The Prisoner

1955

1h 34m

Drama

List

56%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

250+ 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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Roger Moore

Movie Nation

There have been much better interview/interrogation thrillers this rather stagebound, flatly-directed, unemotional “message” wrapped in black and white celluloid.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 19, 2023

Full Review

Robert Hatch

The Nation

The plot is oddly bland.

Dec 23, 2020

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

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.

Nov 13, 2019

Full Review

Virginia Graham

The Spectator

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.

Mar 14, 2018

Full Review

Alan Dale

Blogcritics.org

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

May 3, 2006

Full Review

Pablo Villaça

Cinema em Cena

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.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 23, 2005

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Audience Member

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

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

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

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

harri k

Nuanced and precise. Powerful cinema.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Peter Glenville

Director

Alec Guinness

The Cardinal

Jack Hawkins

The Interrogator

Wilfrid Lawson

The Jailer

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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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