This picture is taken from the episode
The Chimes of Big Ben moments prior to No.6 inviting Nadia-No.8 into his cottage for a nightcap. I had often wondered why No.6 is about to place a pencil in the breast pocket of his blazer - had he just been completeing The Tally Ho Crossword, or solving a chess problem in the newspaper off camera? Because to me it seemed out of place somehow, and could think of no other reason for the pencil. Then back in the early 1990's, the discovery of what has been termed as
The Alternative Chimes of Big Ben was made, and ultimately released on video, something Patrick McGoohan had tried to stop, as he did not want this 'first cut'
of
The Chimes of Big Ben released to the general public for screening. But seeing as how McGoohan no longer had any control over
the Prisoner, his attempt to stop the release of the never before seen 'first cut', proved to be a waste of time.
This next image is taken from
The Alternative Chimes of Big Ben - No.6 having constructed himself a Triquetrum, an ancient device used for the measurement of stars. A crude device, not one hundred percent accurate, but No.6 was using the device to discover the location of the Village by the stars.
Now at long last I had the explanation for the pencil in the above picture. No.6 had been making a notation of his astronomical observations in a note book, and so it was moments after doing so, that No.6 was about to place the pencil in the breast pocket of his blazer, as in the next image which again is taken from the 'first cut' of
The Chimes of Big Ben
Why the 'first cut' was scrapped, and the episode re-edited together, without the 'triquetrum' scene I have no idea. Nor the reason why Patrick McGoohan didn't want the 'first cut ' of the episode released to the general public. I can only think that McGoohan didn't like it for some reason, and therefore didn't want it seen by anyone.
What was No.6 noting down in that notebook of his? Well you can see the notebook briefly on screen, but for a few seconds only. Below is a copy of those astronomical notations, and a diagram of the Triquetrum itself which was reproduced in the early 1990's.
Be seeing you
Oddly enough......
ReplyDelete"The use of a different cut of Chimes of Big Ben, as the final conclusion might be significant. Many years later, when that different cut surfaced, to be marketed by the Fan Clubs as “the alternative” episode, Patrick McGoohan expressed annoyance and described this version as an unfinished rough cut that should never have seen the light of day. His reaction even indicates that he was never aware of what went on in Canada all those years before."
http://numbersixwasinnocent.blogspot.com/2011/07/mcgoohan-made-his-own-plans-each.html
Hello Moor larkin,
ReplyDeleteThat's right, it was the Fan club that termed the original cut of 'The Chimes of Big Ben' as alternative, which of course it isn't.
And I do recall now the release of this rough cut of 'Chimes' in Canada. If McG had known he'd have gone ballistic! I've got a copy of the first release of 'The Chimes of Big Ben' on video.
Also you will no doubt remember that 'the Prisoner' actually premiered on Canadian television first. And as well as that, at one time you could go to Univeristy in Canada, and come away with a degree for 'the Prisoner!'
Regards
David
BCNU