The Prisoner

The Schizoid Man - S1-E5

Revealing mistake: While they ride toward the helicopter, Number 6 and Number 2 have a conversation. Shots of Number 6 are obviously outdoors under windy conditions: his hair is blowing. But every shot of Number 2 has been taken in-studio with a rear-screen projection. His hair isn't moving at all.

Jean G

The Schizoid Man - S1-E5

Revealing mistake: Throughout the shooting competition between Number 6 and his Dopplegänger there are numerous shots where both Number 6's are facing the camera and you can see a jittery line running down the middle of the shot where the shots were poorly overlaid.

Jack Vaughan

A Change of Mind - S1-E12

Revealing mistake: Number 6 sets up exercise equipment in the woods and performs several athletic stunts on a bar. In close-up, he's bare handed. In long shots, however, the stunt double becomes apparent because he's wearing gloves.

Jean G

A Change of Mind - S1-E12

Revealing mistake: The ultra-secret location of The Village is accidentally revealed when Number 6 drinks his tea. While everything in The Village is supposed to bear only its penny farthing logo, the bottom of the tea cup is emblazoned "Portmeirion Pottery." "The Prisoner" was filmed in the Welsh resort village of Portmeirion.

Jean G

Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling - S1-E13

Revealing mistake: When No. 6 is putting the 4 slides together to get the location information for Seltzman, as the slides are dropped into the top of the projector, they drop down the screen. However, a projector inverts slides, so they should slide up from the bottom. Also, when the last slide is dropped in, the final letters fade into view and not slide down as would be expected. (00:33:30)

Once Upon A Time - S1-E16

Revealing mistake: When they're "playing" on the swing, Number 6 has his hands on the Butler's shoulders, and the Butler is wearing gloves - yet there's a close-up of someone's bare hand holding the rope.

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

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

Answer: It's even more obvious than you think, you know who number 1 is in the very first episode. When 2 replies to the question "who is #1?" Change the way he answers from you are number one (in the monotone or accented answer to, "You are, number 6. The comma gives you the answer. #6 is #1. It's the tone of the answer.

Chosen answer: We were never told. In the series finale [Spoiler alert] Number 6 demands an answer to that question, only to be shown his own reflection.

Jean G

Answer: The Prisoner was first shown on British television in 1967. I did not watch it then, but the series was was repeated on UK television in 1977, at which point it became a massive cult. Certainly, I was hooked. Well, ten minutes after I started watching The Prisoner, I was 110% certain as to who Number 1 was. In my opinion, the identity of Number 1 was so utterly, glaringly obvious that I could not understand how anybody could even ask such a question. I thought there was only one candidate for the identity of Number 1, and it was so plainly visible that nobody could even vaguely consider it to be anybody else. So, who did I think Number 1 was? you all ask. My answer? Himself! Patrick McGoohan (or rather, the character Patrick McGoohan played in The Prisoner) was Number 1. I was proved right. In Fall Out, the seventeenth and final episode, "The Prisoner" gets to meet "Number 1." Now this is a real "blink and you'll miss it" moment, but Number 1 has his face covered. The Prisoner pulls off the covering to see a mask, he pulls off the mask, to see himself! The Patrick McGoohan in Number 1's costume laughs in The Prisoner's face and runs away. Unfortunately, I don't know why Patrick McGoohan should be both The Prisoner and Number 1. I don't think anybody does.

Rob Halliday

More questions & answers from The Prisoner

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