AMC is currently developing an “update” to the classic THE PRISONER series starring Patrick McGoohan. When I first watched THE PRISONER 40 years ago, I really didn’t know what to make of it. McGoohan plays a “retired” spy who wakes up in an isolated place called “The Village” protected by a strange bubble device. Escape is seemingly impossible, but McGoohan (assigned the ID: No. 6) tries just about every week to flee The Village. The audience, and McGoohan, don’t know if The Village–filled with ex-spies and government officials who possess secrets–is run by the British Government or the Soviets or someone else. Of course, after 40 years, I don’t remember all that much about the series except that the final episode was surreal. AMC is making the original 16 full episodes available for view FOR FREE at their web site at: http://www.amctv.com/originals/the-prisoner-1960s-series/ so you know what I’ll be doing for the next week or two. If you want to own THE PRISONER: THE COMPLETE SERIES AMAZON has it for $52.99.
I was a big fan of McGoohan’s SECRET AGENT/DANGER MAN series, but I’m with you, George – I never knew what exactly to make of THE PRISONER, though I did find it fascinating if bizarre.
A remake is just the thing to prove yet again that there is no (well, very little) originality in Hollywood.
I have a complete set of McGoohan’s SECRET AGENT series (haven’t watched it yet), Jeff. I did watch the American version, DANGER MAN, and thought it was cool that McGoohan played a retired spy in THE PRISONER. I’m watching the free episodes on AMC and, in a week or two, might be able to comment on the series more intelligently.
George, I suspect you have a complete set of just about EVERYTHING. I wonder where you find the time to watch all that stuff.
That said, this was a series I never got into. After two (maybe three) episodes, I quit. I don’t mind surreal, but I do mind silly plots, and that’s how it seemed to me: silly. I know it’s a cult classic, but so are lots of things I’d skip if they were on now.
I don’t know if I’ll make it through the entire 16 episodes of THE PRISONER, Rick. I’ve watched the first couple and they tend to drag as most Sixties TV programs do. But I don’t want to rely on memories of 40 years ago to judge this series. It’s had an active fan base for decades so that counts for sometime.
Rick, he doesn’t watch them, just collects them.
😉
Barry Gardner was right when he said that once you own something, the motivation to read it or watch it disappears, Jeff. I probably have enough DVDs for a year’s worth of watching, literally, yet I still seem to buy more. I must have that Andy J. gene.
A few years ago, I watched the final episode of “The Prisoner” on an old VHS tape that was still in circulation at our local library. It was completely trippy–a real sixties time capsule. The most surprising thing was the use of the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” (in fact, when the song first started, I thought the French national anthem was about to play–it would have made just as much sense as anything else in the show). I wonder if there were any copyright/use issues. I can’t think of another program that made use of Beatles music like that.
I’d completely forgotten about that use of a Beatles song, Deb! THE PRISONER had to be one of few shows to license Beatles material at that time.
I remember being extremely intrigued by the use of the song and I kept trying to read the credits to see if there was any copyright info–but a combination of a very old VHS tape, a very old VCR machine, and a rather small TV screen (I won’t mention my aging eyesight) made it impossible for me to read. Perhaps someone with a pristine DVD and a big-screen TV will let us know what the credits say.
I suppose it’s possible that because the Beatles were at that time in full-on trippy sixties mode, they let McGoohan use the song for free–but I doubt it!
As I watch THE PRISONER on the AMC web site, I’ll keep my eyes open for the credits for that Beatles’ song, Deb. Maybe we can clear up that mystery. THE PRISONER was the first TV series to include a Beatles song in its soundtrack. “All You Need is Love” was played during the bizarre machine-gun battle in the show’s final episode in 1968, but how McGoohan was able to get the rights to use the song in such a way is mysterious. I may have to consult THE PRISONER COMPANION to see if there are any clues there.
I’m afraid we all have that Andy J. gene, George. I overcame it for a while July 15-September 1, but naturally (pun there) it didn’t last.
I like to think I can moderate that Andy J. gene, Rick. But sometimes it just overcomes me and I buy a whole lot of stuff.
I am disappointed it doesn’t hold up, but I noticed the same thing with THE AVENGERS and THE MAN FROM UNCLE so I’m not surprised. Although I didn’t use drugs I sometimes feel the hazy air of grass everywhere influenced my tastes anyway.
Surrealism and psychedelia were big in the Sixties, Patti. Part of that might be drug related. I still don’t understand the lyrics of Bob Dylan’s LIKE A ROLLING STONE.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: It looks like the first three hours of THE PRISONER are on IFC tonight.
I’m already on Episode Six on the AMC.com, Jeff. But thanks for the head’s up!
Does anyone else remember a Disney film of McGoohan’s called THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH? Can’t recall when or where I saw it, but I thought that to live in a marsh would be the coolest thing imaginable.
I was a bit younger then.
Yes, Drongo, I vividly recall McGoohan’s THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH. The series was based on the DR. SYN books of Russell Thorndike. Last Fall, Disney released THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH on DVD. It sold out completely, and is now unavailable until Disney opens up the vault again in five or six years.
Goodness, the things George Kelley knows!
Thanks.
If you’re interested in watching the DVD set of THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH, check your local public library, Drongo. Libraries have standing orders for Disney releases. Unfortunately, many libraries find their Disney purchases “disappear.” I fear THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH might be a “high-theft” item.