Purely Joyful Movie!

Let's be realistic.

Brilliant and touching

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

I must admit, Prisoner scared me as a kid when it was on Channel 10 at 8:30pm. I watch it now, and it's quite funny to watch.I am very thankful that ALL 692 episodes have been put on DVD. So far I am up to episode 320 and I'm loving it. Sets that shake when a character gets roughed up against the brick walls of Wentworth. It is just classic. Locks on security doors that probably don't work, but characters spend time making noise with the keys.Lovable characters, such as Bea Smith, Old Lizzie, Sandy Edwards, Meg Jackson/Morrison, Vera Bennett, Steve Falkner, Smart, Jim Fletcher, and many many others.Based on what I have seen so far, Vera Bennett and The Freak Furgesson would not have played well together. They really are two very different types of characters who would have clashed at all levels. Vera may have been hard towards the prisoners, but she was brutally honest. As for the Freak, as the most bent officer so far, she causes a lot of the problems faced by Wentworth. Vera would not have stood for it.It is good to see the camera work and lighting has improved over the years, in some scenes the lighting is actually quite bad. Sometimes it is actually hard to see what is going on in the dark scenes.From time to time some of the same actors re-appear as different characters, but thats a soap opera for you.If you have not had a chance to watch Prisoner yet, give it a shot. As badly made as it is, it is also addictive to watch. I plan on watching all episodes of Prisoner. I recommend you give it a shot too.

I have to say that I have rather varied tastes. But one thing that is a hallmark of my experience is quality. That coupled with heart and soul ~ compassion, if you will. Prisoner Cell Block H is an OUTSTANDING program, that still all these years after it's initial airing, maintains it's merit and worth as a statement on the human condition. Timeless are the topics central to many in our society who fall victim to the pitfalls of survival. Drug abuse, alcoholism, molestation, crime recidivism: all dealt with in astonishing wisdom. Discrimination due to sexual orientation is delved into here and shows quite eloquently not only the intrinsic nature of homosexuality, but how a supposed civilized society continually marginalizes and maligns them. Many labels of judgment harshly placed, or, status attitudes of negative light are observed here too. Those who've made mistakes who now have a prison record are explored here with depth and empathy. Similar to homosexuality, those with prison records (not brushes with the law, but an arrest be it only for a parking ticket or minor drug possession: 420) are still allowed to be barred from housing and/or job opportunities simply because other people don't "approve" of them.Psychologists, or those wanting to enter the field should have this program as required viewing. What makes people tick? Why would a "sadistic" guard actually enjoy hurting, traumatizing and tormenting other people ~ even if they only consider them nothing more than animals? This program shows the inherent flaw of the Bible's an eye for an eye ~ and how all that does is lead the world to blindness. Time and again we are shown that revenge doesn't lead us to any higher plane, but instead leads us down ever darker paths of sadness and destruction.This series was the first and still is, as of this writing, the only to explore the abuses people do to each other In such realistic and imaginative tones. The damage that labels have in our civilization have a lasting and lifetime tidal wave affect. Many who are tormented when young often bring that into adulthood and somewhere it's passed down the line. To me what this show brings home is that we are all one~ one in humanity. It is our choice then how to proceed in life when there are circumstances that lead us to stumble and fall. We can choose to remain prisoners to others or we can work to transform our situations and experience the windfall of life where the roses grow.

Excellent, gripping, funny and over the top. Inside the gates of Wentworth Detention Centre are housed the most dangerous criminals in H Block. From the camp style of true English upper class snobbery of Erica Davidson, who is Govenor, to the evil, sadistic, cruel ways of the "Freak" Joan Ferguson.From episode one the main story line has you gripped, and through out all 692 episodes you will be a fanatic. Riots, fires, murders, LSD trips, bashings - everything you could ask for in a prison drama and more.Well worth renting or buying, you will NOT be sorry! 12 out of 10! A+++

Prisoner. Truly one of the greatest drama's ever made. At the time the first episode was made it was groundbreaking television, and viewed all these years later it still is. Perhaps only a culture as young as the Australian one could have come up with such a fresh approach to the subject of Prison on screen. Yes it's derided and laughed about in many quarters, but mistakenly so and it's millions of viewers world wide are testiment to this.Tour de Force performances from Maggie Kirkpatrick as tragic evil warder Joan Ferguson, Gerda Nicholson as the liberal Governor Anne Reynolds and Val Lehman as Top Dog supremo Bea Smith. Riots, fires,blackmails,fraud , kidnappings, vice and murder were all served up on an alarmingly regular basis. And that's just the officers storylines. I'm not joking, if you can last the course of all 692 episodes you will have watched every possible crime story , it's possible to think of! Very memorable notables include the fantastic British born actress Amanda Muggleton as Chrissy Latham, Tina Bursill's ice Queen Sonia Stevens, Judith McGrath's brilliant performance as complex officer Colleen Powell and the late Sheila Florence's unforgettable creation of Lizzie Birdsworth ( an astonishing performance that has to be seen). Notable storylines include Bea Smith's amnesia, the three episode terrorist seige in which Myra Desmond bows out, Franky Doyle's story and the story of misunderstood Kath Maxwell. Any story involving final Top Dog Rita Conners was worth it's salt including her harrowing experience in Blackmoor prison. The writing was as diverse as the acting could be but Ian Smith's episodes were always exciting and meaty. And although the show finally closed it's gates after seven years it's last year was considered by many to be the best, thanks to some excellent scripts and compelling charactors like Kath Maxwell and fiery Biker Goddess Rita Conners , played with such relish by Kate Hood and Glenda Linscott that it was impossible not to watch! Too many storylines too mention, too many charactors to review! Prisoner will be truly missed. Long live the reruns......