Dr. Who Titles Prisoner Style
April 1, 2024 9:15 AM Subscribe
That was well done.
Never thought about this before, but of course Pertwee era Doctor Who was cut from the same cloth as the Prisoner. They were contemporary. One was a science fiction show trying to lean into more spy thriller tropes, the other was spy show that added science fiction elements. Not a coincidence that both had, say, dope cars or shots of them walking through a tunnel.
posted by mark k at 9:45 AM on April 1 [7 favorites]
Never thought about this before, but of course Pertwee era Doctor Who was cut from the same cloth as the Prisoner. They were contemporary. One was a science fiction show trying to lean into more spy thriller tropes, the other was spy show that added science fiction elements. Not a coincidence that both had, say, dope cars or shots of them walking through a tunnel.
posted by mark k at 9:45 AM on April 1 [7 favorites]
Now I'm imagining the serial The Sea Devils with the big turtles replaced by a gang of Rovers. "The Master conspires with an ancient civilization of six foot white bubbles to break him out of prison and take over the world."
posted by td2x10e3 at 10:32 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by td2x10e3 at 10:32 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]
Bravo! And a nice little Space: 1999 ref at the end.
posted by doctornemo at 12:23 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
posted by doctornemo at 12:23 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]
but of course Pertwee era Doctor Who was cut from the same cloth as the Prisoner
Ron Grainer also wrote both theme songs! Although the impact of Delia Derbyshire on creating the Dr Who theme really can't be overstated. I think McGoohan would have made a pretty fascinating Dr Who, honestly.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 12:27 PM on April 1 [6 favorites]
Ron Grainer also wrote both theme songs! Although the impact of Delia Derbyshire on creating the Dr Who theme really can't be overstated. I think McGoohan would have made a pretty fascinating Dr Who, honestly.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 12:27 PM on April 1 [6 favorites]
I think McGoohan definitely could have been a great Master or some legendary Time Lord like Rasillon.
posted by Saxon Kane at 12:44 PM on April 1 [4 favorites]
posted by Saxon Kane at 12:44 PM on April 1 [4 favorites]
That was note perfect, down to the fonts!
posted by Ishbadiddle at 2:06 PM on April 1
posted by Ishbadiddle at 2:06 PM on April 1
This really drives home how *long* the Prisoner titles are, wow.
posted by egypturnash at 2:14 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by egypturnash at 2:14 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Conversely, just about any of the Classic Doctors could have made a very interesting No. 2.
posted by Saxon Kane at 2:28 PM on April 1 [3 favorites]
posted by Saxon Kane at 2:28 PM on April 1 [3 favorites]
Yes, people who drop into The Prisoner part-way through the only season might imagine that the titles summarise the first episode, but no. The title sequence is a little longer in the opening episode, but fundamentally that's all the introduction you ever get.
posted by Major Clanger at 2:30 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by Major Clanger at 2:30 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
🏃🏐
posted by clavdivs at 2:34 PM on April 1 [7 favorites]
posted by clavdivs at 2:34 PM on April 1 [7 favorites]
"We want EX-TER-MI-NA-TION"
(wait not to abuse the edit window but now I'm second guessing myself about eliminate vs. exterminate, halp)
posted by taquito sunrise at 6:02 PM on April 1
(wait not to abuse the edit window but now I'm second guessing myself about eliminate vs. exterminate, halp)
posted by taquito sunrise at 6:02 PM on April 1
I don't know what that white car with the fins was but I want one. I don't know whether it can travel underwater or float like a hovercraft or what but I'm dead certain it has a nautical mode of locomotion. I bet it can go into space. On purpose.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 6:08 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 6:08 PM on April 1 [2 favorites]
Diamanda Hagan recently made a 15-minute video suggesting a different connection between the Prisoner and Doctor Who. The end of the video includes a fanvid using some new-series Doctor Who music.
posted by amk at 6:26 PM on April 1
posted by amk at 6:26 PM on April 1
I don't know what that white car with the fins was but I want one.
It is called the "Whomobile." Only showed up in a couple episodes. As far as I recall it just drives on roads. No flying.
I saw Pertwee at a convention and he said he said it was roadworthy, and he was allowed to keep it when they weren't filming. Unfortunately after driving it around town a few times to pick up groceries, he was stopped and told it was way to distracting to drive on a public road.
posted by mark k at 10:03 PM on April 1
It is called the "Whomobile." Only showed up in a couple episodes. As far as I recall it just drives on roads. No flying.
I saw Pertwee at a convention and he said he said it was roadworthy, and he was allowed to keep it when they weren't filming. Unfortunately after driving it around town a few times to pick up groceries, he was stopped and told it was way to distracting to drive on a public road.
posted by mark k at 10:03 PM on April 1
The Whomobile does in fact fly briefly in Planet of the Spiders, the last story from Pertwee's run, by means of dodgy chromakey. You can see a glimpse of it here.
posted by baf at 1:36 AM on April 2 [1 favorite]
posted by baf at 1:36 AM on April 2 [1 favorite]
I think McGoohan definitely could have been a great Master or some legendary Time Lord like Rasillon.
The War Doctor.
Was still around and could have played Omega. Not that anyone would have seen him......
posted by rough ashlar at 2:45 AM on April 2
The War Doctor.
Was still around and could have played Omega. Not that anyone would have seen him......
posted by rough ashlar at 2:45 AM on April 2
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posted by adamrice at 9:41 AM on April 1