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The Prisoner
1955
In a nameless totalitarian nation teeming with social unrest, a clergyman (Alec Guiness) is jailed on a trumped-up charge of treason. A government worker (Jack Hawkins) interrogates the inmate, eventually, goading the priest into admitting several crimes. After his confessions are made public, the clergyman has a no-win fate: .. Read more
| Starring | Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins |
|---|---|
| Director | Peter Glenville |
| Genres | Drama |
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The Prisoner
In a nameless totalitarian nation teeming with social unrest, a clergyman (Alec Guiness) is jailed on a trumped-up charge of treason. A government worker (Jack Hawkins) interrogates the inmate, eventually, goading the priest into admitting several crimes. After his confessions are made public, the clergyman has a no-win fate: either continue to live an oppressive routine behind bars or, if released, face a public hungry for revenge. Guiness and Hawkins are electrifying in this controversial, psychological drama, which was based on a stage play.
| Starring | Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins |
|---|---|
| Director | Peter Glenville |
| Studio | SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 30 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Dubbed | German, Italian, Spanish |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: Dutch, English, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish |
| Released | DVD: 21 Mar 2005 Production year: 1955 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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Alec Guinness reprises his stage role in this adaptation of Bridget Boland's play about a Catholic cardinal's encounter with an official from the totalitarian government that has arrested him. Frequently shown in close-up, Guinness superbly conveys the humility, isolation and commitment of a man who is fighting as much for his flock as for his own survival. Stepping in to the part of the Inquisitor, Jack Hawkins moves with equal expertise between genuine admiration for his adversary and the grim determination to break him. Yet, Peter Glenville's theatrical direction won't do much to persuade those without religious or political convictions to become involved.
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Virtually a two-character talkpiece from an offbeat play which should have stayed in the theatre.
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Most helpful member's review
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1 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Prisoner infront of your own TV
This is possibly one of the most boring and slow paced films I have ever seen.
Firstly it does not set the scene very clearly. We keep hearing that the cardinal played by Guinness served in the resistance against the gestapo but dont understand how the country escaped fascism only to return to some sort of dictatorship.
People might say that the film examines the breakdown of people in captivity but I found the characters fairly uninteresting and the plot a little incredible.
Not worth watching. -
Most recent members' review
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[Highly rated reviewer]
A little odd
Alec Guinness was, of course, always quite comfortable in a cassock. Dear old Jack Hawkins looks less at ease in his cordouroy slacks. Guinness plays a priest accused of betrayal in a police state and Hawkins his interrogator in this Kafka-esque tale which starts off engagingly but gets a bit bogged down. Interesting, a little odd, but worth a watch.
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In a nameless totalitarian nation teeming with social unrest, a clergyman (Alec Guiness) is jailed on a trumped-up charge of treason. A government worker (Jack Hawkins) interrogates the inmate, ... -