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Monday, 23 July 2012

Caught On Camera

   Here we see dialogue being recorded on the chessboard, as other human chess pieces sit about waiting for continued filming. Not very glamorous is it, sitting about for much of the time, waiting for something to happen.
   Now if we move the camera to the right, we see another part of the picture.
   During the filming of the Human Chess match, in the central Piazza, by the pool and fountain, is possibly Mrs McGoohan with one of their daughters {I did say possibly} and a little boy. Who the boy is I've no idea, the son of a guest staying at Portmeirion perhaps.

BCNU
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4 comments:

  1. Moor Larkin7 August 2012 at 10:40

    What a charming thought. Did David Tomblin have any children? I recall reading that Don Chaffey's family was personally friendly with the family of Patrick McGoohan too. Maybe it is a child of his. They were all in Portmeirion for about three weeks or moor.

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    Replies
    1. David Stimpson8 August 2012 at 09:17

      Hello Moor,

      Sorry to say, but I've no idea if David Tomblin had children, or whether or not his family went with him to Portmeirion while filming 'the Prisoner' there in September 1966. The child might be that of Don Chaffey, there is just no-way of knowing for sure, and that's the pity of the thing.

      Regards
      David
      BCNU

      Delete
  2. Moor Larkin8 August 2012 at 10:01

    That area under the Gloriette looks to have boards leaning up in the archways too, with suggestions of bits of wood stored behind. I wonder if that's all the billboards they used for the voting scenes of Free for All, and Clough wanted them all stored at least semi-out of sight.

    It looks like another glorious day too, doesn't it!.. :-D

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    Replies
    1. David Stimpson9 August 2012 at 09:11

      Hello Moor,

      Yes, well spotted. It would certainly seem that the arches beneath the Gloriette were being used as a storage area, and the hardboard set to protect the props therein against the weather, in case it rained. Which it didn't, because after the fifth of September Portmeirion enjoyed a months good weather, whereas prior to the commencement of the filming of 'the Prisoner' it had been raining!
      And yes, Clough was happy to have 'the Prisoner' filmed at Portmeirion, because it brought him much needed revenue so that he could continue to delevlop the Italianate Village. But he did lay down some strong stipulations, that members of the production crew should treat Portmeirion with respect, and not leave any mess behind them after a days filming. And that the filming should not disrupt the day to day running of Portmeirion, nor the production crews activities impinge upon the guests staying there, and that Portmeirion should still be open to the general public. So I should also say that the production crew were protecting props from the day visitors to Portmeirion, in case of damage, or indeed against any potential accident.

      Regards
      David
      BCNU

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