"The Prisoner" (1967) TV series 1967-1968

User Rating:

9.2/10   

Creators:

George Markstein
Patrick McGoohan

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

1 June 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

No Man Is Just A Number.

Plot:

After resigning, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is really a bizarre prison. His warders demand information. He gives them nothing, but only tries to escape.

Plot Keywords:

Information | Secret | Number | Prison | Secret Agent

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Patrick McGoohan	...	Number Six / ... (17 episodes, 1967-1968)
George Markstein	...	Man behind desk in title sequence (15 episodes, 1967-1968)
Angelo Muscat	...	The Butler (14 episodes, 1967-1968)
Peter Swanwick	...	Supervisor (8 episodes, 1967-1968)

Runtime:

50 min (17 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Buckingham Place, Palace Street, Westminster, London, England, UK

Company:

Everyman Films

Trivia:

McGoohan also starred in an earlier TV film entitled "ITV Sunday Night Drama: The Prisoner" (1963), which, while unrelated to this TV series, shared more than a few similarities with it.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the opening sequence, the letter X is typed across the prisoner's photograph, but the typewriter typebar for the letter H is moving. The typebar for the letter X is at the far right of the frame.

Quotes:

Number Two: You shouldn't have interfered, No.6. You'll pay for this.
Number 6: No. You will.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Watchmen (2009)

Soundtrack:

Double X

Absolutely essential viewing!

'The Prisoner' is one of those things that inspires either absolute devotion or utter confusion. There are no halfway reactions to this TV series. Many consider it to be the most imaginative and original TV show ever, and I'm inclined to agree with them. Nothing until 'Twin Peaks' came close to competing with it. However unlike 'Twin Peaks', 'The Prisoner' knew when to stop. There is hardly a bad episode in the whole series, and the final show is perfect. Patrick McGoohan will always have an important place in not only television history, but pop culture as a whole, from his involvement with this stunning and unforgettable show. To me it gets better and better as the years go by. If you haven't ever seen it make sure you do so! You don't know what you're missing!