What are Danger Man and Secret Agent?
Danger Man was the name a series about the secret agent John Drake (played by Patrick McGoohan), a man who preferred to use his intellect to resolve situations. He did not carry a gun, nor did he get involved with every woman he met. McGoohan played a large role in shaping Drake's character, which was a specific reaction against the "James Bond" types popular in cinema and television at the time. Drake had a conscience; the moral conflicts of his job were a major theme in the series.The shows were 30 minutes black and white. Later on, the series was filmed as 60 minute black and white Secret Agent episodes. There were also two color Secret Agent episodes filmed, but they were never released as part of the series. They were later edited together, however, to produce a 100 minute TV movie called Koroshi.
(Note: The mixed up "puzzle" letters that appear in the closing credits of some episodes of Secret Agent unscramble to spell "Danger Man".)
Patrick McGoohan conceived the concept for The Prisoner while filming some episodes of Danger Man in Portmeirion (the Village). There is also a Secret Agent episode about a "village" of agents training to become imposters that was used as part of the idea for The Prisoner (this is the show where he hides a camera in a typewriter). Many of the actors in Danger Man and Secret Agent also appear in The Prisoner.
There is some debate on whether The Prisoner is a sequel to Danger Man. To call the disagreement violent would be a gross understatement. For more information, watch The Prisoner, then refer to Volume II of this FAQ [not written yet - Pat].
Opening Lyrics - Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers
Written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri
There's a man who leads a life of danger
To everyone he meets, he stays a stranger
With every move he makes, another chance he takes
Odds are he won't live to see tomorrow.
Secret Agent Man, Secret Agent Man
They've given you a number and taken away your name.