A life time fan and Prisonerologist of the 1960's series 'the Prisoner', a leading authority on the subject, a short story writer, and now Prisoner novelist.
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Monday, 17 December 2012
Exhibition of Arts and Crafts
Simply entitled "Information Information Information!"
Very true. But I've always been impressed with the optical illusion, no not my manipulation of the picture, but how it appears in the opening sequence, the illusion of depth to the scene.
You are perfectly correct of course. And in what you say lies the truth of the matter. 'The Prisoner' 35mm films have been re-mastered at least 3 times, and converted to High Definition and Blu-Ray so much, that much in 'the Prisoner' that you were not supposed to see, can now clearly be seen! For example, the difference in lighting when they shot the scenes for 'The Schizoid Man' when Parick McGoohan his facing himself in his cottage for example. When McGoohan was filmed as No.6 that was fine, but when he was filmed as No.6-Curtis the lighting was slightly different, and that shows up on the film.
Didn't we all feel good about the fact that the Prisoner production used 35 mm film and not 16 mm as a common practise for TV series at the time? It should make us wonder why they did that at all.
Of course, technically speaking the potential of a 35 mm frame is bigger, the image more brilliant, the resolution higher. But it must have been clear from the start that The Prisoner was to watched on TV screens and in b/w only in most cases. So, why all those costly efforts? I've never had the privilege of watching a 35 mm episode screened. I remember reports about the brilliance of the images but not about the flaws we now deplore. Do you? - BCNU!
When I was a member of Six of One: The Prisoner Appreciation Society, I attended many Prisoner Connventions at Portmeirion. In the 1990's we were able to hold an event at the Colesium cinema in Portmadog, a couple of miles from Portmeirion. Frank Ratcliffe who worked for Polygram at the time, would bring 35mm film reels of two episodes of 'The Prisoner' to the Convention, and the episodes would be screened at the Coliseum cinema. And I can say hand on heart, that 'the Prisoner' is far more suited for the Big screen than it is the television! Yes, it does show up the flaws, yet at the same time it does enhance the small details. If ever there are events where 'the Prisoner' is shown on the Big screen at a cinema, I highly recommend anyone to go and see it.
I bet you're right. But you don't know why they used 35 and not 16 mm film`, do you? Did Frank Ratcliffe ever go into detail about that? I would imagine that it was PMcG himself who wanted it different in the first place. - BCNU!
No, I've no idea why they used 35mm film instead of 16mm, sorry. But I have something, somewhere appertaining to it in the archive. I'll try and find it. I would imagine you are right, that it was McG himself who wanted it different in the first place. After all he was the boss!
Nowadays the registry cabinets (in any), halls and corridors would probably be painted in white or light grey. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteVery true. But I've always been impressed with the optical illusion, no not my manipulation of the picture, but how it appears in the opening sequence, the illusion of depth to the scene.
Regards
David
BCNU
Right. But the illusion is lost the clearer the image you're looking at. Even "ordinary" DVD resolution of the enhanced images shows it. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteYou are perfectly correct of course. And in what you say lies the truth of the matter. 'The Prisoner' 35mm films have been re-mastered at least 3 times, and converted to High Definition and Blu-Ray so much, that much in 'the Prisoner' that you were not supposed to see, can now clearly be seen! For example, the difference in lighting when they shot the scenes for 'The Schizoid Man' when Parick McGoohan his facing himself in his cottage for example. When McGoohan was filmed as No.6 that was fine, but when he was filmed as No.6-Curtis the lighting was slightly different, and that shows up on the film.
Kind regards
David
BCNU
Didn't we all feel good about the fact that the Prisoner production used 35 mm film and not 16 mm as a common practise for TV series at the time? It should make us wonder why they did that at all.
ReplyDeleteOf course, technically speaking the potential of a 35 mm frame is bigger, the image more brilliant, the resolution higher. But it must have been clear from the start that The Prisoner was to watched on TV screens and in b/w only in most cases. So, why all those costly efforts? I've never had the privilege of watching a 35 mm episode screened. I remember reports about the brilliance of the images but not about the flaws we now deplore. Do you? - BCNU!
Hello Arno,
DeleteWhen I was a member of Six of One: The Prisoner Appreciation Society, I attended many Prisoner Connventions at Portmeirion. In the 1990's we were able to hold an event at the Colesium cinema in Portmadog, a couple of miles from Portmeirion.
Frank Ratcliffe who worked for Polygram at the time, would bring 35mm film reels of two episodes of 'The Prisoner' to the Convention, and the episodes would be screened at the Coliseum cinema. And I can say hand on heart, that 'the Prisoner' is far more suited for the Big screen than it is the television! Yes, it does show up the flaws, yet at the same time it does enhance the small details.
If ever there are events where 'the Prisoner' is shown on the Big screen at a cinema, I highly recommend anyone to go and see it.
Very kind regards
David
BNCU
I bet you're right. But you don't know why they used 35 and not 16 mm film`, do you? Did Frank Ratcliffe ever go into detail about that? I would imagine that it was PMcG himself who wanted it different in the first place. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
ReplyDeleteNo, I've no idea why they used 35mm film instead of 16mm, sorry. But I have something, somewhere appertaining to it in the archive. I'll try and find it. I would imagine you are right, that it was McG himself who wanted it different in the first place. After all he was the boss!
Kind regards
David
BCNU