Something popped into my mind during the political discussions here. Have others here seen "The Prisoner", a British made 1967-68 television series (or mini-series) - 17 one-hour episodes starring Patrick McGoohan? What a great show, strange and allegorical, some lame episodes, but overall very thought provoking as well as entertaining. In a way it was the ultimate "commercial" for seeking/embracing freedom and being wary of government. There are other interesting themes too (such as the possibilty and drawbacks of "speedlearn" in "The General"), but the overriding one throughout is about an over-controlling government and individual freedom.

I would suggest that Tom Petty fans who embrace Tom's lyrical theme of freedom ("I won't back down", "Everybody's had to fight to be free", "You don't know what it means to be free", etc.), or anyone with libertarian leanings would love this show - but really anyone with any political point of view should see it. It's definitely not the type of thing that would typically come out of Hollywood, IMO. Originally intended to be just seven episodes, it was stretched out to seventeen at the behest of the BBC, and couldn't quite maintain the quality throughout. Personally my favorite episodes are "Arrival", "The Chimes of Big Ben", "A, B, and C", "The General", "Free for All", "Schizoid Man", "Checkmate", "Hammer into Anvil", and "A Change of Mind". The final few episodes are somewhat interesting (including the very bizarre finale, "Fall Out") though clearly the series was running out of steam (or at least great ideas) by the end.

Evidently a six part remake will air this November, but I can't imagine it will match the original. And I certainly hope the remake doesn't remove or minimize the strongly pro-freedom message of the original series (though it might). So I suggest that people who are interested try to rent or borrow the DVDs from this series, or try to catch it on tv, and give it a few chances among the "good" episodes (preferably from the beginning) - it takes a while to get into it, due to the unusual nature of the show.

One of the great cult tv series.

Twin Peaks is another series with a similar following

Isn't Ian McKellan the star of the new version? If its on AMC, I have high hopes, the networks first two original series, Mad Men and Breaking Bad, are two of the best tv series ever

Oh no I hope they don't ruin it! What channel is it on?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...sYxs&feature=related

AMC thanks Peter. lol

http://www.amctv.com/videos/th...01&bctid=30345659001

Preview^

Here are the episodes from the original series, to be viewed online free thanks to AMC. Shaky quality vs the DVD (or broadcast), but hard to beat free and easily accessible. Click under "video" about halfway down the linked page:

http://www.amctv.com/originals...isoner-1960s-series/

I was a fan of The Prisoner a few decades ago, when I was a kid. I had one hell of a crush on Patrick McGoohan..which probably explains the real reason why I liked watching The Prisoner. Then, about 5 years ago I watched a few episodes on, I think, A & E, and I thought...how could I have been so nuts about this program? It was a good show for its time...and for teenagers, like me, who were really into all things Kafkaesque. But, well, I guess I've grown up. Watching one episode here and there, is fine; but a marathon?...too dull for my tastes.

It's one of those thing you usually giggle when you see it again for me.

Thanks for letting us know.

Hey, MM, have you ever seen the 1956 film, "The Incredible Shrinking Man?" I don't know if you're into philosophy, but that film has a very existential theme.

I hated 'The Prisoner'...

^No way! Do you want to call each other names and argue about it? ha ha ha ha ha

quote:

Originally posted by Martha's Madman:
I hated 'The Prisoner'...

Yeah, I never really cared for it either. I think the writers tried too hard to be cerebral and socially thought provoking. Too often the show came off as silly, in spite of the fact that the writers were making a desperate attempt to be avant guard.

I think the new show starts this weekend.

I love Ian McKellen. I've never seen him in anything that wasn't good.

quote:

On AMC
About the Premiere:

A man known as Six (Jim Caviezel) finds himself trapped in a bizarre place called the "The Village" led by a man known as Two (Ian McKellen). Two holds the secrets of escape, and Six must defeat him -- or else stay in The Village forever.
Watch sneak peeks »

The Prisoner will premiere
at 8PM | 7C over three nights.
Sun., Nov. 15:
"Arrival" and "Harmony"
Mon., Nov. 16:
"Anvil" and "Darling"
Tue., Nov. 17:
"Schizoid" and "Checkmate"

I'll likely record and watch the "new" Prisoner, but from the looks of that episode list I don't have high hopes for the remade series. It appears they are avoiding the political allegories, as the episodes with the most obvious links to governmental indoctrination, control and propaganda are not part of the new series. The original "Living in Harmony" was probably the weakest of the original series, and very strong episodes such as "The Chimes of Big Ben", "Free For All", "A, B, and C", and "The General" have been left out. Not to mention, the conclusion? Maybe they plan a second part of the miniseries, to be aired later?

I hope they did not remove the political bite of the original series, but it wouldn't surprise me if they did. Hollywood after all has their own bias, own agenda of control, own propaganda machine - if you will. Naturally they would not want to celebrate a series which leads people to take notice of when they are being manipulated, lied to, controlled. The new series might be about someone trying to escape from an island, and not much more. So it appears that the new series may have an entertainment factor, but if the political allegories and libertarian nature of the original show have been removed, then the new "Prisoner" may have more in common with Gilligan's Island than the original version. And that would be a shame, though again - not surprising, coming from Hollywood.

^There's too much nonsense to question here, so I'll just respond to this last sentence:

quote:

And that would be a shame, though again - not surprising, coming from Hollywood.

The new Prisoner is a combined effort between two television channels: AMC (based in New York) and the British channel, ITV.

Mystery Man, you live in a world where you're a prisoner of stereotypes and unfounded myths....like the Hollywood Leftist elite controls our minds...that is, the bits that the government doesn't control. Yeah, I think it's kind of ironic that you're such an ardent fan of the Prisoner, it's almost like you're trying to become Patrick McGoohan's character...but, you've made your own prison and you've created your own imaginary torture by insisting that the government and the media are trying to steal your individualism.

Crazy.

I used to enjoy watching the Prisoner.

I did, too...when I was a young teenager. I also like Wild, Wild, West. But 35+ years later, they just seemed to have lost their charm.

I plan on watching the show this evening.

The Matrix is on right now.

I'm not sure I can watch 3 in a row but it is a good evening for TV.

I read a pretty poor review of the remake. I'll watch just to see Ian McKellen and see how it is. The reviewer really liked the original.

Watched it last night. Not really impressed.