The Laughing Prisoner (1987)

A funny remake of "The Prisoner" - with a 1980's twist to it 'The Laughing Prisoner' is a remake (or homage) of (to) the Kafkaesque 1960's television show 'The Prisoner' with Patrick ... See full summary »

Directors:

Chris Gabrin, Geoff Wonfor

Writers:

Stephen Fry, Jools Holland,

Stars:

Terence Alexander, Banshees, Chris Difford

Cast

Credited cast:
Terence Alexander	...	Head of Channel 4
Banshees	...	Band
Chris Difford	...	Himself
Stephen Fry	...	No. 2
Dave Gregory	...	Band Member (XTC)
Jools Holland	...	No. 7
Hugh Laurie	...	Assistant
Magnum	...	Band
Patrick McGoohan	...	Number Six (archive footage)
Colin Moulding	...	Band Member (XTC)
Andy Partridge	...	Band Member (XTC)
John Peel
Rowland Rivron	...	percussionist
Siouxsie and the Banshees	...	Band
Stanley Unwin	...	No. 3

Storyline

A funny remake of "The Prisoner" - with a 1980's twist to it 'The Laughing Prisoner' is a remake (or homage) of (to) the Kafkaesque 1960's television show 'The Prisoner' with Patrick McGoohan in the lead role. This time it is a successful television presenter (Jools Holland) who decides to quit at the height of his stardom. He is abducted from his apartment and brought to the village, where number 2 (a young Stephen Fry) is questioning him. The whole show has a cosy 1980's feel to it, with several bands from that period performing their music.

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Plot Keywords:

homage | spoof | edited from tv series

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 April 1987 (UK)

Filming Locations:

The Hotel Portmeirion, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, Wales, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tyne Tees Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Spoofs The Prisoner (1967)

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Soundtracks

"Cornel"
(uncredited)
performed by Anhrefn

User Reviews

Remake is a bit of an Overstatement

I recall watching this the first time around. Jools Holland was evidently a fan of The Prisoner and was having a marvellous time dressing in his Village blazer and gigging about Portmeirion. I think the original hilarity stemmed from the fact that he had 'resigned' from the hugely popular Youth TV programme 'The Tube' which also showcased the ultimately-tragic Paula Yates. Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie added their (then) double-act to the fray and the strange Gobbledygook man was spoonerising about the place, presumably because he was contemporaneous to The Prisoner.

Patrick McGoohan kept popping up in grainy Out-takes with Fry being pithy about him all the time. There was a mildly amusing part where a clever bit of editing put a supposedly old and bearded Number Six behind some bushes, steadfastly refusing to leave the Village despite Fry assuring him he was no longer a prisoner.

Generally an affectionate tribute rather than a Remake.