Probably one of my most favourite TV programmes from days gone by.
A drama series that had great writing and characters, especially Bea Smith and Lizzie Birdsworth.
Anyone else a fan?
Anyone like Prisoner Cell Block H?
I wouldn't exactly call myself a fan but it was interesting TV back in the day.
I never understood it being on so late though, it wasn't that violent.
I watched it when it was shown in the U.S. about 25 years ago.
I loved the show. I watched it every time it was shown, even the first time, back in '87/'88, when I was in Primary school and I'd stay up late, when I should've been in bed. Actually, there's even a little reference to it in my sitcom script.
I watched it a long time ago, mostly for the shower scenes.
Loved it when I was a youth. Bea was totally badass. She certainly gave The Freak a run for her lezzy money. And Lizzie Birdsworth looked like my Dad.
Check out Bea's (Val Lehman's) website here: http://www.val-lehman.com/
Remember "Vinegar tits"?
What? A show about lesbians in a prison cell with names like 'Vinegar tits" was on 25 years ago?
Quote: Curt @ September 17 2009, 3:07 AM BSTWhat? A show about lesbians in a prison cell with names like 'Vinegar tits" was on 25 years ago?
Vinegar Tits was one of the female prison officers or 'screws'. The actress who played her later ended up in the first few years of Home & Away. I remember learning how to play the Prisoner theme song on the piano, as the song added to the pathos of the grim closing credits.
Quote: Lee Henman @ September 17 2009, 1:55 AM BSTCheck out Bea's (Val Lehman's) website here: http://www.val-lehman.com/
Score! I'm now tempted to waste money on some Prisoner DVDs (for my retirement, of course).
Are there many Aboriginal actors in Australia? I don't think I've ever seen one.
Quote: catskillz @ September 17 2009, 6:31 AM BSTAre there many Aboriginal actors in Australia? I don't think I've ever seen one.
Staying firmly on topic, I don't recall any aboriginal actresses in Prisoner (it was called simply Prisoner in Australia and the name was changed to Prisoner: Cell Block H for the UK to avoid confusion with The Prisoner as Patrick McGoohan is easily mistaken for a woman), though I haven't seen every single episode and haven't watched it for many years. There are many aboriginal actors, such as the small kid in the Baz Luhrmann film Australia (which I refuse to watch on the grounds that it seems crap) and several in Rabbit Proof Fence (which I also haven't seen, partly because it seems a bit serious and sad). Probably the best known aboriginal actor is a guy called David Gulpilil, who appeared in Crocodile Dundee and had the memorable line: "Aw, Mick, you frightened shit outta me."
