the prisoner

quote:

Originally posted by Tam:
... Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling (where his mind is swapped into someone else's body, yet he is unable to convince his former employers who he is) .....

At that point the show was running out of funding and Patrick McGoohan had to find another way of generating some money and went off to make the excellent Ice Station Zebra where he starred as David Jones (British Agent): the supporting cast were Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown and Rock Hudson - my favourite adaptation of an Alistair MacLean novel. Consequently, back filming the Prisoner they had to find a way of making the episode without involving Patrick McGoohan too heavily and so they concocted the mind swap: that way Nigel Stock could play No 6.

I like all the episodes with Hammer Into Anvil and Chimes of Big Ben being my favourites - I find Once Upon A Time hard work, but I really like Fall Out - the final episode.

At various times Patrick McGoohan has said it was always going to end in that way, but George Markstein who conceived the original episodes with Patrick McGoohan and others, maintained the series was about the resignation of secret agent: John Drake. Markstein claimed he decided to leave the Prisoner as Patrick McGoohan started to dominate the writing, conception of the episodes and finally the role of Director; he said McGoohan didn't know where he was going with it all and that made Markstein's presence superfluous. Markstein described Fall Out as the non-concluding episode: an absurd pantomime that was gross self indulgence by someone fed up with the whole thing - a horrific joke. Probably just sour grapes. Patrick McGoohan and George Markstein were never on speaking terms after Markstein left the Prisoner team; Markstein died in 1987.

Markstein appears at the start of most episodes; he's the bald man in the glasses that McGoohan's hands his resignation to. Markstein also appeared in Many Happy Returns when he was again behind his desk.

George Markstein went on to co-write the screen play for the excellent Odessa File.

All the best, Rotf

BTW George Baker, who is the second No. 2 in Arrival, was the only Village leader in the series to wear the No. 6 style piped blazer.

Thanks for that ROTF, particularly the story about Oh My Darling, Do Not Forsake Me. It's interesting the way sometimes those sorts of things produce excellent results. I believe Kryptonite was originally invented for the Superman radio programme because they needed a plot device to explain why they had changed actors for a couple of weeks as the lead was unavailable.

I wouldn't say that I dislike Fallout, in fact I very much enjoy it too. And I'm not saying I wanted the show to end in way that tied everything up nice and neatly (that wouldn't have worked at all), I just think I would have liked a little more sense and a little less surreal.

I like Once Upon A Time, it has the plus of featuring one of my favourite number twos.

I'm also greatful for this thread, it prompted me to dig out my dvds (which I haven't done in a while) and enjoy Hammer into Anvil. I hadn't noticed before quite how much the score is built out of the Bizet piece of the record. But I just love the way he undermines Number 2, this is simply in another league than Lost.

regards, Tam

Lost is going for 3 more series apparently.

a ha, a garrard!

i rather like "fall out." seems completely right that the last episode was absurd. there is apparently a part of a scene cut in their haste - not sure that would "explain" it, but does affect continuity. also, i recall some story about mckern having a heart attack or nervous breakdown during or right after the episode.

i would like to point out that mr. mcgoohan has lived in l.a. for some time, and is fast friends w/ mel gibson and peter falk, and lives w/ his wife of 55 years ....

be seeing YOU.

I would think lost is going for as many more seasons as it continues to be bankable.

Also of note, there's a nice Simpsons episode (guest staring McGoohan) which spoofs the show wonderfully.

regards, Tam

More excellent Prisoner/Dangerman sites -

www.theunmutual.co.uk

www.the-prisoner-6.freeserve.co.uk

www.mcgoohan.co.uk

Regards
Chris N