The new Prisoner

[KEND]

Last night I saw an episode of The Prisoner, a remake of an old series starring Patrick McGoohan. The original followed the series ‘Danger man’ [Secret Agent in the USA, a down market James Bond] following him into the mysterious ‘Village’[actually filmed in North Wales] where he is effectively imprisoned after incurring the wrath of his masters in [presumably] MI6. The original was purposefully surreal, escapees were chased by balloons, nothing was as it appeared to be. The series was way ahead of its time, an exercise in mind games in which the protagonist resists the efforts of the authorities to break his will. It was seen at the time as a metaphor of the Cold War. The Kafkaesque scenario continued to the last episode, no explanations, no real conclusion. It was like a Van Gogh painting, it was apprehended viscerally rather than by the application of rational thought, by metaphor rather than simile.
This is where I feel the new series breaks down, it ‘explains’ things,
it is more like a psychological thriller than a journey into the human
Psyche.
Ian McKellan does an excellent job in recreating Number 2 but I feel that Caviegal is sorely miscast, the original Prisoner was resourceful, clever, disciplined and strong willed, the new one appeared to be consumed by thirty something angst.

[Bill]

I remember watching the original show on tv and driving my father crazy with questions. Great show.

[Darth Rock&Roll]

saw it, will give it a chance, but didn't like it too much. as you say, way to soon on the explaining of things and not written or played in the spirit of the original which was way cool in it's weirdness.

[Steve James]

The only to look at the new Prisoner is to forget the old one. It's a completely different show with a completely different premise, or should I say "lack" of premise. When the show first came on, you have to remember that McGoohan and "Danger Man/Secret Agent" were known world-wide. McGoohan would never say that "6" and John Drake were the same character; but everyone who watched the Prisoner understood them to be the same. So, we also knew why he was in the Village ... because he had resigned after being disillusioned with MI5.

He goes home, but gas comes in, knocks him out and, wtf, he's in the Village. So, we know why he's in the Village, and so does he. The rest of the shows, most of them, are about him trying to get out/back; and how they always manage to get him back.



The resolution of the series is silly, but pretty much a sign of those times. First off, there had never been any show like this before. However it was right in tune with the period. For example, his car/s (the mini-Cooper that was way ahead of its time then, and has caught back on today). Then there was the music, which was at times hokey and at others avant garde jazz. The Village itself was a real place, which seemed totally out of place in the era except for the bright colors. Nobody'll remember to mention the mini-skirts, though. It's hard to explain how 'maxi' a thing they were back then. And, the iconic big white balloon was a total accident when the real props they wanted to use didn't work. It all seems so simple now, but put together at that time and compared with conventional tv, which for most people was still in black and white, it was a masterwork.

Yet, McGoohan never intended the show to be a long series. He wanted to do different things, but they made him scratch out a few more episodes. Hence the very hasty, and to some, unsatisfying, conclusion. Anyway, for all those reasons and lots more, the show can't be replicated, except for the basic idea of a lost man in a Village. Btw, that premise had been used in Danger Man years before.

I watched the new show, but it couldn't get me interested. Maybe it's because I've got too many other things to do. It's not because I'd compare it to the original. McKellen is great, but how can we forget Leo McKern? Oops, just saw a mistake, the car was a Lotus Seven S II, not a mini (that was in DM).

[KEND]

I think any remake is necessarily going to be compared with the original, thats the risk you take. Some are passable[Cape Fear], some better[Superman with Christopher Reeves]some not so good[Get Carter, Wages of Fear, Double Indemnity].Transferring period pieces into a modern context is always risky, looking at old films reminds us how conventions change, the protagonists always seem to be swigging down drinks or chain smokingnowadays other devices are used. Some movies just dont stand up to the passage of time, Bicycle Thieves and Jules and Jim come to mind.

[Steve James]

Yeah, but what do you compare when the plot's different?

[Interloper]

Who plays Rover in the new version.


Sorry, my heart belongs to McGoohan and Leo McKern.

[Steve James]

I don't even recall if there is a Rover. (Oh yeah, there is the big ball ... but it really didn't strike me the same way. There's also a "hole" that characters fall into. It's really a totally different plot. I've watched all the episodes except the last, and I have to say that even the intro for the old show is more interesting. But, again, I think it's an unfair comparison. I will rewatch it from the beginning again, though. It may be great on its own. I do agree that there are too many explicit answers.

[Steve James]

Btw, I just saw this on amazon.com:

Save 59% on "The Prisoner" on Blu-ray or DVD
Today only, save 59% on the classic British sci-fi series "The Prisoner," starring Patrick McGoohan. Pick it up in a Blu-ray collection with a new transfer and new bonus features, or in a DVD Collector's Edition.

The Prisoner: The Complete Series [Blu-ray] (1968)
Patrick McGoohanList Price: $99.95
Our Price: $40.99
You Save: $58.96 (59%)

In Stock The Prisoner: The Complete Series Megaset (Collector's Edition)
Patrick McGoohan List Price: $69.95
Our Price: $28.99
You Save: $40.96 (59%)

Imo, 28 bucks is a steal.

[chud]

The original series was awesome, one of the best television shows EVER in my opinion.

[Interloper]

Agree with chud. One of the best series ever, and definitely the best of the "secret-agent action" genre that was popular in the 60s.
And the Amazon deal is outstanding, Steve. I'm looking into it.

[kreese]

The new one drags on and the explanation in the end was not satisfying. Still, it was well made and Ian McKellen is always good.

[Michael]

Agree with chud. One of the best series ever, and definitely the best of the "secret-agent action" genre that was popular in the 60s.
And the Amazon deal is outstanding, Steve. I'm looking into it.

All I can think of after reading your interest in buying those DVD's is: How many chicken cloacas is she going to have to apply ointment to in order to come up with thirty bucks?

[GrahamB]

The new one drags on and the explanation in the end was not satisfying. Still, it was well made and Ian McKellen is always good.

It rarely is - better to leave it unknown......monsters are always scarier when they stay in the shadows, TV series are always better if they aren't explained, and rumsoakedfist posters are always martial legends until they post a video clip...

It's just how things are.

[Interloper]

Agree with chud. One of the best series ever, and definitely the best of the "secret-agent action" genre that was popular in the 60s.
And the Amazon deal is outstanding, Steve. I'm looking into it.

All I can think of after reading your interest in buying those DVD's is: How many chicken cloacas is she going to have to apply ointment to in order to come up with thirty bucks?

Yes, that's a lot of chicken butts, Michael. I consider it a noble investment, though, to have the complete Prisoner series. The Gilliam-esque opening graphic of the gate slamming in front of McGoohan's disembodied face, alone, is worth it. And having Leo McKern in his pre-Rumpole glory is a value-added.