The Chimes of Big Ben

Free For All
Arrival | Living in Harmony | Free For All | The General | Once Upon A Time | Fall Out | Danger Man | Secret Agent

episode guide...

1. Arrival

01/10/1967

49' 11"

Virginia Maskell as The Woman

Guy Doleman as No. 2

Paul Eddington as Cobb

George Baker as The New No. 2

Angelo Muscat as The Butler

Barbara Yu-Ling as The Taxi Driver

Stephanie Randall as The Maid

Jack Allen as The Doctor

Fabia Drake as The Welfare Worker

Denis Shaw as The Shopkeeper

Oliver MacGreevy as The Gardener & Electrician

Frederick Piper as The Ex-Admiral

Patsy Smart as The Waitress

Christopher Benjamin as The Labour Exchange Manager

Peter Stanwick as The Supervisor

David Garfield as The Hospital Attendant

Peter Brace as The 1st Guardian

Keith Peacock as The 2nd Guardian

Fenella Fielding as The Radio Announcer

After handing in his resignation, the Prisoner heads off to his London home to pack for a holiday. He begins to feel faint and ends up unconscious. He awakes not in his house but in a strange village. He starts to explore but soon realises that in "The Village" all things such as 'phone calls, maps and taxis are "only local". He is shown around the Village by No. 2 who explains that the information in his head is priceless and that he wants to know why he resigned. Welcome to your new home, No. 6.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. Opening Titles

2. Arrival

3. No. 6 Meets No. 2

4. A Tour Of The Village

5. A Still Tongue...

6. No. 6 Meets Cobb

7. The New No. 2

8. The First Attempt To Leave

 

2. The Chimes of Big Ben

08/10/1967

48' 32"

Leo McKern as No. 2

Nadia Gray as Nadia

Finlay Currie as General

Richard Wattis as Fotheringay

Kevin Stoney as Colonel J

Christopher Benjamin as No. 2's Assistant

Hilda Barry as No. 38

Jack Le White as The First Judge

John Maxim as The Second Judge

Lucy Griffiths as The Third Judge

David Arlen as Karel

No. 6 has a new next-door neighbour, Nadia. She befriends No. 6 and tells him that the Village is situated on the Baltic. To cover their plans of escape No. 6 enters the Village arts and crafts exhibition competition. His entry entitled "Escape" is the inspiration for their plan to get back to London.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. The Chimes of Big Ben

2. Rise And Shine

3. No. 6's New Neighbour

4. A Deal Struck In Hospital

5. Wood Work

6. The Art and Crafts Exhibition

7. Escape Via Poland

8. Back in London

 

3. A. B. and C. (Original Title -  Play in 3 Acts)

15/10/1967

48' 39"

Katherine Kath as Engadine/C.)

Sheila Mathews as No. 14

Colin Gordon as No. 2

Peter Bowles as A.

Georgina Cookson as The Blonde Lady

Annette Carrell as B.

Lucille Soong as The Flower Girl

Bettine Le Beau as The Maid At Party

Terry Yorke as Thug 1

Peter Brayham as Thug 2

Bill Cummings as The Henchman

The new No. 2 uses a new wonder drug to tap into No. 6's subconscious to try to discover why he resigned. Over a period of three nights he encounters A, B and C in separate circumstances, at Madame Engadine's party. Unknown to No. 2, No. 6 has realised what has happened and uses his dreams to prove that he was not selling out.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. A. B. and C.

2. No. 14 Experiments

3. Introducing A.

4. "I got it in my sleep"

5. Time For B.

6. No. 6 Follows No. 14

7. C Is The Only One Left

8. "You'll have to call him D."

 

4. Free for All

22/10/1967

48' 40"

Eric Portman as No. 2

Rachel Herbert as No. 58

George Benson as The Labour Exchange Manager

Harold Berens as The Reporter

John Cazabon as The Man In Cave

Dene Cooper as The Photographer

Kenneth Benda as The Supervisor

Holly Doone as The Waitress

Peter Brace as The First Mechanic

Alf Joint as The Second Mechanic

It's election time in the Village. A new No. 2 needs to be elected and No. 6 is persuaded to stand. While attending a meeting of the outgoing council meeting, No. 6 angers No. 2 who decides that No. 2 must undergo "The Test". No. 6 sets out on his election campaign with many promises to his voters but his aim is to discover who No. 1 is.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. Free for All

2. Just The Candidate We Need

3. No. 6 Meets The Village Council

4. The Truth Test

5. Election Escape

6. The Final Push

7. A Pre-Victory Drink

8. The Election Result

 

5. The Schizoid Man

29/10/1967

48' 40"

Jane Merrow as Alison

Anton Rodgers as No. 2

Earl Cameron as The Supervisor

Gay Cameron as No. 36

David Nettheim as The Doctor

Pat Keen as The Nurse

Gerry Crampton as The First Guardian

Dinney Powell as The Second Guardian

Patrick McGoohan as No. 12

No. 6 awakes one morning in a different Village apartment and discovers things have changed. He has a new appearance, has become left-handed and has a different taste in foods. He is no longer No. 6 but now No. 12. A double of No. 6 has been brought to the Village in an attempt to crack him. A bruised fingernail is the only clue that can help the real No. 6.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. The Schizoid Man

2. Mind Games

3. Gemini

4. I Am No. 6

5. Unravelling

6. No. 6 Is Gone

7. Insight And Escape

8. End Credits

 

6. The General

05/11/1967

48' 35"

Colin Gordon as No. 2

John Castle as No. 12

Betty McDowall as The Professor's Wife

Peter Swanwick as The Supervisor

Conrad Phillips as The Doctor

Michael Miller as The Man In Buggy

Keith Pyott as The Waiter

Norman Mitchell as The Mechanic

Peter Bourne as The Projection Operator

George Leech as The First Corridor Guard

Jackie Cooper as The Second Corridor Guard

'Speedlearn' is a subliminal process for educating the population of the Village, developed by a Professor with the aid of an unseen 'General'. However, the Professor realises that his creation has the ability to be abused by No. 2 and with the help of No. 6 intends to destroy the 'General'. After their attempt fails No. 2 takes No. 6 to meet the 'General'.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. The General

2. The Lectures Begin

3. "History is not my subject"

4. No. 2 Is Watching You

5. An Unwelcome Visitor

6. Lecture Approval Session

7. Another Successful Lecture

8. No. 6 Meets The General

 

7. Many Happy Returns

12/11/1967

48' 38"

Donald Sinden as The Colonel

Patrick Cargill as Thorpe

Georgina Cookson as Mrs. Butterworth/No. 2

Brian Worth as The Group Captain

Richard Caldicot as The Commander

Dennis Chinnery as Gunther

Jon Laurimore as Ernst

Nike Arrighi as The Gypsy Girl

Grace Arnold as Maid

Larry Taylor as The Gypsy Man

No. 6 awakes to a deserted Village. He realises that he has the perfect opportunity to escape his captors. He builds a raft and sets sail away from the Village. During his voyage he comes across some gunrunners who steal his remaining supplies and leave him to drown. He is eventually washed up on the south coast of England. He manages to get back to London to find a 'Mrs Butterworth' living in his house. The next day is No. 6's birthday and Mrs Butterworth has a surprise planned for him.  Over half of this episode contains no dialogue.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. Many Happy Returns

2. A Deserted Village

3. No. 6 At Sea

4. Heading For The Lighthouse

5. Going Back To London

6. No. 1 Buckingham Place

7. Locating The Village

8. Enjoy The Flight

 

8. Dance of the Dead

26/12/1967

48' 42"

Mary Morris as No. 2

Duncan Macrae as The Doctor

Norma West as The Observer

Aubrey Morris as The Town Crier

Bee Duffell as The Psychiatrist

Camilla Hasse as The Day Supervisor

Alan White as Dutton

Michael Nightingale as The Night Supervisor

Patsy Smart as The Night Maid

Denise Buckley as The Maid

George Merritt as The Postman

John Frawley as The Flower Man

Lucy Griffiths as The Lady In Corridor

William Lyon Brown as The Second Doctor

No. 6 discovers a dead man washed up on the Village beach. He finds a wallet and a radio set in the dead man's jacket. He hides the body in a cave and later tries the radio. No. 6 later returns to the body with a life-belt and sets it afloat with a rescue note, although he is watched by a former colleague, Dutton. No. 2 has been using Dutton to obtain information on No. 6 but soon thinks Dutton is expendable. No. 6 receives an invitation to the Village carnival where he meets Peter Pan and Little Bo-Peep.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. Dance of the Dead

2. Every Man Has His Breaking Point

3. No. 6 Chooses HIs Girl

4. A Good Nights Rest

5. Questions Are A Burden...

6. No. 6 Meets Dutton

7. Time To Dance

8. No. 6 Is The Cabaret

 

9. Checkmate (Original Title - The Queen's Pawn)

03/12/1967

48' 32"

Ronald Radd as The Rook

Patricia Jessel as The First Psychiatrist

Peter Wyngarde as No. 2

Rosalie Crutchley as The Queen

George Coulouris as The Man With The Stick

Bee Duffell as The Second Psychiatrist

Basil Dignam as The Supervisor

Danvers Walker as The Painter

Denis Shaw as The Shopkeeper

Victor Platt as The Assistant Supervisor

Shivaun O'Casey as The Nurse

Geoffrey Reed as The Skipper

Terence Donovan as The Sailor

Joe Dunne as The First Tower Guard

Romo Gorrara as The Second Tower Guard

No. 6 takes the position of Queen's Pawn in a human game of chess. An illegal move by The Rook leads to his withdrawal and he is taken to the Village hospital. No. 6 brainwashes the Queen to fall in love with No. 6 who discovers the locket the Queen wears around her neck is in fact a radio transmitter to track him. The transmitter is useful to No. 6 and he manages to borrow the locket which he intends to use with The Rook in his latest escape bid.  Australian actor Terence Donovan, who plays the sailor in this episode, is the father of Jason Donovan, well known actor and singer.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. Checkmate

2. The Queen's Pawn

3. No. 6 Meets The Rook

4. Finding Reliable Men

5. No. 6 Gets An Admirer

6. Building The Transmitter

7. The Plans Are Laid

8. M. S. Polotska

 

10. Hammer into Anvil

10/12/1967

48' 40"

Patrick Cargill as No. 2

Victor Maddern as The Band Master

Basil Hoskins as No. 14

Norman Scace as The Psychiatric Director

Derek Aylward as The New Supervisor

Hilary Dwyer as No. 73

Arthur Gross as The Control Room Operator

Peter Swanwick as The Supervisor

Victor Woolf as The Shop Assistant

Michael Segal as The Laboratory Technician

Margo Andrew as The Shop Kiosk Girl

Susan Sheers as The Code Expert

Jackie Cooper as The First Guardian

Fred Haggerty as The Second Guardian

Eddie Powell as The Third Guardian

George Leach as The Fourth Guardian

When a young woman is driven to her death by No. 2, No. 6 swears his revenge. No. 2 tells No. 6 that he is going to hammer him so No. 6 decides to turn the tables. He plans to make No. 2 think that he is an agent called D6 and that he reports to a superior XO4. No. 6 sets out on a campaign to break No. 2.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. Hammer Into Anvil

2. A Troubled Woman

3. Record Shopping

4. Surveillance And Paranoia

5. A Request And A Dedication

6. Cuckoos And Pigeons

7. Pat-A-Cake

8. End Credits

 

11. It's Your Funeral

17/12/1967

48' 08"

Annette Andre as The Watchmaker's daughter

Derren Nesbitt as The New No. 2

Mark Eden as No. 100

Andre Van Gyseghem as No. 2

Martin Miller as The Watchmaker

Wanda Ventham as The Computer Attendant

Mark Burns as No. 2's Assistant

Peter Swanwick as The Supervisor

Charles Lloyd Pack as The Artist

Grace Arnold as No. 36

Arthur White as The Stall Holder

Michael Bilton as The M.C./Councillor

Gerry Crampton as The Kosho Opponent

No. 6 is tricked into discovering an assassination plot - but who is going to be killed? No. 2 knows that No. 6 is the only man in the Village capable of stopping a murder so he attempts to discredit him. After No. 6 finds out about the plot he goes to warn No. 2 who records the warning and doctors the tape. After a new No. 2 arrives in the Village, No. 6 realises that the intended target is not who he first thought.  Derren Nesbitt, Mark Eden and Martin Miller had earlier appeared together in the seven part 1964 Dr Who adventure 'Marco Polo'.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. It's Your Funeral

2. She Needs Help

3. Activity Prognosis Report

4. Kosho Practice

5. The Victim Is Warned

6. The Retiring No. 2

7. Appreciation Day

8. End Credits

 

12. A Change of Mind

31/12/1967

48' 35"

Angela Browne as No. 86

John Sharp as No. 2

George Pravda as The Doctor

Kathleen Breck as No. 42

Peter Swanwick as The Supervisor

Thomas Heathcote as The Lobo Man

Bartlett Mullins as The Committee Chairman

Michael Miller as No. 93

Joseph Cuby as The First Member Of Social Group

Michael Chow as The Second Member of Social Group

June Ellis as No. 48

John Hamblin as The First Woodland Man

Michael Billington as The Second Woodland Man

After becoming involved in a fight with two thugs, No. 6 is declared 'unmutual' by the Village committee who recommend that he undergo 'instant social treatment'. However, due to No. 6 importance he is not administered the treatment, only tricked into thinking he has had it. No. 6 later realises this and manages to get the Village doctor on his side. With her help he has plans for No. 2.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. A Change of Mind

2. Unmutual No. 6

3. A Scape Goat

4. Demonstration And Operation

5. Welcome Back

6. All Charmingly Domestic

7. Not So Much Punch?

8. End Credits

 

13. Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling (Original Title -  Face Unknown)

07/01/1968

48' 42"

Zena Walker as Janet

Clifford Evans as No. 2

Nigel Stock as The Colonel

Hugo Schuster as Seltzman

John Wentworth as Sir Charles

James Bree as Villiers

Lloyd Lamble as Stapleton

Patrick Jordan as Danvers

Lockwood West as The Camera Shop Manager

Frederic Abbott as Potter

Gertan Klauber as The Cafe Waiter

Henry Longhurst as The Old Guest

Danvers Walker as The First New Man

John Nolan as The Young Guest

No. 6 is not himself. His mind is transformed in another man's body by the Village authorities in an attempt to track down a scientist, Professor Seltzman. When he awakes in his London home he has a tough task convincing people of his true identity, so he sets off for Austria to find Professor Seltzman - the only man who can help him.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. Do Not Forsake Me...

2. The Colonel Gets Briefed

3. Waking Up A New Man

4. ZM 73

5. Janet's Message

6. Cracking The Code

7. Heading For Austria

8. Seltzman Is Captured

 

14. Living in Harmony

14/01/1968

49' 12"

Alexis Kanner as The Kid/No. 8

Valerie French as Cathy/No. 20

Gordon Tanner as Town Elder

Gordon Sterne as Bystander

David Bauer as The Judge/No. 2

Michael Balfour as Will

Larry Taylor as Mexican Sam

Monti de Lyle as Town Dignitary

Douglas Jones as The Horse Dealer

Bill Nick as The First Gunman

Les Crawford as The Second Gunman

Frank Maher as The Third Gunman

Max Faulkner as The First Horseman

Bill Cummings as The Second Horseman

Eddie Eddon as The Third Horseman

No. 6 finds himself a stranger in a Western town called 'Harmony'. He reluctantly takes on the job of the Sheriff in order to release a young saloon woman. As Sheriff he refuses to carry a gun until a killing spree forces him to take one up. After a gun fight with the Kid, The Prisoner wants to resign from his post but The Judge refuses to let him.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. Living in Harmony

2. The Judge Runs This Town

3. The Kid And Cathy

4. The New Sheriff

5. Cathy Goes To See The Sherrif

6. Jim Wants To Help The Sherrif

7. The Gunfight

8. Back In The Village

 

15. The Girl Who Was Death

21/01/1968

48' 56"

Kenneth Griffith as Schnipps/No. 2

Justine Lord as Sonia

Christopher Benjamin as Potter

Michael Brennan as Killer Karminski

Harold Berens as The Boxing M.C.

Sheena Marsh as The Barmaid

Max Faulkner as The Scots Napoleon

John Rees as The Welsh Napoleon

Joe Gladwin as The Yorkshire Napoleon

John Drake as The Bowler

Gaynor Steward as The Little Girl

Graham Steward as The First Little Boy

Stephen How as The Second Little Boy

No. 6 tries to track down the murderer of Colonel Hawke-Englishe, who was looking for a crazy scientist called Schnipps. The scientist's daughter Sonia, who calls herself Death, protects her father and sets many deadly traps for No. 6. Sonia eventually leads him to her father who has plans to destroy London with his super-rocket.  It has been said that this script was originally written for the 'Danger Man' series, but was subsequently used in the tale to the children to display No. 6's past to us.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. The Girl Who Was Death

2. It Certainly Wasn't Cricket

3. You Have Just Been Poisoned

4. All The Fun Of The Fair

5. Car Chase

6. The Butcher, The Baker and the Candle-Stickmaker

7. Death And Her Father

8. The Countdown Has Now Started

 

16. Once Upon A Time (Original Title -  Degree Absolute)

28/01/1968

48' 49"

Leo McKern as No. 2

Angelo Muscat as The Butler

Peter Swanwick as The Supervisor

John Cazabon as The Umbrella Man

After all previous attempts to break No. 6 have failed, No. 2 decides the only way to obtain the information wanted is by using a system known as 'Degree Absolute'. A battle that will leave one of them dead. If No. 6 wins, he will have survived the ultimate test and meet No. 1.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. Once Upon A Time

2. Degree Absolute

3. Humpty Dumpty...

4. The Seven Ages Of Man

5. Pop Goes The Weasel

6. The Interview

7. Bail Out!

8. The Tables Are Turned

 

17. Fall Out

04/02/1968

49' 17"

Leo McKern as No. 2

Alexis Kanner as No. 48

Kenneth Griffith as The President

Angelo Muscat as The Butler

Peter Swanwick as The Supervisor

Michael Miller as The Delegate

The Prisoner is presented to the President of the Assembly. He watches the trials of No. 48 and the resuscitated No. 2. It is now his chance to finally meet No. 1. As chaos breaks out, The Prisoner leaves the Village and heads for London.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. Once Upon A Time - Reprise

2. Fall Out

3. The Chairof Honour

4. Them Bones, Them Bones

5. The Resusitation Of No. 2

6. Free To Go

7. Who Is No. 1

8. The Prisoner Goes To London

 

18. The 'Alternate' Arrival

Untransmitted

50' 42"

An alternate 'never seen before' version of the first episode "Arrival", discovered in the US in 1987 with different theme music and intro.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. Alternate Opening Sequence

2. Alternate Taxi Ride

3. Alternate No. 2's Office

4. Alternate Rover In Square

5. Alternate No. 2's Office

6. Alternate Control Room

7. Alternate No. 2's Office

8. Alternate On The Quayside

9. Alternate Helicopter Flight to End Credits

 

19. The 'Alternate' The Chimes Of Big Ben

Untransmitted

50' 38"

An American press preview edition of the episode with different theme music, scenes and opening and closing credits.

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. 'Alternate' Opening Credits

2. Rise and Shine

3. Triquetrum

4. A Deal Is Struck In Hospital

5 Wood Work

6. The Arts And Crafts Exhibition

7. Escape Via Poland

8. Back In London

 

20. The Prisoner Companion

48' 27"

Bonus DVD Documentary

DVD Chapter Titles:

1. Introduction

2. Notes, Anecdotes And Nonsense

3. Freedom Is A Myth

4. You Are A Member Of The Village

 

Questions Are A Burden To Others, Answers A Prison For Oneself
 

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