Believe it or not I have never watched this TV series even though I've watched 'Mission Impossible' and 'The Man From UNCLE' which were from the same era. This is the first time I've even heard the theme tune
Never saw this... apart from this being a great jam it also made me think about how back in the day when ever gas was involved, it always came as some kind of smoke cloud. For clarity I guess.. it was the same in batman and robin.
@MadameZia Omg Ro! You are in for a treat if you can get to watch the series. You have to accept it in the spirit of the times...delightful late 60s kitsch but it truly is a work of great imagination!
@Avante Exactly! Just like 60s ' Batman. Dated but in a sweet way ( as I said to Ro @MadameZia ...'delightfully kitsch') but the weirdness effect is still evident. ...Y'know if you & Ro decide to watch the series for the first time, then I think I'm going to envy you! :-)
@Avante@MadameZia you are missing out. Patrick McGoohan (star/writer/director) is all-round brilliant. Very political 1984-ish take on the power of The State in the 1960s.
As an original member of The Prisoner Appreciation Society...harrrumph...this is without question, my favourite TV prog of all time. Still got all the bulletins and photos that were sent out, regularly. Ah those wunnerful pre-interweb days. So avid a viewer was I, that one evening having to walk my girlfriend home, I recorded an episode on cassette, to listen to on my return!! Still got it...still confused...Brilliant stuff, DC... :-D
@BladeRunner Oh Jess You SHOULD!! ( HAS to be from the beginning) As I said To Birgitta & Rowena, you have to take it in the spirit of the times ( late 60s kitsch, whimsy & more notably, the surreality ) ..but the imagination from Patrick McGoohan ( The star , writer & director) is immense. A 20th century must-see CLASSIC! :-) x
@21schizoid Wonderful memories Pepe! Thanks for that! Yes, as I said earlier, I actually ENJOYED being confused by it all. I listened with interest to the explanations of this series ( in particular, the final episode ) but I never really wanted to believe that they were correct. To me, the whole thing was just a dream.....but a magnificent dream.
Agreed sir. I think individual interpretation is the preferred route. Let these academic types who think there's a fundamental reason behind opal fruits, discuss it to death. I too have never visited 'The Village'...but I must and I will... :-D
@timmuky Haha! S'right. I love how he's driving like a formula 1 driver around Westminster! I use that road a lot & nowadays, you're lucky if you can drive faster than walking pace! :-)
@21schizoid@debutch Utterly utterly awesome series! Used to watch it wiv me dad... he also introduced me to Danger Man previously. I'll meet you both in the Village :-)
I only remember this show as a blur which I put down to a trance state induced by show like this, the Clangers, Magic Roundabout, The Champions and the Anderson puppets... these were clearly the tools of state control back in the day. I now suspect there is a secret trigger word that will activate us all to meet in the Village....
All those shows -- The Prisoner, The Champions, The Saint , The Persuaders, The Avengers --- sort of sub-Bond/International Movie stuff -- they don't make 'em like they used to. ****assumes crochety aul' fella look**** "get off my goddamn lawn!!!!"
the closest the prisoner gets to any of these shows is the more out there episodes of the avengers. brian clements must have had an influence on mcgoohan but i think the prisoner is out on it's own... all those great battles with no 2 (hammer into anvil the ultimat battle) it was truley a great program but i wonder if it would have the same impact today. a must watch program though.
Sold! I absolutely LOVE this and I'm not familiar at all! The last show I've watched that seems like it might be of a similar nature is the classic Man from UNCLE, which I have the first season of on DVD.
@daved You're probably right! :-) I must admit, I used to find the concept of 'mind control' a pretty creepy idea....even in the technicolour of this series.
@paulgdaly S'right!... telling kids about stuff like this makes me feel like my dad in the 70s when I used to scoff at his lectures on how great jazz was in the 30s. I understood him....eventually.
@psyclopstrees I think a lot of today's youngsters may be interested in it out of curiosity after hearing it is a historical TV classic but I don't know if the style would appeal to them. It would probably need to be re-made for today's audiences, I think but I STILL don't think it would have the same impact as then. A lot has changed in nearly 50 years.
@shiningsun2k Oh! I thoroughly recommend this for you to watch Jeremy! It's a historical TV drama masterpiece. Some young uninitiated may say the acting is a little wooden & the style a little dated but some things in ART are MUCH more important... Although it belongs VERY much of it's time ( see some of my other comments above) it revels in staggering imagination...THAT'S what makes it a 20th century classic. Watch it Jeremy. You won't be disappointed ( Amazon £15-£25 DVD or £25-£35 Bluray)
@shiningsun2k Re; " Man from UNCLE"...great show... yeh, from the same era & the stlye is a little similar but the difference is "THe Prisoner" is...surreal..
One of the finest television series ever made. I love how the intro gives the back story after which every episode is a sort of nightmare. The episodes are constructed as a story arc (mostly) from start to finish, as well. And Leo McKern was the best No. 2! Great jam!!
all the paranoia of the times is still there but it's shifted from the cold war spy who came in from the cold to todays conspiracy theories if you made this program today it would be a totaly diffrent beast
@nialbriody Oh "Danger Man" is REALLY going back! ( for the original broadcasting, anyway) I can just vaguely remember it. I remember he used to have a big punch-up in every episode!
Brilliant, I loved The Prisoner, and that great opening sequence. I went to stay over in Portmerion for the weekend a few (well - many, many years ago.) I have the box set. I may well need to watch it again now! Great jam.
This, Gurney Slade, the boosh, Mysterious Cities of Gold and Brass Eye are my top five fav shows of all time. Portmerion is unbelievable to visit. Love Dangerman too
@Cleops That's fantastic! Thanks for the link :-) I'm off to the coast for a few days next week. I wouldn't mind taking a 'Rover' to the beach with me to act out an escaping scene! ( I hope it 'roars' like it does on TV when it attacks me! =D ) ...."Be seeing you"....
@debutch - I shall keep my eyes peeled for news reports of a crazy man chasing people with weather balloons. Of course, the Daily Mail will report it as a terrorist plot of some kind.
@debutch Man, what a nice memory for me,too. The Prisoner tugged at something deep inside me also, and beyond the ken of my short pants sensibility. And I am the Walrus is not only probably my fave Beatles tune, but formative as well. Nicely expressed, sir.
@debutch What a great tune and story - I got to watch in reruns (the remake was such a disappointment!) as my hippie parents didn't own a tv:) FYI another GREAT TV song is HBO's True Detective's theme song by Leonard Cohen (This is Season 2)
Session one was AMAZING! LC song is so cool, the female vocals that do this behind overlay is genius:) T. Bone Burnett is the magic man behind all this great music:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHA6Ek3vQQ8
@lesakramer5@Sid_Bonkers has the link for all the Prisoner episodes ( ...a few comments above this one...) I not sure if they're all displayed in order, though....that true detective theme tune is superb......"debutch the narc" huahuahua!! oh, those guys, Lesa...We all love each other, y'see. THat's why we all enjoy busting each others' chops on TIMJ! ;-D Oh Nick Cave's son?...tragic, tragic news. My heart goes out to Nick & his family.... x
@lesakramer5@debutch the link i posted was http://veehd.com/search?q=the+prisoner
I watched the first episode yesterday but it wouldnt let me watch further episodes but just search "Watch The Prisoner free online" and im sure you will find it, it can take some digging and wading through a lot of sites that want you to sign up...Personally I never sign up for anything :)
Some of my earliest memories from the telly were Patrick MacGoohan being chased down the beach by that big white ball, and that very surreal Beatles promo for "I Am The Walrus". Would love to go to Portmeirion. Believe it's quite beautiful. Maybe get to the Number 6 fest one day! :)
just to get in the last word--one of my old jams.lolzz..and i do have the badge,number 6,from Portmeiron...the ending is just brilliant..dem bones,dem bones,dem dry bones...:)
89 Comments (since 15 Jul 2015)
debutch
#prisonjam
MadameZia
Believe it or not I have never watched this TV series even though I've watched 'Mission Impossible' and 'The Man From UNCLE' which were from the same era. This is the first time I've even heard the theme tune
Avante
Never saw this... apart from this being a great jam it also made me think about how back in the day when ever gas was involved, it always came as some kind of smoke cloud. For clarity I guess.. it was the same in batman and robin.
Bukowski
Great stuff.
debutch
@MadameZia Omg Ro! You are in for a treat if you can get to watch the series. You have to accept it in the spirit of the times...delightful late 60s kitsch but it truly is a work of great imagination!
debutch
@Avante Exactly! Just like 60s ' Batman. Dated but in a sweet way ( as I said to Ro @MadameZia ...'delightfully kitsch') but the weirdness effect is still evident. ...Y'know if you & Ro decide to watch the series for the first time, then I think I'm going to envy you! :-)
debutch
@Bukowski Thanks. :-)
Axol
@Avante @MadameZia you are missing out. Patrick McGoohan (star/writer/director) is all-round brilliant. Very political 1984-ish take on the power of The State in the 1960s.
Axol
@debutch great jam my friend!
Axol
I am not a number - I am a free man.
BladeRunner
Whoa, this is crazy! I've never heard of it, I'm gonna check if i can catch some episodes :) and I loved his car!
21schizoid
As an original member of The Prisoner Appreciation Society...harrrumph...this is without question, my favourite TV prog of all time. Still got all the bulletins and photos that were sent out, regularly. Ah those wunnerful pre-interweb days. So avid a viewer was I, that one evening having to walk my girlfriend home, I recorded an episode on cassette, to listen to on my return!! Still got it...still confused...Brilliant stuff, DC... :-D
Margzzz
Coolness personified.
debutch
@Axol Well said in your summary and thank you.......number 37 !! :-)
debutch
@Margzzz oh thank you! :-)
KerryEJordan
Fantastic.
debutch
@BladeRunner Oh Jess You SHOULD!! ( HAS to be from the beginning) As I said To Birgitta & Rowena, you have to take it in the spirit of the times ( late 60s kitsch, whimsy & more notably, the surreality ) ..but the imagination from Patrick McGoohan ( The star , writer & director) is immense. A 20th century must-see CLASSIC! :-) x
debutch
@Margzzz Whoa!! Your avatar just changed as I was replying to you! That's just like something happening out of "The Prisoner"! haha! ....nice pic! :-)
debutch
@21schizoid Wonderful memories Pepe! Thanks for that! Yes, as I said earlier, I actually ENJOYED being confused by it all. I listened with interest to the explanations of this series ( in particular, the final episode ) but I never really wanted to believe that they were correct. To me, the whole thing was just a dream.....but a magnificent dream.
debutch
@21schizoid .....I've always wanted to visit "The Village" ( Portmeiron ) but never have.......one day, maybe....
debutch
@KerryEJordan Thanks Kerry. I'm amazed how many jammers here have never seen it before. Have you?
timmuky
Great jam. Great show. I love how there seemed to be about 2 dozen motorized vehicles in all of Greater London back in those days
21schizoid
Agreed sir. I think individual interpretation is the preferred route. Let these academic types who think there's a fundamental reason behind opal fruits, discuss it to death. I too have never visited 'The Village'...but I must and I will... :-D
debutch
@timmuky Haha! S'right. I love how he's driving like a formula 1 driver around Westminster! I use that road a lot & nowadays, you're lucky if you can drive faster than walking pace! :-)
tpdorsey
All I see is the Lotus. That wonderful, beautiful Lotus...
DavidAnderson
Great memories...
soorajsoman
Sounds interesting young Dave - will keep it on my 'to watch list' since you rank it close to the Sopranos :D Thanks
ErnieBilko
@21schizoid @debutch Utterly utterly awesome series! Used to watch it wiv me dad... he also introduced me to Danger Man previously. I'll meet you both in the Village :-)
daved
I only remember this show as a blur which I put down to a trance state induced by show like this, the Clangers, Magic Roundabout, The Champions and the Anderson puppets... these were clearly the tools of state control back in the day. I now suspect there is a secret trigger word that will activate us all to meet in the Village....
21schizoid
@ErnieBilko https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY9oWfkKt6A ;-D
paulgdaly
All those shows -- The Prisoner, The Champions, The Saint , The Persuaders, The Avengers --- sort of sub-Bond/International Movie stuff -- they don't make 'em like they used to. ****assumes crochety aul' fella look**** "get off my goddamn lawn!!!!"
psyclopstrees
the closest the prisoner gets to any of these shows is the more out there episodes of the avengers. brian clements must have had an influence on mcgoohan but i think the prisoner is out on it's own... all those great battles with no 2 (hammer into anvil the ultimat battle) it was truley a great program but i wonder if it would have the same impact today. a must watch program though.
philipnareike
@debutch Great show, I'm a big fan....and a visit to Portmeirion is well worth it...I went there years ago.
shiningsun2k
Sold! I absolutely LOVE this and I'm not familiar at all! The last show I've watched that seems like it might be of a similar nature is the classic Man from UNCLE, which I have the first season of on DVD.
ZachsMind
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered!" Too late!
debutch
@tpdorsey Makes my eyes water.....
debutch
@DavidAnderson Indeed . Timeless.
debutch
@soorajsoman Oh!...but don't expect it to be similar in any way whatsoever to the Sopranos. It's like its polar opposite in style!
debutch
@ErnieBilko Masterful series, wasn't it? :-)
debutch
@daved You're probably right! :-) I must admit, I used to find the concept of 'mind control' a pretty creepy idea....even in the technicolour of this series.
debutch
@paulgdaly S'right!... telling kids about stuff like this makes me feel like my dad in the 70s when I used to scoff at his lectures on how great jazz was in the 30s. I understood him....eventually.
debutch
@psyclopstrees I think a lot of today's youngsters may be interested in it out of curiosity after hearing it is a historical TV classic but I don't know if the style would appeal to them. It would probably need to be re-made for today's audiences, I think but I STILL don't think it would have the same impact as then. A lot has changed in nearly 50 years.
debutch
@philipnareike I would come away from Portmeiron with every souvenir under the Sun!....can you buy a replica "Rover" balloon?
debutch
@ZachsMind haha! never mind! :-) .....I just can't help repeating quotes from this series when discussing it with people!
debutch
@shiningsun2k Oh! I thoroughly recommend this for you to watch Jeremy! It's a historical TV drama masterpiece. Some young uninitiated may say the acting is a little wooden & the style a little dated but some things in ART are MUCH more important... Although it belongs VERY much of it's time ( see some of my other comments above) it revels in staggering imagination...THAT'S what makes it a 20th century classic. Watch it Jeremy. You won't be disappointed ( Amazon £15-£25 DVD or £25-£35 Bluray)
debutch
@shiningsun2k Re; " Man from UNCLE"...great show... yeh, from the same era & the stlye is a little similar but the difference is "THe Prisoner" is...surreal..
shiningsun2k
Wow. Definitely sold now. I actually can't wait to watch it. Thanks for the link!
debutch
@soorajsoman oh, another thing to note. The Soprano series is about 6 or 7 times longer than this!
clementix
One of the finest television series ever made. I love how the intro gives the back story after which every episode is a sort of nightmare. The episodes are constructed as a story arc (mostly) from start to finish, as well. And Leo McKern was the best No. 2! Great jam!!
ErnieBilko
@21schizoid Beautiful weirdness...
ErnieBilko
Another Ron Grainer classic and one of my all time favourites is 'Man In A Suitcase'...
nialbriody
Totally mind-blowing series, also loved him in Danger Man (another great theme)
psyclopstrees
all the paranoia of the times is still there but it's shifted from the cold war spy who came in from the cold to todays conspiracy theories if you made this program today it would be a totaly diffrent beast
Sid_Bonkers
Remember it well a great prison jam, tempted to watch it again if I can find it on the interweb...
Sid_Bonkers
Ooooo, found it here http://veehd.com/search?q=the+prisoner
debutch
@clementix Yes, I agree with your view of the series and Leo McKern was definitely the most memorable no. 2!
debutch
@ErnieBilko "Man in a suitcase"!! My God, the memories are flooding back! :-)
debutch
@nialbriody Oh "Danger Man" is REALLY going back! ( for the original broadcasting, anyway) I can just vaguely remember it. I remember he used to have a big punch-up in every episode!
debutch
@psyclopstrees Agreed.
debutch
@Sid_Bonkers Ooh, thanks Sid. You've saved me the job ! :-)
nialbriody
@debutch HaHa, every episode! Here's a link to a rare colour episode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLse-9MifvU
psyclopstrees
be seeing you.
lindatee
Brilliant, I loved The Prisoner, and that great opening sequence. I went to stay over in Portmerion for the weekend a few (well - many, many years ago.) I have the box set. I may well need to watch it again now! Great jam.
debutch
@lindatee Did you see "Rover" ( the giant balloon) while you was there? :-) ... looks like I've prompted a few jammers to watch it, now!
Cleops
This, Gurney Slade, the boosh, Mysterious Cities of Gold and Brass Eye are my top five fav shows of all time. Portmerion is unbelievable to visit. Love Dangerman too
debutch
@Cleops What a list!! Much impressed!
lindatee
@debutch No, Rover was a bit deflated that day, and I didn't try to escape anyways. Good promotion work. I think it should be seen by everyone!
Cleops
@debutch - I doff my hat at your good taste. BTW - last time I was there you could buy a replica Rover. Even better, you can buy them online and recreate scenes in your backyard: http://www.portmeiriononline.co.uk/product/The_Prisoner_6ft_Rover_Balloon/ they also sell the red phone. Be seeing you!
debutch
@Cleops That's fantastic! Thanks for the link :-) I'm off to the coast for a few days next week. I wouldn't mind taking a 'Rover' to the beach with me to act out an escaping scene! ( I hope it 'roars' like it does on TV when it attacks me! =D ) ...."Be seeing you"....
Cleops
@debutch - I shall keep my eyes peeled for news reports of a crazy man chasing people with weather balloons. Of course, the Daily Mail will report it as a terrorist plot of some kind.
debutch
@Cleops =D
whiffoself
@debutch Man, what a nice memory for me,too. The Prisoner tugged at something deep inside me also, and beyond the ken of my short pants sensibility. And I am the Walrus is not only probably my fave Beatles tune, but formative as well. Nicely expressed, sir.
edfinn
Thanks for the memory, David - I now must find out where I can see it again. Really, I must.
lesakramer5
@debutch What a great tune and story - I got to watch in reruns (the remake was such a disappointment!) as my hippie parents didn't own a tv:) FYI another GREAT TV song is HBO's True Detective's theme song by Leonard Cohen (This is Season 2) Session one was AMAZING! LC song is so cool, the female vocals that do this behind overlay is genius:) T. Bone Burnett is the magic man behind all this great music:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHA6Ek3vQQ8
lesakramer5
LOL spelled season as session - guess I was thinking about session recordings - Freudian slip:)
lesakramer5
@debutch Just saw some comments about how you look like it narc- mademe smile - Nick Seed news is sad, yes? Sigh
debutch
@whiffoself Thank you. I think the effect of The Prisoner made me the man I am today haha! :-)
debutch
@edfinn I seemed to unintentionally sent several jammers scurrying off to find old episodes of Prisoner to watch! :-)
debutch
@lesakramer5 @Sid_Bonkers has the link for all the Prisoner episodes ( ...a few comments above this one...) I not sure if they're all displayed in order, though....that true detective theme tune is superb......"debutch the narc" huahuahua!! oh, those guys, Lesa...We all love each other, y'see. THat's why we all enjoy busting each others' chops on TIMJ! ;-D Oh Nick Cave's son?...tragic, tragic news. My heart goes out to Nick & his family.... x
Sid_Bonkers
@lesakramer5 @debutch the link i posted was http://veehd.com/search?q=the+prisoner I watched the first episode yesterday but it wouldnt let me watch further episodes but just search "Watch The Prisoner free online" and im sure you will find it, it can take some digging and wading through a lot of sites that want you to sign up...Personally I never sign up for anything :)
SheRa
Have not seen it, but will now!
debutch
@SheRa Yay!! :-)
debutch
@Sid_Bonkers Very wise Sid, very wise!
lynn200
i am not a number...i got the badge tho...
garyprice265
Some of my earliest memories from the telly were Patrick MacGoohan being chased down the beach by that big white ball, and that very surreal Beatles promo for "I Am The Walrus". Would love to go to Portmeirion. Believe it's quite beautiful. Maybe get to the Number 6 fest one day! :)
debutch
@garyprice265 I've been promising myself a visit to Portmeiron for the last 40-odd years!! One day...probably when I'm retired! :-)
debutch
@lynn200 Yes you are! You're number 200! :-)
lynn200
just to get in the last word--one of my old jams.lolzz..and i do have the badge,number 6,from Portmeiron...the ending is just brilliant..dem bones,dem bones,dem dry bones...:)
debutch
@lynn200 ...when I saw the ending as a 12 year old in '67 or '68, I didn't have a clue what was going on lol!...but I was still enthralled by it :-)