The Prisoner In Production
A question was raised the other day when I was asked about what information there is regarding the behind the scenes of the Prisoner, and information on the production of the series.
There are certain books which have been written which might help with this subject, although any written in-depth research on the matter of the production of the Prisoner series is somewhat thin on the ground. However you might wish to acquire such books as; The Prisoner of Portmeirion and Portmeirion Prisoner Production both by Max Hora. The Prisoner in Portmeirion by Roger Langley and The Prisoner In production again by Roger Langley. Also Inside the Prisoner by Ian Rakoff, and there are certain issues of the magazines 'Number Six' and 'In The Village' which contain transcripts of interviews of members of the cast who worked on the production of the Prisoner all of which gives some small incite into the production of the series.
Alternatively you can search out copies of a number of video documentary productions produced by a certain individual Mr. Steven Ricks under the name of TR7 Productions. The first of which was the two volume video The Prisoner Investigated Vol.1-2 hosted by Actor Peter Howell-the Professor in The General, with Actor James Bree and special guest Kenneth Griffith-No.2 in The Girl Who Was Death and the president in Fall Out. And contains interviews with some of the crew members who worked on the series, along with certain film footage never before seen at the time.
The Prisoner Investigated was quickly followed up with the Prisoner In-Depth Vol.1-6. Again more interviews with members of the cast, and containing two of the unused Prisoner scripts The Outsider and Don't get Yourself Killed.
The Prisoner Inspired which breaks away from the production tapes to look at what inspired Patrick McGoohan to make the Prisoner series.
The Prisoner In production uses some of the rarest Prisoner film in existence Steven Ricks re-traces events surrounding the location shoot.
And finally the Prisoner In Conclusion which draws a close on the extensive research carried out into the production of the Prisoner.
The above listed video's I have watched over a period of time. Their content can be recommended, if not the standard of video and production quality, and it has to be said that I could not stand to watch any of the video's for much more than an hour at a time. This can be put down to the fact of the matter in hand, that many, in fact nearly all of the interviewees, are sat down in a chair with a camera pointing at them as questions are asked of them, which does nothing to help hold the viewers attention for long spells at a time.
However despite the faults of the production quality of the videos, and those of the interviewers filming techniques, Mr. Steven Ricks is to be heartily commended for his work in preserving such behind the scenes information, behind the scenes film footage, amateur film footage taken at the time of filming on location at Portmeirion. The time, trouble Mr. Ricks went to in tracking down, and persuading actors and actresses who worked on the Prisoner to become involved with the project, and of course amassing film footage of the interviews with members of the cast and crew who worked on the Prisoner. Without endeavour and dedication such as this, there would be no kind of record of the production of the Prisoner series at all. This because most of those interviewed are long deceased.
No.6 asks the Question "Are You English?"
"Are you English?" a question asked by No.6 of No.2 during the Carnival of the Dance of the Dead. But is No.6 himself English? One would suppose he is, after all he drinks tea, and demonstrates, not only to No.86, but to the viewer during A Change of Mind just how to make the perfect cup of tea. Warm the pot always, tea, one for you, one for thee and one for the pot, let stand for a moment and should just about be right.
No.6 might very well give the impression of being English, working for a the British secret service or some other high level secret, confidential government department, of which Sir Charles Portland of Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling was the head man. This as he did working for M9 during his days as Danger Man, but then in the early days he had an American accent working for NATO security! And here in the village No.6 uses some curious phrases for an supposed Englishman, such as "Until my inauguration" this is an American term, as is "Running for office" not "Standing for election" as might be the English term to be used. An in the Schizoid Man its flapjacks which is No.6's favourite dish, flapjacks against English pancakes, Flapjack Charlie indeed!!!!
The doctor diagnosis of No.6 is that he is fit for any contingency. Certainly he is a very fit man and always ready for a fist fight. He first tries to pick a fist fight with the white membranic mass of the village guardian during his attempted escape by village taxi. Trouble is that the village guardian offers no resistance to the Prisoner's punches, unlike some of the other citizens of the village I could mention. Being strong and tough it took three men to overpower No.6 and four men in total to deliver him to the office of No.2 in the Green Dome. Mind you No.14, assistant to No.2 who was one of those men, and would take delight in "dusting" No.6 down, did not fair so well in a one on one situation. Neither at "Kosho" or in the cottage of No.6, being quickly despatched through.... the French window! In A Change of Mind to men are sent by No.2 to cause trouble for No.6. They two are given a sound beating, and run off to inform the committee of No.6's unmutal action. Fist fights occur on board boats, up in the bell tower, in the street at night. Causing damage to the lounge, bedroom and kitchen of "6 Private." In a basement of a shop in Kanderfeld-Austria, an Arbour at Madame Eungadine's party in Paris
No comments:
Post a Comment