The Prisoner: File #2
In 1967, Patrick McGoohan followed up his successful run in TV'sSecret Agent(titledAction Manin the UK) with a bizarre, pioneering miniseries that seemed to pick up where the previous show left off.  An angry secret agent resigns, only to be kidnapped by political entities unknown and imprisoned in an otherwise idyllic storybook resort called The Village. The show has endured as a cult favorite to this day. Its metaphorical undercurrents were supported by deeply ironic musical scores, which are finally available in a three-volume series. This second title begins with a faithful, full-length 1996 performance of Ron Grainer's main title theme by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. The volume covers the episodes "Free for All," "The General," "Many Happy Returns," and four others. Focused largely on the uneasy, emblematic jazz-exotica and strange martial music of show staff composer Albert Elms, it's a prime showcase for much of the show's unsettling musical tack (which would see recycling in future episodes). The remaining music is split between a handful of other composers and stock library tracks, chosen with an ear for the show's angular ethos by music editors Eric Mival and Robert Dearberg. Key dialog excerpts from each show are included as well.--Jerry McCulley