Lake Neuron

A few weeks ago, while waiting for my boxed set of “The Prisoner” to arrive, I posted a YouTube clip of the opening credits. But I found a better clip. The earlier clip was of the extended opening credits from the very first episode. The new clip is both shorter and longer.

You see, except for that first episode, and a few other episodes with weird formatting, “The Prisoner” had two different credit sequences. There was one sequence which showcased Patrick McGoohan’s name and the title of the series, and it ends with McGoohan’s character being gassed.

The second credit sequence, which I think (but am not sure) aired after the first commercial break, introduced the title and guest cast for that week’s episode. This is the part of the credits which featured the dialogue between Number Six and Number Two. The dialogue would be the same each week, but the voice of Number Two would change, because there was a different one almost every week. Most weeks, you would catch a glimpse of Number Two during the credits, except for one episode where there was a dramatic reason to keep Number Two’s identity a secret.

This YouTube clip shows you the whole thing, both credit sequences, from “The Chimes of Big Ben.” This episode featured Leo McKern as Number Two; he appeared in this episode but then returned for the last two episodes in the series, making him the most-frequently-appearing Number Two. You may remember Mr. McKern better from his years as “Rumpole of the Bailey.”

I’ve just gotten through watching the “Prisoner” DVD containing the two most atypical episodes in the series: “Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling,” in which Number 6’s mind is transpanted into a different body (so that Patrick McGoohan could go film “Ice Station Zebra”!), and “Living In Harmony,” which, without explanation, skips the opening credits and begins its action in the Old West.

Only three more episodes to go!

“Where am I?”
“In the Village.”
“What do you want?”
“Information.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“That would be telling. We want information. Information. Information!”
“You won’t get it.”
“By hook or by crook, we will!”
“Who are you?”
“I am Number Two.”
“Who is Number One?”
“You are Number Six.”
“I am not a number … I am a free man!”

In all honesty, I’d only seen a few individual episodes of “The Prisoner” before buying my complete series DVD mega-set. And I remember as a child seeing the big white balloon and being both fascinated and frightened by it. But I knew from everything I’d read and seen that I would enjoy it — and I am enjoying it.

I’m now passing the discs I’ve already watched along to my father, who was a fan of the show from the beginning.

It’s a great, creative idea, combined with good storytelling and a great lead performance by Patrick McGoohan. And all of the various people who play Number Two are great, including Leo McKern, who was so wonderful as “Rumpole of the Bailey.”

Here is what my TV will look like in another week or two:

As I posted the other day, I bought a Monty Python’s Flying Circus complete boxed set during a big sale at Amazon.com. I think I made a good purchase — but soon after seeing the Monty Python set, I saw another boxed set for the same price, and I had a little twinge. Should I have bought that one instead?

Well, my youngest brother and his family gave me an Amazon gift certificate for my birthday, and I decided I would apply it towards that second box set purchase. When I got home this afternoon, I discovered the big sale had ended and the box set had returned to its normal price — but I found it on one of Amazon’s “Marketplace” partner merchants for a price that was pretty much as good as the sale, and that allowed me to apply my gift certificate.

Yes, it’s “The Prisoner,” one of the most imaginative and thought-provoking TV shows of its era, and one I haven’t seen in years.

For those of you too young to remember this show (and I was much too young to appreciate it on its original run), it’s sort of a cross between James Bond and “Lost.” Patrick McGoohan’s character is a British spy who suddenly resigns his position, much to the consternation of his superiors. He is gassed and whisked away to a surreal facility called “The Village.” Everyone in The Village is referred to by a number. The top man on-site is “Number Two,” who reports to a mysterious and unseen “Number One.” (”Number Two” is not a very secure job, apparently, and the person in that role changes constantly throughout the 17-episode series.)

McGoohan’s character, Number Six, can’t be sure who the ultimate power is — his own government? The enemy? Some third party? — and so, even as Number Two uses various schemes, ruses and strategies to try to get McGoohan to reveal the reason for his resignation, McGoohan looks to escape and/or to unravel the mysteries behind The Village.

The one thing about the series that did fascinate me as a young child was The Village’s means of capturing escapees — a big, bouncy white ball which chased the fugitive. (You may have seen it lampooned on an episode of “The Simpsons.”)

I haven’t seen this show in many years and can’t wait to see it again, complete and in proper order.

Title	Content
Movie:	"The Prisoner"
Release Date:	1 June 1968 (USA) / Other Countries
Genre:	Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi
Tagline:	No Man Is Just A Number.
User Rating:	1,398 votes, average 9.2 out of 10
Runtime:	52 min (17 episodes)
Awards:	1 nomination
Cast:	...
Others:	Additional Details Close Move Title Content MPAA: County: UK Language: English Color: Color Aspect Ratio: 1.33 : 1 Sound: Mono Company: Everyman Films Certification: Singapore:PG | Australia:PG IMDBTag: Powered by IMDBTag & imdb.com Sound Mix, Aspect Ratio ...
Photos:	N/A
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