# Movies from TV shows...much pablum but no "The Prisoner"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 11, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406 "2003-05-11T00:16:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/1 "2003-05-11T00:16:11Z")
Why the hell not? They give us such pablum as “Return to Gilligans Island” and “Threes Company”. Not to mention The Brady Bunch. But no movie from IMHO the best, tho short lived, tv series in TV history. Is there a particular reason or is it short sightedness? Perhaps they think they can’t compare to the series? What gives? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/2 "2003-05-11T00:22:24Z")
From the IMDB: > [@](#): > > Star and creator Patrick McGoohan planned to produce a movie remake in 2002, but plans were shelved. ---
**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/3 "2003-05-11T00:40:38Z")
How could they possibly improve on the original series? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/4 "2003-05-11T04:04:57Z")
Anyone that read the comic “sequel” knows that you really can’t do The Prisoner justice. Plans were shelved??? Anyone know why? Guess I should check the “Six of One” web site. \<[http://www.netreach.net/~sixofone/](http://www.netreach.net/~sixofone/)\> \<[http://www.sixofone.org.uk](http://www.sixofone.org.uk)\> Well, anyhow, I’m just glad the originals are out on DVD. Now I can go frame-by-frame and figure out why he resigned… (insert whimsical smilie with #6 button on lapel here) ---
**Author:** ![Payton\_s\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@Payton\_s\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payton_s_Servant)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/5 "2003-05-11T04:05:53Z")
Because it was incomprehensible and pointless the **first** time around, and how can you improve on that? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/6 "2003-05-11T14:05:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Payton’s Servant \* > \*\*Because it was incomprehensible and pointless the **first** time around, and how can you improve on that? \*\* Hey, Hollywood gave us _It’s Pat - the movie_. They owe us. Big time! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/7 "2003-05-11T15:30:33Z")
The original took 17 hours to create a unique atmosphere. (What was in the water in Britain in those years anyway? The Prisoner, The Avengers and Monty Python all created worlds never before seen on television and not rivaled again for decades.) It was that slow buildup of a cock-eyed world of skewed paranoia that really defined the show. I don’t see how you could do that in a two-hour movie. It would be somewhat like making a movie version of 24. The entire point of a series would be lost. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/8 "2003-05-11T15:50:16Z")
Be careful what you wish for: it may come true. Do you really want to see a Prisoner movie with a zillion explosions, a pulsing techno soundtrack, wire-fu, and Vin Diesel as the lead? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/9 "2003-05-11T18:41:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wumpus \* > \*\*Be careful what you wish for: it may come true. > > Do you really want to see a Prisoner movie with a zillion explosions, a pulsing techno soundtrack, wire-fu, and Vin Diesel as the lead? \*\* Well…I would hope it would remain as true to the series as it could. ---
**Author:** ![refusal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@refusal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refusal)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/10 "2003-05-11T20:08:25Z")
Just think of the Avengers movie, and never mention the Prisoner in the USA again. Please. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/11 "2003-05-11T20:08:41Z")
“Remain true to the series”… ? “Remain true to the …” Oh, man, I’m laughing too hard to type. Name me a movie re-do of a TV series that has been anywhere close to “true to the series”? … excepting movies that are made while the same actors are available, like the movie version of the old BATMAN with Adam West, or STAR TREK movies. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/12 "2003-05-11T20:58:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exapno Mapcase \* > \*\*… It would be somewhat like making a movie version of 24. The entire point of a series would be lost. \*\* According to Keifer Sutherland, that might just happen. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/13 "2003-05-12T02:03:34Z")
I guess getting tortured to death and having no oxygen reach his brain for ten minutes has sadly affected Kiefer Sutherland. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/14 "2003-05-12T02:21:19Z")
Well, the Avengers represents a crappy reprise, sure, but is at least an ATTEMPT to do a good sequel from the original series (I assume SOMEONE was trying – though perhaps I assume too much) and as such represents a rebuttal to the OP, which implies that they don’t make movies based on good series. Even if you fail as badly as the Avengers movie did, you at least should get cred for having the sense to start with something good. As comapred to the Brady Bunch movie and so son. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/15 "2003-05-12T06:59:12Z")
I am not a remake, I am a free man! erm … carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/16 "2003-05-12T07:14:36Z")
Information… Information… Information… Oh who cares. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/17 "2003-05-14T07:00:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Evil Captor \* > \*\*Well, the Avengers represents a crappy reprise, sure, but is at least an ATTEMPT to do a good sequel from the original series (I assume SOMEONE was trying – though perhaps I assume too much) and as such represents a rebuttal to the OP, which implies that they don’t make movies based on good series. Even if you fail as badly as the Avengers movie did, you at least should get cred for having the sense to start with something good. As comapred to the Brady Bunch movie and so son. \*\* The Brady Bunch movie(s) were **satire** , and successful at that. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/18 "2003-05-14T07:07:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Reeder \* > Well…I would hope it would remain as true to the series as it could. Two words for ya, buddy: **Mission: Impossible** Man, talk about _raping_ the original franchise… It’s no wonder all of the original _M:I_ cast refused to appear in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/19 "2003-05-14T11:27:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Name me a movie re-do of a TV series that has been anywhere close to “true to the series”? … excepting movies that are made while the same actors are available, like the movie version of the old BATMAN with Adam West, or STAR TREK movies. Well, there was the _original_ movie **Dragnet** , back in the 1950s. It starred Jack Webb and others from the TV show (and it was in _color_, a big selling point). More recently, **The Fugitive** wasn’t bad. And there were movies based on TV comedies that were, at worst, no worse than the TV series – **Munster, Go Home!** , **McHale’s Navy** (the original 1960s version, not the recent one) and **McHale’s Navy Joins the Air Force**. There were a couple of \*\* Man from U.N.C.L.E.\*\* movies with the TV cast, and a couple of **Dark Shadows** movies with the TV cast. I disagree about a Prisoner movie – you don’t need 17 hours. A Prisoner movie could be made that would be quite good. I suspect that, despite its cult status, movie producers don’t see it as “mainstream” enough to rake in the big bucks to cover its cost. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406/20 "2003-05-14T12:17:44Z")
Good examples, **Cal** , although I did say that movies made with the same cast as the TV show tended to be OK (e.g., your examples of DRAGNET and MAN FROM UNCLE, etc). Agreed, THE FUGITIVE wasn’t bad, and the ADDAMS FAMILY movies were fine… but movies made from TV shows that don’t use the original cast and crew tend to be pretty awful on the whole. You’ve also got the problem of movies and TV shows made from some other source material – for instance, SUPERMAN movies are not derived from SUPERMAN TV shows, and vice versa. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-from-tv-shows-much-pablum-but-no-the-prisoner/174406.md?page=2)