criterionforum.org

Banned from the Cannes and Venice Films Festivals for being anti-Communist and excoriated elsewhere as pro-Soviet propaganda, Peter Glenville's The Prisoner stoked controversy at the time of its original release and remains a complex, challenging and multifaceted exploration of faith and power. In an unnamed Eastern European capital, an iron-willed Cardinal (Academy Award®-winner Alec Guinness, The Ladykillers) is arrested by state police on charges of treason. Tasked with securing a confession from him by any means necessary is a former comrade-in-arms from the anti-Nazi resistance (Jack Hawkins, The Bridge on the River Kwai). Knowing the Cardinal will never fold under physical torture, the Interrogator instead sets out to destroy him mentally, breaking his spirit rather than his body. Adapted by acclaimed playwright Bridget Boland (Gaslight) from her own stage-play and showcasing powerhouse performances by two actors at the height of their game, The Prisoner is a tense, thought-provoking and disturbing drama about the endurance of the human spirit.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
* High Definition Blu-ray™ (1080p) presentation
* Original lossless mono audio
* Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
* Interrogating Guinness, a new video appreciation of the film by author and academic Neil Sinyard
* Select scene commentary by author and critic Philip Kemp
* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Peter Strain
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Mark Cunliffe

I like the idea of both sides of the Communist question thinking the film is against them! Anyone seen this? Sounds intriguing

domino harvey wrote: Fri Dec 14, 2018 3:48 pm I like the idea of both sides of the Communist question thinking the film is against them! Anyone seen this? Sounds intriguing

My dad has because I just texted him and asked about it. If he would have seen it in the very small town he grew up in Montana it probably wasn't received as controversially here as it was overseas. He did not elaborate further. Very excited to see this for myself if it upset in such a bizaare fashion.

I've seen it. It's formidable and impressive in some ways, but depressing as hell. I'd really much rather have a tricked out Arrow of Closet Land or a complete edition of Jack Gold's Catholics.

At first sight I had this confused with the teleplay The Hiding Place, based on the Robert Shaw play/novel, directed by Sydney Lumet for Playhouse 90. I had assumed, incorrectly, that Guinness was in it.

The Prisoner is a striking movie for it's era with interesting parallels with the 60's TV-series. Too bad that regardless of some great cinematic effort, for me it was too obviously a play adaptation. Overly Britishness of one of the central supporting actors was maybe the biggest handicap and it was hard to buy the illusion of some East-European socialist hellhole because the baroque uniforms and settings. Of course that is a stylistic effort and adds up to the absurdity, so some might like those aspects.

domino harvey wrote: Fri Dec 14, 2018 3:48 pm I like the idea of both sides of the Communist question thinking the film is against them! Anyone seen this? Sounds intriguing

I think it was seen as both anti-USSR and anti-Catholic, which is understandable. It's definitely anti-communist and the mundane view of the protagonist also makes the movie kind of Protestant or maybe even atheist and could definitely be considered also anti-Catholic.