Stars: Patrick McGoohan

Summary: This special release celebrates the 35th anniversary of one of the most acclaimed cult British TV shows ever. The disc contains an alternate version of the first ever episode, The Arrival, plus a wealth of extras for fans of the series.

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Primarily aimed at fanatic completists, The Prisoner 35th Anniversary Companiongives us an alternative version of the opening episode "Arrival" recently rediscovered from Canadian archival material, along with the broadcast version for comparison. The collection also has text files on associative material like the score for the music, the novelisations and the Dinky model of the mini-moke, clips of the interval bumpers, alternative clips of the opening credits and a sequence in which the opening credits shot of a filing cabinet labelled "Resignations" is reshot in a variety of languages for foreign markets. The episode included reminds us, in both its versions, what an innovative and sinister show The Prisonerwas--George Baker in particular is an impressive foil to Patrick McGoohan.

There are also text files on the careers of McGoohan and his collaborator George Markstein, as well as an extended interview with Bernard Williams in which he talks frankly about the difficulties of producing a show whose scripts were being written by the star as it was being shot, and tells us of the last-minute improvisation of the sinister balloon, Rover. There is also a short documentary about the show, its fans and the memorabilia shop at Portmeirion, plus a Prisonerparody Renault ad.

On the DVD:The Prisoner 35th Anniversary Companionis presented in standard 4:3 television visual ratio; the mono sound has not worn well, especially in the alternative version of "Arrival" where it is at times painfully scratchy. The interface is user-confusing; if you don't already know the shape of The Village it is not immediately obvious that the menu continues on two screens. The packaging includes a lavish booklet that includes a facsimile of the production notes for the show. --Roz Kaveney

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Featurettes - 1. FOR THE LOVE OF: Fans Of The Prisoner, 2. Renault 21 Advert, Interview - 1. Bernard Williams - Producer, Intro and Outro Sequences, Bumpers, Foreign Language Sequences, Biographies, Stills Gallery, Production Notes, Guide to the Alternate Version
Year:	1990
Release Date:	September 30, 2002
Runtime:	100 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	3711503803
Keywords:	Action, General, Prisoner, Anniversary, Companion, Tv, Adventure, 35th
Genre:	Action/Adventure