Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33810 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-10-01
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Special Edition
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 7
• Running time: 850 minutes

DVD Description
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.

Special Features
7 discs containing all 17 episodes digitally restored Alternate version of first episode ‘Arrival’ with music only track 288 page book by TV historian Andrew Pixley 40th anniversary limited edition packaging Original script PDF’s including ones never filmed 7 Audio commentaries with members of the original production team Brand new feature-length documentary

Synopsis
Though it ran for a mere 17 episodes, the sci-fi spy drama THE PRISONER is one of television's biggest cult hits. The brainchild of star Patrick McGoohan, the series followed the adventures of No. 6 (McGoohan), a former secret agent who is being held captive in a highly secured village, the location of which remains a mystery throughout the series. This groundbreaking and innovative show reached an unfortunate end as TV bosses got cold feet following low ratings and increasingly strange story lines. But McGoohan himself took control and steered the show to an ending that continues to cause great debate among THE PRISONER's faithful fans. This release includes the entire series of the show, digitally restored.

Customer Reviews

Nearly prefect, but not quite
Although the picture quality is peerless, there are a couple of niggling errors in the episodes themselves which prevent me giving 5/5. The 5.1 soundtrack throughout has been bodged, resulting in echoing sound which is virtually unlistenable - and these are set as the default (but you have the option to switch to a clear mono soundtrack).

The opening titles of "Once Upon A Time" have been sourced from another episode, meaning that the credits are incorrect. Also, during the "where am I?" dialogue, Leo McKern's voiceover mysteriously changes to Colin Gordon's after "information, information, information" and thus has the wrong No 2 laughing!

"Its Your Funeral" is similarly incorrect, the Colin Gordon voiceover is used again but only up until the line "By hook or by crook" when it switches to the correct Robert Rietty voiceover.

Living In Harmony - the "Prisoner's face flying up to the closing bars" end caption, seen at the climax of most of the episodes, has clearly had its audio taken from elsewhere (for reasons I can't quite fathom), since the closing notes from whatever episode it's been lifted from can quite clearly be heard fading out as those bars crash shut. The "slap noises" as No 2 slaps The Kid across the face (15 minutes in) are now badly out of synch.

Also of note is the fact that several dirty cuts and edits appear to have been repaired by removing the bad frame at the edit point, and replacing it with a repeat of the last clean frame, causing many shots to momentarily freeze at edit points.

The above glitches aside, this is a great set. There are some great Patrick McGoohan interviews in two Easter Eggs, and a superbly-researched book by Andrew Pixley.

What do you want? We want information!
Would echo the sentiments of Mr. Carson that this immaculate package constitutes an essential addition to any Prisoner enthusiast's collection. As part of The Unmutual Website Group we were treated to a preview of this new release by Network at PM2007 in August at Portmeirion, a celebration of The Prisoner, Danger Man and Patrick McGoohan's work. The quality of the digitally restored footage makes this set a significant upgrade from previous offerings. Indeed the restoration of the alternate version of the first episode "Arrival" including Wilfred Joesphs' original score is a masterpiece. There is also an exclusive book on the making of the series by Andrew Pixley.

However, it is the additional material and in particular the documentary entitled "Don`t knock yourself out" that will generate the most interest. Network scoured the globe to contact former members of cast and crew to elicit notable interviews and the list of contributors makes for an impressive list indeed including: Production manager Bernard Williams, Director Don Chaffey, Producer David Tomblin, actors Peter Bowles, Fenella Fielding, who was The Village Voice, Leo McKern, Kenneth Griffith and many others. Regrettably not no: 6, McGoohan himself but the Executive Producer and Star of the series has endorsed the 40th Anniversary Special addition for the first time ever by saying "Thanks to Network`s fresh and vastly improved edition. 'The Prisoner' can journey happily into the future." What more can one add? Be seeing you.

A fine tribute
There were 17 episodes of The Prisoner and this will be the 17th review to praise this collection. A huge amount of work has gone into it, of which the people behind it are justly proud. You'll have probably decided to buy it without reading this far, but, if you're remotely hesitating, don't think twice.