'The Prisoner' captured in Blu-ray format

"The Prisoner" is making a break for Blu-ray, after several years of rumor and speculation about the cult British TV show going high-def. 

A&E Home Video has just confirmed it will release "The Prisoner: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]" on Oct. 27. 

Patrick McGoohan created and starred in the series, which has been fully restored from the original film elements. There's newly remixed 5.1 audio as well as the old-school mono.

"The Prisoner" seems to have survived in good shape, based on previous DVD releases. Expectations for the transfer to Blu-ray will be high, given the show's imaginative, odd and colorful sets and costumes, as well as its gorgeous seaside locations. 

I'm good with any excuse to revisit "The Prisoner" (even at its 15-hour running time) -- the occasion of an HD release works just fine.

Here are some of the bonus features, either new or not previously released in the U.S.:

• Two new featurettes, "The Pink Prisoner" and "You Make Sure It Fits!"
• Feature length documentary "Don't Knock Yourself Out," featuring most of the key players in the production. (McGoohan died early this year.)
• A newly restored original edit of the first episode, "Arrival," with an optional music-only track featuring "Wilfred Josephs' complete and abandoned score."
• The original edit of "The Chimes of Big Ben" (The previous box set had a "rare alternate" version of the episode.)
• Commentaries from production veterans on seven episodes.
• Image archive with more than 1,200 stills.

"The Prisoner" is contained on five discs. Full-boat retail is $100. 

The British series, which first confused and delighted viewers in 1967 and '68, enjoys a "Star Trek"-like following of those dedicated to its rat's nest of mysteries and intrigues.

All 17 episodes of "The Prisoner" have been out there for most of the DVD era, with five volumes unleashed in 2000/2001 and "vThe Prisoner: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition" coming in 2006.

Comments

[twitter.com/PrisonerOnline]

If you buy the Blu Ray box set you can win tickets to a special all night screening of the new blu ray edition of The Prisoner in London.

See more: http://www.theprisoneronline.com