― Andrew (enneff), Friday, 4 October 2002 14:58 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 4 October 2002 15:05 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 4 October 2002 15:17 (twenty-one years ago) link
― blueski, Friday, 4 October 2002 17:30 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Honda, Friday, 4 October 2002 17:40 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 4 October 2002 18:03 (twenty-one years ago) link
― brg30 (brg30), Friday, 4 October 2002 21:41 (twenty-one years ago) link
― gareth (gareth), Friday, 4 October 2002 23:14 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Saturday, 5 October 2002 00:19 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Leee (Leee), Saturday, 5 October 2002 00:25 (twenty-one years ago) link
― di smith (lucylurex), Saturday, 5 October 2002 01:21 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Douglas, Saturday, 5 October 2002 02:22 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Andrew (enneff), Saturday, 5 October 2002 02:22 (twenty-one years ago) link
― mark s (mark s), Saturday, 5 October 2002 07:54 (twenty-one years ago) link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7483053.stm
It's on!
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44794000/jpg/_44794633_theprisoner_226b.jpg
Sir Ian McKellen and Jim Caviezel will battle against each other
Sir Ian McKellen and Jim Caviezel are set to star in the ITV remake of the 1960s TV cult show The Prisoner.
Sir Ian will play the sinister Number Two who controls a mysterious place known as The Village.
While Passion of the Christ star Caviezel takes the role of Number Six who finds himself trapped inside it.
During the six-part series, set to premiere in 2009, the pair will be locked in a battle of wits in a modern day version of the thriller.
Number Six arrives in The Village with no memory of how he arrived and no recollection of a prior existence or an outside world.
During each episode he attempts to discover the truth behind his new environment and battles against his captors.
Disturbing While the original series was a riff on Cold War politics, this remake will reflect 21st century concerns and anxieties such as liberty, security and surveillance.
Sir Ian has called this version of The Prisoner "an enthralling commentary on modern culture."
"It is witty, intelligent and disturbing. I am very excited to be involved," he added.
Writer Bill Gallagher, who watched the original series when he was a boy, said: "Here was something that was more than television, something I couldn't quite grasp but couldn't let go of.
"It's a unique opportunity for a writer to be able to go back to The Village and tell some new stories about that strange place and its surreal menace.
"We hope to serve up something as beguiling and disturbing as the original was."
Producer Trevor Hopkins reckons fans of the old series will not be disappointed.
He said: "Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen bring an incredible level of talent to the project, and we're honoured they are taking on these important roles."
ITV have not yet revealed the location. The original drama was filmed in the surroundings of the Italianate village of Portmeirion on the Llyn Peninsula in Gwynedd.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 15:29 (fifteen years ago) link
ITV have not yet revealed the location.
weatherfield
― DG, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 15:32 (fifteen years ago) link
1950/60s North Yorkshire complete with naieve young policeman and bumbling local peasant getting into comic scrapes.
― Forest Pines Mk2, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 15:37 (fifteen years ago) link
can't wait for richard arnold to pimp this on GMTV
― DG, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 15:50 (fifteen years ago) link
Ok, so what do we know about the people working on this? Have they done anything else worthwhile?
― kingfish, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 15:55 (fifteen years ago) link
ian mckellen's been in a couple of films i think
― DG, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:04 (fifteen years ago) link
Oh thanks, thanks for that. It's the writin' and producin' bit what I'm wondering about.
― kingfish, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:07 (fifteen years ago) link
Seems Bill Gallagher wrote for Clocking Off, which was excellent, and Lark Rise to Candleford, which was garbage.
― DavidM, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:09 (fifteen years ago) link
caviezel is weird. this will suck.
― banriquit, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:11 (fifteen years ago) link
only imdbpro knows and they want our money :(
― DG, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:12 (fifteen years ago) link
The Prisoner is a co-production of AMC and ITV Productions; the deal brokered by ITV Worldwide, which holds all international rights, as well as sales and remake right to the original series. ITV DVD holds Home Entertainment rights. The series is written and Executive Produced by Bill Gallagher (Conviction, Clocking Off, Lark Rise To Candleford), Executive Produced by Michele Buck, Damien Timmer and Rebecca Keane for ITV and AMC’s Charlie Collier, Christina Wayne and Vlad Wolynetz, Produced by Trevor Hopkins (Dracula, Poirot) and Directed by Jon Jones (Northanger Abbey, Cold Feet, Archangel, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Alan Clark Diaries). Jim Caviezel’s deal was coordinated by ICM. Creative Artists Agency orchestrated the deal on behalf of Sir Ian McKellen.
― banriquit, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:15 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.itv.com/PressCentre/Pressreleases/Programmepressreleases/IanMcKellenandJimCaviezeltostarinITVreinventionofclassicthrillerThePrisoner/default.html
I loved this show as a kid when they'd play it on PBS over here. They used to play old Doctor Whos all the time, too. Get on that PBS.
― burt_stanton, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:17 (fifteen years ago) link
ITV now need to bring back Sapphire & Steel.
― DavidM, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:18 (fifteen years ago) link
oh does he reckon, does he.
what a stupid, pointless idea, something inevitable about it happening though.
― Pashmina, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:18 (fifteen years ago) link
curious. last time a remake was being mooted, it was with christopher ecclestone on sky. horrible either way, but would have opted for ecclestone over caviezel.
― nari, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:32 (fifteen years ago) link
i would opt for thinking of a new programme and making that, instead of trying pointlessly to remake something no-one thinks can be improved.
― banriquit, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:36 (fifteen years ago) link
but yeah ecclestone would have been better, even then.
it could actually be OK
I mean I loved the original but what I liked was the storyline & the vibe which I don't think were necessarily bound to that time & place
surprised that I think this because usually I hate the shit outta some remakes
― J0hn D., Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:38 (fifteen years ago) link
this could be great actually, the story is easily transplantable. certainly this is going to be better than the Mel Gibson film that was going to happen a while back. McGoohan must be involved in this somehow, right? Doesn't he own the show outright?
― akm, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 16:45 (fifteen years ago) link
Dunno.
I used to be a 6 of 1 member back in 1990 or so, continued my membership justto see if there was news of the 'film' version, but there never was...
― Mark G, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 19:42 (fifteen years ago) link
Decent enough casting but it will all depend on the script and direction. Interesting that there's just one Number 2 this time around but McKellen's a good choice.
― Dingbod Kesterson, Wednesday, 2 July 2008 12:20 (fifteen years ago) link
Oh man, I don't care cos some shitty remake in no way diminishes the original but this is gonna be complete bollocks and this Jim Caviezel bloke is the rongest looking rongo I can possibly imagine for the title role.
― Noodle Vague, Wednesday, 2 July 2008 12:24 (fifteen years ago) link
o shi, another thread topic maybe, but mel gibson is remaking 'edge of darkness' as a film.
― banriquit, Wednesday, 2 July 2008 12:25 (fifteen years ago) link
and i hear bruce willis is in talks about a 'very british coup' update.
― banriquit, Wednesday, 2 July 2008 12:26 (fifteen years ago) link
British acting is suffering from a lack of Brylcreemed rep reliables.
― Dingbod Kesterson, Wednesday, 2 July 2008 12:28 (fifteen years ago) link
Robson Green's been quiet lately.
― Noodle Vague, Wednesday, 2 July 2008 12:29 (fifteen years ago) link
Well, if Lee McQueen is too poorly to go work for Siralan, he could always go home, have a strong flu remedy, pass out on his couch, wake up groggy, look out of his window, and find.....
― Mark G, Wednesday, 2 July 2008 13:20 (fifteen years ago) link
Well I thought they should have got Siralan in as Number 2 for Leo McKern-esque beardy authenticity.
― Dingbod Kesterson, Wednesday, 2 July 2008 13:25 (fifteen years ago) link
SirAlan: "You are (,) number six!" LeeMcQ : "Whatever you say, number two, thank you for the opportunity"
― Mark G, Wednesday, 2 July 2008 13:31 (fifteen years ago) link
6: "I suppose you want to know why I resigned?" 2: "Bollocks to that - you is gonna go out and buy the best of British produce etc."
(Featuring Nick and Margaret as "Rover")
― Dingbod Kesterson, Wednesday, 2 July 2008 13:59 (fifteen years ago) link
Prisoner details Sir Ian also revealed details about the ITV remake of the 1960s TV cult show The Prisoner which he is starring in.
"I was talking to the producer yesterday about the details and I've seen the full cast list which is extremely impressive," he said.
"I haven't read the final script yet, it's due next week - but it's very grown-up television.
"It engages your mind and people will have to be very alert to follow the story but all is revealed in the end."
― Mark G, Friday, 11 July 2008 13:24 (fifteen years ago) link
but all is revealed in the end
It's obviously not going to stick too closely to the original, then...
― Zelda Zonk, Friday, 11 July 2008 13:49 (fifteen years ago) link
Pity they're not doing a film of Shattered Visage.
― Dingbod Kesterson, Friday, 11 July 2008 13:51 (fifteen years ago) link
Fun fact: the novelisation of The Prisoner was by Thomas M. Disch, who blew his brains out last Friday.
― Zelda Zonk, Friday, 11 July 2008 13:59 (fifteen years ago) link
The cat in "Many Happy Returns" looks kinda like my cat.
― ian, Sunday, 28 December 2008 07:30 (fifteen years ago) link
Pages from Jack Kirby's unpublished (still!) and uncompleted Prisoner adaptation for Marvel Comics:
http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/2009/11/15/jkirby-tprsnr/
― sʌxihɔːl (Ward Fowler), Wednesday, 16 September 2015 10:02 (eight years ago) link
I-I've never seen this place before! I don't know where it's located-- or, how I got here! Or why my arms are so unfeasibly long!
― ledge, Wednesday, 16 September 2015 12:28 (eight years ago) link
Realism is boring
― sʌxihɔːl (Ward Fowler), Wednesday, 16 September 2015 13:04 (eight years ago) link
Ok WOW that ending was insane. So good. Crowd pleasing and a good emotional/narrative send-off and yet also crazy. The bit w the tearing off multiple masks made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
This really seems to be a foundational work for a lot of things to come in the following decades. I bet Kubrick was thinking of the loony top-hat guy dancing and singing "Dem Bones" when he made "A Clockwork Orange". All the generic worker outfits look like inspiration for Devo. Something brought to mind Gilliam's "Brazil" as well but I don't remember what it was.
I enjoyed the lead-up to the finale, tho the 2nd to last episode was a bit hard to get through. It was cool that they did a Western themed episode ("Living in Harmony") and then immediately followed it with a very British spy episode ("The Girl Who Was Death") with him playing cricket and drinking at the pub. I think that may be my favorite in the entire series, I loved the fast pace, the constant twists, and the ingenuity he had to use to get himself out of all those traps and tricks.
Damn good show, should be required viewing.
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 17 September 2015 04:40 (eight years ago) link
Oh yeah after the tearing multiple masks off it cuts to several quick extreme close ups of distorted faces screaming at the camera, gave me a flashback to the anti-Laura Palmer shrieking in the Black Lodge in the finale of "Twin Peaks".
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 17 September 2015 04:42 (eight years ago) link
"The Girl Who Was Death" is a comic episode of the English television series "The Prisoner" which originally aired in the UK on ITV 18 January 1968. According to several sources, including The Prisoner by Robert Fairclough, this episode was adapted from an unused, two-part script originally commissioned for Danger Man.
Ah, makes sense! I may have to watch "Danger Man" next.
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 17 September 2015 04:46 (eight years ago) link
Also they were shooting 2001 in the same studio which makes it extra cool that No. 1 speaks through a HAL-like computer eye.
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 17 September 2015 04:52 (eight years ago) link
if I remember from my high school obsession days, part of the idea behind The Girl Who Was Death was that ratings weren't great and the brass was getting on him to do something more crowd-pleasing and less pretentious so he found the unused Danger Man script and presented it as a story being told within the story, with the send-off at the end of the reader saying "goodnight to children, everywhere" or something like that, a bit on the nose commentary on the desires of the executives.
― dan selzer, Thursday, 17 September 2015 05:12 (eight years ago) link
not sure if this documentary has been seen by many of you; i am unfamiliar with it.
http://dangerousminds.net/comments/six_into_one_seldom_seen_doc_on_patrick_mcgoohans_cult_tv_classic_the_priso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUysgDRYYqo
― we can be heroes just for about 3.6 seconds (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 20 January 2016 22:35 (eight years ago) link
very cool, thanks for posting this!
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 21 January 2016 04:50 (eight years ago) link
Oh, I remember that dude that ran the Prisoner shop in Portmeirion.
― Mark G, Thursday, 21 January 2016 12:48 (eight years ago) link
Whoa, check this out:
http://www.comiclink.com/auctions/item.asp?back=%2Fauctions%2Fpreview.asp%3Fcode%3D2016aug%26itemtype%3D1%26Artist%3DJACK%2520KIRBY%23Item_1133913&id=1133913
An unpublished Jack Kirby Prisoner story from 1976!
― Sentient animated cat gif (kingfish), Thursday, 14 July 2016 17:54 (seven years ago) link
v cool!
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 14 July 2016 22:30 (seven years ago) link
yeah, that's been around here and there. pretty cool stuff.
― the event dynamics of power asynchrony (rushomancy), Thursday, 14 July 2016 23:45 (seven years ago) link
Weirdly, there's also a complete unpublished Prisoner strip pencilled by Gil Kane and written by Steve Englehart that was never published either:
http://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/complete-story/gil-kane-original-art-for-the-prisoner-complete-18-page-story-marvel-unpublished-an-instant-hit-upon-its-debut-in/a/803-5955.s
Englehart apparently first suggested Gene Colan for the job, but Colan turned it down because it was "just a guy on an island"
― Foster Twelvetrees (Ward Fowler), Friday, 15 July 2016 05:19 (seven years ago) link
Did the Ian McKellen series ever make it to DVD?
I saw maybe two, don't remember much about either of them..
― Mark G, Friday, 15 July 2016 07:02 (seven years ago) link
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/portmeirion-pokmon-go-treasure-trove-11651694
― laraaji p. henson (Stevie D(eux)), Thursday, 28 July 2016 03:23 (seven years ago) link
I'm up to ep 13 of 17 -- not sure whether I like this or hate it. I do admire it.
― ILX Loophole Converts Your IRA/401(k) to Physical Gold (WmC), Thursday, 4 April 2019 23:07 (five years ago) link
Come back when you've seen episode 17...
― koogs, Friday, 5 April 2019 04:25 (five years ago) link
Ive had the box set of this for years and never got past more than a few eps, not out of dislike just never got round to finishing it!
― Stoop Crone (Trayce), Friday, 5 April 2019 04:49 (five years ago) link
McGoohan's unwavering commitment to delivering every single line, no matter how innocuous or minor, in that clenched teeth mode of barely suppressed rage and/or sarcasm is just incredible. It makes every exchange feel fraught with conflict.
would love to hear him read things in the style of the Prisoner - the Bible, Dr. Seuss, the phonebook
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 4 September 2019 16:47 (four years ago) link
He’s great doing passive-aggressive faux-friendly as the baddie in Silver Streak. Much better than Braveheart when he’s plain old evil
― Chuck_Tatum, Wednesday, 4 September 2019 16:53 (four years ago) link
I don't recall seeing him anything else except Scanners tbh, in which mostly he just comes across as drunkenly angry
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 4 September 2019 16:54 (four years ago) link
He's in at least 4 Columbos and brilliant in every one.
― Boulez, vous couchez avec moi? (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 September 2019 16:56 (four years ago) link
Danger Man is on Amazon Prime, surprisingly entertaining for a b&w series that debuted in 1960 (McGoohan secret-agenting well before the Bond movies)
in the last week or two The Prisoner also showed up as included on Amazon Prime -- I'm looking forward to seeing it in order for the first time
― Brad C., Wednesday, 4 September 2019 16:59 (four years ago) link
he's the warden in escape from alcatraz!!
― visiting, Wednesday, 4 September 2019 17:01 (four years ago) link
yeah I noticed this on Amazon Prime and just watched a couple eps (Free for All and Checkmate)
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 4 September 2019 17:09 (four years ago) link
imagining the Prisoner at a diner
Waitress: What would you like this morning?Number 6: To mind my own business.
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 4 September 2019 17:11 (four years ago) link
xp McGoohan adds some much-needed tension to Ice Station Zebra, basically reprising his Danger Man role
― Brad C., Wednesday, 4 September 2019 17:12 (four years ago) link
is there a more menacing orb in television or cinema than Rover
― president of deluded fruitcakes anonymous (silby), Wednesday, 4 September 2019 17:16 (four years ago) link
Danger Man is way more "sophisticated" than I had expected when I first watched it about a decade ago ... there are a few episodes that prefigure the Prisoner.
Rover reinforces my antipathy to balloons ... best menacing orb
― sarahell, Wednesday, 4 September 2019 17:24 (four years ago) link
imo he's great in almost everything he's done. Dunno if this was posted already - All Night Long is a good film with McGoohan stealing the show as a treacherous jazz drummer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl5p80BMHYk
― everything, Wednesday, 4 September 2019 17:37 (four years ago) link
very sinister drum solo
that tune sounds kind of like the Danger Man theme
― Brad C., Wednesday, 4 September 2019 17:48 (four years ago) link
don't forget Baby, Secret of the Lost Legend
― dan selzer, Wednesday, 4 September 2019 17:59 (four years ago) link
He's also on Hell Drivers, the cast of which is o_O - a doctor who, a James bond, Sid James, a Professional, a man from uncle, a ladykiller, Alfie bass...
― koogs, Wednesday, 4 September 2019 18:16 (four years ago) link
yep, 4 - he directed three of those and co-wrote one, and directed another two that he's not in (just recently watched the first two regular TV Columbos with the aim of skipping ahead to the McGoohans & occasional other ones of interest, eg two directed by Nicholas Colsanto, the Coach from Cheers, one of those starring Johnny Cash)
― quelle sprocket damage (sic), Wednesday, 4 September 2019 18:30 (four years ago) link
wow, Johnny Cash with Ida Lupino as his wife. will have to track down.
― by the light of the burning Citroën, Wednesday, 4 September 2019 19:11 (four years ago) link
It's on every other week in the UK.
― Boulez, vous couchez avec moi? (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 September 2019 19:11 (four years ago) link
Columbo is on top form in it.
― Boulez, vous couchez avec moi? (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 September 2019 19:12 (four years ago) link
just went through this series again since first watching it about fifteen years ago. it's so good, but how did i forget how much full bore insanity makes up the last episode???? my goodness, it goes on for about twenty straight minutes of nonsense for a while there.
by the way, you can find the whole series on youtube (in sometimes *ahem* "vintage" quality, but alas it's there). also, this is a cool interview. he seemed like a really intense person:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95DrM4tfyD0
― please don't refer to me as (Austin), Wednesday, 29 December 2021 16:16 (two years ago) link
Watched it front to back properly for the first time this year. Amazing period piece on several levels, and the sheer brilliance of turning a weather balloon into a horrific threat solely through sound and editing is next level.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 29 December 2021 16:20 (two years ago) link
I did similar, the blu ray box has a few documentaries, the best one with Patrick McGoohans um involvement. It’s brilliant.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 29 December 2021 17:01 (two years ago) link
Yeah, it’s called “in my mind” it’s available separately and well worth seeing.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 29 December 2021 17:06 (two years ago) link
anybody tried rewatching it in one of the "alternate" episode orders?
― please don't refer to me as (Austin), Wednesday, 29 December 2021 17:06 (two years ago) link
Never tried it but some of the episodes are obviously (and annoyingly) in the wrong place
― I Can't See Gervais In My Mind (Tom D.), Wednesday, 29 December 2021 17:13 (two years ago) link
in my preparation to rewatch in one of the alternate orders, i found that the entire thing is on shout factory in hd: https://www.shoutfactorytv.com/series/the-prisoner
― please don't refer to me as (Austin), Wednesday, 29 December 2021 22:01 (two years ago) link
This is a fun early lockdown-era interview with Steven Moffat about The Prisoner
https://www.tvcream.co.uk/podcasts/tv-cream-stays-indoors/tv-cream-stays-indoors-with-steven-moffat/
It’s particularly enjoyable for his valiant (although I think completely wrong!) takedown of the finale
― Chuck_Tatum, Wednesday, 29 December 2021 22:54 (two years ago) link
oh man, this show. my Dad ordered the VHS tapes when I was 12 and we watched them together. we never really bonded over a TV show before. tbh I was still in that phase where I took entertainment a bit too seriously and was a bit miffed at all the "this doesn't really make sense to us either" moments.
― frogbs, Wednesday, 29 December 2021 23:03 (two years ago) link
fun story the company I work for won a big "Best Place to Work" award and there was some local TV station doing a feature on us. at one point during the day they were interviewing random employees and I got the "why do you think this company has such a low turnover rate?" question. I answered "well if anyone quits they find themselves followed by a giant white balloon on their drive home and as soon as they get out of the car they blackout and wake up under their desk". they wound up not airing that response :(
― frogbs, Wednesday, 29 December 2021 23:06 (two years ago) link
The 'Free For All' podcast is worth checking out, and yes, it is two guys theorizing and repurposing what they've researched but they're interesting and speak like normal humans.
There is an interview with Derrin Nesbitt coming up which could be good and the format suggests that they're going to stop after having done all 17 episodes.
― Maresn3st, Saturday, 16 April 2022 11:12 (two years ago) link