The Prisoner

The Chimes of Big Ben - S1-E2

Continuity mistake: Number 6 chooses a rather thin tree to cut down and fashion into his canoe. Somehow, when he's finished hewing out the wood to form the boat, it's considerably wider than the tree he started with.

Jean G

Arrival - S1-E1

Continuity mistake: The Villager Rover attacks changes outfits several times between shots. He's wearing a striped sweater that turns into a pink jacket that turns back into the sweater, etc.

Jean G

Dance of the Dead - S1-E8

Continuity mistake: At the end, the computer produces a print-out with two lines of type at the bottom, then pauses. In the next shot, when it starts printing again, the two lines have disappeared.

Jean G

Show generally

Continuity mistake: During the opening sequence, a white car parked outside the prisoner's London flat disappears between shots as he drives up in the yellow Lotus and walks to the front door.

Jean G

The Schizoid Man - S1-E5

Continuity mistake: In the beginning, the cards and notebook on Number 6's kitchen counter change positions between shots. There's also a circle card on the counter that disappears when he draws the star card from the deck.

Jean G

A. B. and C. - S1-E3

Continuity mistake: While Number 6 follows Number 14 around the Village, her briefcase keeps switching itself from her right hand to her left between shots, without her having moved it. Later, when she enters the hallway, the case disappears altogether.

Jean G

Checkmate - S1-E9

Continuity mistake: On the beach, the Queen is sitting on a large rock and conversing with Number 6. Then she's seen standing down near the water. After an abrupt cut, she's back on the rock without enough time to have moved there.

Jean G

Free for All - S1-E4

Continuity mistake: Number 2 has a nice, bright red handkerchief peeking out of his pocket when he leaves the house. But between shots, it turns itself into a blue handkerchief.

Jean G

Arrival - S1-E1

Continuity mistake: The maid comes back to Number 6's house for the feather duster she left behind. While they talk, the duster changes positions on the table all by itself.

Jean G

Arrival - S1-E1

Continuity mistake: Watch the stone boat in the background as Number 6 and Number 2 discuss the oldsters having "every comfort." Between shots, the senior citizens vanish from the boat.

Jean G

Arrival - S1-E1

Continuity mistake: Rover drags Number 5 back out of the water to the beach and drops him with his feet pointing toward the recovery vehicle. He starts to get up, but when the shot cuts, he's lying flat again and has changed orientation on the sand, his head now pointing toward the vehicle.

Jean G

Show generally

Continuity mistake: While the prisoner is packing for his trip (in the opening title sequence), a beach photo placed in his travel bag rotates itself into a different position between shots.

Jean G

Arrival - S1-E1

Continuity mistake: The dwarf Butler climbs in to pilot the helicopter - but when the aircraft actually takes off, it's obvious that the pilot is a full-sized person.

Jean G

Arrival - S1-E1

Continuity mistake: When Number 6 first wakes up in his new house in the Village, there's an ornately carved wood panel covering the window. When he stands, it has disappeared.

Jean G

Hammer into Anvil - S1-E10

Continuity mistake: When Number 2 is shouting at Number 14, calling him a traitor, Number 2's long strands of hair are flying all over his head. In the very next shot, though, his hair has nicely combed itself and he's well-groomed again.

Jean G

The Chimes of Big Ben - S1-E2

Continuity mistake: Number 6 chooses a rather thin tree to cut down and fashion into his canoe. Somehow, when he's finished hewing out the wood to form the boat, it's considerably wider than the tree he started with.

Jean G

More mistakes in The Prisoner

Number Two: I'm the boss.
Number 6: No. One is the boss.

More quotes from The Prisoner

Free for All - S1-E4

Trivia: This episode's writing credit reads "Paddy Fitz." This was one of many pseudonyms Patrick McGoohan used in writing, directing and producing most of the series himself. "Fitz" was borrowed from his mother's maiden name, Fitzpatrick.

Jean G

More trivia for The Prisoner

Chosen answer: 1) It's never made entirely clear, but it seems that the government, Six's employers, are involved. 2) Because they wanted to know why he resigned. 3) It's never revealed, although many fans assume that Six is really John Drake, McGoohan's character from the prior show Danger Man. McGoohan has, however, denied that this was the intent and there are some notable differences between the characters. 4) It's never revealed, although, as, in the final episode, Six and his companions are able to drive to London, it must logically be located within the British Isles. 5) No details are ever given as to who has ultimate authority over the Village.

Tailkinker

Answer: Hope I am not going on too much, but I was watching bits of "The Prisoner" on YouTube, and have some information in response to question three "What was Number Six's name?" In the opening sequence of "The Prisoner" Patrick McGoohan/The Prisoner/Number Six walks into an office and throws a resignation letter on the table. He then drives to his house and hurriedly packs a suitcase. You can see him throw a UK passport into the suitcase. Seconds later, knockout gas is pumped into his house. He falls unconscious, then revives in "The Village." If he has a UK passport this must give his name, so it can be inferred that his name might be known to, or available to, anybody who really wants to know. After all, it seems plausible that the people or organisation who ordered his removal to "The Village" would have made at least a rudimentary search of his house and found the passport. Subsequently, in "Arrival" the first episode of the series, Patrick McGoohan/The Prisoner/Number Six meets "Number Two" who shows him a series of photographs illustrating his life from his schooldays up till his resignation. I find it inconceivable that Number Two could have acquired such a comprehensive amount of information about Patrick McGoohan/The Prisoner/Number Six, and not known his name. Yet Number Two never once mentions his name. Occasionally, in later episodes, characters mention that they knew Number Six in the time before they were transported to "The Village." But, during all seventeen episodes of the series, neither Patrick McGoohan/The Prisoner/Number Six, nor anybody else, ever mentions his name. From all this, it is clear that it was deliberately intended that viewers of "The Prisoner" would never know his real name.

Rob Halliday

Answer: Patrick McGoohan was often asked these, and many other questions about The Prisoner. He always refused to answer. He said the programme contained the answers. But you might want to try reading "I Am (Not) A Number, Decoding The Prisoner" written by Alex Cox and published in the UK in 2017. I regret that I, personally, was not wholly convinced by everything in this book. However, Alex Cox makes a dedicated and conscientious effort to deal with some questions asked about this very enigmatic television series. Alex Cox argues that Patrick McGoohan intended that the 17 episodes of The Prisoner should be watched in the order in which they were filmed, as these fill in details along the way. Even so, many questions about The Prisoner may always remain unanswered. One obvious paradox is that Patrick McGoohan/The Prisoner/Number 6 always says "I am not a number", and it is quite clear that much of his life before he arrived in "The Village" is well known to everybody, but he never, not even once, ever mentions his real name.

More questions & answers from The Prisoner

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