2009 jährte sich die deutsche fernsehpremiere von
NUMMER 6 zum 40. mal. Wir haben gefragt: Was ist besonders an NUMMER 6? Was ist es, das Sie an den haken genommen und nicht wieder los gelassen hat? Warum halten Sie diese über 40 jahre alte serie für immer noch oder vielleicht schon wieder für sehr zeitgemäß - wie Patrick McGoohan, ihr urheber, es sich vorgestellt und gewünscht hat? Was ist das spezifische daran, dass man spätere televisionäre und filmische produkte sogar mit dem attribut "prisoneresk" belegt hat?
Die hier veröffentlichten beiträge suchen, jeder auf seine weise, antworten auf diese fragen. Mit großem dank an die autoren!

Von Patrick Ducher
vorsitzender von Le rÔdeur, the French 601 Appreciation Society

< VORIGER BEITRAG · NÄCHSTER BEITRAG >

Dieser text wurde vom autor auf englisch verfasst.

This is arguably the trickiest question I have had to reply to in relation to the series.

Depending on the context, I used to say I had been attracted to the series because of its quirky look and feel (the public-school uniforms, the strawboaters, the beach shoes, the Lotus Seven, the surreal aspect of the Village…). Then I would say that I liked the fact that the good guy did not win in the end (well, episode after episode) and I found that kind of cool. The truth is I must have given as many answers as the number of people asking that question!

WEBSITE: LE RODEUR
40 JAHRE NUMMER 6 - DEUTSCHE TV-PREMIERE 1969
Patrick McGoohan 19.03.1928 - 13.01.2009
CHRONIK 1969 - mehr...

The "real" truth is that I first watched the series when I was 8 or 10 in the early 70s. I was at my grandparents' place some summer afternoon when I discovered that big white balloon jumping all over the place; I felt as if it would creep out of the television set so I used to duck and take cover underneath the living-room table! It was not until a number of years, perhaps ten years later, that I rediscovered THE PRISONER during a late-night repeat. I seem to remember it was shown after The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour and I thought to myself, "Hey isn't this the series I used to watch as a kid?"

A few years ago, a friend of mine who is mad crazy about all things STAR WARS told me he had felt almost "robbed" of the original trilogy when the new films came out. He said that he enjoyed being with a group of happy few who saw the first run in 1977. I felt almost the same about THE PRISONER, when the series became more widely known and reached cult status in France in the very early 90s. For quite a while, I had been hunting for more information about THE PRISONER and I'm talking about pre-internet days, even pre-videotape days! Fans had to subscribe to specialised magazines and even pay for them! Fans had to attend conventions and talk to each other in person, wow! I met people from all walks of life, of various nationalities and political beliefs.

Gradually I found out there was a French fan club base, a school teacher not far from where I used to live, and a postman a few blocks away... We all gathered and launched the first-ever French-speaking PRISONER fan-newsletter (it is to this day the ONLY French fan newsletter ever !)*, the first-ever discussion group.
I had to buy an Apple computer and familiarize myself with page layouts and printing techniques. I had to interview people and speak to them. I was shy and withdrawn in those days and it was quite a change for me. I found myself writing a number of articles, collecting magazine articles, PRISONER merchandise (not much stuff in the late 80s, and early 90s). I attended conventions in Portmeirion, spoke to actors, production people. I wrote articles about various aspects of the series, ranging from literature, to music, going through, philosophy, graphic novels and so on.

* whose title ("rôdeur") means Rover and remained unchanged since the beginning

I also learnt (a bit) about managing small budgets and organising venues. I learnt also about human relationships, handling egos and tempers, carefully selecting my words. In 2000, I was involved in the release of the first Prisoner DVDs in France. In 2003, I had the great fortune of being asked by a publisher to write a book about THE PRISONER, along with my friend and former fan-club president Jean-Michel Philibert. An unexpected dream come true.

What was the question again, Arno? Why is THE PRISONER so special? Well, here's your answer: The Prisoner taught me about life!

Bonjour chez vous !

40 JAHRE NUMMER 6 - DEUTSCHE TV-PREMIERE 1969