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.
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Teabrak Teaser
The Prisoner cannot a switch the music off, and trampling the loud speaker under foot still doesn’t stop the music. So where does the music come from, when there isn't another speaker in the cottage?!
Presumably there were a lot more hidden loudspeakers in the cottage than one thought. But isn't it that once No. 6 puts the loudspeaker into the fridge and the music gets lower? So, then they must have observed the situation (together with Nadia wasn't it?) and lowered the volume in order to make the plot believable. - BCNU!
I'm not so sure about that, it's plausable enough of course, but do not forget the playing of the quiet lullaby would have been played in every cottage and every apartment in the Village, designed to help put the citizens to sleep. No.6 simply used the music to disguise what he and Nadia were saying, so that they would not be picked up by the microphones.
Or maybe they turned on the emergency loudspeakers only when he destroyed the other one in arrival. Just to tease him. To be honest, I had never thought about it this way, that there could have been more than one loudspeaker. Sometimes it can be so easy,
"Sometimes it can be so easy" generally speaking I would agree with you, and far be it from me to throw a spanner into the works. But I did once think, what if the music wasn't coming from the loudspeaker in the first place?!
In fact, I tend to believe (although that's nothing to believe in) that it's another of those little (surreal) strategies by the production/script/author to irritate and perplex viewers. The sort we see in the shop when the writing on the map becomes visible,or only minutes later when the repair man arrives who turns out to be (does he?) the gardener and so on. - BCNU!
Hi, I can only agree. For me this scene was one of the first scenes that really had me when I watched the series the first time, and it's still one of my favourites. By now I think that the first time viewer experiences the same surprise and irritation like Number 6 does. It's one way to make the viewers identify with the hero, isn't it? Very kind regards, Jana BCNU
I think it is a clever scene. The Prisoner becoming irritated by the music he cannot switch off, so he deals with the matter using good old fashioned brute force, which avails him nothing! No.2, in 'Checkmate,' thought that No.6 would have thought of something more original than just tying him up. During 'The Chimes of Big Ben' No.6 did think of something more original, he put the speaker in the fridge! Sometimes I think some scene in 'the Prisoner' are there to create a feeling of empathy towards No.6 by the television, but yes to identify with him.
Presumably there were a lot more hidden loudspeakers in the cottage than one thought. But isn't it that once No. 6 puts the loudspeaker into the fridge and the music gets lower? So, then they must have observed the situation (together with Nadia wasn't it?) and lowered the volume in order to make the plot believable. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteI'm not so sure about that, it's plausable enough of course, but do not forget the playing of the quiet lullaby would have been played in every cottage and every apartment in the Village, designed to help put the citizens to sleep. No.6 simply used the music to disguise what he and Nadia were saying, so that they would not be picked up by the microphones.
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
Or maybe they turned on the emergency loudspeakers only when he destroyed the other one in arrival. Just to tease him.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I had never thought about it this way, that there could have been more than one loudspeaker. Sometimes it can be so easy,
Very best wishes,
Jana
Hello Jana,
Delete"Sometimes it can be so easy" generally speaking I would agree with you, and far be it from me to throw a spanner into the works. But I did once think, what if the music wasn't coming from the loudspeaker in the first place?!
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
In fact, I tend to believe (although that's nothing to believe in) that it's another of those little (surreal) strategies by the production/script/author to irritate and perplex viewers. The sort we see in the shop when the writing on the map becomes visible,or only minutes later when the repair man arrives who turns out to be (does he?) the gardener and so on. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello arno,
DeleteYes I like your comment, very nicely put, and very plausable.
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
Hi,
DeleteI can only agree. For me this scene was one of the first scenes that really had me when I watched the series the first time, and it's still one of my favourites.
By now I think that the first time viewer experiences the same surprise and irritation like Number 6 does. It's one way to make the viewers identify with the hero, isn't it?
Very kind regards,
Jana
BCNU
Hello Jana,
DeleteI think it is a clever scene. The Prisoner becoming irritated by the music he cannot switch off, so he deals with the matter using good old fashioned brute force, which avails him nothing! No.2, in 'Checkmate,' thought that No.6 would have thought of something more original than just tying him up. During 'The Chimes of Big Ben' No.6 did think of something more original, he put the speaker in the fridge!
Sometimes I think some scene in 'the Prisoner' are there to create a feeling of empathy towards No.6 by the television, but yes to identify with him.
Very kind regards
David
BCNU