Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Recently, I received these DVDs from another source and I would like to strongly encourage all fans of the hour long Danger Man shows and The Prisoner to consider this set. First of all, the transfer is exceptional. The shows are remarkably clear in their black and white format. There is no fuzziness that I could see. Also, the half hour format suits the show well. The stories are as well plotted as the hour long show, just faster paced. And then there's the music. I actually perfer the score of the half hour shows to the score of the hour long programs. The music in these programs remind me of the type of music you would hear in the old series Peter Gunn, and anyone who is fortunate enough to have seen that series knows how much the music contributed to the overall effect of the show. Finally, the writing of the show is very strong. Of the twenty stories that I have viewed at the time of this review, only one stood out in my mind as a bit disappointing. That's a pretty good record for a weekly series.
But what I think may be of most interest for fans of this series is Patrick MacGoohan. There is no question what an exceptional actor he is and that would be reason enough to buy this set. However, the John Drake of this show is slightly different than the one in the hour long programs. To me, he seems almost optimistic. I realize this is an odd word to use when referring to this series, but the impression is given that Drake really believes in his missions and that he is on the side of right. In the hour long show, Drake comes off more world weary, more cynical and a bit disillusioned. By the time he becomes The Prisoner (and we know it is him-who else could it be?) his faith in the morality of the political system has collasped completely. For after all, Drake is an extremely moral person, which is one of the elements that make him so fascinating to watch. It might be interesting for new viewers to start with the half hour series, go to the hour long shows, and then end the journey with The Prisoner. No doubt it will give them considerable food for thought.
Though at the end of the day, one has to ask: Are these half hour shows entertaining? And the answer is: extremely so. I think you will be pleasantly surprised on how well the show was written, directed, and acted. I just hope everyone who buys this set enjoys it as much as I have!
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In a world where a careless word can undo years of work and the slightest misstep can prove fatal, John Drake is without peer. A lone operative working for a top-secret NATO office, he travels the globe bringing international villains to justice and defusing explosive situations with unshakable aplomb. The precursor to Secret Agent, DANGER MAN set the standard to which all spy shows aspire. It also defied the conventions of the genre with a hero (The Prisoner's Patrick McGoohan) who fights only as a last resort and never lets temptation distract him from the mission at hand. Now, all 39 episodes of the groundbreaking series are available on DVD for the first time, remastered, restored and presented in their original UK broadcast order.System Requirements:In a world where a careless word can undo years of work and the slightest misstep can prove fatal, John Drake is without peer. A lone operative working for a top-secret NATO office, he travels the globe bringing international villains to justice and defusing explosive situations with unshakable aplomb. The precursor to Secret Agent, DANGER MAN set the standard to which all spy shows aspire. It also defied the conventions of the genre with a hero (The Prisoner's Patrick McGoohan) who fights only as a last resort and never lets temptation distract him from the mission at hand. Now, all 39 episodes of the groundbreaking series are available on DVD for the first time, remastered, restored and presented in their original UK broadcast order.
Click here for more information about Danger Man - The Complete First Season (1961)
