What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Part action series, part psychedelic fantasy, part allegory, Patrick McGoohan's masterpiece, The Prisoner, was initially touted as a sequel to his earlier spy series, Danger Man. But when it was first broadcast in 1967 TV audiences were puzzled; when the show was cancelled 17 episodes later due to declining viewing figures, no one was any the wiser. Shot in the picturesque surroundings of Portmeirion in North Wales, whose architectural fantasies provided an ideal backdrop for the show's surrealism, The Prisoner has subsequently been recognised as one of the most innovative and thought-provoking series ever to be broadcast. Despite the primary-coloured flower-power look, the show's bold ideas haven't dated at all, proving that The Prisoner was simply years ahead of its time.
McGoohan is Number 6, a man whose resignation from the secret service (seen every week in a montage title sequence--itself an impressionistic TV landmark) triggers his abduction and imprisonment in "The Village", a sort of open prison for spies where everyone has a number not a name. It's a pretty comfortable place and the other inhabitants all seem passively to accept the situation, allowing the Village authorities to control and limit their actions without protest (escape attempts are thwarted by mysterious bubble-shaped guards called "Rovers"). Number 6, however, is an indomitable freedom fighter whose refusal to accept the status quo is a metaphor for the individual ego struggling against the forces of social conformity: "I am not a number I am a free man" is the series' most resonant catchphrase.
The Village's allegorical microcosm of society is presided over by Number 2, played by a different actor every week, with whom Number 6 clashes repeatedly in a battle of wills as he continually questions the authority that has imprisoned him ("Who is Number 1?"). In turn the Kafkaesque authorities try to discover the reason why he resigned. His trenchant refusal to provide any reason at all is itself a powerful assertion of individual freedom. The series culminates in perhaps the most bizarre and psychedelic TV episode ever made, "Fallout", in which Number 6's revelatory discovery of the real power that keeps him imprisoned raises more questions than it answers. --Mark Walker
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Any one of the available reviews will tell you the plot so let's get to the meat of the matter:
It is either a damning or praising thing to say that this show is the best thing that ever happened to British television.
Praise indeed for the show but damning also since it was made in the 1960s and there has been little to rival it ever since.
Truly thought provoking and insightful this show simply refuses to lie down and go away. It's Orwellian view of a world watched by cameras and a population subjugated by petty belief systems predicts our life today. And therein lies some of it's appeal. We like this stuff. There's an element of the rebel in almost every one of us. We will not be told to shut up and toe the line. And this series still pulls at those strings. The Prisoner has not dated and with often intriguing stories, excellent scripts and a sterling lead role performance by Patrick McGoohan it continues to provoke active discussion and entertains a large and loyal fanbase.
Having this boxed set is a must. For this show is unlike many others in that it has a beginning, a middle and a conclusion. So therefore seeing it all is a prerequisite. And despite the reports stating that the 'answer' is never made clear, any intelligent viewer will understand what it's all about.
The quality of the DVDs is very good. The remastering has brought out the full glory of the show. In fact I'd hazard to say that few of those people who saw the series on it's original run would have seen it look so wonderful.
It's little wonder that this show has been slyly referred to within the plots of other shows, (The Avengers, Columbo and The Simpsons to name but three).
Mysterious and at times demanding this wonderful series rewards the inquisitive viewer with insight and above all great entertainment.
Brilliant fun and worth the money.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The greatest TV series ever produced on one DVD set. Don't miss it! The series covers the incarceration of "Number 6" in The Village, a mysterious place which is a fusion of Mediterraenean architecture and quaint upper class British themes. McGoohan is quirky, unpredictable but ultimately defiant as the ex-spy who refuses to reveal to his captors the reasons for his resignation. At first confused, and often out-thought and out-manouvered by his captors, the tone changes subtly through each episode as The Prisoner becomes more than a match for each new "Number 2" who takes control of the Village. The plots also become more fantastic as the series progresses, mixing elements of mystery thriller, action-adventure, and SF, with The Prisoner battling Zombie-like Villagers, Super Computers, Mind-Swap devices, altered realities and the ever-present "Rovers" - strange bubble-like creatures which relentlessly track, pursue and engulf would-be escapees.
....and THAT final episode...!
Watch this to see what can be accomplished in the medium with a big budget, an ingenious plot and a who's who of guest stars that would be impossible in today's TV.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If by chance you haven't ever heard of let alone seen the Prisoner, you should be told it is a 1960's ITC (Lew Grade) series running to 17 episodes, which follow a man known only as No. 6, who finds himself imprisoned in the mysterious and beautiful Village (Hotel Portmeirion in North Wales). We are never told exactly what No.6 did before - most likely some sort of secret agent, possibly even John Drake (of DangerMan), who was also played by Patrick McGoohan. The Prisoner's first objective is to escape, but his aims and objectives become more ambiguous as the series progresses. The 17 episodes - each a self contained story, except for the 2-part finale - range from more straightforward "will he escape" stories - "Chimes of Big Ben", Checkmate" - to social commentaries on subjects like education "The General"; and elections - "Free for All". It must be said, some episodes stand head and shoulders above others, and McGoohans original idea of a mini-series running to 7 stories was, by the end, becoming stretched in places. But some episodes justify the 5 stars on their own - "Arrival" (never has there been a more dramatic, well crafted pilot to any series- ever!); "Free for All"; Dance of the Dead" (with its beautiful encounter between "Mr Tuxedo" and "Peter Pan" on the Portmeirion sands); and a particular favourite of mine, "ABC". The final two episodes - Once Upon A Time and Fall Out - are complex, difficult to watch in places, but ultimately rewarding. Don't even think of jumping ahead and watching them first.
Criticisms? Sometimes the series shows its age - it was made in the 60's after all. Some of the technology and fashions look dated by todays standards. As time went on, so some of the scripts became a little weak (like "Its Your Funeral"). As storylines got stretched, sometimes the Prisoner even left the Village - "Living in Harmony" is set in the Wild West.
There is not much in the way of extras on the DVD's and the one, US documentary is a little dissapointing. However the overall quality of the production is very good.
Watch it with an open mind. It works on several levels - adventure series; social commentary; and as another commentator put it, "allegorical conundrum". One thing is for sure - nothing else on TV has really ever got close to it's range and depth.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Prisoner
The Prisoner is one of the most significantly original TV series from Britain ever. This DVD set is ok but not the best quality. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ms. M. Potter
the prisoner
Excellent service; recived the dvd in good time and in mint condition. I would use the seller again. Many thanks
Published 16 months ago by marie
The Prisoner
Following his resignation, a high ranking Government Official is abducted from his home and taken to a picturesque seaside location known as "The Village". Read more
Published on 22 April 2008 by jbc
Way ahead of it's time
There's not much to say about 'The Prisoner' that hasn't already been said, but as it made such a huge impression on me, I'm compelled to give my thoughts. Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2008 by Anirog
The best TV ever made
In the symbolism of The Prisoner, Number One represents the mass of the public or the species, which has evolved from an ape to the stressed-up Number Six, who is trying to escape... Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2008 by DH Dixon
The prisoner ..
What a fantastic box ...6 disc of brilliant TV sit back watch and learn how Tv..GREAT tv was made
Published on 19 Dec 2007 by Mr. D. Taylor
Back to the village
I will not make any deals with you. I've resigned. I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered.
My life is my own. Read more
My life is my own. Read more
Published on 22 May 2007 by Armchair Pundit
The most intelligent T.V. ever produced
Contrary to the perceived wisdom of The Prisoner, the meaning of the series is entirely intelligible if viewed as allegorical as well as literal. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2007 by J. W. Lacey
the one and only.
a unique programme in the history of british t.v.
there has never been anything like "the prisoner" since its original broadcast in 1967. Read more
there has never been anything like "the prisoner" since its original broadcast in 1967. Read more
Published on 16 July 2006 by Mr. A. E. Ward Davies
watch it, by hook or by crook watch it!!
someone corrected the reviewer in saying that it wasnt cancelled because of poor ratings which was right but they were wrong in saying there was 13 original episodes planned there... Read more
Published on 22 May 2006 by Mr. S. G. Sheppard
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Film & TV > Television > Drama
- Film & TV > Television > TV Series > The Prisoner
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
