I thought I would start with a classic. The first episode of The Prisoner starring Patrick McGoohan first transmitted in the UK September 1967, and what most have British viewers thought? McGoohan had achieved enormous international success with another ITC series, Danger Man, and was well known to TV viewers at the time, so what really surprised me is how The Prisoner is so uncompromising - its just doesn't play safe.
For example, the show begins with an extended version of what will later become the main title sequence; McGoohan driving his sports car (a Stan Lee No-prize for anyone who can give me the registration no.), bursting into an underground complex, banging his fist on a table and storming out. He drives back to his flat and begins to pack a suitcase. Two undertakers put a gas pipe through his front-door, McGoohan's character collapes, and he wakes up in the mysterious village. There is no dialogue until 4 minutes into the show, no explanation to tell the viewer what is happening, and we still don't know the name of McGoohan's character (we never get to know his name).
What I love about this first episode is all the incidental detail, from the costumes (blazers, straw hats, undertakers, deck shoes) to the whimsical, jazzy version of the nursery-rhyme, "Pop Goes the Weasel". The village is some-sort of Orwellian nightmare where everything is clearly and unambiguously named, e.g. "hospital", "shop", there is even a "Labour Exchange".
The production design is gorgeous, and the first appearance of "rover" is outrageous. How do you make a white weather balloon menacing? Accompany it's appearance with a howling, growling noise, and most importantly, don't explain how it works, just leave it up to the imagination of the viewers.
McGoohan is brilliant in this, the script is witty, clever, and everything is marvelously, unmistakeably British. And when was the last time you saw a character wearing leather slippers.
A few things to note, and to watch out for in future episodes. The two women characters in this episode are both spies, and I've a feeling, from my memories of the show, that the sexual politics of the series are not that progressive. I know that no one is to be trusted, but I can't remember there being a sympathetic female character in the series - I hope I'm wrong.
Great moments: McGoohan's character smashes a radio in his room, and over the tannoy we hear a call for "Electrics" to come and repair the fault :) ; the sign on the wall "A Still Tongue Makes a Happy Life", and finally "Be Seeing You", how can a simple comment become so menacing? I'm really looking forward to watching the rest of this series.
Next Time: an episode from one of my favourite ITC series, Strange Report.
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