The Prisoner

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The Prisoner

1955

1h 34m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

In the early post-World War II years, a cardinal (Alec Guinness) in an unnamed eastern European country is thrown in jail for treason. While there, he is subject to an intense degree of torture, both physical and psychological, by his captors. These are led by a wily man known only as the Interrogator (Jack Hawkins), who uses every tool at his disposal to get the strong-willed prisoner to issue a statement to his flock renouncing the role of religion in society.

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Robert Hatch

The Nation

12/23/2020

The plot is oddly bland.

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

11/13/2019

Customers who insist that Guinness always be funny may be temporarily taken aback to discover him in an intellectual tragedy, but the net result is a movie of uncommon distinction.

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Virginia Graham

The Spectator

03/14/2018

The Prisoner is an adaptation by Bridget Boland of her play in which Alec Guinness was carried in the arms of the tragic Muse to the very heights of his profession.

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Alan Dale

Blogcritics.org

05/03/2006

What Guinness does with his eyes alone ... provides a seminar on acting. And that's just from the neck up.

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Pablo Villaça

Cinema em Cena

11/23/2005

4/5

Drama psicolgico inteligente e com belas atuaes de Guinness, Hawkins e Lawson, perde pontos apenas pela presena forada de uma subtrama tola envolvendo dois amantes.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

07/18/2005

3/5

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j F

Nov 28

If you like cats the opening credits are for you!

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05/16/2013

Two Pros Light Up the Screen--A study of contrasts!!

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01/15/2013

year s/b 1955 not 1956 in this melodrama based on a true story

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11/27/2011

Stagy, dry film with the performance by Guinness being its only selling point.

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05/24/2008

Facinating! A wonderfully directed, well acted, provocative film that will keep you thinking and wondering what *you* would do in such a situation.

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12/18/2007

A talky, talky, TALKY film, made additionally dull by overbearing directorial obviousness. A fine performance by Jack Hawkins, though Guinness, surprisingly, doesn't quite muster the necessary emotional suffering of his character.

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Peter Glenville

Director

Alec Guinness

The Cardinal

Jack Hawkins

The Interrogator

Wilfrid Lawson

The Jailer

Knife in the Head

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Synopsis

In the early post-World War II years, a cardinal (Alec Guinness) in an unnamed eastern European country is thrown in jail for treason. While there, he is subject to an intense degree of torture, both physical and psychological, by his captors. These are led by a wily man known only as the Interrogator (Jack Hawkins), who uses every tool at his disposal to get the strong-willed prisoner to issue a statement to his flock renouncing the role of religion in society.

Director: Peter Glenville
Production Co: London Independent Producers
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 34m

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