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DVD : Secret Agent (aka Danger Man) - The Complete Collection Megaset 2007 |
- Buyer Beware: A Surprise That May Lead To Disappointment I purchased this set exactly a year ago and I just discovered I am missing the disk to Volume 11. I am fortunate to order a replacement through Amazon. When you get this wonderful set immediately count the disks not just the cases.
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- The antithesis of James BondReviewers here rightly comment on how refreshing it is to see a spy with a sense of morality. John Drake lives by a strict moral code. He is not a womanizer, and does not like violence. This echoes the life of McGoohan himself, who does not like filming love scenes because he doesn't want to kiss women other than his wife, and who is also very devoutly religious. When he was young he even for a time considered becoming a priest.
Other reviewers here comment on the "rumor" that McGoohan supposedly turned down the role of James Bond to play John Drake. McGoohan was asked to play James Bond before Sean Connery was. The real reason, reportedly, why he turned down the role (which also applies to the above) is that he thought the character was disgusting. In 1995 McGoohan said that this story, now itself stuff of legend practically, is not true. He said that the real reason he turned down the role is that the script for Dr. No was not any good and there was someone on the crew that he did not want to work with. McGoohan may simply be downplaying the story though, as some say he has actually turned down the role of James Bond several times. He also turned down the role of Simon Templar--he says because he didn't like the car that was to be used in the show, while others say it was because he objected to all of the kissing the character was required to do. He did, after all, make writers remove all love scenes from Danger Man. Incidentally, McGoohan was also the first pick for the roles of Gandolf in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, but had to turn both down for health reasons. (He supposedly has very bad health--three years before he appeared in Braveheart the poor guy was in a coma for a year.)
Many have debated whether John Drake is No. 6 in The Prisoner. It may interest fans to know that McGoohan tired of making Danger Man (Secret Agent), due mainly to his not having enough say in how the show should be. He wanted the fights to be more realistic (he was a boxer in real life, after all), etc. He was trapped by a contract that he felt he was a "prisoner" to, and greatly resented it. Just as No. 6 quits his job as a spy, McGoohan wanted to quit his job playing one. One day, at a party, a conversation got started (I believe between McGoohan and a real retired spy) about what happens to spies when they retire from their jobs. This got McGoohan thinking about people who "know too much." Are they allowed to just quit? And so The Prisoner was born. As to the above question, George Markstein, The Prisoner's script editor, has said yes, John Drake is No. 6, whereas McGoohan himself has said no, he is not. To McGoohan, EVERYONE is No. 6. Everyone is a prisoner to a part of their mind and to the society in which they live.
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- Wow, This Is A Good Deal!Finally the prices are coming down! I bought both sets already for twice this price and not in one box, this is a nice set to give a spy show buff (like your husband who likes this stuff!). I'm not dissapointed that I didn't wait because I got some much needed entertainment earlier but I do recommend this set if you have not bought it yet. The 30 minute shows are really crammed but great for McGoohan buffs like me still, the 60 minute shows have some awesome episodes that I'm still slowly discovering, its a great treat!
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- Secret Danger Man Macgoohan rocks!!Prior to his hit role as "No.6" in the Prisoner, Patrick Macgoohan was John Drake of NATO and leter "M9". He was James Bond before James Bond hit the big screen and he really would have been perfect for the role. The Secret Agent Danger Man series was similar to Fleming's Bond in the books. Bond and Secret Danger Man both had intrique, violence, high-tech gadgetry (for the time) and exotic locales. What Secret Danger Man did not have was sex or a gun compared to Ian Fleming's James Bond. All around a good buy now that the price has dropped. Its too bad nearly all the episodes were in black and white, they would have looked good in color. Then again if you watched the last two episodes that were made in color you might have to change your mind.
Rating:
- Very EntertainingA good quality production with a good deal of on location footage along with good actors and excellent dialouge make this series a good selection to add to any dvd collection. The music score is also well done. The first portion of the series' shows are approx.40 ea. and fast paced. But I prefer the hour long episodes, This is where Patrick Magoohan gets to use a broader range of his skills and participate in more lengthy, well written dialouge.
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