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'The Prisoner'Free Man (he is not a number) - [1967]Baby-BiographyIn the mid-1960s, George Markstein - a novelist who had previously worked for the secret services - claims knowledge of 'rest homes' in which retired spies live beyond the reach of their enemies. He develops the concept into one of a spy being imprisoned in such a home against his will. Markstein suggests the idea to actor Patrick McGoohan who agrees to back the project, seeing it as a means to get involved in production and direction and, above all, as a means to express his ideas on freedom, progress and individualism. McGoohan meets Lew Grade, director of I.T.C., to discuss the project. On studying a treatment, script outlines, location photographs and budget details, Grade admits to not really understanding the story but, trusting his renowned business intuition, he agrees to finance the series. Production of 'The Prisoner' begins with McGoohan at the helm taking the lead role and overseeing every aspect of series' creation. Seventeen episodes of 'The Prisoner' are recorded. McGoohan portrays a man who, having resigned from a top secret position, is abducted from his London home and brought to 'The Village' (filmed at Portmeirion in Wales). All occupants of The Village are known by their allocated number - The Prisoner is Number Six; the chief administrator of the village is Number Two. Each episode of 'The Prisoner' centres on the attempts by Number Six to restore his freedom and identity, whilst 'the new' Number Two (a different actor/actress in each programme) seeks from him information: "Why did you resign?". The seventeenth and final episode, written by McGoohan, provokes a flood of complaints from outraged viewers, dissatisfied with a conclusion - including the revelation of 'Number One' - based on unorthodox symbolism rather than clear explanation. McGoohan flees Britain until the scandal subsides. In 1968, the series leads to more controversy when shown in America. The episode 'Living In Harmony' - in which The Prisoner determines not to carry weapons - is not shown, being at odds with C.B.S. Network policy. Phespirit's Hero'The Prisoner' is Phespirit's hero for defying all classification, both within the vehicle of his television series and within the wider circle of contemporary film and television action heroes. He is the strongest and most vulnerable of men trapped within his own surreal microcosm which, in itself, is an abstract impression of the world as a whole. He is a uniquely challenging figure in implying that every person is their own prisoner; that everyone creates their own Village. Though many vehicles for paranoia and conspiracy theory have followed, 'The Prisoner' remains alone in placing each individual at the centre of responsibility for their own predicament.
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