https://www.imdforums.com/threads/the-prisoner-episode-13-hammer-into-anvil.6595/
Next episode;
https://www.imdforums.com/threads/the-prisoner-episode-15-the-girl-who-was-death.6597/
Last edited:
Review The Prisoner episode 14- Living In Harmony
- Thread starter michaellevenson
- Start date
https://www.imdforums.com/threads/the-prisoner-episode-13-hammer-into-anvil.6595/
Next episode;
https://www.imdforums.com/threads/the-prisoner-episode-15-the-girl-who-was-death.6597/
Even by the standards of this series this episode is truly weird. Never before had a series like this taken its narrative and reset it in a totally different setting. Inspired possibly other shows decades later to try the same thing, namely Star Trek TNG and their holodeck episodes.
This is set in the Wild West, no explanation why, just started with McGoohan as Sherriff riding into town to hand in his badge. McGoohan insisted that the usual opening theme and credits be dropped, so we go straight into the story, which is a retelling of the usual opening but in a western setting.
The Sheriff resigns, rides out of town, ambushed by a gang of cowboys, beaten up, and is dumped in a place unknown to him. The town of Harmony, harmony by name but not nature. The law of the gun rules, presided over by The Judge, a corrupt official, whose gang hold the town in fear.
Alexis Kanner is superb as The Kid, a true psycho, who kills a guy because he laughed at a joke told by Kathy, his girlfriend. The Sherriff /Prisoner has to try and escape this town, while The Judge wants him to join his outfit, and in a show trial imprisons Kathy in order to get the Prisoner to see reason and agree to join his gang.
Originally this episode was banned in the U.S., also subjected to some scenes being cut when aired in U.K. for violent content, which included a lynching scene , and Kathy got graphically strangled...twice in fact.
What is going on and how this relates to The Prisoner in the Village is revealed at the end.
This is set in the Wild West, no explanation why, just started with McGoohan as Sherriff riding into town to hand in his badge. McGoohan insisted that the usual opening theme and credits be dropped, so we go straight into the story, which is a retelling of the usual opening but in a western setting.
The Sheriff resigns, rides out of town, ambushed by a gang of cowboys, beaten up, and is dumped in a place unknown to him. The town of Harmony, harmony by name but not nature. The law of the gun rules, presided over by The Judge, a corrupt official, whose gang hold the town in fear.
Alexis Kanner is superb as The Kid, a true psycho, who kills a guy because he laughed at a joke told by Kathy, his girlfriend. The Sherriff /Prisoner has to try and escape this town, while The Judge wants him to join his outfit, and in a show trial imprisons Kathy in order to get the Prisoner to see reason and agree to join his gang.
Originally this episode was banned in the U.S., also subjected to some scenes being cut when aired in U.K. for violent content, which included a lynching scene , and Kathy got graphically strangled...twice in fact.
What is going on and how this relates to The Prisoner in the Village is revealed at the end.
McGoohan insisted that even the programme title should not be used, only the episode title is shown as The Judge 's thugs beat him up.
Barmaid Kathy is strangled twice, and dies both times! ( eh?)
