More Episode Trivia
The original British episode order is shown below, but the order was different in the U.S. and the rest of the world, the reason being that some episodes were delivered later than expected for the first showing in Britain and had to be put back slightly. The order for the U.S. and rest of the world was (UK order in brackets):
- Arrival (1)
- The Chimes of Big Ben (2)
- A, B and C (3)
- Free For All (4)
- The Schizoid Man (5)
- The General (6)
- Many Happy Returns (7)
- Dance of The Dead (8)
- Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling (13)
- Its Your Funeral (11)
- Checkmate (9)
- Living in Harmony (14)
- A Change of Mind (12)
- Hammer into Anvil (10)
- The Girl Who Was Death (15)
- Once Upon A Time (16)
- Fall Out (17)
Patrick McGoohan's own date of birth is announced by him on screen: 4:31am, 19th of March 1928.
An alternative episode is in existence which is actually thought to have been the original version used for publicity in 1967, but this has never been shown since.
Filming for Arrival commenced in September 1966 alongside Free For All in Portmeirion. McGoohan had earlier visited Portmeirion whilst filming Danger Man.
The game of chess plays a large role in the series as a whole and in various forms, it is first used here, its symbolic meaning is touched upon early on when the ex-admiral says to the woman helping Number 6 escape that "we're all pawns".
Although scenes for the episode were shot in Portmeirion very little village footage appears in the final cut, most of the action happens in studio sets.
'Chimes' is usually shown 2nd in the series running order, the ITC catalogue order for chimes was 5th.
Non-alcoholic whisky is 24 work units and non-alcoholic vodka is 16 work units.
An alternative version of this episode exists,
the end credits close with the word 'Pop!', we also see a scene in
which Number 6 uses a device called a 'Triquetrum', a make-shift
device which is used to calculate your whereabouts using the location
of the stars. The opening sequence is different to that in any of the
other episodes and the title music is different, a rather slower,
less forceful theme, composed by Wilfred Josephs.
A, B and C was just one of script-writer Anthony Skene's three stories for the series, the others being Many Happy Returns and Dance of The Dead, the only person apart from McGoohan to do so.
The episode was filmed entirely in the studio apart from a few stock shots. Several of the buildings are seen again in later episodes. The French street appears again in The Girl Who Was Death as the deserted town of Witchwood.
Number 2 actor Colin Gordon drinks an awful lot of milk in this episode and The General.
This episode is known to
be one of Patrick McGoohan's favourites and is very
popular with Prisoner fans
generally. When the episode was first shown in the UK the fight
sequence where Number 6 is badly beaten in front of some rather
odd-looking Rover worshippers. The scene is now included in most
broadcasts and is shown in the video edition. The actual reason for
worshipping Rover is never explained and is never shown again in the
show!
Another studio based episode! 'Rover' appears twice in
this episode and is called by that name for the first and last time
in the series.
Frank Maher (Patrick McGoohan's stunt man) appears extensively in this episode but receives no screen credit.
Number 6 is caught out in this episode by the same method of questioning he used to catch-out 'B' in A, B and C.
Joshua
Adam (the episode's writer) is the pen-name of Lewis Greifer.
The basic interior set that was used as Number 2's Green Dome 'office' also doubled as the Council Chamber, the Control Room, the Labour Exchange and The Laboratory in A, B and C.
Number 6 finds one of a few allies from the Village in the form of Number 12.
One aspect that dates this episode in terms of technology is The General itself, being a large computer that takes up a whole room, made on the same specification today it would surely fit into a briefcase.
ITC lists this episode as the 2nd in their order.
The birthday cake given to Number 6 at the end has 'Six' candles on it!
The opening sequence where Number 2 is shown at the start of the episode is hidden this time, obviously due to the fact that Mrs Butterworth is really Number 2, although the voice used at the voice-over is male!
The actual location of the Village appears to be settled in this episode. Following Number 6's calculations the location is worked out to be west of Morocco and south-west of Portugal and Spain. Although fans know that the Village is located in North Wales!
Several interesting costumes are worn by the cast in the carnival scenes, Number 6 wears a suit, looking a lot like John Drake from Danger Man. Norma West, the Observor is dressed as Little Bo-Peep, the doctor as Napoleon, Dutton as a court jester. Mary Morris playing Number 2 was dressed as Peter Pan, had Trevor Howard, the actor originally chosen to play the part, appeared he would have been dressed as Jack The Ripper.
Anthony Skene, the writer, admitted to having been influenced by the film work of Jean Cocteau.
The photograph in the dead man's wallet shows a couple seated by the pool in Portmeirion!
The
original working title of 'Checkmate' was 'The Queen's Pawn'.
Number 2 is shown meditating in one scene and then comes out of his trance to split a plank of wood with his bare hands. The script of the episode calls for Number 2 to be in a meditative trance but not for the martial arts. We can only conclude that this was improvised on the set.
The 'Kosho' game makes its first appearance in the show and is typically bizarre!
The original script calls for Number 6 to visit the grave of Number 73 at the end of the episode. This was removed from the final episode.
This is the first episode since A, B and C that Number 6 'gets one over' on the Village authorities.
Number 6 shows what is
possibly his only major weakness throughout the series, his
eagerness to assist women in
distress. Although he never seems to show this as his attraction to
women, moreover in his willingness to be the one helping a damsel in
distress!
This episode shows the power struggle within the Village authorities and that it is more than just a case of 'them' against Number 6. The old Number 2 is understandably distressed at the thought of being assassinated!
This episode proves to be one of the most downbeat of the whole series, it shows the society of the Village as one oppresive throng. It touches on many of the means used by the real-world authorities to suppress mental patient's emotions - people are strapped in chairs, isolated in rooms, injected with controlling drugs and even lobotomised!
Number 6 makes no attempt to escape in this episode, we almost believe he has succomb to the mind control, but as soon as his suspicions are roused we realise it will not be long before the tables are turned.
13. Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling!
The envelope that Herr
Seltzman keeps contains the address of Portmeirion road! I was also
written in McGoohan's own handwriting.
McGoohan's role as Number 6 was hastily re-written for Nigel Stock as he was in the United States making Ice Station Zebra.
This is the one episode in which we actually witness Number 6 kissing a woman, albeit from within another man's body! There were kissing scenes written into the episodes The Chimes of Big Ben and Many Happy Returns. Patrick McGoohan said these scenes were left out to ensure the series was wholesome, family entertainment. Other co-stars have mentioned that McGoohan was never comfortable with physical intimacy on the set which may truly explain their exclusion.
Frank Maher (McGoohan's stunt double) received
his first Prisoner screen credit in this episode as 'Third
Gunma'.
Living In Harmony doesn't feature any opening title sequence.
When this episode was first broadcast in America it was banned due to Number 6's refusal to wear guns! It was seen as too sensitive a show to screen at the time because of the Vietnam war.
The lynching scene and Kathy's murder were cut when the episode was first aired in the U.K.
Alexis Kanner makes a cameo appearance in this episode as a fashion photographer.
The amusement park seen in some sequences is 'The Kursaal' at Southend on Sea, Essex, England.
The hanging signs in the deserted Witchwood bear the names of crew members: Brendan (Stafford) Bull the butcher, David (Tomblin) Dough the baker and Len (Stafford) Snuffit the candle-stick maker!
This episode is one of our favourites as its just like a mini spy movie with a good helping of humour.
The drinks that Number 6 orders as an antidote to the poison he drinks in the pub are (in the correct order): brandy, whiskey, vodka, Drambuie, Tia Maria, Cointreau and Grand Marnier. We wouldn't recommend anyone tries this!
This episode is one of the most baffling in the series. It was originally scheduled to be the final episode of the first group of thirteen, but when it was decided there would only be seventeen in total, Once Upon A Time was ear-marked as the penultimate episode.
This episode provides the most direct answer yet to the question 'Why did you resign?' After an exhaustive interrogation he simply says "I resigned for peace of mind."
The sale board outside Number 6's home bears the set dresser, John Lageu's name.
The Number 1 chamber was seen previously in The Girl Who Was Death and Alexis Kanner makes his final, most memorable appearance in The Prisoner as Number 48.
The
opening titles for this episode include a fly-over The Village, which
is now revealed on screen to be "In the grounds of The Hotel
Portmeirion, Penrhyndeudraeth, North Wales, by courtesy of Mr. Clough
Williams-Ellis." Williams-Ellis was the owner and architect of this
magnificent place and he allowed filming to take place on condition
that no publicity be given out while the series was being filmed. It
was also said that this eccentric gent would follow the crew about
and clear up after them.
In McGoohan's original script he noted that the jukeboxes blared forth a "wailing cacophony" of sound. The songs he noted for possible use in this scene were "All You Need Is Love", "Little Boxes", Toot-Toot-Tootsie Goodbye", "Hello, Dolly", and "Yellow Submarine". In the end he just used The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love". Most songs date a show when watched years later, but The Beatles remain as popular today and so does The Prisoner.