Trivia / The Prisoner E16 "Once Upon a Time"

• Creator's Favourite Episode: Patrick McGoohan once stated in a 1977 interview that this episode was his favourite of the series.
• Deleted Role: John Maxim's brief scene as Number Eighty-Six was cut from the episode. He is however still listed in the credits.
• Directed By Castmember: Patrick McGoohan directed this episode. Unlike some others he directed, he didn't even conceal it with a pseudonym.
• Enforced Method Acting: During production and filming of the episode both Patrick McGoohan and Leo McKern became totally engrossed in their roles and almost achieved a near-psychotic state (cited by various people, including McKern).
• Troubled Production: The episode was written in a day to meet a gruelling deadline. The intensity of the performances was such that Leo McKern suffered either a heart attack or a mental breakdown soon after filming wrapped up. Its follow-up episode wasn't shot for another eight months and the actor took some convincing to return to the role.
• Working Title: "Degree Absolute."
• Written By Castmember: Patrick McGoohan wrote this episode. Unlike some others he wrote, he didn't even conceal it with a pseudonym.

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