Triviality
If you want to see the 'Rover effect' upon the village, then there is no better place to look than in Arrival, this when No.6 is approaching the helicopter on the lawn, and the village guardian then comes bounding along. The reverse effect of the film is, smoke can be seen going into the chimney of the old people's home!
As No.6 flies off in the helicopter, you can plainly see that the rotor blades are not turning!
Kosho, in the episode of It’s Your Funeral No.6 has a practise match, it can be observed that at times his opponent is that of No.14, No.2's assistant of the previous episode Hammer Into Anvil. Which in turn means that the Kosho match of Hammer Into Anvil should have been a much longer match, and that the footage not used was then employed in the following episode of It’s Your Funeral.
The ship M.S.Polotska might be the same, but not the crew!
"We all have to make mistakes, sometimes we have to." I think No.14 actress Sheila Allen of A B & C made one in that sentence.
There was never really any need for Doctor Jacob Seltzman in Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling, mind you the whole episode is just a mish-mash plot idea and a great mistake in general!
There are several busts in the Professors house, including that of No.2 of The Chimes of Big Ben. The busts have been seen before, and makes it suggestive that the Professors wife knew her subject of the Chimes of Big Ben, well its possible I suppose. A friend of mine would say it highly credible!
When No.6 is preparing to take off in the helicopter in Arrival, from outside the cabin its on the lawn by the swimming pool. From inside the cabin, the helicopter is standing in a field!
The Prisoner Shop At Portmeirion
The Prisoner shop which so many fans of the Prisoner have frequented on visits to Portmeirion began its life in very humble circumstances indeed.
On the morning of Saturday September 4th 1982 the Prisoner Information Centre was set up, and opened by Mr. Dave Barrie and Mr. Max Hora, in what would later become the Ice Cream Parlour next to the Self-Service Restaurant. Amongst the early visitors were those of Sir Clough William-Ellis, architect and builder of Portmirion, and his daughter Susan, and her husband Mr. Euan Cooper-Willis. On September 30th the Prisoner Information Centre was visited by the Welsh Tourist Board, who were very interested in the Information Centre. This was a seven week experiment until the end of the 1982 season, which generated much interest in the Prisoner.
It was then in 1983 that the Prisoner Information Centre was moved to the 'Round House' which was No.6 cottage in the village, well the exterior anyway, for the full seven month period. Indeed Mr. Max Hora went on to run the Prisoner Information Centre at Portmeirion until January 1999.
It was soon after this that a complete renovation of the 'Round House' - No.6's cottage took place. A complete new floor and interior, with purpose built shop fitting units, with two computer terminals, and a complete range of 'Prisoner' merchandise. The brand new Prisoner shop, now run by Portmeirion itself, was opened on June 12th 1999.
When the new Prisoner shop was opened, some Prisoner fans, who had grown up with the former Prisoner Information Centre, said that this new shop was a step backwards, having no atmosphere!
Ah but people have short memories, as I recall standing freezing in the old Prisoner Information Centre during its autumn time, there being no heating. Then there was the smell, not to mention the damp. But they were good years, with more than ample Prisoner merchandise for sale therein.
But time marches on, and the Prisoner shop at Portmeirion is now long established, loved by all fans of the Prisoner who make their pilgrimage to the village.
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I always feel a little upset by the 'fake' jacket on display in The Prisoner Shop today. I'm sure Portmeirion bought it in good faith, thinking it was the one worn by McGoohan, but they must know by now that it is not the real McCoy. I know I've mentioned it to the staff enough times and I'll bet others have too.
ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous,
DeleteI knew aboutt he glass cabinet in the Prisoner shop displaying items of memorabilia connected to 'the prisoner, but I diodn't know about the piped blazer.
There were two such piped blazers worn by Patrick McGoohan in 'the Prisoner,' one with continuous piping around the lapel, and one with broken piping. I knew the person who once owned one of the piped blazers, and to whom he eventually sold the blazer to. A few years ago the blazer and other costumes items from 'the Prisoner' were put up for sale through Bonhams auction house in London. If that was the one Portmeiron bought, it is genuine beyond question. I don't know what became of the second blazer.
Did you ask the staff at Portmeirion how they came by the piped blazer, does it come with any authentication, or provenance? And if you do not mind my asking, how do you know it is a fake? I cast no aspertions you understand, I ask simply out of interest, as I have never seen it myself in the Prisoner shop.
Kind Regards
David
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The fake jacket is framed on the wall of The Prisoner shop. If you look at it closely the jacket is very poorly made - the piping is horrible and would have shown up as being so even on a 1960s telly. It also has a sewn-on patch on the front pocket with the numeral 6 in it!
ReplyDeleteIf that wasn't all, the jacket is black when all Prisonerologists know that Number 6's jacket was actually a very dark brown that photographed as black.
I hope you'll go and take a look at this questionable jacket some day, as a leading authority on the subject of The Prisoner it would be fascinating to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Hello Anonymous,
DeleteThank you for coming back with further information on the matter, much appreciated. Now you have mentioned the fact that the breast pocket has a patch with the number 6 sewn on it, that has brought back a memory for both myself and my wife. It was a few years back that such a piped blazer was up for sale in an auction house, I cannot say which one because I'm not sure now. But I did write a piece of blog about it on MySpace saying that the blazer isn't going to fool anyone, or words to that effect, as my memory is a little vague about it. But it would seem that that blazer has found its way to Portmemrion, or purchased by Portmeirion if it's the same one.
Regarding the original piped blazers worn by Patrick McGoohan, I have actually seen one of them. It was given to a friend of mine {along with other items} by , I think it was, the widow of one of the dressers on 'the Prisoner' so there is no doubt of it's authenticity. The colour of 'the Prisoner' blazer has always been a moot point with fans. However I can say the one I saw was black, albeit a little faded after all this time. Colours in 'the Prisoner' can be deceptive. For instance what is the true colour of the Allouette helicopter, which looks grey in some shots and blue in others. Perhaps it was turquoise!
Kind Regards
David
Be seeing you