Prisoner, The: Fall Out (UK)

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Episode 17 and extras
Certificate: PG
Running Time: 150 mins
Retail Price: £15.99
Release Date:

Synopsis:
The most famous, the most acclaimed and the most intriguing of all classic television thrillers, starring Patrick McGoohan as a man with no name, but with only a number.... Number Six.

Trapped in an inescapable village, Number Six is discovering that life is a battle with the ever-changing Number Two and that there may never be an end to the nightmare.

Episode 17 - Fall Out
The Prisoner has won, he has earned the rights to be an individual and not a number.

The Alternate Chimes Of Big Ben
This is the USA press release version of The Chimes Of Big Ben with alternative opening and closing credits, different theme music and different scenes.

The Prisoner Companion
This US produced documentary tries to explain the many unanswered question posed throughout the short series.

Special Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Prisoner Facts
Trailers for each episode
ITC trailer
Info about the No. 2s in each episode
The Prisoner in production stills gallery
Alternative opening and closing credits

Video Tracks:
Standard 1.33:1

Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital Mono English

Subtitle Tracks:
English

Directed By:
David Tomblin
Peter Graham Scott
Patrick McGoohan
Pat Jackson
Don Chaffey
Robert Asher

Starring:
Fenella Fielding
Peter Swanwick
Angelo Muscat
Patrick McGoohan

Casting By:
Rose Tobias Shaw

Soundtrack By:
Wilfred Josephs
Ron Grainer
Robert Farnon
Alfred Elms

Editor:
Lee Doig

Producer:
David Tomblin
Patrick McGoohan

Distributor:
Carlton

Your Opinions and Comments

6 / 10
What a wonderful series the Prisoner is, and what a fantastic episode! But it`s let downn by this DVD release. The picture is sub standard, and very poorly mastered, with obvious edge enhancement, coupled with over zealous DVNR. The title sequence and backgrounds easily show obvious artifacting, and the whole episode will show it too if your TV is good enough.

It`s easy to see why: They had to put it through a DVNR and fiddle with the knobs so they could put the label "digitally restored" on the cover, and the bit rate is way to low on all the discs in the series to make the best of the visuals. In fact, no restoration, in the usual meaning of the word has gone on here. No signs of manual deblobbing or treating the programme with care.

However, the extras are apalling! The alternate Chimes is a rough NTSC conversion, and shows it. It`s no better than watching the VHS version, and much worse than watching a pure NTSC VHS copy I have. The other extra is about the worst (NTSC again) documentary I have seen.

Verdict: wait and see the USA releases - they may be more expensive, but if your favourite TV show is "The Prisoner" - it may be worth it to see them properly.
posted by Graeme N on 30/9/2000 19:38