SYNOPSIS

Filmed in England at a resort on Cardigan Bay in North Wales called Portmeirion, The Prisoner was the story of a government agent who abruptly resigned only to be kidnapped and imprisoned in a strange community.

His mind held top-secret information which somebody wanted - but who? Or was he being tested? The people who captured him were hardly ever seen and when they were, their faces were always different. The village itself was a beautiful peninsula, surrounded by mountains, the forest and the sea. But no one could leave. Anyone who got close enough to the outskirts was targeted by glowing spheres called "rovers" that floated overhead and kept an eye on everyone in the village.

The villagers were strange inhabitants as well. Some were prisoners - like the main character, Number 6 - who resisted the brainwashing attempts of their captors. Some were spies, while others had already been brainwashed, revealed their inner most secrets and were condemned to spend the rest of their lives in the comfortable and peaceful village.

Standing alone in a clearing was the Castle, used both as a hospital and interrogation center by the mysterious "Number 1" and his chief henchman, "Number 2" (played by different actors in different episodes.)

Number 6 outwitted his captors in every episode. Finally, in the last episode, they not only admitted defeat but made him a remarkable offer: They wanted him to be their leader. Skeptical, he was brought into the Castle to meet Number 1 - and into a trap! With his friend, the Butler, and two other rebels, he managed to escape as the Castle, its inhabitants and the strange world were destroyed.

The Prisoner was created and produced by its star, Patrick McGoohan, who also wrote some episodes. Although it was never stated, the series was believed to be a sequel to Patricks' earlier show, Secret Agent.

Although The Prisoner was only shown for two seasons, it was one of the most original dramas seen on U.S. television. Reruns were aired during the summer of 1969.