"If I was an idiot, so be it."

a/k/a Alison “Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. He is the hero; he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. (…) He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world.” ~ Raymond Chandler Also, "it means what it is." And, "Can you really trust the pigeons?"

[maestravida]

1998 'official' McGoohan web site has been reconstructed!

https://archibaldschwartz.com/

You may remember my Random McGoohan Observation #5 a couple weeks ago in honor of researcher and writer Barbara Pruett. Well, imagine my awe when I learned that later, he let her create an 'official page' ! He had her take it down again in 1999, but still.

I found the bare bones at archive.org, and with the McGoohan family's blessing, I have re-created it (with updates and tweaks), at archibaldschwartz.com.

Please visit, enjoy Barbara's considerable research, check out my links, and let me know what you think...

~Alison

[farmerbebop]

I guess he is on my tomodachi island now.

[maestravida]

I'd have John Drake on my island!

[argumate]

I keep thinking this! very frustrating

[maestravida]

I think it's because all the writers and directors know of writing and directing is from the Hollywood movies they have grown up on; it's become a self-conscious loop, and it's very boring.

[maestravida]

Alison visits Portmeirion

with Bruce, Jane, and Aaron.

All the best photos were taken by daughter Jane, whose skills and talents are beyond counting. She is a marine biology research scientist, and she and Aaron came over from Helgoland, Germany to join the goofy parents.

There were Number 2 and Number 6 buttons in the shop, so Jane made us buy them and go back and take more pictures. We rode a 'taxi' and walked around.

Here is our homage to the Danger Man episode "View From A Villa", with a sketch by Bruce on his iPad. I hope the matchup works - we couldn't get to the exact right angle. At right is his sketch.

We stayed at Telford's Tower. Here is the view at 4am.

Then we had to leave in the morning.

With love for Patrick McGoohan's work and respect for the man, we brought white silk roses in behalf of all of us fans.

We had a wonderful time, and any difficulty leaving was purely internal.

~Alison Caretaker of the Regenerated Patrick McGoohan Home Page

[thegraininessofitall]

You alone, Joe? Except for this.

[maestravida]

More from The Big Sleep

[hippieculturedeepdive]

The Big Sleep is a 1946 film directed by Howard Hawks. The story was adapted from a novel by Raymond Chandler from 1939. Much of the action takes place in a bungalow on Laurel Canyon Rd. Laurel Canyon of course would become a famous area where many musicians of the 60s made their homes. Laurel canyon would become a magical and fabled psychedelic hideaway for these musical artists. Oddly the bungalow featured in The Big Sleep was decorated with “oriental” furnishings and was a rather bizarre looking place altogether. In the movie the beautiful actor Martha Vickers plays Carmen Sternwood. Sternwood is portrayed as a drug addict and the victim of pornographers. She never appears naked in the film -this was 1946 after all - but she is shown tracing the designs on the kimono she is wrapped in with the point of her finger. She’s obviously hallucinating when detective Philip Marlowe played by Humphrey Bogart discovers her. The Big Sleep was a favorite of the 1960s Running Brook Gang because of these pre-psychedelic images and storyline. Tim Lodite, editor.

[maestravida]

A great film, convoluted plot line, with two versions- original from 1944 and full release in 1946 with some reshot scenes, and a new actress in those scenes.

[nettles-and-petals]

[maestravida]

With love to all my beloved mutuals!

[littledaisybell]

Casablanca (1942)

[maestravida]

The problems of three little people…

[maestravida]

Yes, we spent this afternoon and evening in Portmeirion

It may be Monday, after we’re home, before I can put together a report.

~Alison

(Photo by Jane)

[maestravida]

Four a.m. out our window

[maestravida]

Yes, we spent this afternoon and evening in Portmeirion

It may be Monday, after we’re home, before I can put together a report.

~Alison

(Photo by Jane)

[maestravida]

Portmeirion here we come

Yes, the plans are made with the daughter and son-in-law (currently working in Germany) to meet in London for a 5 night driving tour of Wales at the end of May, including one night in Portmeirion! Flights booked, village suite booked. I'm counting on 'the kids' to pick the rest of the itinerary. So far: Oxford, Colwyn Bay, Cardiff I think, but whatever they choose is fine with me.

Yes, I will post photos.

I've seen lots of youtube videos of people finding landmarks from The Prisoner but I plan to locate this exact view of the Bell Tower as seen in Danger Man.

Any suggestions from out there for homages we can make?

~Alison

[maestravida]

PORTMEIRION TOMORROW!

We had our "Arrival" in London during that heat wave. We had the "Dance Shuffle of the Dead" after our overnight flight to Baggage Claim.

The next day, a train from Oxford to London (All you need is love!) where we had dinner at a Laotian restaurant. (I have no Prisoner references for this day.) Then 'the kids' rented a car at the John Lennon International Airport (All you need is love!) and we drove to Colwyn Bay.

The guest house in Colwyn Bay was right across the street from a church - so the bells chimed - the Chimes of Medium St. Paul. Also we got a loud thunderstorm Wednesday night.

Thursday we strolled around this little resort town and saw the new statue of the late Monty Python member Terry Jones on the Promenade.

Tomorrow on to Portmeirion!

~Alison Caretaker of the Regenerated Patrick McGoohan Home Page www.archibaldschwartz.com

[thelovelymazza6]

What are your top 5 movies of all time?

Annie Hall, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Withnail and I, the original Blade Runner, and The Year of Living Dangerously. I might squeeze Badlands in too!

[maestravida]

Ok, I'll bite. Casablanca. The General. The Philadelphia Story. Some Like It Hot, The Apartment... and maybe squeezing in His Girl Friday, or A Hard Day's Night. Or Dr. Strangelove. I'd better stop,

~Alison

[maestravida]

Random McGoohan Observations #14 The BFI Season of PMG in 2013

While researching tv and film credits missing (gasp!) from my PMG Home Page (at archibaldschwartz.com!) I came across this:

The British Film Institute, the BFI, in London held a Patrick McGoohan Season during the month of August 2013.

They screened an impressive range of his work from film and tv:

Brand Armchair Theatre: The Man Out There Rendezvous: The Executioner Danger Man: The Lonely Chair Danger Man: A Date with Doris Patrick McGoohan and The Prisoner: Oddities and Rarities (100 minutes of "a bespoke compilation of rare and precious footage ") The Best of Friends Hell Drivers All Night Long The Quare Fellow Ice Station Zebra

Were any of you there? I'd love to know how it was received! The web site with this info is HERE.

~Alison

[eyeronmaus]

Photographs from The Prisoner press launch at MGM Borehamwood Studios, 9/20/1967

[threewavylines]

If I ever had to give a press conference, it would totally be like this one 😆

[maestravida]

And if I ever had to attend one, this is the one I'd want to cover!

[inpraiseofpmg]

[threewavylines]

[maestravida]

Hey, some of us don't really like the sun! He may be Danger Man, but braving sunburn is another matter. Alison at the beach in 2014

[threewavylines]

It's National Limerick Day, so here's my PMG themed contribution 😆

A chicken farmer one day Left his job for theatrical play. Found his career eclipse, But closely guarded his lips, Which left all the young chicks in dismay.

Who's next?

[maestravida]

A little late but:

There was a young actor from Queens with success on stages and screens From Brand to Columbo In LA and London, though He’d rather fish in Montana streams.

~Alison