Amiga Plus 1995 #2/Amiga Plus CD - 1995 - No. 2.iso/internet/faq/englisch/prisoner

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Archive-name: tv/the-prisoner/part1
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This is Volume I of the FAQ for _The Prisoner_.  I have tried to make
it accurate and spoiler-free, but I can guarantee neither.  Still, it
is probably safe to read this document even if you have never seen the
show.  All spoilers have been moved to Volume II (coming Real Soon Now
to a newsgroup near you).

Please send me your comments, corrections, and additions.

- Patrick LoPresti
  [e-mail]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

                          _The Prisoner_ FAQ
                        Volume I - No Spoilers


TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------

 1: What is _The Prisoner_?
 2: Where can I find _The Prisoner_?
 3: What are _Danger Man_ and _Secret Agent_?
 4: In what order should I watch the episodes?
 5: Are there any fan clubs devoted to _The Prisoner_?
 6a: Where is the Village?
 6b: How do I get there?
 7: What kind of car is KAR120C?
 8: What _Prisoner_ material can I find on-line?
 9: What _Prisoner_ material can I find in the real world?
10: What is that font?
11: What shows/music/movies refer to _The Prisoner_?
12: In what shows and movies has Patrick McGoohan appeared?
13: Do we ever find out...
ASCII Drawings
Credits
----------------------------------------------------------------------

 1: What is _The Prisoner_?

    _The Prisoner_ is a television series created by Patrick McGoohan,
    who also plays the title role.  It first aired in the UK on
    October 1, 1967, and has retained a strong (some would say "cult")
    following ever since.  There are reasons for this.

    It consists of 17 one-hour episodes.  While each makes sense when
    viewed alone (_The Prisoner_ is no soap opera), they also come
    together as a complete story.  The series has a definite beginning
    and a definite end; the conflicts are resolved and the questions
    are answered (more or less).  There are no transparent hooks for a
    movie sequel, and there is no room for a "next generation" :-).

    [Although ITC is going to make a movie anyway; filming is
    scheduled to begin in 1995.  The producers are looking for a big
    name star and McGoohan's involvement.]

    On the surface, it is a well done action/suspense show, and is
    quite enjoyable as such.  But closer inspection reveals multiple
    levels of meaning and numerous possible interpretations, many of
    which are still debated today.  It has a lot of intellectual
    appeal, with a feel reminiscent of Huxley and Orwell.  _The
    Prisoner_ is a refreshing change from the mindless sludge so
    common on modern television.


 2: Where can I find _The Prisoner_?

    In the U.S., the show is variously aired on the Sci-Fi channel and
    local PBS stations.  The USA network and CBS used to run the show,
    but have not done so recently.  Check your local listings.

    The episodes are available on video tape and laser disk; check
    your local video store, or order them yourself (see below).

    [Note:  This section reflects my U.S. bias.  Feel free to help me
    correct it.  - Pat]

 3: What are _Danger Man_ and _Secret Agent_?

    _Danger Man_ was the name a series about the secret agent John
    Drake (played by Patrick McGoohan), a man who preferred to use his
    intellect to resolve situations.  He did not carry a gun, nor did
    he get involved with every woman he met.  McGoohan played a large
    role in shaping Drake's character, which was a specific reaction
    against the "James Bond" types popular in cinema and television at
    the time.  Drake had a conscience; the moral conflicts of his job
    were a major theme in the series.

    The shows were 30 minutes black and white. Later on, the series
    was filmed as 60 minute black and white _Secret Agent_ episodes.
    There were also two color _Secret Agent_ episodes filmed, but they
    were never released as part of the series.  They were later edited
    together, however, to produce a 100 minute TV movie called
    _Koroshi_.

    (Note: The mixed up "puzzle" letters that appear in the closing
    credits of some episodes of _Secret Agent_ unscramble to spell
    "Danger Man".)

    Patrick McGoohan conceived the concept for _The Prisoner_ while
    filming some episodes of _Danger Man_ in Portmeirion (the
    Village).  There is also a _Secret Agent_ episode about a
    "village" of agents training to become imposters that was used as
    part of the idea for _The Prisoner_ (this is the show where he
    hides a camera in a typewriter).  Many of the actors in _Danger
    Man_ and _Secret Agent_ also appear in _The Prisoner_.

    There is some debate on whether _The Prisoner_ is a sequel to
    _Danger Man_.  To call the disagreement violent would be a gross
    understatement.  For more information, watch _The Prisoner_, then
    refer to Volume II of this FAQ [not written yet  - Pat].

    Opening Lyrics - Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers
                     Written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri

        There's a man who leads a life of danger
        To everyone he meets, he stays a stranger
        With every move he makes, another chance he takes
        Odds are he won't live to see tomorrow.

        Secret Agent Man, Secret Agent Man
        They've given you a number and taken away your name.


 4: In what order should I watch the episodes?

    That is a very good question.

    Here are a few possible orderings:

    KTEH  6o1  SciFi   ITC  1st   McG
     *1*                        || 1  Arrival
      2     3     2  ||  8    8 || 3  Dance of the Dead
      3     4     4  || 11    9 || 4  Checkmate
      4     5     5  ||  2    2 || 5  The Chimes of Big Ben
      5     2     3  ||  4    4 || 2  Free For All
      6     9     9  ||  7    7 || -  Many Happy Returns
      7     8     8  ||  5    5 || -  The Schizoid Man
      8     7     6  ||  6    6 || -  The General
      9     6     7  ||  3    3 || -  A, B, and C
     10    14    14  || 12   14 || -  Living in Harmony
     11    10    10  || 10   11 || -  It's Your Funeral
     12    13    13  ||  9   13 || -  Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
     13    11    11  || 13   12 || -  A Change of Mind
     14    12    12  || 14   10 || -  Hammer Into Anvil
     15                         || -  The Girl Who Was Death
    *16*                        || 6  Once Upon a Time
    *17*                        || 7  Fall Out


    KTEH:   Arranged by Scott Appel for KTEH channel 54 (PBS
            affiliate in San Jose, CA)
    6o1:    Endorsed by Six of One
    SciFi:  Used for the Sci-Fi Channel marathon (Note: The Sci-Fi
            Channel normally uses the Six of One order)
    ITC:    "Official" ITC sequence
    1st:    Original airing sequence
    McG:    Patrick McGoohan's original seven episodes
            which "really count"


    (Note: "Living in Harmony" was omitted by CBS from the first
    showing of the series in the U.S.  CBS claimed this censorship was
    because of the drug use portrayed, but this is unlikely in light
    of other episodes which were aired freely (e.g., "A, B, and C").
    A more common explanation is that it was pulled due to the Vietnam
    era and the episode's themes of anti-authoritarianism and
    disrespect for the law.)

    McGoohan has stated in an interview that he only wanted to do
    seven episodes, but his financier (Lew Grade) insisted that he
    needed more in order to sell the series.  Grade, in fact, wanted
    30 episodes; McGoohan managed to compromise on 17.  Some of the
    extra episodes are basically "filler" and contain no (or re-used)
    shots of the Village.  The seven core episodes are crucial; the
    rest, though individually worth watching, are less essential to
    the series as a whole.

    The show had many production problems.  When _The Prisoner_ was
    first shown on British television, several episodes were still
    being produced on the date they were supposed to air, so other
    episodes that were finished were scheduled in their place (in
    particular, changes were made to "The Chimes of Big Ben" shortly
    before airtime; hence the existence of the alternate version).
    The order in which ITC later released the series is considered
    "official".

    "Arrival" is indisputably the first episode.  "Once Upon a Time"
    and "Fall Out" are indisputably the last pair.  "Do Not Forsake Me
    Oh My Darling" flashbacks to "Arrival" and "Free For All".

    Four of the script writers thought they were writing the second
    episode; in two of them, "Dance of the Dead" and "Checkmate",
    the Prisoner says he is new, although these were eventually shown
    about halfway through the series.

    The Number Two from "The General" returns in "A, B, and C", and in
    the opening he says "I am Number Two" instead of "the new Number
    Two".  Also, the Tally Ho bears the headline "Is No. 2 Fit For
    Further Term?"  They seem to belong together in sequence.

    Examining dates and time periods, the date at beginning of "The
    Schizoid Man" is presumably February 10.  In "Many Happy Returns",
    we learn the date is March 18.  In "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My
    Darling", he has been away for a year.

    If one arranges the episodes so the interrogation of the Prisoner
    gets riskier and more intense as the series progresses, then
    episodes where the Prisoner's life is endangered like "A, B, and
    C" and "The Schizoid Man" probably belong later in the series.

    The episodes can also be ordered to show the progression of the
    Prisoner as a character, at first angry and trying every chance to
    escape, making various mistakes and being fooled by simple ploys,
    later becoming more sophisticated, finding out how the Village
    works and avoiding the more obvious pitfalls.  Or one can order
    them on the themes, like escape and betrayal, within the series.

    Thinking about the order of the episodes and coming up with your
    own is an interesting way to appreciate _The Prisoner_.


 5: Are there any fan clubs devoted to _The Prisoner_?

    The largest and best known is called "Six of One, The Prisoner
    Appreciation Society".  It is officially recognized by Patrick
    McGoohan and ITC.

    The Six of One newsletter is currently called "In The Village" and
    is published quarterly.  Former titles include "Number 6", "PM",
    "Spokes", and "Alert".  Many of these are now serious collectors'
    items.

    A year's membership in the Society costs GPB20.00 or US$39.00 and
    provides four copies of the newsletter and voluminous other material
    related to _The Prisoner_.  Six of One also hosts a Prisoner
    convention in Portmeirion every summer, and is a supplier of photos,
    CDs, and merchandise.

    Six of One is based in the U.K., and has official points of
    contact in the U.S. and France.  For more information, send a
    self-addressed stamped envelope to:

    U.S.             Six of One, 871 Clover Dr, North Wales, PA, 19454

    France           Six of One/France, Jean-Michel Philibert, BP 633,
                     42042 Saint-Etienne Ce'dex, France

    U.K.             Six of One, PO Box 66, Ipswich, IP2 9TZ,
    (and elsewhere)  UK

    There were several attempts by individual fans, especially in the
    late 70's, to promote personal newsletters as official fan clubs.
    These went under such names as "The Green Dome" and "The Prisoner
    Newsletter".  None of these were recognized by ITC, and in most
    cases they just republished information provided by Six of One.
    Many were told by ITC or Six of One to cease copyright violations.

    However, there is a long running publication which is recognized by
    ITC (at least, it has full permission to reproduce photos).
    Subscriptions are $8 per year for three issues:

        Once Upon a Time
        c/o David Lawrence
        515 Ravenel Circle
        Seneca, SC  29678

    "Once Upon a Time" was originally published under the auspices of
    Six of One, but due to differences of opinion became an independent
    production.

    (Naturally, there are those who point out that any "society" based
    on _The Prisoner_ is somewhat ironic.)

 6a: Where is the Village?

    In real life, it is a seashore resort called the "Portmeirion
    Village Hotel" (formally "Hotel Portmeirion") in North Wales,
    built by the eccentric architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis.  It is
    located in the town of Penrhyndeudraeth.  To find it on a map,
    look for Cardigan Bay on the western shore; at the north end is
    Tremadoc Bay; look along its north-central shore and find the town
    of Porthmadog; go east, and at the north-eastern corner of
    Tremadoc Bay, there is an inlet pointing slightly north of east.
    Portmeirion is on the north shore of that inlet.  It is reachable
    by rail or car from London (see below).

    The Hotel Portmeirion is a hodge-podge collection of odd buildings
    and structures of all different kinds of architecture.  Some were
    built on-site as examples of styles of architectures, ranging from
    Oriental to Italianate, and some structures or parts of structures
    (such as porticos, balconies, and ceilings) were moved from other
    places, purchased by Sir Williams-Ellis just before they were
    supposed to be demolished.  The buildings are painted in lively,
    uncoordinated colors on purpose and, they say, are repainted on a
    carefully scheduled rotation so that some buildings look newly
    painted, but others look old and scruffy.  On some buildings,
    windows are merely painted on and do not really exist. On others,
    they get smaller higher up to give the impression of height.  The
    viewer's perspective changes completely with every few steps.

    The land was once the estate of an eccentric old lady who never
    let anyone visit and who had a large pack of pet dogs.  There is a
    dog cemetery in the woods along one of the many walks and trails
    through the grounds.  When the lady died, Sir Clough
    Williams-Ellis bought the land for his architectural project.  The
    beach is exactly as shown in the series.  The tides are extreme,
    with high tide bringing the water up to the stone wall (on which
    the Stone Boat is built), and low tide exposing a very large sand
    beach.  In fact, you can simply walk a great distance during low
    tide (a fact kept hidden in the TV series).

    The main hotel served as the "Old People's Home" in the
    series. The scattered cottages and buildings served as the private
    homes, shops, halls, etc.

    Sir Clough Williams-Ellis's daughter, Susan, went on to found a
    line of pottery (dinnerware and china).  Her flagship design is
    called, of course, "Portmeirion".  It is now world famous and is
    sold in all the best department stores, including Bloomingdales.

        Portmeirion Village Hotel    Phone: [phone]
        Portmeirion                  Fax:   [phone]
        Gwynedd                      Telex: 61540 PORTM G
        Wales LL48 6ER
        UK


 6b: How do I get there?

    Resign and wait.  Alternatively, travel by rail (recommended) or
    by car.  Either way, the trip is around 260 miles and 6 to 7 hours
    from London.

    Begin by getting a map.  Good quality maps showing both road and
    rail routes everywhere are easily and cheaply available in the UK.
    Portmeirion is so small that it is unlikely to be shown on any map
    at a scale less than three miles to the inch, but Porthmadog
    should provide a point to aim at.

    To go by rail:

    A comprehensive rail timetable for the UK can be bought for GBP6
    ('the ABC Rail Guide') at newsagents' shops, the 'official' and
    much heavier BR timetable for GBP7.00 at stations.

    The nearest main railway station to Portmeirion is at Minffordd,
    one-and-a-half miles away. It is an easy walk from there.
    Alternatively, travel 3 miles further to Porthmadog (a town,
    whereas Minffordd is only a village) and take a taxi from the
    station; it's about 3 miles from there. All trains shown below to
    Minffordd also call at Porthmadog.

    Currently (winter 1993/4), there are six trains a day to and from
    Minffordd, except on Sundays, when there is only one.  The line
    runs from Shrewsbury to Pwllheli, and this is an extract from the
    1993/4 timetable (local trains with no connections to further
    afield are ignored):

                   Monday to Saturday      | Sunday

    (London)          0710 0940 1140 1340  |  0940
    (Birmingham) 0655 0925 1152 1404 1558  |  1405
    Shrewsbury   0822 1040 1255 1504 1718  |  1612
    Minffordd    1202 1427 1559 1810 2028  |  1929

    Minffordd    0738 0954 1307 1526 1820  |  1523
    Shrewsbury   1046 1259 1723 1937 2127  |  1829
    (Birmingham) 1204 1404 1853 2049 2234  |  2007
    (London)     1429 1629 2103 2319 0048  |  2310

    Trains do not run through from London (hence the parentheses
    around the times from there): a change is always needed at
    Birmingham or Wolverhampton, then again at Shrewsbury, and usually
    again at either Machynlleth or Dovey Junction.  The UK railways
    being run as a unified system (for the present) means that trains
    connect, and you can book through on one ticket.

    Sunday travel by train can be difficult, as most engineering work
    on the lines is done on this day and the longer the journey the
    more likely that the trip will be disrupted by this.  The train
    times in any case make a Sunday visit difficult, although there
    are more trains in the summer.

    So from London, a departure at 0710 will get you to Minffordd at
    1427, changing at Birmingham and Machynlleth.  The 1820 return
    train will get you to London at 0048 next day, same changes.  So a
    day trip from London with around two-and-a-half hours in the
    Village is just about possible, though quite hard work. It is more
    realistic to see it as part of a two-day trip unless you are in
    Wales already.

    Current off-peak return fare from London to Minffordd
    is GBP45.00.

    A bus runs from Minffordd post office (4 mins. walk from station)
    to Portmeirion at 1114 and 1314; return at 1117, 1317, 1500.
    (Monday to Saturday only).

    To confirm these bus times ring (UK) 0286 679378.  To check the
    train times ring (UK) 0743 364041.

    Portmeirion is just half a mile from Boston Lodge station on the
    Ffestiniog railway, a local line with no connections towards
    London, which intersects the main line at Minffordd: on arriving
    at Minffordd you could check the times of trains on this line
    which might save you the walk.  (Aside:  The Ffestiniog railway
    runs old steam trains, which is Porthmadog's biggest claim to fame
    among _Prisoner_ non-fans.)

    To go by car:

    Here is the "Preferred" route from Central London to
    Penrhyndeudraeth as generated by the computer program Autoroute
    V2.02.

    Time 4 hrs 48 min. Distance 241 miles.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Time |                          |Road   |For  |Dir|Towards
    -----+--------------------------+-------+-----+---+---------------------
    00:00|DEPART London (Gt London) |A400   |1/2 m|N  |Camden Town
    00:02|Turn left onto            |A501   |1   m|W  |(Marylebone)
    00:04|At Marylebone turn off ont|A41    |1/2 m|NW |(St John's Wood)
    00:06|At St John's Wood stay on |A41    |1   m|NW |
    00:10|At Swiss Cottage stay on t|A41    |4   m|NW |(Cricklewood)
    00:20|At Hendon stay on the     |A41    |1   m|N  |
    00:21|Turn off onto             |M1 slip|1/4 m|W  |(M1 J2)
    00:22|At M1 J2 turn off onto    |M1     |74  m|N  |*Check access*
    01:35|At M1 J19  turn off onto  |M6     |45  m|W  |*Check access*
    02:13|At M6 J10A  turn off onto |M54    |22  m|W  |*Check access*
    02:32|Go onto                   |A5     |12  m|W  |
    02:55|Turn off onto             |A458   |12  m|W  |(Middletown)
    03:14|At Middletown stay on the |A458   |5   m|W  |
    03:21|Turn left onto            |A483   |1   m|SW |Newtown
    03:22|Bear right onto           |A458   |1/4 m|W  |Welshpool
    03:23|At Welshpool stay on the  |A458   |16  m|W  |(Llanfair Caereinion)
    03:45|At Llangadfan stay on the |A458   |11  m|W  |(Dinas Mawddwy)
    04:00|Turn right onto           |A470   |1   m|N  |Dolgellau
    04:02|At Dinas Mawddwy stay on t|A470   |9   m|NW |Dolgellau
    04:16|At Dolgellau stay on the  |A470   |2   m|W  |Betws Y Coed
    04:19|At Llanelltyd stay on the |A470   |14  m|N  |Betws Y Coed
    04:39|Bear left onto            |A487   |2   m|NW |Porthmadog
    04:42|At Maentwrog stay on the  |A487   |4   m|W  |Porthmadog
    04:48|ARRIVE Penrhyndeudraeth (G|       |     |   |
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One contributer suggests modifying the above route as follows.
    Instead of turning onto the A458, continue on the A5 through Chirk
    and Llangollen, then left onto the A494 at Corwen, then onto the
    A4212 at Bala which joins the A470 at Trawsfynydd.  This alternate
    route is more scenic and possibly faster.


 7: What kind of car is KAR120C?

    The car used in the show was a Lotus Seven series II, which was
    available as a kit or assembled (hence why the Prisoner claimed he
    built it).  In the U.K., a license plate number stays with the car
    for life.  The real KAR120C Lotus (which was the demo model series
    II) was used and eventually sold to an Australian.  When "Fall
    Out" was filmed, a quick mock up from a series III was used.
    Lotus, desiring to termininate production of the car after their
    failed attempt at marketing a series IV, sold all existing kits,
    molds, and manufacturing rights to Caterham Cars, their biggest
    dealer at the time.  Caterham went back to the series III, made
    some internal structural improvements, and renamed the car the
    "Super Seven".  The car is still available and can be purchased as
    a kit for import into the U.S.

    If you are seriously considering purchasing a Super Seven, it is
    important that you find a reputable source.  There are at least
    two such sources in the U.S. which will provide you with an
    assembled vehicle that you can register in most states as a
    composite or kit car.

        Pontiac Sports Cars
        467 Auburn Avenue
        Pontiac, MI 48342-3213
        [phone]

        Sevens and Elans
        Mr. Chris Tchornicki
        248 Hampshire Street
        Cambridge, MA 02139
        [phone]

    Caterham itself can provide you with additional information.
    The address of their sales office is:

        Caterham Cars
        Seven House
        Town End
        Caterham Hill
        Surrey
        CR3 5UG
        UK
        Phone: [phone]
        Fax:   [phone]

    The cost is around $20,000.  Delivery is about 6 months.  The car
    looks very much the same as it does in the show, but now comes
    with a 5-speed.  The car is extremely fast (0-50 in 4 to 4.5
    seconds), and can be painted any color you like.

    An interesting side note is that the car DID have a problem
    history of overheating in traffic, just like the Prisoner mentions
    in "Many Happy Returns".

    ---

    While the Caterham Seven is clearly the most accurate replica of
    the original Lotus 7, a number of UK Kit Car manufacturers produce
    very close facsmiles. The only thing preventing them being more
    accurate is the threat of being sued by Caterham Cars (or each
    other?).  Some of the replicas are:

    Westfield SE/SEi/SEiW
    Dax Rush
    Robin Hood S6/S7
    Tiger 6
    Vindicator Sprint

    We discuss the Westfield here, as they are the most accurate (and
    reportedly highest quality) replica; to the untrained eye it looks
    identical to the Caterham/Lotus car.

    Westfield were, in fact, sued by Caterham in the mid-80's, but
    settled out of court and changed the body design slightly to
    satisfy Caterham's requirements.  Naturally, they don't offer an
    "official" Prisoner model.

    Complete kits (including engine and transimission) are available
    from UKP 4999.99 (for a basic 1600cc SE) and complete cars,
    factory-built, start at around UKP 13000.  (Factory built models
    are the ZEi and the ZEiW.)

    It is also possible to buy the car at various build stages.

    It too, suffers from overheating in traffic. Build quality is
    usually good, especially on factory built cars.

    Information and sales :

    Westfield Sports Cars Ltd.
    Unit 1
    Gibbons Industrial Park
    Dudley Road
    Kingswinford
    West Midlands
    DT6 8XF
    UK

    Phone: (+44) (0)384 400077
    Fax: (+44) (0)384 288781


 8: What _Prisoner_ material can I find on-line?

    The newsgroup "alt.tv.prisoner" is devoted to discussion of the
    show.  It has relatively low volume, so you can subscribe to it
    and only marginally increase the amount of your life which you
    lose to USENET.

    A current copy of this FAQ is available via anonymous FTP:

    ftp.uu.net:/usenet/tv/the-prisoner
    rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/alt.tv.prisoner

    There would be a Prisoner MUD, if someone would contribute a
    permanent site as its home.  Email Ben Salter
    <[e-mail]> if you think you might like to
    contribute a machine.

    Anonymous FTP sites with Prisoner material include:

        ftp.ugcs.caltech.edu:/pub/gifs/Prisoner
        plan9.njit.edu:/pub/sounds/misc/prisoner.wav
        ccadfa.cc.adfa.oz.au:/archives/aus-sf/ftp_imports/scifi
        ftp.sunet.se:/pub/pictures/tv.film/Prisoner
        nic.funet.fi:/pub/pics/tv+film/ThePrisoner
    dworkin.wustl.edu:/dist/prisoner  (fonts)
        (Note: Log in as "pictures" instead of "anonymous".)

    [Contributions to this list are, of course, welcome.  - Pat]

    Liam Relihan has a collection of Prisoner material available
    via the World Wide Web.  The URL for it is:
    http://itdsrv1.ul.ie/Entertainment/Prisoner/the-prisoner.html

    Bengt Dahlqvist also has a WWW page for _The Prisoner_.  Its URL
    is http://www.ling.uu.se/~bengt/tp.html

    Victor Volkman runs a BBS with a number of Prisoner items in
    directory #23.  The BBS can be reached at 313-663-4173 and
    313-663-3959.


 9: What _Prisoner_ material can I find in the real world?

    Books
    -----

    The Prisoner:         Alain Carraze and Helene Oswald (Virgin
    A Televisionary       Books, 1989)
    Masterpiece           Contains many great color and B&W stills
                          from the series, including behind-the-scenes
                          shots.  Originally published in French.

    The Prisoner and      Dave Rogers (Boxtree Books, 1989)
    Danger Man            Contains episode synopses from both series.

    The Official          Matthew White and Jaffer Ali (Warner Books,
    Prisoner Companion    1988)
                          ISBN: 0-446-38744-4

    The Prisoner          Thomas M. Disch (N.Y. Ace Publishing, 1970)
                          (Dobson Books, 1980)
                          ISBN: 0-450-04543-9

    Who Is Number Two?    David McDaniel (N.Y. Ace Books, 1969)
                          (Dobson Books, 1981)
                          ISBN: 0-450-05287-7

    The Prisoner:         Hank Stine (N.Y. Ace Publishing, 1970)
    A Day In The Life     (Dobson Books, 1979)
                          ISBN: 0-450-05106-4

    The Prisoner          Four part comic book sequel to the tv series
    (Graphic novels)      by Dean Mottter (DC Comics 1988-1989)
                          Highly recommended reading.

                          Book A - A(r)rival
                          Book B - By hook or by crook
                          Book C - Confrontation
                          Book D - Departure

                          These may also be found as a single volume
                          called "Shattered Visage".

    The Prisoner Puzzle   A detailed Canadian educational text from
                          the 70's, which included interviews with
                          Patrick McGoohan.  Considered a valued
                          resource; probably out of print now.


    Videos
    ------

    The 17 episodes are available on video tape and laser disk; check
    your local video store.  There are also three "special" videos:
    "The Prisoner Companion", "The Best of the Prisoner", and "The
    Chimes of Big Ben" (alternate version).  There was once an
    alternate version of "Arrival"; Six of One has an acoustically
    taped version of it, but no video copy is known to exist.

    For about $20 each, any of the tapes may be ordered from:

        Movies Unlimited
        6736 Castor Avenue
        Philadelphia, PA  19149-2184
        Order: [phone]
        Service: [phone]

        MPI Home Video
        ???
        Oak Forest, IL ?????-?????
        [phone]
        (Catalog numbers MP1984 to MP2000; alternate "Chimes" MP1384)


    Steven Ricks (a Six of One member) has produced an 8-volume video
    documentary called "The Prisoner in Depth".  It has received rave
    reviews by the alt.tv.prisoner readership.  However, he is only
    authorized to sell the videos to Six of One members, and he
    probably only has them in PAL format.  He can be contacted at:

        Steven Ricks
        25 Lion Court
        Well End
        Borehamwood
        Herts
        WD6 5NJ
        UK

    The laser discs breifly came back into production in the U.S.  The
    first (and only) new disc is MPI catalog number CLV1984, ISBN
    1-56278-796-9, UPC 0 30306-1984-6 0.  It contains the episodes
    "Arrival" and "The Chimes of Big Ben".  The quality of "Chimes" is
    reportedly better than that of earlier laser disc releases; that
    of "Arrival" is reportedly worse (due to lost master tapes?).

    Unfortunately, due to low sales on Disc 1, no further discs in the
    series will be produced.  [Anyone have information on the Japanese
    imports?  - Pat]



    Miscellany
    ----------

    The Mini-Moke toy (the "Taxi" seen in the series) was available
    during the time of original broadcast, and is now considered a
    serious collectors' item.  The Six of One organization has
    obtained at least one of the two real vehicles that were used in
    the series.  Also available at that time were _Prisoner_ watches
    (with the penny farthing symbol on the face).  Both of these are
    no longer available.

    Caterham Cars sells a metal miniature model of the Super Seven for
    about $40 (It's about 3 inches long).  A Japanese firm sells a
    plastic version for slightly less:

        Model Kits:

        Lotus Super Seven Series II     Tamiya
        1500 Cosworth                   Model Rectifier Corporation
        (Scale 1:24)                    Edison, New Jersey, USA 08817
                                        Kit No. 2446A


        Lotus Super Seven               Wills Finecast
        Sports Racing Car               Lower Road, Forest Row
        (Scale 1:24)                    Sussex, RH18 5HE, UK
                                        Kit No. 007


    There are presently three CDs of Prisoner music.  Six of One is
    the "official" source for them, but you can obtain them through
    the publisher and elsewhere.  They are imports, marketed by:

        Silva Screen Records Ltd, Silva House
        261 Royal College Street
        London NW1 9LU, UK

    The catalog numbers (?) are "FILMCD042", "FILMCD084", "FILMCD126".

    Photos, badges, maps, postcards, and CD soundtracks are available
    through the Six of One shop located at the Hotel Portmeirion.
    Most of the items available from the Six of One shop are also
    available through mail order through:

        The Prisoner Mail Order Service
        20 Barrs Street
        Langley
        Warley
        West Midlands
        B68 8QU
        UK

    Once Upon A Time has a number of Prisoner-related literary
    materials which it sells to non-members.  For more information,
    contact them directly through the address above.

    Some items the U.S. viewers see as novel collectables (such as the
    telephones) are (or were) fairly common items in the U.K. and were
    not specific to _The Prisoner_.

    There was an adventure game during the late 70's for Atari and
    Apple computers, called "The Prisoner".  It was made by
    "Edu-Ware", and was loosely based on the show.

    There is a _Prisoner_ sourcebook for the GURPS role-playing system
    by Steve Jackson Games.


10: What is that font?

    The font used in _The Prisoner_ is a modified form of "Albertus"
    (dots removed from "i" and "j", loop of "e" opened).

    Albertus is available from Monotype in Postscript Type 1 format,
    in their Headliners 6 type set.  The complete font set is
    expensive; but Albertus Roman is available separately from
    Monotype Imprints (a division of Monotype), distributed by
    Letraset.  The cost is around $40.  Call 1-800-MONOTYPE for more
    information.

    It is also one of the standard fonts on the CorelDraw 4 CDs, and
    it is a built-in printer font on the HP DeskJet 1200C (and
    presumably other DeskJets).

    Albertus is also available in from Image Club Graphics, Inc. (see
    Personal Publishing magazine).  The cost is $75 for 3 styles:
    normal, bold, and black.  Postscript format.  Suite 5, 1902 11th
    Street SE, Calgary AB Canada T2G 3G2; 403-262-8008.

    There are two freeware Albertus derivatives, both of which have
    been modified Prisoner-style.  One is by Glenn Fleishman and is
    called "Furioso"; the other is by Mark Heiman and is called
    "Village".  Both are available via anonymous FTP from
    dworkin.wustl.edu:/dist/prisoner.


11: What shows/music/movies refer to _The Prisoner_?

    The creator and writers of the Sci-Fi television series "Babylon
    5" are Prisoner fans, and many episodes contain direct or indirect
    references to _The Prisoner_.

    The CD single "The Prisoner" by F.A.B. ("featuring M.C. No. 6").
    From Telstar records, serial number TCD2430.

    The album "Prisoner" by David Shea contains samples from the
    series throughout.

    Mark Burgess, originally of The Chameleons, then of The Sun and
    the Moon, and presently of Mark Burgess and the Sons of God, is a
    big fan.  Consequently, Prisoner references have crept into
    several songs.  The (rare) album "Tony Fletcher Walked on Water"
    by The Chameleons includes a song called "Free for All".  The
    first album of The Sun and the Moon (self-titled) and their album
    "Alive; Not Dead" include sound bites.

    The album "Digital Dump" by The Jack Officers (1990 Rough Trade)
    has a song called "#6" with sound samples from the series.

    The album "The Prisoner" by Howard Jones (1989); also included a
    song called "The Portmeirion Mix".  [Can anyone confirm this?]

    Music video "See Those Eyes" by Altered Images was filmed in
    Portmeirion and features prisoner costumes, Rover, etc.

    The song "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape" by The Times.  This
    group also has songs called "The Chimes of Big Ben" and "Danger
    Man Theme".  (Good luck finding these.  As a last resort, try
    writing to Creation Records, 83 Clerkenwell Rd., London EC1,
    UK)

    The songs "Back in the Village" (on the album "Powerslave") and "The
    Prisoner" (on the album "The Number of the Beast"), both by Iron
    Maiden.

    The song "Big Science" (on album of same name) by Laurie Anderson
    includes lyrics from "Secret Agent".

    "Information" by Toenut, on a 7" single put out by Half-baked
    Records.  Write to 1309 Stillwood Dr., Atlanta, GA 30306, or
    contact Toenut directly at [e-mail].

    A Siouxsie and the Banshees video clip for their cover of
    "Passenger" is entirely based on _The Prisoner_.

    The song "Just Give 'Em Whiskey" (on the 1985 album of the same
    name) by Colourbox includes clips from the series.

    The Clash have released a song called "The Prisoner" on the B side
    of "White Man in Hammersmith Palais" (1978).


12: In what shows and movies has Patrick McGoohan appeared?

    (Random trivia: McGoohan was offered the original role of James
    Bond before Sean Connery was.)

    Films:      The Dam Busters 1954
                The Dark Avenger (aka "The Warrior") 1955
                Passage Home 1954 (McGoohan's first film role)
                I Am a Camera 1955
                Zarak 1956
                High Tide at Noon 1956
                Hell Drivers 1958
                The Gypsy and the Gentleman 1958
                Nor the Moon by Night (aka "Elephant Gun") 1958
                All Night Long 1961
                Two Living, One Dead 1961
                Life for Ruth (aka "Walk in the Shadow") 1962
                The Three Lives of Thomasina 1963
                Dr.Syn, Alias the Scarecrow 1963
                The Quare Fellow 1962
                Ice Station Zebra 1967
                The Moonshine War 1970
                Mary Queen of Scots 1971
                The Genius (aka "Un Genio, Due Compari e Un Pollo") 1975
                Silver Streak 1976
                Trespasses (aka "Finding Katie") 1983
                Brass Target 1979
                Escape from Alcatraz 1979
                Scanners 1980
                Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend 1985
                Kings and Desperate Men 1978

    TV movies:  Koroshi 1966
                The Man in the Iron Mask 1976
                The Hard Way 1980
                Three Sovereigns for Sarah 1985
                Jamaica Inn 1982
                Of Pure Blood 1986

    TV Series:  Secret Agent (aka "Danger Man")
                The Prisoner
                Rafferty (1977)

    Other Series:
                Appeared in at least 3 episodes of Columbo:
                        "By Dawn's Early Light" (1974; won an Emmy)
                        "Identity Crisis" (1975; McGoohan plays a spy)
                        "Agenda for Murder" (1989/1990; won an Emmy)
                (also directed "Last Salute to the Commodore")
                Appeared in an episode of Murder She Wrote
                Hosted TV movie Trilogy of Terror

                The Vise (1953), episode "Gift from Heaven"
                You are There (1954), episode "The Fall of Parnell"
                The Makepeace Sage (1956), episode "Ruthless Destiny"
                Armchair Theater (1964), play "The Man Out There"
                Play of the Week (1964), play "Sargent Musgrave's Dance"

    TV Plays:   All My Sons 1955
                Disturbance 1957
                The Little World 1957
                The Third Miracle 1957
                Rest in Violence 1958
                This Day in Fear 1958
                The Iron Harp 1959
                Terminus Number One 1959
                Brand 1959
                The Greatest Man in the World 1959
                The Big Knife 1959
                A Dead Secret 1961
                The Prisoner 1962 (NOT related to the later series!)
                Shadow of a Pale Horse 1962

    Theater:
                PM has acted a great deal in theater. Some outstanding
                examples of his work are:

                Serious Charge (Garrick Theatre, London, 1954)
                Moby Dick (Orson Welles's production, 1955)
                Brand (Lyric Opera House, Hammersmith, 1959)


13: Do we ever find out...
        ...the name of the big white ball?
        ...the Prisoner's real name?
        ...where the Village is located?
        ...whether the Prisoner escapes?
        ...who is Number One?
        ...which side runs the Village?

    Yes, no, in the Village, questions are a burden, you are Number
    Six, and that would be telling, respectively.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
        _________
       |         |
 _o_  _| ___=___ |_  _o_
/`-'\( )         ( )/`-'\
|   |-|  ___@___  |-|   |
|   | | (-+-+-+-) | |   |
|   |--\_KAR120C_/--|   |
`---'               `---'

(Thanks to Flemming Larsen for the Lotus picture)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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(Thanks to Jason Lee Smith for the Penny Farthing picture)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

CREDITS
-------

    Keith G. Barrett <ponds!aminet![e-mail]> wrote the
    original FAQ, and much of the material here is his work.

    The following people have made significant contributions to this
    document:

    Christopher Cook <[e-mail]>
    Flemming Larsen <[e-mail]>
    Angus Marshall <[e-mail]>
    mathew <[e-mail]>

    Other contributors include:

    James Amundson <[e-mail]>
    Keith A Baird <[e-mail]>
    Cindy Bell <[e-mail]>
    Chris Bergstresser <[e-mail]>
    Jean-Marc F. Blanchard <[e-mail]>
    Jesse Carliner <[e-mail]>
    Gio Ciampa <[e-mail]>
    didier <[e-mail]>
    Peter Dunn <[e-mail]>
    Geoff G. <[e-mail]>
    Glenn Fleishman <[e-mail]>
    Rob Jenson <[e-mail]>
    Michael Johnston <[e-mail]>
    Mark Heiman <[e-mail]>
    Alasdair Howat <[e-mail]>
    Yoav Gershon <[e-mail]>
    Gilles Goullet <[e-mail]>
    Steve Gutteridge <[e-mail]>
    Mark F. Heiman <[e-mail]>
    Oliver King <[e-mail]>
    Mike Khaw <[e-mail]>
    F.W. Laughton <[e-mail]>
    Malcolm Lee <[e-mail]>
    Peter J.M. Lucas <[e-mail]>
    David Moisan <[e-mail]>
    Granville Moore <[e-mail]>
    John 'Cheshire' Parker <[e-mail]>
    J.J. Pierson <[e-mail]>
    Kjell Post <[e-mail]>
    Nick Rayne <[e-mail]>
    Liam Relihan <[e-mail]>
    Scott Rogers <[e-mail]>
    Rosemary6 <[e-mail]>
    Stephen Rushe <[e-mail]>
    Mike Shawaluk <[e-mail]>
    Bill Shorter <[e-mail]>
    Ed Wakabayashi <[e-mail]>
    Juergen Weinelt <[e-mail]>
    PierceT WetterIII <[e-mail]>
    Curt Wiederhoeft <[e-mail]>
    Trevor Wright <[e-mail]>