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The Prisoner

  • 1955
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The Prisoner (1955)
Drama

A Cardinal is arrested for treason against the state. As a Prince of his church, and a popular hero of this people for his resistance against the Nazis during the war, and afterward his resi... Read allA Cardinal is arrested for treason against the state. As a Prince of his church, and a popular hero of this people for his resistance against the Nazis during the war, and afterward his resistance after his country again fell to another totalitarian conqueror. In prison, his inte... Read allA Cardinal is arrested for treason against the state. As a Prince of his church, and a popular hero of this people for his resistance against the Nazis during the war, and afterward his resistance after his country again fell to another totalitarian conqueror. In prison, his interrogator is determined to get a confession of guilt against the state from the strong-will... Read all

  • Director
    • Peter Glenville
  • Writer
    • Bridget Boland
  • Stars
    • Alec Guinness
    • Jack Hawkins
    • Wilfrid Lawson
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Glenville
    • Writer
      • Bridget Boland
    • Stars
      • Alec Guinness
      • Jack Hawkins
      • Wilfrid Lawson
    • 24User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 5 BAFTA Awards
      • 5 wins & 6 nominations total

    Photos13

    Quad
    The Prisoner (1955)
    The Prisoner (1955)
    The Prisoner (1955)
    The Prisoner (1955)
    Jeanette Sterke in The Prisoner (1955)
    The Prisoner (1955)
    The Prisoner (1955)
    The Prisoner (1955)
    The Prisoner (1955)
    The Prisoner (1955)
    Alec Guinness in The Prisoner (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • The Cardinal
    Jack Hawkins
    Jack Hawkins
    • The Interrogator
    Wilfrid Lawson
    Wilfrid Lawson
    • The Jailer
    Kenneth Griffith
    Kenneth Griffith
    • The Secretary
    Jeanette Sterke
    Jeanette Sterke
    • The Girl
    Ronald Lewis
    Ronald Lewis
    • The Guard
    Raymond Huntley
    Raymond Huntley
    • The General
    Mark Dignam
    Mark Dignam
    • The Governor
    Gerard Heinz
    Gerard Heinz
    • The Doctor
    Jonathan Bailey
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Percy Herbert
    Percy Herbert
    • Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Leech
    Richard Leech
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Oscar Quitak
    • Cafe Waiter
    • (uncredited)
    Delene Scott
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Denis Shaw
    Denis Shaw
    • Plainclothesman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Peter Glenville
    • Writer
      • Bridget Boland
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Deemed suitably controversial enough to be banned from both the Venice and Cannes Film Festivals.
    • Goofs
      Late in the film Jack Hawkins snatches a newspaper from a woman at an outdoor cafe. Although the interior text about the cardinal's confession is in English, the outside can be seen to be 'Het Laatste Nieuws', a real Dutch-language Belgian newspaper. (Some of the film's exteriors were shot in Flanders.)
    • Quotes

      The Interrogator: Afraid I'll slip you a truth drug?

      The Cardinal: Surely it's a confession you're after; not the truth.

    • Connections
      Version of The Prisoner (1963)

    User reviews24

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Over-looked masterpiece!
    A classic sadly almost ignored and forgotten probably because of it's small scale being a quite simple screen version of the popular stage play. Alec Guinness is the Cardinal arrested by the state during the Cold War, Jack Hawkins is the state inquisitor trying to break him. Ex comrades in arms, fighting in the Resistance against the Nazis; they now find themselves on opposing sides of Church and State. An intense battle of wills ensues, superb performances all round including Wilfred Lawson as the jailer. Highly recommended.
    helpful•21
    5
    • jump.boy
    • Jan 25, 2004

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 11, 1955 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Zatvorenik
    • Filming locations
      • Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • London Independent Producers
      • Facet Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

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