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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9781404906464
Format: Anamorphic, Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 1404906460
Label: Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Region Code: 99
Release Date: March 02, 2004
Running Time: 93 minutes
Sales Rank: 47862
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: December 11, 1955
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Editorial Review:
Description:
Alec Guinness stars as an outspoken cardinal from an Eastern Bloc country who’s jailed for his rebellious beliefs and subjected to the relentless interrogation of a psychologist (Jack Hawkins). After months of grilling, Hawkins finally finds a crack in Guinness’s façade.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - A rare disappointment
Few actors have such a glowing record of fine films to his credit as Alec Guinness. Here, he is again excellent, but even he was unable to overcome such a weak script. The story involves the Communist tactic of arresting and breaking down a man mentally. The script is pretentious, inconclusive, wordy, and unpersuasive. The production itself is low budget but competent. Hawkins overacts at times, but that's nothing new. One comes away from the film with perplexity and disappointment. Yes, the Cardinal confessed everything. And his inquisitor is apparently ready to commit suicide--for having succeeded. Who cares? There is nothing inspirational or even informative here. It's like an acting school, with two veterans of stage and film displaying their prowess. A film best forgotten.
Rating:  - An Electrifying Drama
This movie, now 52 years old, is a still classic in every sense. It tells the story of a situation painfully similar to the real ordeal involving Cardinal Mindzenty. The dedication of the Cardinal (Guinness) to his post is valiant and the unending attack by the accuser (Hawkins) is engrossing. Guinness and Hawkins were 2 of the finest actors in the past century and they rose to peak performances in this work. PLUS all of the background represented the prevailing atmosphere in parts of post- WWII Europe very well.
Rating: - Compelling psychological drama
"The Prisoner" is an underappreciated yet nonetheless superb and gripping drama revolving around two outstanding British actors Alec Guinness and Jack Hawkins. Guinness plays a austere and principled cardinal in an unnamed Eastern European country. His views are apparently not in line with those of the state. He is arrested by the police to be psychologically tortured by interrogator Jack Hawkins. Hawkins must break down the resolve of the impenetrable Guinness so as to have him renounce his beliefs during a well publicized trial.
The dialogue between the men causes both to question their convictions as the lines between prisoner and interrogator becomes muddled.
The acting by both Hawkins and Guinness is at an extremely high level of professionalism. British character actor, Wilfrid Lawson, playing the jailer also gives a very effectine performance.
Rating: - The Destructive Power of Evil on Two Souls
Sir Alec gives a riveting performance as an imprisioned cardinal psychologically tortured into questioning himself and his beliefs circa WWII. Jack Hawkins is the perfect foil to witness and instigate Guinness' character's slow deterioration of mind and spirit. In the process, Hawkins' character begins to question his own humanity. Deeply moving and beautifully done. A great study into the mind of man and the dance between good and evil.
Rating: - Superb acting and interrelation between patient & interrogat
Wonderful acting. Foreshadowing trajic real life death of Jack Hawkins. The Cardinal down trodden, held in captivity, brainwashed, and abused rises through psychological catharsis to prevail over his "analyst"/"captor".
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