The Complete Prisoner Megaset 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (DVD, 2006, 10 Disc Set)

I decided to buy "The Prisoner" 40th anniversary set as I've been a big fan of the show since its initial broadcast in the US during the 1960s, during the "spy boom" brought about by the popularity of James Bond.

"The Prisoner" tells the tale of an unnamed British operative, who suddenly terminates his employment with a branch of the British secret service, only to return home and be kidnapped by unknown operatives, awakening on a island from which there is no escape. The residents of the Island have no names, and all are addressed by their assigned numbers. The Prisoner is Number 6. The Island is maintained by Number 2, whose job it is to break Number 6 down, and find out WHY he resigned. Most episodes have different Number 2s.

For me, the series is psychologically interesting, touching on themes on individuality, social isolation, and peer pressure. The introduction to the episodes provide a voice over of The Prisoner and Number 2, with the Prisoner proclaiming "I am not a number, I am a free man!, and Number 2 laughing.

The series ran for 17 episodes (and was recently re-made in the UK, although I haven't seen any episodes), and ends in a surrealistic fashion, as The Prisoner escapes the Island and goes on to.....

The Prisoner is a welcome antidote to the traditional "spy" movies of the 1960s, and may be a continuation of star Patrick McGoohan's first series, "Danger Man" (retitled Secret Agent in the US).

Highly recommended.


Jeff McIntosh

If you watched The Prisoner during it's initial run or saw it when it was shown after the fact on public television and elsewhere you will likely enjoy this set. All 17 episodes plus some bonus features along with a series guide and reproduction map of the Village are included. I would have given this an excellent rating if the remastering had been taken to a better level. This is just a small quibble on my part. I've seen how well things can be cleaned up and while the quality of the episodes are very good they fall just that short of being what they could have been - blacks made to be "black" as an example. Again, minor quibble.

As to bonus material, the interactive map - at least when viewing on a computer - is largely unusable in a practical sense. The alternate version of "The Chimes of Big Ben" does not appear to have been cleaned up in the same manner as the broadcast episodes - perhaps an economic decision. A few of the other items would be of interest to only the most die hard fans. The video companion is good adding a bit to the printed version included and the interview with Bernie Williams is quite nice.

Should you buy it? If you were a fan - or still are - I would say yes, especially at the around $50 price point I paid. If you are just curious I would say no. It may be better to investigate the series via a rental store, library or friend. In some ways it's an acquired taste and while most of the episodes still captivate, some seem dated so as to seem somewhat hokey by todays standards. I'm glad the series was finally released intact and at a little less than $5 a disc it's a great deal for any fan of the Prisoner.

"The Prisoner," in my opinion, is one of the best television series ever produced. It is a classic science fiction program with continual spins and twists and excellent cinematography that keep the viewer continually engaged. "The Prisoner" also makes a great and still timely statement about the dangers of unwarranted government surveillance, mind control, mass brainwashing, and the dehumanization of human beings as numbers in a seemingly sugar coated society where all is supposedly well. I highly recommend this 40th Anniversary Edition of "The Prisoner," which comes complete with a map of Your Village and detailed descriptions of each episode.

40 years old and does not seem dated. If anything it is still curiously prophetic. If you are reading this you know the plot of this short but stunning series so I will not bore you with the details. What you might want to know is whether it is worth the relatively un-discounted BBC price. Yes, every penny and probably more. I have been starving for an episodic series to watch since there is absolutely nothing on TV to watch until Dr. Who and Torchwood return. I am so surprised at how advanced their technology still seems, which gives it a timeless feel that it could be happening right now. If you have any interest in how a finely crafted series can retain its freshness after so much time, this is an expenditure well worth the cost. I cannot wait to finish the last episode so I can start over again. Name me one American show from the 60's that could be shown today and still feel as relevant and entertaining in todays world as this precious jewel. After you finish this, do yourself another favor and purchase what is argueably one of the funniest series ever filmed, another British masterpiece, "Fawlty Towers". Both will make you start paying more attention to reruns on BBC America instead of wasting your time with the dreadful dreck passing for entertainment currently being offered on almost any channel on this side of the pond. Happy viewing. Love, duppydog

I bought this set for my parents for Christmas. They were thrilled! This show used to run on PBS and hasn't been on in years. My mother said that she had actually contacted PBS to ask about them running the series again, but they never have. My parents used to watch this show all the time and I just found out that they never got to watch the final show so they are very happy about having the whole series to watch from beginning to end. This was a great find for a great price and should bring my parents hours of happiness. Thanks!

I was fortunate as a college student in the early 70s to catch the first broadcast of the BBC-produced Prisoner episodes on US Public Television. Though it was years later that I recalled the connection between this series and the Danger Man/Secret Agent Man series, I was a prisoner at the TV set for each and every episode, save the pilot which I purchased years later on VHS.

A series that didn't stop to explain each and every plot twist, character, nuance and gesture? Revolutionary!!! I had to think as I watched (and later rewatched years later) and wonder not only what was going on every few minutes, but also to consider this a retelling of earlier myths such as the stories of Hercules, Spartacus and Jacob, to name but a few. Only Monty Python's Flying Circus (an even stranger BBC series considering prior US exposure to British comedy in the forms of Benny Hill and Peter Sellers) in that time period attempted to challenge the audience to think while under TY-hypnosis. And, for those willing to endure a conclusion that swallowed its own tail (tale?) as the mythical Ouroboros, more applause to McGoohan and company for thumbing their noses to conventional television requiring all stories hit the reset button within 53 minutes.

What am I saying here? If you're a fan, get this and enjoy it much as you continue to enjoy "The Wizard of Oz" as you get older and share it with your loved siblings. If you're not a fan, consider this a series that was far ahead of its time, a series that inevitably insired a generation of TV writers and directors not to bow frequently at the alter of the god of advertising and the priesthood of endless sponsors who still believe that after 13-14 minutes of immersion into a good story one needs the "refreshment" of another artificial consumer product or be inspired to run out and buy something.

OK, so where do secret agents go when they disappear? "That would be telling..." :-) So what's YOUR number and what did you sacrifice to get it, eh?

The remastering is excellent. It looks much like it was just shot yesterday with the latest technology. Though the dated clothing etc, give it's time away. The premise of the series, who is, or is not, your friend, on your side, against you rings so very true today, especially with the liars we have for leaders. What goes around comes around . . . an old series that is modern, and probably one of the finest TV series ever made.

Just the best tv series ever made. Great series, I watched it when it first aired 40 years ago on the CBS tv network. I have been a Patrick McGoohan fan all the way back to the 30 minute Danger Man series dating back to the 60's.
Did I think the Prisoner would still be this popular after 40 years? No I for one did not think so. But that goes to prove just how popular McGoohan and the series has become. In another 40 years it will still be just a popular as it is today if not even more so. It's a great investment and a great chance to see a great series.

The Prisoner was first shown on American Television on June 1 1968-on the CBS Network. And the series has garnered a huge cult following since then. The brainchild of it's star Patrick McGoohan-this series is one of the most intelligent and complicated TV shows of alltime. This 40th Anniversary collection contains all 17 episodes-plus the alternate Chimes of Big Ben episode-that episode was found in the late '80s and contains different theme music and scenes. Also included in this set is 1966 location footage and commentary by Series Production Manager Bernie Williams--there is footage of that "cake on wheels with the blue light on top" villiage Police vehicle which was the original rover-but it didn't quite work-so they used a giant weather balloon!!

This production holds up as well today as it did when first filmed. A person can revisit this selection from time to time and still be entertained.The Prisoner is recommended highly.

Well worth it for those of us who saw it the first time in the late and turbulent 60's. In hindsite things are much clearer. It is interesting to note that, with a couple of exceptions, everyone appears to be over 40 years old. If it was made today no one would be over 30! More impressive now than it was then considering the television venue at the time.

well worth every penny spent!!!! if your a prisoner fan this set is great. lots of extras and great to watch. a++++++++++++++=

The Prisoner was one of those instant classics. The attention it detail is something hard to find now-adays. Loved the story line.

I liked the series and am very happy to add it to my collection.
The price was very good and the DVD's are very good.

It's a classic, what more to say. This collection looks and sounds great.
There are no missteps in the packaging and it's a blast to have the whole series to review and not have to wait to catch it somewhere on TV. Highly recommended.

Patrick McGoohan's late sixties series, The Prisoner, set the bar and set it high for many other TV series to come, including Nowhere Man, Alias, and Lost.
Ahead of its time, The Prisoner holds up well today and falls into the category of one of the top ten series a TV watcher should see before they die!
The video quality of this DVD set is excellent and the "extras" are limited, but enjoyable. A thinking person's TV series. Highly recommended.

I purchased the Prisoner Megaset 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition to prove to my wife that there was a TV program where a big white ball followed prisoners around. Whe I told her that she just laughed and told me I had been seeing things. Well she is a believer now.

Also I have always wanted to see the entire series. When the series was on TV I only saw part of the episodes.

The product I received was as avertised and the Ebay seller was outstanding and I highly recommend them.

Milt Dove

I received the DVD promptly in good condition. I bought it because I was able to get a good deal on an item that is difficult to find.

A surrealistic view of what might happen to a spy that decides to retire. I liked this when it came out in the 60s and is fun to watch for what they view as high tech gadjets. However it is old BBC therefore short on special effects and plot. So if you like corny dialoge and cheesy effcts, this one's a great nostalgic view into early spy/action TV.

This was an easy trans and the item was shipped immediately. I am very pleased with this seller. The item was new and packed carefully, so it arrived in perfect condition.

I purchased this unopened set for my stepfather for Christmas at a very reasonable price with very low shipping. The shipping was very prompt also. He was so excited, he began watching the dvds immediately; all in perfect working order.

What a time trip into my misbegotten youth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I HAVE A COLLECTION OF OLDS MOVIES AND TV SERIES. THIS PRODUCT IS WONDERFUL.THE PRICE WAS HONEST AND THE DELIVERY TOO. THE PRODUCT WORKS VERY WELL. I DECIDED TO BUY BY THE AVERAGE. I COMPARE PRICES AND PAYMENT FORM. I PREFER PAYPAL.