete. We are actually told, in EVERY episode, who No. 1 is, and for those who understood this barely veiled message, the story line of episode 17 made a perfect, and perfectly sensible finale. So, back to this particular three episode tape. Being the first three episodes (though the series was screened in a slightly different order in the USA) you know you're getting three slices of McGoohan's original vision - with the emphasis on "original". In brief, the first episode shows how "the man with no name" (a theme also common to Sergio Leone's "Dollar" trilogy - first released over the three years immediately prior to the first UK airing of "The Prisoner") - in this case appears to resign from some kind of mammoth organisation (judging by their filing system), in a very heated manner. On returning home, the man with no name is gassed, in his own flat, and wakes up in a strange village (actually filmed in the now-famed Portmerion in north west Wales) where everyone is referred to by a number rather than a name. The Prisoner is No. 6, the erstwhile head of the community is No. 2. Only the strange, balloon-like guardians have a name: "Rover". From this point on, until the final episode, the main focus of each episode *appears* to be the desire of No. 2 (and his/her master or masters) to know why No. 6 resigned. With No. 6 being equally determined NOT to give any explanations. In reality, however, it is the background to this battle of wills which carries the true message of the series. So to explain anything more of any of the plotlines would merely intrude on your enjoyment. As a matter of interest, note that is NEVER explicitly stated that McGoohan's character was a spy/secret agent before his resignation, only that he holds information in his head that could be of value (To whom? Again we are never told). Thus the question of whether The Prisoner = John Drake (Danger Man (UK) Secret Agent (USA)) truly is irrelevant, as McGoohan has always maintained. Many people have offered their views on what this series is about, so my closing suggestion may seem a little strange, namely: If you *really* want to know what the series "means", DON'T try to figure out what the series "means". Instead, try to walk in The Prisoner's shoes. Imagine, as you watch each episode, how YOU might feel, think, and react if this was happening to you. Do this through the first 16 episodes and I guarantee that episode 17 will make perfect sense to you, too.
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Summary: I'm trapped
Review: i've never watched the prisoner when it was on tv the first time (too young) or rebroadcast (didn't know about it). however, in a late night shopping binge, i stumbled across some of the reviews and wanted to know what all the hub-bub was about. after all, there were quite a few well written raves for this show and with so many people tossing about adjectives such as "best", "fantastic", and "favorite" my curiosity was aroused. so, it was with great excitement i loaded up the dvd player to watch the first episode. after a few minutes of getting used to the 60's sets and dialog, i found myself hooked an anxious to find out more. it really is as good as they say. rather than go into details on the episodes (other reviews seem to do that well enough), i'll just say that the paranoia that they raise is both frightening and enjoyable. it's amazing how claustrophobic the show was able to make and entire village feel - i mean people are out and about walking around in the sunshine, yet you feel totally trapped. not a bad achievement in direction, writing, and acting. the one downside - and it is minor - is that i had expected that the discs would have more extra features than they actually do. there are some, but i would have liked to see commentary tracks as well as some documentary on audience reactions. the show seems to have achieved cult status and it would have been interesting to hear about that as well. other than that, great job and i can't wait to make it through the rest of the episodes.
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