The Prisoner

jaysay · 13-11-2009, 11:18

Well its happening, there is going to be a remake of the sixties TV series The Prisoner, Staring Sir Ian McKellen as number 2 and Number 6 (Patrick McGoohan's role) is being played by Jim Caviezel. Its a joint venture costing £10 million between ITV and American Channel AMC. To me they will never capture the effect of the old series and its one of those oldies they should have left well alone, they'd be better of screening reruns of the original

***Mr D*** · 13-11-2009, 15:36

I am not a Number I am a free man.

jaysay · 13-11-2009, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by ***Mr D***

I am not a Number I am a free man.

And there was me thinking you were an alien sent down to spy on us Mr D

steeljack · 13-11-2009, 16:57

my local paper doesn't think much of the new production ....the writer of the article isn't usually far from the mark in his reviews

TV review: 'Prisoner' remake captive of past

***Mr D*** · 13-11-2009, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

And there was me thinking you were an alien sent down to spy on us Mr D

Not me, although "they" are already amongst us.

accyman · 14-11-2009, 05:25

to be honest the origional was pretty lame but i suppose it was cutting edge back when it was origionaly aried, it was one of those shows that got repeated late back before 24 hour tv was big so it was better than nothing and although you knew damn well he wasnt going to escape the high speed chases in golf buggies were funny to watch

if they do remake this show it will hopefully be more updated with better storys and escape plots, it wouldnt hurt to loose the giant balloon either how he never outran it is was pittyfull lol

they have remade another show V and although i wasnt too keen on the origional this new one is a lot better with a slightly altered back story and perspective so not all remakes are bad so fingers crossed this ones ok too

jaysay · 14-11-2009, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ***Mr D***

Not me, although "they" are already amongst us.

Well if you find one bring him (IT) round for a cuppa, would love to meet one before I go to that big spaceship in the sky

grannyclaret · 14-11-2009, 12:10

How can any one follow the fabulous Patrick McGoohan,,,,,,its like having burgers after fillet stake,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Taggy · 14-11-2009, 18:15

I never understood it the first time round....and ive lost many brain cells since then!! Portmeirion is worth a visit though!

Best Regards - Taggy

katex · 14-11-2009, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taggy

I never understood it the first time round....and ive lost many brain cells since then!! Portmeirion is worth a visit though!

Best Regards - Taggy

Nor me Taggy .. LOL. Yes, I enoyed Portmeirion too, not just because of this series, the gardens, etc.

I agree with G-C though .. could never really be re-made, even with better plots as Accyman has suggested, to better it. That was the charm, the black and white filming, crass stories .. all tongue in cheek I thought .. not to be taken too seriously.

grannyclaret · 15-11-2009, 00:06

does anyone remember the series,,,Danger man,,,
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if i remember rightly in an interview with Patrick McGoohan years ago he said the original reason of the plot of the Prisoner was to stop the agent John Drake from telling what he knew,,without actually bumping him off,he was supposed to live out the rest of his life in the Village,but he was not having any of it ,at the start of each programme it showed his house where he lived in London

Taggy · 15-11-2009, 01:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by grannyclaret

does anyone remember the series,,,Danger man,,,
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if i remember rightly in an interview with Patrick McGoohan years ago he said the original reason of the plot of the Prisoner was to stop the agent John Drake from telling what he knew,,without actually bumping him off,he was supposed to live out the rest of his life in the Village,but he was not having any of it ,at the start of each programme it showed his house where he lived in London

Grannyclaret you are probably right, but what you are saying still doesnt make any sense at all does it??Lol?

Best Regards - Taggy

carpon · 15-11-2009, 01:32

It wouldn't be the same as the original.... (I.M.H.O.) Patrick McGoohan was class, a good actor who made the original series!!!

Remakes,despite raising all the old nostalgia...are not a patch on the original.. I couldn't bring myself to watch all the recent new Doctor Who episodes / series. Somehow,to me at least they didn't carry forward the magic from the original episodes / series (who could ever forget Tom Baker? or Bill Pertwee for that matter) and despite all the techno enhancements, they didn't do it for me !!!

jaysay · 15-11-2009, 10:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

Nor me Taggy .. LOL. Yes, I enoyed Portmeirion too, not just because of this series, the gardens, etc.

I agree with G-C though .. could never really be re-made, even with better plots as Accyman has suggested, to better it. That was the charm, the black and white filming, crass stories .. all tongue in cheek I thought .. not to be taken too seriously.

Think you find it was filmed in colour kate, all those gaudy striped jackets wouldn't have looked the same in B & W really

grannyclaret · 15-11-2009, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taggy

Grannyclaret you are probably right, but what you are saying still doesnt make any sense at all does it??Lol?

Best Regards - Taggy

just thought i would see if there was any thing on dangerman on google...does this help or make it more complicated,,,,,lol
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Danger Man, Secret Agent and The Prisoner

Danger Man(1961)
Secret Agent (1965-1966)
The Prisoner (1968-1969)
Type: Spin Offs?

Okay, right off the bat lets establish all three of these shows were imports from Britain. The years listed above correspond with their American network TV runs.
Danger Man was a show about the exploits of John Drake, played by Patrick McGoohan. He was a security investigator who worked for the powerful in governments. He was another international man of action and intrigue in line with the other spy-type shows of the time. Each week he traveled the globe and kicked some ass.
Secret Agent was a follow up series again starring Patrick McGoohan as John Drake. Only now Drake was a spy and worked exclusively for the British government. He was out to keep the peace by, again, kicking some ass. Only in Secret Agent he had a full hour to do it whereas Danger Man was only half an hour.
But here is a question for you: what happens to an ass kicking spy when he gets tired of his job? I mean he's a spy. He's got all sorts of top secret stuff in his mind and all so to just let him retire and go live anywhere he pleases might be dangerous - someone might want to know what he knows. Spying is like the mob - its hard to just quit. Which brings us to a pseudo spin off named The Prisoner.
The Prisoner again starred Patrick McGoohan this time as a never named British spy. The series began with this agent quitting the spy biz and promptly being kidnapped. But by who? He ends up finding himself in a pleasant looking little town simply called The Village. Only thing is The Village is really a prison. If you try to leave, giant white bouncing spheres called rovers capture you and plop you back in The Village. The former spy is literally a prisoner, as are all the others in the village. Those in charge try to take his identity assigning him a number, 6, in place of a name and begin trying to break him, to get him to reveal his secrets and then live in happy captivity like the other residents of The Village that have already been broken. Number Six fights them every step of the way, clinging to his humanity. He is a man, not a number!
The show was very surreal and oblique. Who exactly had kidnapped this guy? A foreign power out for his top secret knowledge or maybe his own government looking to break him and then keep him captive to prevent others from getting that knowledge? The head of The Village was Number 1 and was not seen. Rather his right hand man Number 2 was shown. Number 2's identity varied from episode to episode and this also added to the mental screw job being done on Number 6.
I have not seen the final episode but am aware of its reputation. It was so surreal that the network had to publish an explanation of it so calm down angry viewers who didn't get it. Apparently Number 6 was good enough at resisting the powers that he was offered a higher number rank and job with the powers that be. In the end Number 1 is revealed to be Number 6 (I think???) but Number 6 and some other rebels bust out of The Village and blow it up. When I finally get to see the series, which I mean to, I'll clarify this if I can.
Now like I said, the agent in The Prisoner is never named. And Patrick McGoohan I have been told denies that he is in fact John Drake. But all things considered... it's a line call and I'm calling it a spin off. Never saying the prisoner is NOT John Drake leaves things vague. On top of that, the show exploited the popularity of Secret Agent and the John Drake character in getting viewers. I mean the same guy who just played a spy is now playing another spy. Hello? Lets say Sean Connery had quit playing James Bond and they had then stopped making James Bond movies entirely. Then Sean Connery shows up playing the prisoner. Who wouldn't assume the prisoner was in fact James Bond? They played it cagey, that puts the ball in the viewers court as to if John Drake is the prisoner and this viewer says it's him and its a spin off.

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