A, B and C | The Prisoner Review

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Join us for more rambling at our KZbin channel www.youtube.com/@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth/videos

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Apologies for the new upload and links. The video was deemed fine for two days, then an hour before schedule, KZbin decided 3 seconds worth was copyright....so I had to edit that out, render it, compress it through Handbrake, re-upload, add description, tags etc. then change all the links across numerous other social-media sites to this new 'edit'. Yet, 'reaction' channels who simply show the full film or song can get away with that and make money from it....stroll on....

[@PhilBaird1]

Another superb analysis Luke. Thankyou so much. They truly don't make anything of this quality anymore. The depth of this episode is still stunning. I don't think I've ever seen anything as intelligent as The Prisoner. Every aspect of it was the best it could've been: conception; production; acting; direction; editing; set design; the wonderful prologue...the whole thing. You've just reminded us. I'm looking forward to your next one.

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Thank you Phil, greatly appreciated. Yes The Prisoner was defintely McGoohan's 'Sgt Pepper' moment and thanks to Lew Grade too for having some balls and giving Pat cart blanche to create his vision.

[@PhilBaird1]

@@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth It could so easily have been an expensive '60s car crash that dated badly. Who knew at the time that it was a masterpiece ? You're right to credit Lew Grade for sticking with the project. Probably couldn't be made today...

[@pr1mu]

The Blu Ray boxed set is very high quality and worth a look - upgraded from DVD and glad I did.

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Did you get the blue DVD box...a bit steep at £100 or so. I bought the VHS when they became available and then the 6 disc with all the extras on. I already have the Danger Man stuff, so I may buy the blue box set when it comes down in price...or Ebay haha.

[@herrflick1244]

Brilliant, looking forwards to the next one😊

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Danke Herr Flick. Greatly appreciated.

[@Ralphs-House]

I think it was established years ago that the reason Number 2 drank milk was because he had stomach ulcers, indicative of the stress he was under to deliver.

[@lukepepper7580]

We're now trying to be told milk is bad for us....anything to hurt the farmers, until Gates buys all the land for his own means.

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Thank you for reminding me! I was looking at the allegory and trying to link something with 'mother's milk' and comfort...then remembered it was cow's milk....was his mother a cow? haha.

[@stephenholmes1036]

Colin Gordon was No2 twice and was a very interesting one, In someway's the most human, Though ruthless as he threatens No 14 with mind altering drugs.

[@pauldenby878]

Fantastic - thank you!

[@davidbarton5438]

So far ahead of its time and still is 60s is my era

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

I was a teen in soviCuba. this was daily.

[@kali3665]

I have always maintained that AB&C and The General aired in the wrong order, whether we are talking the BBC order or the A&E order. AB&C is always aired BEFORE The General, and I never thought that was the logical order for one specific reason: AB&C was an unmitigated failure for this Number 2, and it does not make sense that he would THEN be assigned to The General project. As the Leo McKern Number 2 noted to Number 6 in Chimes of Big Ben, the Village was intended to serve as a microcosm of broken former agents that the Village's masters would perform certain experiments on that, if successful, would then be expanded to the outside world. The General is the one episode that does NOT focus on indoctrinating or breaking Number 6, and presumably is the sole example of the Village's original purpose. The General project is an obvious MK Ultra-type experiment in mind control that was being tested in the Village -- fully in character with what we know of the Village -- which means it almost certainly was on the table long before Number 6 was brought in. Airing AB&C first makes no sense because it WAS such a complete failure. It didn't take long for Number 6 to not only figure out the plot but also figure out a way to turn it against Number 2. Throughout AB&C, we see Number 2's fear of his masters, knowing one failure will mean his removal or worse. Why would Number 2 THEN be assigned to the General? Reversing the order works so much better. Number 2 would have been brought in originally to monitor the General project, and it's unlikely that the Village's masters would blame Number 2 for its inevitable failure. Number 6 simply employed common sense, and anyone realistically could have pointed out the same flaw. That it WAS Number 6 very likely would not be held against Number 2, and so it follows that he would afterwards be assigned to one of the many attempts to break Number 6. It also makes sense that both The General and AB&C focus on mental manipulation - first of the Villagers themselves, and then directly on Number 6. These are the first real attempts of the series to use mental manipulation, so it would be a logical shift in focus between episodes. And the failure of The General and Number 2's reassignment would come with a very strong caveat: Number 2 HAS to make AB&C work, or the punishment would be extreme. So, it makes sense that Number 2 would be very nervous during AB&C - if he fails again, he knows what will come next. Of course, the primary focus of the Village would quickly shift solely to breaking Number 6 following this double failure. The Village's masters know the value of Number 6, and if they can convert him, it would make all the failures worthwhile. We naturally know the ultimate conclusion of THAT. Or do we? What do you think?

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Great thoughts and comments. Good to discuss as well. One point though, the dreaded BBC didn't have anything to do with the Prisoner. It was ITC/ ITV. They were/are the 'Independent Television Company' and hosted Independents across the nation.

[@kali3665]

@@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth Thanks for the correction.

[@archstanton3763]

Absolutely fantastic presentation, throughly enjoyed it. Thank you !

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Thank you very much. Greatly appreciated. Hopefully they'll be better by....Fall Out! haha

[@archstanton3763]

@ I’ve been a subscriber for quite some time and very much enjoy your work. There was a time when few seemingly enjoyed The Prisoner or appreciated Patrick McGoohan. Funny how ‘ real ‘ life has finally caught up with art. Looking forward to more of your videos !

[@Terry.W]

P M was very fussy and had a single minded idea of what he wanted...this episode is a real head trip ...but I love it when #6 turns the tables on #2...this is why the Prisoner is so rewatchable..

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Thank you Terry for viewing. Greatly appreciated.

[@starfish370]

In the episode you mentioned 'slubberdegullion'...I haven't heard this word for ages, thanks for refreshing my memory!😊

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Nice to know someone else knows. Thank you for viewing, greatly appreciated.

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

Thanks!

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Thank you so much for your generous gift. Greatly appreciated

[@roboi2241]

Looked like Eric Clapton in the audience when Mike Smith was interviewing Patrick McGoohan at 18.35.

[@StevieZala]

Nice one lads, another great video. Ta 😊

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Bippy55]

Jan 2025 - Thank you for this video. May we all retain and appreciate our own independence and personality. I respect this series tremendously. “Be Seeing You.”

[@jayducharme]

Beautiful analysis.

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

Thank you kindly and greatly appreciated.

[@Merylstreep1949]

Yeah good point on everything food and drink possibly being laced Scary stuff

[@gilramirez1373]

We're all on parole in someway, another......

[@Merylstreep1949]

I thought it was cool how Number 6 was the main focus of the entire series Kinda a common place idea now but in 1967, especially since in America that the Prisoner was the summer replacement for The Jackie Gleason Show, 60s audiences must have been blown away, at least those who understood the non conventional

[@markbusby9709]

Thank you again, did any of the "Prisoner" series ever be filmed at Pinewood ? personel interest, family worked there !

[@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth]

I don't think so pal. I can't find anything Pinewood related and, that also may be to do with studio contracts i.e. those big studios were in competition with each other for trade, so deals usually happened for certain companies. I'd be interested to know what things your family member/s worked on. Thanks and best wishes.

[@markbusby9709]

@@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth Hi Thanks for reply, family members are from Ruislip, so not far from Pinewood, im afraid not production side, set carpenter (and apprenticed served at Pinewood), my Dad when he retired was offerd a part time job at Pinewood for staff barber ! (He owned a shop in Ruislip for 40 years) this was around 77/78, when Pinewood had there own staff, untill the massive change that ousted "the family" to contract/re self employed ! My Dad did cut the hair of some "stars" Niven, Connery, amounst others, it was a happy atmosphere, I was invited a few times to see some of the sets, bond, superman, superwoman, fasinating ! to see behind the scenes, late 70's pinewood still had the "carry on "look about it, lovely place, all changed now sadly ! I have had an my own stint at studio life only for a short period, Longcross studios, virginia water, surrey, worked on "locations" for re make of "clash of the titans" , I had a great insite to the inner workings of film life, first unit, second unit, how it knits together, very clever, very talented people, making something out of nothing, So my interest in the "Prisoner" is more for me as a child visiting Wales when I was 10 in 66, an impact that never leaves "you", very lucky to expirence Mcgoohan's talent at a young age, thanks for asking, keep the vid's coming if you can...cheers Mark

[@Merylstreep1949]

I always thought 2 was on the phone with Number One

[@gilramirez1373]

On the Dot.....

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

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