"The Prisoner" Many Happy Returns (1967)

Director:

David Tomblin

Writer:

Anthony Skene (writer)

TV Series:

"The Prisoner" (1967)

Original Air Date:

12 November 1967 (Season 1, Episode 6)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Number 6 wakes up to find the Village totally deserted. |

Plot Keywords:

Raft | Gypsy | Maid | Parachute | Midget

Cast

Patrick McGoohan	...	Number Six
Donald Sinden	...	The Colonel
Patrick Cargill	...	Thorpe
Georgina Cookson	...	Mrs. Butterworth
Brian Worth	...	Group Captain
Richard Caldicot	...	Commander
Dennis Chinnery	...	Gunther
Jon Laurimore	...	Ernst
Nike Arrighi	...	Gypsy Girl
Grace Arnold	...	Maid
Larry Taylor	...	Gypsy Man

Runtime:

USA:60 min

Language:

English | German | Romany

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Beachy Head, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Everyman Films

Trivia:

This episode is the second (in standard screening order) of three in which The Prisoner contacts his former employers, and the latter of just two in which his ex-boss is called "The Colonel." In the end titles' cast credits for the first, "The Chimes of Big Ben", but not within the episode itself, the character is identified as "Colonel J," the letter being the initial of "James."

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the fight scene on the boat, wrinkles are clearly visible in the backdrop that is supposed to be a foggy sky.

Quotes:

The Prisoner: [to a gypsy] Where is this?

Who Is Mrs.Butterworth?

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

When Channel 4 repeated 'The Prisoner' in 1983, it - for reasons best known to itself - screened this as the second episode. Not that it matters too much, of course, but from the dialogue it seems as though some months have transpired since Number 6's arrival in The Village.

It begins with him waking up one morning to find the power to his house turned off, along with the water. Even the loud radio is silent. Outside The Village stands empty, as though no-one had ever lived there. His only company is a small black cat ( which, as we will find out later on in the series, belongs to Number 2 ). Ascertaining that he is completely alone, Number 6 takes a taxi to the Village's outskirts, but escape by road proves impossible because the area is enclosed by mountains. The resourceful ex-secret agent builds a raft and heads out to sea. Twenty days later, he collapses from exhaustion. Two gunrunners, Gunther ( Dennis Chinnery ) and Ernst ( Jon Laurimore ) steal his food, and throw him into the water. A revived Number 6 gets on board, and starts a fire in the galley with a view to taking over the boat. After a fight, he jumps overboard, and swims to shore. When daylight comes, he is at the foot of a steep cliff. So he starts to climb...

One of my favourite 'Prisoner' episodes. Our hero finally escapes from The Village, returns to London, only to find his strange story disbelieved by his superiors - the Colonel ( Donald Sinden ) and Thorpe ( Patrick Cargill ). Unlike 'Colonel J' ( Kevin Stoney ) and Fotheringay ( Richard Wattis ) from 'The Chimes Of Big Ben', they do not seem to be 'in' on the Prisoner's incarceration. Whilst trying to prove The Village's existence, Number 6 is - rather cruelly - parachuted back into the place, which then comes back to life in the blink of an eye. The woman who greets him with a birthday cake ( containing six candles ) is one Mrs.Butterworth ( Georgina Cookson ), whom he met earlier at his London home ( she was the new tenant ).

Originally to have been directed by Michael Truman ( who fell ill ), McGoohan took over directorial duties himself, crediting the result to 'Joseph Serf'. It is a very cinematic piece, with little dialogue for the most of the first half, and some wonderfully symbolic touches; the barbed wire fence Number 6 comes across, for instance, reminds us that, though he is no longer in The Village, he is still not free.

Anthony Skene was one of the show's best writers, being responsible for 'A, B & C', and 'Dance Of The Dead'. It is full of wonderful moments, my favourite being Number 6 driving through the London streets in his hand-built Lotus 7. The firm-jawed McGoohan at the wheel of the car, hair blowing in the breeze, with Ron Grainer's exciting theme pounding away, is an iconic image.

I wonder if Number 6 enjoyed Mrs.Butterworth's birthday cake?