The collected legendary cult TV series starring Patrick McGoohan. The Prisoner centres on a British Intelligence agent (McGoohan) who is kidnapped from his London home and taken to a strange island village, where he's subjected to a brainwashing programme by an unseen foe. His new identity as 'Number Six' is confusing at first, giving way to anger and frustration along with a great desire to get away. Various agents of the mysterious regime that run this island, invariably called 'Number Two' seem intent on finding out why he resigned his covert post in the intelligence service. Number Six gamely attempts to resist the brainwashing of the omnipresent yet unseen 'Number One' whose voice booms at him from every corner of the village and whose eye appears to see all. Number Six's futile attempts at escape only intensify the sensory barrage (including hypnosis, hallucinogenic drug experiences, identity theft, mind control and dream manipulation) of Number One. The series was filmed on location in the rather spooky grounds of Clough Williams-Ellis' Italianate Hotel Portmeirion in North Wales.
To celebrate the series’ fortieth anniversary this definitive box set contains all seventeen episodes (newly restored from the original film elements with new Dolby 5.1 soundtracks).
SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:
Don’t Knock Yourself Out
This exclusive, feature-length documentary is the definitive look at the production of The Prisoner, told by those involved in its creation. It includes a combination of archive and newly-filmed interviews with nearly 40 people, including Annette Andre, Bernard Williams, David Tomblin, Derren Nesbitt, Peter Wyngarde, Anton Rodgers, Michael Grade, George Baker and Peter Bowles.
Audio Commentaries
• Audio Commentary on Arrival with Bernie Williams and Tony Sloman
• Audio Commentary on The Chimes of Big Ben with Vincent Tilsley
• Audio Commentary on The Schizoid Man with Pat Jackson
• Audio Commentary on The General with Peter Graham Scott
• Audio Commentary on Dance of the Dead with Bernie Williams, Tony Sloman and John S. Smith
• Audio Commentary on A Change of Mind with Roger Parkes
• Audio Commentary on Fall Out with Eric Mival and Noreen Ackland
Arrival and The Chimes of Big Ben - Original Edits
Long thought only to exist in a low-quality format, the original edit of Arrival is presented here as a brand new digital restoration from the original 35mm film elements, along with a music-only soundtrack featuring Wilfred Josephs’ complete and abandoned score. This version is exclusive to this set. Also included is the previously-available original edit of The Chimes of Big Ben - viewers will note a drop in the technical quality of this episode.
Arrival Original Edit Restoration
A featurette using split-screen to demonstrate the scale of restoration required for this episode.
Trailers
Digitally restored trailers for all seventeen episodes and two generic trailers.
Production Guide
An exclusive book on the making of the series by Andrew Pixley.
Behind-the-Scenes footage
This unique footage, taken on location at Portmerion, shows a number of aspects of behind-the-scenes production, including the only known footage to exist of the original, abandoned Rover prototype. Also includes recently discovered, previously-unseen footage. From the collection of and (c) Steven Ricks.
Production Paperwork Archive
Original scripts for each episode are included on Discs 1-6 and Disc 7 contains some original production documentation, press releases and other memorabilia. The scripts make fascinating reading and include different versions of some shooting scripts, as well as revisions and some unused storylines. This unique collection is sourced from the personal archives of Tony Sloman, Steven Ricks and Simon Coward and is reproduced with their permission and assistance.
Image Archive
Individual galleries of over 1200 stills are featured throughout this set, with episodic ones appearing on Discs 1-6 and Disc 7 featuring generic/PR photos, coverage of the original Press Conference in 1967 and Jack Shampan’s designs. Also included on Disc 6, courtesy of the Steven Ricks collection is a series of Exposure Strips produced originally by the film labs when prepping rushes. As well as showing a number of clapperboards and other key items of interest they also detail the filming of some scenes that aren’t included in the final episodes.
Dolby 5.1 Audio Mix
Each of the seventeen episodes has the option to be listened to in either original Mono or Dolby 5.1 (where the original mono materials have been used to best effect).
Commercial Break Bumpers
Archive Material
Archive Material which includes textless titles with clean themes by Ron Grainer, Wilfred Josephs and Robert Farnon, as well as material from Living in Harmony, Fall Out, Rover, foreign Filing Cabinet title footage and the McGoohan photo montage from Arrival
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