Network Releasing, out now

Documentary maker Chris Rodley relives the ordeal of filming Patrick McGoohan for a documentary about The Prisoner, contextualising what went wrong by talking to those who knew him best.

Six Into One: The Prisoner File was probably no worse than most of the output on fledgling Channel 4 when transmitted in September 1984. Indeed, most Prisoner fans were just grateful to see the interview clips with the show’s stars and production team, unaware of the trauma that writer Chris Rodley had gone through to get Patrick McGoohan on film.

I was lucky enough to watch Rodley introduce this film and answer questions afterwards at Network’s Fall In event in Portmeirion this autumn. The invitation came to make the film after Network acquired the original footage and Rodley agreed to revisit the experience with a view to a cathartic release. It was a young and inexperienced Rodley and an equally inexperienced film crew that descended on McGoohan in 1983. It’s clear to see the frustration in his face as the filming is beset with technical issues and the famously prickly actor tries to take cover. He becomes sarcastic and unhelpful, mocking the crew.

Dispirited, Rodley then gets invited to film McGoohan again, on the understanding that the original film is not used. Instead he gets a calmer, more meditative McGoohan, talking in front of a setting sun across the LA skyline. Hurrah, problem solved, except that the actor was still not happy with the result, offered to buy the film, and instead made his own bizarre  documentary with shots of walking along the beach to the accompaniment of English folk music!

As a baptism of fire, this beats most, and Rodley recalls McGoohan chasing and shouting at him across Paris, demanding the film be shelved. This is intercut with some beautiful new drone shots of Portmeirion, highlighting in high definition the beautiful tourist spot used as The Village, in addition to Pathe News footage and 8mm cine-film shot by future BAFTA winner Keith Rodgerson during filming in 1966.

But what really gives this film resonance is the series of interviews with McGoohan’s daughter Catherine (who appears with him in an episode of Columbo) explaining why he acted the way he did, and how he was fighting inner demons. I also loved the clip of ‘Angry Patrick’ from a 1977 TV Ontario chat with Warner Troyer – there’s fire burning in his belly that day.

Extras are a 30-minute outtake from one of the 1983 interview sessions and a 25-minute 2017 interview with Catherine McGoohan about her father and his legacy.

Verdict: Essential viewing for anyone who wants to better understand the enigma who was Patrick McGoohan, as well as a witty, cautionary tale for anyone who thinks that making a documentary is easy. 9/10

Nick Joy