Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ)
and resource guide for alt.tv.prisoner

A2.1

The Prisoner is the most enigmatic television series ever made. It bemused and delighted audiences with its blend of mystery and science fiction. Over 30 years later, the series is more popular than ever, and has been hailed as the most bizarre, mind-boggling series of all time - being compared to everything from the works of Franz Kafka, George Orwell, Ayn Rand, and Herman Hesse, to TV series like The Avengers and Department S!

It was filmed as 17 episodes by Everyman Films (a company set up by star/writer Patrick McGoohan and producer/writer David Tomblin) from late 1966 to early 1968. The series initially seemed to be a contemporary spy drama about the struggles of a disillusioned agent (played by Patrick McGoohan) who, upon resigning from his job, was abducted and awoke to find himself in a mysterious village of unknown location. He spent the following episodes trying to escape from this strange prison (known only as "The Village"), to find out who was running it or where it was located, or to avoid the interrogative tricks and traps set by successive Village leaders. Everyone in "the Village" was known by a number, not a name. Our unnamed hero is known only as "Number Six", and the often-replaced Village leader was known as Number Two, answering only to the unseen brooding presence of the ultimate boss, Number One.

The series encapsulated the surrealism and paranoia of the late 1960s and mixed psychedelia with spy drama, action-adventure and the glorious architecture and woods of the Italianate village Portmeirion. This heady mix has been puzzling fans and researchers for 35 years.

The Prisoner should not be confused with the Australian jail drama/soap "Prisoner", known as "Prisoner: Cell Block H" in the UK. For this reason, some authors refer to "The Prisoner" as "The Prisoner (UK)" or similar.

For more information about characters and stories, please see the sites listed in Section 3 - Resources.

The largest and oldest fan club (since 1976/77) of the series is UK-based 'Six of One: The Prisoner Appreciation Society'. However, recent controversial actions amongst its co-ordination team (specifically illegal bugging of Dave Healey's (former magazine editor) home), and concern over the finances/bank balance/cash flow of the society (with Box 66 refusing to publish audited Income & Expenditure Accounts, despite repeated requests), and ejecting members who asked questions, have caused many members to leave. As well as Six of One's few remaining co-ordinators side of the story (presented to current members), it is worth hearing the other side of the coin; verified
information about this now-disgraced Society can be found at:

Six of One problems information:
http://www.sixofone-info.co.uk/

If you still want to join, Six of One's websites are:

UK Six of One site:
http://www.sixofone.org.uk/
USA Six of One site:
http://www.theprisonerappreciationsociety.com

However their news pages are often years out of date, and often ignore books and merchandise even when it is officially-sanctioned (by The Prisoner's copyright-holders, Cartlon). More up-to-date and inclusive news can be found at:
http://unmutualupdate.tripod.com/news/

Yes. Six of One held annual conventions in Portmeirion (the setting where "The Village" was filmed) from 1977 until 1999, and infrequently thereafter. Six of One intend to have an annual convention in Portmeirion in future. Some fans who attended the 1980s and 1990s conventions, and members of the newsgroup, also gather there for informal holidays and mutual fun outside the auspices of "Six of One".

For several years rumours have abounded that Patrick McGoohan has written a script for a Prisoner cinema movie which may (or may not) star Mel Gibson, and may (or may not) be directed by Simon "Con Air" West, and which may (or may not) be filmed in Portmeirion as the original series was.

Actor/Director Alexis Kanner, who worked with Patrick McGoohan in the closing episodes of The Prisoner, says he has seen the script. However, every time the movie seems about to be funded, everything goes quiet again!
Best not to get your hopes up (anyway it might be like "The Avengers" movie revival...)

Note- I have split this answer into two sections- (a) for PAL, which is the TV standard used in the UK, most of Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and (b) for NTSC, which is used in the USA, Canada and Japan.
If you don't know which system your country uses, see http://kropla.com/tv.htm for a listing.

(a)PAL (UK, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand etc...)
The August/September 2000 UK release of PAL video tapes are still available, as both a five-cassette box set and individual tapes. They are published by Carlton Visual Entertainment Ltd. You can order these at your local music/video outlet, HMV for instance. They are also available from:
http://amazon.co.uk,
http://blackstar.co.uk
Amazon has customer reviews of the tapes. Amazon also sells second-hand copies. It is worth however comparing prices between the two, and other companies.

(b) NTSC (USA, Canada, Japan etc...)
Amazon.com lists individual tapes (3 or 4 episodes per tape).
Amazon also sells second-hand copies.

Yes. Carlton Home Entertainment have released a Region 2 five-disk set (for PAL viewers in Europe, Greenland, the Middle East, South Africa and Japan). The DVDs have optional English subtitles for the hearing-impaired.

There is also a 10-disk Region 1 set for NTSC viewers in North America (i.e. the USA and Canada).

These are available from your normal high-street retailer, and also from play.com, which is usually cheapest as they offer free delivery and also from the same sources as the VHS video cassettes.
Shop around for the latest prices and discounts. Both sets include the "Alternate Chimes of Big Ben".

Newsgroup poster John Pertwee also suggests Amazon.com "But they want to much for them."

Allan Young adds: "I just purchased the Australian DVD set which includes the U.S. extras which were not on the U.K. release. Given the exchange rate at the moment (it cost me 49 quid including insured postage) it might be an idea to include a link to www.ezydvd.com.au if you're going to advertise amazon too."

Thanks to "Retronaut" (Kipp Teague), the Prisoner 35th Anniversary Companion (with "Alternate Arrival") is known to be retailing on Amazon and Blackstar. Try www.play.com to see if they have a cheaper offer.
Was released 30 September 2002.
• Certification: PG
• Duration: 143 mins (approx.)
• Format: DVD
Edition Details:
• Region 2 encoding (Europe, Middle East & Japan only)
• PAL
• ASIN: B00006HCQ0
• Catalogue Number: 3711503803
35th Anniversary DVD Special Features:
• Alternative, 50(ish) minute version of the very first episode "Arrival"
• 250 word guide to Alternate Arrival
• A 30 minute interview with Production Manager Bernard Williams
• Textless intro- and outro- sequences
• Bumpers (the ATV commercial break cue pennyfarthing animations)
• Foreign language filing cabinet sequence
• "For the Love of" - a 7 minute featurette about Prisoner memorabilia
collectors
• Renault 21 TV ad
• Patrick McGoohan biography
• George Markstein biography
• Stills Gallery
• Merchandise Gallery
• Collectors' Edition Booklet
• Production notes of each episode

Many. And increasing. Ranging from novels based on the series to detailed critical analysis, from memoirs of those involved in production to episode guides. There are also works on Patrick McGoohan's career, and novels by George Markstein (co-writer and script editor on episodes of The Prisoner) with similar themes.

The following are just some of the professionally published books (not all remain in print):

FICTION BOOKS:

Note: The above 3 novels are also available in a combined omnibus version "The Prisoner: Omnibus" published by Carlton Books (ISBN 1842225316).

NON-FICTION BOOKS:
DOCUMENTARY BOOKS:
"The Prisoner and Danger Man" (author: Dave Rogers) (Boxtree, 1989) ISBN 1-85283-260-6 - an exhaustive (definitive?) episode guide by the man who wrote the detailed Avengers programme guide books. Light on photographs but dense with detail, the synopses sometimes almost word-for-word transcriptions of the episodes.

"The Gillis Guide to The Prisoner" (author: S.J. Gillis) (SJG, 1997) ISBN 0 9528441 1 7 - perhaps the definitive listing of cast and crew for each episode, with detailed screenographies for each individual. Contains a few minor errors/omissions, but an impressively exhaustive piece of research and invaluable for film buffs, actor-spotters and name-droppers.

"The Patrick McGoohan Screenography" (1984) (compiled by Rae Wittrick, directed by Roger Goodman, produced by Ged Lennox; yes it is a book!) - a high-quality, privately-published detailed biography of McGoohan's appearances on television and film up to 1982. Lots of detail for its time. Rare. Originally came with a Prisoner poster. Look out for it at memorabilia fairs, comic marts etc (I'm not selling mine!).

"The Prisoner Handbook" (author: Steven Paul Davies) Paperback: 272 pages (Boxtree, 2002) ISBN: 0752219685. From the Boxtree Press release: "The definitive fan club companion to the television phenomenon,
including a full episode guide, tying in to the 35th anniversary of the series which will be celebrated throughout 2002. Endorsed by the Prisoner fan club, Six of One, and including interviews with many of the original cast and crew of the series, this is the independent handbook to the cult Sixties TV series to end them all. Steven Paul Davies spent 2 years working as a news presenter for Virgin Radio before concentrating on writing full-time. His previous books include Alex Cox: Film Anarchist and Brat Pack: Confidential with Andrew Pulver, Film Editor of the Guardian." Here's a URL for more details and a pic of the original front cover: http://www.prizbiz.supanet.com/page9.html (Thanks to Roger Goodman for the details).

** Catherine Nemeth Frumerman's new book (published 2003) "On The Trail of the Prisoner" is a lavishly-photographed, and engagingly-written Prisoner- centric tour of the 'real' Village where the series was filmed. Several posters have commented on it having been an ideal companion for a visit to Portmeirion. Details can be found at: http://www.prizbiz.supanet.com/page12.html

The following three non-fiction works were privately produced for Six of One but were available both through the Appreciation Society and the Prisoner Shop in Portmeirion:

The Prisoner of Portmeirion (author: Max Hora) (a NUMBER SIX publication, 1985) - an enjoyable jaunt through the series (both serious and trivial elements) in 17 chapters. Paperback only. Out of print?

"Portmeirion Prisoner Production" (author: Max Hora) (a NUMBER SIX publication, 1985) - contains fascinating Call Sheet reproductions and other production documentation (e.g. revealing No 2 in "Dance of the dead" as Jack the Ripper rather than Peter Pan!), plus the first instalment of the ongoing "episode order" debate. Paperback only. Out of print?

"Village World" (compiled by: Max Hora) (a NUMBER SIX publication, 1987) Further ruminations on the Prisoner, locations, episode order, the 1984 channel 4 documentary 'Six Into One: The Prisoner File', and miscellany. Paperback only. Out of print?

ANALYSIS BOOKS (Documentaries tend to have less speculation, instead mainly "documenting" facts like an episode guide. Analysis goes deeper (e.g. speculating upon the surrealism, directorial intent, writer's references to
other works, etc.):

"Le Prisonnier, chef-d'oeuvre télévisionnaire", (authors: Alain Carraze & Hélène Oswald) (8ème art, French language 1989) ISBN: 0-86369-557-4 - also available in English translation, "The Prisoner: A Televisionary Masterpiece" (W.H. Allen & Co, 1990). Superb photographs (some rare) are the mainstay of this book. Also an interesting overview of the series, its episodes, its effect (including relevant essays by the likes of Isaac Asimov) and a rare Patrick McGoohan interview.

"Decoding The Prisoner" (author: Chris Gregory) (John Libbey Media, 1997) ISBN 1 86020 521 6 - a deep textual analysis suitable for students of the media, literature, and perhaps psychology and philosophy.

"Inside The Prisoner - Radical Television and Film in the 1960s" (author: Ian Rakoff) (B.T. Batsford Ltd, 1998) ISBN 0 7134 8413 6 - by the writer of the TV episode Living In Harmony who was also a film editor on The Prisoner, this book is as much about the media revolution of the late 60s as it is about working with McGoohan and co on a day-to-day basis; and all the more fascinating for that. Written in a more anecdotal, less "academic" style than the preceding work though covering similar areas of authorial/directorial intent, expressionist film-making etc.

"The Prisoner Official Companion" (author: Robert Fairclough) see www.priz.biz. Paperback: 143 pages (April 2002) Publisher: Carlton Books; ISBN: 1842224344. Selections from a review by 'M' from the Unofficial
Patrick McGoohan site (thanks to Roger Goodman): "Many have tried and now one has succeeded - Robert Fairclough has written the ultimate Prisoner book. Its rather dry title 'The Prisoner - The official guide to the classic TV series' slyly disguises the wealth of information on offer.
Instead of trying to answer the eternal question 'Who is No 1?' he gives us a lucid insight into the political, cultural and sociological conditions surrounding Patrick McGoohan at the time. This description of the not so liberal sixties and McGoohan's biography (as far as known) serve as launching pad for the most comprehensive fact file ever gathered on 'The Prisoner'. If all this sounds rather heavy - there is nothing to fear: Fairclough's style is precise and
entertaining. There are stories on directors, actors and writers and all those who normally fade into the background.
The high standard of written contents is matched by a vastly attractive layout with hundreds of well-chosen illustrations turning the book into a feast for the eye. It's a shame that quite a few typing and setting mistakes
sneaked into an otherwise stunning creation." Roger adds: There's a sample page of the 'vastly attractive layout'
here: http://www.prizbiz.supanet.com/page9.html

N.B. Six of One's website has a list of books and publications, in two
parts:
http://www.sixofone.org.uk/1978.htm
http://www.sixofone.org.uk/1990.htm

Six of One produce a quarterly magazine which is sent to members. Back issues are sometimes available.
Content is usually factual rather than fan fiction.

The Patrick McGoohan interview CD: If you are visiting North Wales, you can pop into Portmeirion's Prisoner shop (situated in the cottage used as Number 6's residence in the TV series). Otherwise, use mail order at: www.priz.biz

b) The Silva Screen soundtrack CDs: originally released as vinyl (volume I only) and cassette, these three soundtrack CDs contained both the specially- composed music and library music used in the series, and are well worth a listen or three. Currently deleted, but Silva Screen re-released them (re- edited with dialogue from the series) in two volumes in September 2002:

The Prisoner File 1 (Audio CD)
Number of Discs: 1 (30 tracks)
Label: Silva Screen
ASIN: B00006C2OI
Catalogue Number: FILMCD601

The Prisoner File 2 (Audio CD)
Number of Discs: 1 (39 tracks)
Label: Silva Screen
ASIN: B00006C2OJ
Catalogue Number: FILMCD602

Most famously, in and around the North Wales hotel resort of Portmeirion, which is actually a Village as well as a hotel. Guests can stay in houses and cottages (some used in the series), which are run as hotel rooms or self-catering cottages. Portmeirion is an eclectic mix of Italianate architecture, statuary, woodlands and gardens seemingly cut off from the outside world. It was designed by the architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and built from 1925 onwards as a labour of love (he would often incorporate bits of old buildings he gathered over the years), with hotel profits funding the building and landscaping. Portmeirion or its environs (woods/beach) appear in every episode of the Prisoner.

The official Portmeirion site is http://www.portmeirion.wales.com/

The studio and backlot work for all episodes was carried out at the (now demolished) MGM Studios in Borehamwood. For some episodes, location work was carried out around Borehamwood and nearby Elstree, and on the south coast of England, and stock footage of more exotic locales like Austria and France was also used. The opening (and closing) shot of the series, the long "runway" racetrack, is thought to be either Santa Pod raceway (Poddington) or, less likely, the Lotus test track at Hethel in Norfolk.
(Thanks to Steve Dix for the research.)

A subject of frequent debate. The UK screening order differed from the US and other overseas orders. This was most likely due to some episodes still undergoing post-production work as screening dates came and went, so other (completed) episodes were shown in their stead (TV magazine listings at the point the UK order began to differ seem to confirm this).
ATV Midlands, who, together with Grampian, was showing episodes first in the UK, had scheduled "Do Not Forsake Me..." as episode 9 but showed "Checkmate" instead. This, along with the region's "TV World" magazine for the following week including a pre-planned internal cover for "It's Your Funeral" (with an apparently hurriedly-changed caption, since Hammer Into Anvil was shown instead)and the original ATV programme schedules indicates that the US order was originally going to be followed in the UK until, presumably, the post-production problems of certain episodes enforced changes (most notably the troubled "Do Not Forsake Me..." which seems to have taken over a month longer than expected to get into a broadcastable state).

The US order spreads most of the colourful, Portmeirion-rich episodes amongst the more studio-bound ones, and so is most likely the intended order. However, it seems that ITC may have so firmly instructed UK regions to schedule the episodes in the UK order (to avoid listing episodes that were not yet ready as the run continued) that the UK order became set in stone with subsequent repeats usually following it; other film series tended to vary their episode order on repeat runs. (With thanks to Andrew Pixley.)

Both orders are listed below, along with the order in which the episodes were produced.
In fact, on only four occasions was this standard order not used for a terrestrial screening in the UK. The two most prominent instances were the 1983/4 screening on Channel 4 which used a completely different sequence and the accompanying screening on S4C. Of the other two, one occurred with the original 1967 regional broadcast by Scottish Television: "A. B. & C" was due to be shown on 19th October 1967, but a local industrial dispute forced the company off-air on that day. Scottish were not showing the series in tandem with any other region and so were able to transmit the episode in its usual slot some weeks later on 23rd November, between "Many Happy Returns" and "Dance Of The Dead". The final instance was during the Granada regional repeat of 1969 when "Living In Harmony" and "The Girl Who Was Death" were switched around.

Finally, several fans have worked out their own orders, from aesthetically-pleasing to a chronological order based on events and clues in the episodes themselves. Like the order of the book chapters within Kafka's "The Trial", we may never know the "real" order of the episodes, if there ever was one.

UK BROADCAST ORDER
Arrival
The Chimes of Big Ben
A.B. and C.
Free For All
The Schizoid Man
The General
Many Happy Returns
Dance of the Dead
Checkmate
Hammer Into Anvil
It's Your Funeral
A Change of Mind
Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
Living In Harmony
The Girl Who Was Death
Once Upon A Time
Fall Out

US/OVERSEAS BROADCAST ORDER (With thanks to Andrew Pixley)
Identical to the UK order up until episode 8 (Dance of the Dead), then:
Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
It's Your Funeral
Checkmate
Living In Harmony (not shown in original USA run)
A Change of Mind
Hammer Into Anvil
The Girl Who Was Death
Once Upon A Time
Fall Out

CHANNEL 4 / S4C SCREENING ORDER (1983/84 REPEATS)
Arrival
Many Happy Returns
A. B. & C.
Free For All
The Schizoid Man
Checkmate
The Chimes Of Big Ben
The General
It's Your Funeral
Hammer Into Anvil
A Change Of Mind
Dance Of The Dead
Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
The Girl Who Was Death
Living In Harmony
Once Upon A Time
Fall Out
N.B. it appears that "Living In Harmony" was planned to be shown between
Once Upon A Time and Fall Out, but last minute advice from a fan
prevented this mistake. This order is sometimes called the "Warehouse
Order" as it appears Many Happy Returns was stored as the second episode,
so presumably Channel 4 were given episodes in their warehouse/catalogue
order!

PRODUCTION ORDER (With thanks to Simon Coward and Andrew Pixley)

NB This order is not an intended viewing order, for example the penultimate
story in the narrative was filmed sixth!

The first five scripts were filmed on location in Portmeirion in September
1966, with studio working commencing the following month and running through
to December (2 weeks per episode). They were made in the following order:

In 1967, when production on The Prisoner was still underway (and shortly before broadcast began in the UK), Patrick McGoohan and ITC arranged a press conference at MGM studios. Two episodes which had undergone post- production were shown to the press. As well as sets, props and actors from the show, journalists were treated to an enigmatic interview from McGoohan (where he asked the Press questions about the episodes they had just seen!).
The two episodes were "Arrival" (episode 1) and "The Chimes of Big Ben" (normally, these days, shown as Episode 2). However, they were not the episodes as eventually broadcast. They had different title sequences at start and finish, with different theme music (by Albert Elms rather than Ron Grainer) as well as different edits of scenes, some different shots, and extra dialogue in some scenes. Although "The Alternate Chimes of Big Ben" is available on VHS and DVD, "The Alternate Arrival" (from a Betamax video copy, not a 16mm film copy which has still not been found) was released on 30 September 2002 on the Carlton DVD "The Prisoner 35th Anniversary Companion", and is available from online retailers such as Play, Amazon and Blackstar.

There are also rumours of an Alternative "A.B. and C." (usually shown as episode 3) but these have not been confirmed.

Some episodes were known by different titles at the scripting and production stage.
A non-exhaustive list follows:

"Arrival" was filmed as "The Arrival".
"The Chimes of Big Ben" was referred to on Call Sheets as "C.O.B.B."
"A.B. and C." had working titles "A Play in Three Acts" and "1, 2, and 3".
"Checkmate" was filmed as "The Queen's Pawn"
"Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling" was filmed as "Face Unknown"
"Living In Harmony" was, confusingly, initially known as "Do Not Forsake Me
Oh My Darling"!
"Once Upon A Time" was filmed as "Degree Absolute".

Apart from the Alternative edits mentioned above? No. Two commissioned scripts (which never made it into production) survive, and were published in 1993 by TR7 (Stephen Ricks' imprint) - they are "The Outsider" by Moris Farhi and "Don't Get Yourself Killed" by Gerald Kelsey. A hoax/April Fool- type joke in a Six of One magazine tried to convince people of a lost episode called "Red Rover" (the name of a London bus ticket!). Fans have tried to make home movies/videos of Prisoner continuations over the years, to varying degrees of success.

Incidentally, a break in UK transmission of the Prisoner took place around Christmas 1967, which had the advantage of allowing production work on the final few episodes to catch up with transmission. In the 2- week gap, the only two fourth-season "Danger Man" (US title: "Secret Agent") episodes, entitled "Koroshi" and "Shinda Shima" (both starring Patrick McGoohan) received their first showing, being broadcast in The Prisoner's Sunday slot; these episodes had been held back, being the opening story of the abandoned fourth "Danger Man" season.

Work on "Danger Man" had been curtailed months earlier when McGoohan resigned in order to go and make The Prisoner (a tale about a resigning agent!). This "Danger Man" intermission must have caused some confusion amongst audiences when The Prisoner returned, in particular because in "The Girl Who Was Death", shown shortly afterwards, McGoohan appeared to be playing John Drake again alongside a cameo by actor Christopher
Benjamin as Drake's contact, Potter - the same actor in the same role as in those self-same Danger Man stories!

Yes. Although the current VHS and DVD releases are uncensored, it was a different matter in 1967/68. Several episodes were scissored, with "Living in Harmony" coming off worst (completely banned in the USA because it preached pacifism in the face of the Vietnam draft, and in the UK suffering 5 edits for violence, including the point-of-view shot of Kathy's brother being hanged, the fight with Zeke, No 6 being dragged back into Harmony, and both scenes of Kathy being strangled). "Free For All" had the Rover-cave beating similarly excised, though some of it was later broadcast in the same run, in the "Once Upon a Time" flashback sequence as No 2 reviews it on a screen.
Not censorship as such, but the first UK broadcast was of course in black and white, as were the two season four Danger Man episodes which were also made in colour.
The holder of the UK independent television contract for Wales and the West of England in 1967, TWW, did not pay for rights to screen The Prisoner(or a number of other programmes), after learning of the loss of that contract the following year to HTV and so viewers in their area did not receive a transmission of The Prisoner in 1967/68. Their replacements were to run two regions: one for South Wales and the West of England (HTV West) and one for North Wales (HTV Wales). HTV's first transmission of The Prisoner, beginning in July 1969, appears to have
been restricted to HTV West only; people in the HTV Wales region - the area that includes Portmeirion - appear not to have been given the opportunity to see the programme until January 1970, well after the rest of the UK.
Since then, flawed prints of "A.B. and C.", with the last three minutes of the scene with "B" having her words dictated by "No 14" accidentally hacked out, have been broadcast on Channel 4 or screened at conventions.
Luckily all the commercial video and DVD releases have not used these flawed prints.

Again, not censorship as such, but the 1977 UK regional repeat on Southern Television omitted the pre-credit sequence in "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling" and removed five separate sequences comprising nine minutes of footage from "Fall Out" so the programme would fit into a forty-five minute slot. "Fall Out" also suffered during the Granada regional repeat the same year when the previous programme over-ran and the transmission began several minutes into the episode. (Thanks to Roger Goodman for this last fact).
Two other UK transmission runs omitted whole episodes. These were the 1971 regional repeat by London Weekend Television, which did not include "Living In Harmony" and "The Girl Who Was Death", and the 1978 regional repeat by Scottish Television which missed "A Change Of Mind".

Many episodes featured a gelatinous white sphere which chased, and then suffocated, escaping prisoners. This rose from the sea bed and was, in real life, merely a weather balloon (or rather, hundreds of weather balloons since they often burst during filming!).

In one episode only, "The Schizoid Man", the spherical guardian is named "Rover" on screen. However in the first episode script it is also named Rover, and appears to be a mechanical device like a small dome-shaped amphibious car. Rumours abounded that this was made, and filmed, but sank into the sea on the first day of shooting never to be seen again. Steven Ricks uncovered home movie footage of the 1966 filming in Portmeirion which proved that the car-like Rover really existed. It resembled a black and white domed go-kart with a flashing blue light (a rather crude and obvious "police" symbol). It proved to be poorly- made, unwieldy, and choked the operator with exhaust fumes!
McGoohan and director Don Chaffey came up with the inspired idea of using weather balloons instead, and the amoeboid menace we know and love was born.

Chaffey has since suggested Rover as being representative of faceless, suffocating bureaucracy.

That is one of the things we are here to discuss!

The Prisoner deliberately asked questions with no answers, or many answers, and challenged viewers to think for themselves instead of force-feeding them with pre-chewed pap like most modern programmes.
Patrick cGoohan says the Prisoner is "an allegory" and is not to be taken too literally. Playing with symbols and allegory, as well as providing a rattling good adventure yarn, the producers of The Prisoner have very rarely offered their thoughts on its many meanings, preferring instead for people to find their own answers. If you are interested in McGoohan's thoughts, he has recorded some interviews (e.g. "The LA Tape", made for, but not used in, the UK Channel 4 documentary "Six Into One: The Prisoner File") and many more have appeared in newspapers, books and magazines; most are sadly out of print. The best currently available to the public can be found at http://www.priz.biz.

Both were played by Patrick McGoohan, co-creator of "The Prisoner", who says they were not intended to be the same character. But the former script editor, (the late George Markstein), who also claimed to be the originator of the idea of The Prisoner, said the Prisoner character was "an agent called Drake, who resigned." Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
It is worth noting that the unnamed hero of the Prisoner is never called Drake on- screen. He claims that his name is 'Peter Smith', whilst speaking to the new tenant of his London house, but may be using a code-name or alias. John Drake (Danger Man) was the copyright property of Ralph Smart, and so the makers of The Prisoner did not have permission to use him or his name. Officially, therefore, The Prisoner cannot be the same John Drake (whatever David McDaniel's novel might claim).

"Number Six" also seems to have a quite different background, London life, and fiancée. He may not even be a spy - McGoohan claimed once that the Prisoner was "a scientist". Some viewers mishear the Leo McKern line "see me in the morning break" (in the episode 'Once Upon a Time') as "see me in the morning, Drake" but the script (and careful listening) reveal the truth. The scripts usually call The Prisoner "P" (for "Prisoner", according to McGoohan who wrote 3 of the scripts) but then they also often call Number Two's Butler "Angelo" (the actor's name) so this "P" probably doesn't stand for "Peter Smith" or "Patrick McGoohan", although when the escapee actors' names (Leo McKern, Angelo Muscat, Alexis Kanner etc) are overlaid at the end of the final
episode, the only one not to have their real name is Patrick, credited instead as plain "Prisoner".

It is a Lotus Super 7 series 2, registration no. KAR 120C (a 1965 registration).

The registration was used as Lotus' demonstrator, and was applied to a number of cars. The demonstrator was frequently dismantled and sold as a kit (Lotus at the time sold kit cars. In the UK in the 1960s you could avoid purchase tax on a car by buying it as a kit, but you were legally not permitted to receive any instructions as to how to build the kit!).
The Lotus Super 7 series 2 used for the opening sequences was exported to Australia where it was subsequently written-off. A normal L7 series 2 was altered to look like the original car for "Fall Out", by Graham Nearn of Caterham Cars (sole agents for the Lotus 7 at that time). No-one knows what happened to this car.

The number plate "KAR120C" is now owned by Caterham Cars.

The 7 is still in production, and can be bought as a kit or fully- built from Caterham cars, who bought the rights from Lotus when they ceased to build it.

There are also a number of lookalikes, such as the Westfield 7, the Sylva Striker, and even a number of low-cost build-your-own-from- plans varieties such as the Locust. The best place to start looking is in magazines such as "Kit Car".
If you are not inclined to build one, you can usually pick up a second-hand model which has been built by another
enthusiast.

The car is a Mini Moke.
These were produced by BMC (British Motor Corporation) in the 60's, and production was then moved to Australia, then Portugal.
The car relies on the engine and parts from the famous Mini car of the 1960's which was produced up until October 2000. There is still a large following of Mini owners, and even a Moke owners group.

The Moke is no longer in production, and the original Mini ceased production in 2000. The new Mini bears no mechanical resemblance to the old. However mokes were in production until quite recently in Portugal, using brand-new parts supplied by Rover, so you may be able to find one if you look hard.
There have also been a number of Kit- Car moke copies, which supplied a Moke-style body on which the parts from a standard Mini were installed : e.g. The Andersen Cub. (thanks to Steve Dix for all the car research).

Yes. Please don't ask again.

McGoohan's only reference to it in interviews has described it as an "ironic symbol of progress" - McGoohan claimed things were going faster and faster with little reflection on whether new inventions were of benefit or not. The incongruous canopy is said to have been added to represent the "overprotective" nature of modern society, as encapsulated by the "caring" façade of the Village.

Dark brown (not black as some people mistake it for), with white/cream- coloured piping. This is clearly visible on the 35mm publicity shots taken in daylight in September 1966, as well as having been witnessed by cast and crew members, Portmeiricon attendees, and clearly visible on the DVDs. Filtered studio lighting sometimes makes it appear dark blue or black.