Hasitha Fernando revisits the classic British TV series The Prisoner…
Television series come and go, often being mere products of their time, adhering predictably to ongoing trends and pretty much giving exactly what its audience wants. But every now and then, there appears a television series that breaks that mold, boldly playing against established norms and formulaic patterns to deliver something that makes one pause and reflect.
1967’s The Prisoner was one such effort, which truly tested audiences back in the day with its thought-provoking narrative and compelling story, and still remains a topic of discussion over 50 years later. Today, we look back at the influential show and discuss ten interesting facts about what happened behind-the-scenes…
The lead star of the show nearly became James Bond
Yes, that’s right. Irish-American actor Patrick McGoohan was one of the actors considered to embody the now iconic character of James Bond on his first feature film outing. However, being the strict Roman Catholic that he was, McGoohan turned down the role because of its over-reliance on sex and violence. The role was later nabbed by the then unknown Sean Connery, and the rest as they say, is history.
McGoohan was also later offered the lead role in the television show The Saint, but raising the same concerns the creative passed on that opportunity as well, which invariably went to, none other than future James Bond star Roger Moore. So, in a way, McGoohan indirectly contributed to the career successes of not one but two James Bond actors, which is certainly saying something.
The inspiration for the series came quite by accident
The premise for The Prisoner was apparently conceived by McGoohan during the party that marked the conclusion of filming Danger Man (also known as Secret Agent in the US), a popular espionage TV show produced by ITC Entertainment. After four lengthy seasons and eighty-six episodes McGoohan had grown tired of the series’ repetitive format and wanting to do something different he severed his involvement with Danger Man – by abruptly resigning from the show at the height of its popularity in 1966.
Unable to continue the series without its leading man the producers threw a lavish party, which was even attended by members of the British Parliament, to bid farewell to McGoohan and the show. It was at this event that the talented creative inquired from an MP as to what really happened to “a secret agent when they retire?” out of genuine curiosity. The answer he received was that “…they were well looked after. Given a house, a car and some pocket money, so that they won’t defect.” This got McGoohan thinking and pretty soon the actor had an idea, for what his next project would be about.
The show does not have a “created by” credit
It is certainly strange that a TV show of The Prisoner’s caliber does not have a “created by” credit, but it is what it is. Contentions regarding who created what aspect of the show still exists, but a vast majority credit McGoohan as the main creative force behind the benchmark series. British teleplay writer George Markstein, who worked as the story consultant on Danger Man, is the other creative credited with the creation of The Prisoner, alongside McGoohan.
The concept of the village was based on a real-life World War II resort
The Inverlair Lodge in Scotland was a top-secret luxury accommodation used during World War II as a safe refuge for former spies or for people who “knew too much” and were therefore a risk to national security. Details of such establishments, have been given little publicity and even in the present day, they remain shrouded in mystery.
Having associations with British Intelligence, Markstein certainly would have had some awareness regarding such places and undoubtedly shared this knowledge with McGoohan, ultimately incorporating it into The Prisoner’s premise in a big way. Later on, Markstein even published a work of fiction in 1974 regarding the subject titled The Cooler.
The iconic opening sequence led to a surge in interest of KIT cars
The opening sequence of the show, shot in London on 28 August 1966, features a Lotus Seven Series II careening towards the camera with a stern-faced McGoohan behind the wheel. It is an iconic shot which establishes the overall post-modern feel of the show. It also undoubtedly served as a major source of inspiration for the opening sequence of the 80s TV show Knight Rider, twenty years later.
Getting back to The Prisoner and its opening sequence, to say that it had an impact on the public psyche is something of an understatement. Following its debut and its subsequent popularity, there was a surge in interest low-cost, lightweight sport cars or kit cars like the Lotus Seven Series II. Graham Nearn, the legendary owner of Lotus car dealership Caterham Cars, even had a cameo role in the show’s final episode.
The opening theme of Doctor Who and The Prisoner are by the same composer
The Prisoner’s opening sequence is a unique intro in itself visually, but it would have been quite a different experience if the iconic music played over it were absent. McGoohan, who also executive produced the show, went through the creative outputs of multiple composers until he was satisfied, and settled on Ron Grainer’s music for the planned sequence.
The Australian musician was no stranger to the world of television having worked with BBC on multiple productions by that point, however, it was the opening theme crafted by him for Doctor Who in 1963, that was the most instantly recognizable. And as with the Doctor Who, what he conceived for The Prisoner was nothing short of amazing.
The main location of the series wasn’t disclosed until the final episode
A bulk of the show was shot on location in Portmeirion village near Porthmadog, North Wales. The picturesque architecture of the village coupled with its Mediterranean atmosphere proved to be the ideal backdrop for the surreal 60s show. At the personal request of Portmeirion’s architect Clough William-Ellis the, main location for the series was not revealed until the opening credits of the final episode, where it was described as The Hotel Portmeirion, Penrhyndeudraeth, North Wales.
Every year fans of the series hold The Prisoner convention at Portmeirion, recreating public events like the Election Parade, the Tally-Ho theatre, and the Human Chess game, which were all featured in the show.
The show inspired multiple spin-offs in different forms of media
The cult-like popularity of the series meant that multiple spin-offs in different forms of media took place once the show concluded. The first of which were a series of novels which directly tied in with the climax of the series. A large amount of material produced by obsessed fans circulated around in the 70s and 80s, one of the very first examples of fan fiction.
The first official appreciation society centered around the show was formed in 1977 and a decade later The Prisoner Companion – the first officially sanctioned guide – was also released, which wasn’t that well received by McGoohan or the fans. In the gaming media, software publisher Edu-Ware produced two computer games based upon the series for the Apple II computer.
In 1988 DC comics released Shattered Visage, a four-issue comic book mini-series that follows a story set twenty years after the final episode of the television series. 2018 saw Titan Comics re-issuing Shattered Visage, as well as, releasing The Prisoner: The Uncertainty Machine, another four-part series of comics about another spy returning to the Village.
Attempt at reviving the property have failed dismally
In 2009 a mini-series remake headlined by Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen – who played Number 6 as Number 2 respectively – was produced by AMC. Instead of the picture perfect Portmeirion, this new story was set amidst the arid Namibian desert. Unfortunately, this reboot ended up receiving mostly unfavorable reviews and was thus cancelled after a single season. Attempts at revisiting the IP as possible feature film adaptations, spearheaded by heavy weight talents like Christopher Nolan and Ridley Scott, have also failed dismally.
The impact of the show cannot be overstated even 50 years later
To say McGoohan and Markstein’s collective effort left an impression on audiences, pop-culture and the television industry, as a whole, is something of an understatement. What they created transcended the era’s usual brain-numbing entertainment and approached the realm of art, delivering a high-brow concept deceptively packaged as a conventional spy thriller. Critically lauded the world over, the show wrapped up prematurely in 1968, after a mere 17 episodes but its impact still remains.
Created during a time when Cold War paranoia was at its peak, the show gave audiences a peak into a Big Brother-esque society where 24-hour surveillance of its citizenry have become the norm, much like today. The Prisoner can also be described as the precursor to TV series like Twin Peaks, The X-Files and Lost, which wrestled with complex themes and multi-layered concepts, whilst having a distinct surreal feel to the proceedings. The show’s bold visuals, sharp dialogue and thought-provoking ideas have even been referenced in a multitude of movies and TV shows as well.
In summary all we can be is glad, glad that McGoohan and Markstein chose to embark on this strangely, surreal experiment with the sole objective of giving audiences something they’ve never experienced… and then some. Be seeing you!
What are your thoughts on The Prisoner? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Hasitha Fernando is a part-time medical practitioner and full-time cinephile. Follow him on Twitter via @DoctorCinephile for regular updates on the world of entertainment.
