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

More mistakes in The Prisoner

Number 6: Unlike me, many of you have accepted the situation of your imprisonment, and will die here like rotten cabbages.

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: 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: 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.

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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