What are you watching?

I've seen Patrick McGoohan as a villain in a lot of stuff, but I didn't know he portrayed one in "Columbo"! I barely remember that show -- my parents watched it. I do remember he was the villain in "The Silver Streak," a comedy-thriller with Gene Wilder. (Miss him, too.)

Another interesting role played by McGoohan was a talk-show host taken hostage by a political activist - his protege Alexis Kanner, who also appeared in the final episodes of The Prisoner - in a 1981 Canadian production, "Kings and Desperate Men" (title taken from the John Donne sonnet, "Death be not proud"). Kanner directed the film. I'd  never seen it before, though I remember it being reviewed on TV (probably by Barry Norman) when it was released. Online opinion seems to be divided between its being an unacknowledged work of genius and something akin to "The Wild Women of Wongo". I think it definitely has something, and is certainly worth a look:

Mindhunter 

Just finished the first season. Looks like a long wait until season 2, however.

Another interesting role played by McGoohan was a talk-show host taken hostage by a political activist - his protege Alexis Kanner, who also appeared in the final episodes of The Prisoner - in a 1981 Canadian production, "Kings and Desperate Men" (title taken from the John Donne sonnet, "Death be not proud"). Kanner directed the film. I'd  never seen it before, though I remember it being reviewed on TV (probably by Barry Norman) when it was released. Online opinion seems to be divided between its being an unacknowledged work of genius and something akin to "The Wild Women of Wongo". I think it definitely has something, and is certainly worth a look:

Wow, thanks. I will be watching this one later this week. And I DID actually watch "Wild Women of Wongo" about ten years ago!

I just found out that The Prisoner is also freely available at the Internet Archive (though perhaps only until the copyright holder finds out):
https://archive.org/details/The_Prisoner

I just finished rewatching The Prisoner. The last episode takes some beating.

Interesting that Number 6 finally encountered his maniacially laughing doppelganger, just as Agent Cooper encountered his in the last episode of Twin Peaks Series 2:

[Image: doppel.jpg]

Perhaps The Prisoner was the weirdest thing that had been on TV until Twin Peaks came along.

A Warning to the Curious (1972). The best adaptation of an M. R. James ghost story, or of probably any ghost story. Written and directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, and starring Peter Vaughan and Clive Swift.

Just got caught up on this season of Mr. Robot. One scene in the last episode still makes me giggle whenever I think about it.

A bunch of protesters rush into an elevator and manhandle the single occupant into swiping his employee card, so they can gain access to the upper floors. After the moment of terror comes the interminable ride up to the 41st floor. What to do? Stand facing the doors, awkwardly avoiding eye contact (admittedly easier to accomplish when masked) while listening to elevator music, like elevator riders have done since the dawn of time. Doors open...back to the mayhem.

Linda

I just finished rewatching The Prisoner. The last episode takes some beating.

Interesting that Number 6 finally encountered his maniacially laughing doppelganger, just as Agent Cooper encountered his in the last episode of Twin Peaks Series 2:

[Image: doppel.jpg]

Perhaps The Prisoner was the weirdest thing that had been on TV until Twin Peaks came along.

Glad you watched it. It's one of my favorite shows.

Anyone else seen Children of the Stones?

I've been watching The Strange World Of Gurney Slade, from 1960, starring Anthony Newley:



This is the 4th episode, and my favourite, but all 6 are on YouTube. One can see early hints of the likes of Q with Spike Milligan, and Monty Python.

I just finished rewatching The Prisoner. The last episode takes some beating.

Interesting that Number 6 finally encountered his maniacially laughing doppelganger, just as Agent Cooper encountered his in the last episode of Twin Peaks Series 2:

[Image: doppel.jpg]

Perhaps The Prisoner was the weirdest thing that had been on TV until Twin Peaks came along.

I forgot to say that, yes, that's an amazing "coincidence" that both finales had that imagery.

I love The Prisoner, even with some of the mediocre episodes in between. One of my favorite shows, and I've watched the finale many times!