Production Living in Harmony

valerie french guest-starred in episode kathy/number 22

living in harmony directed david tomblin , written tomblin , ian l. rakoff. historians credit episode first western filmed british television, although other series such doctor ( gunfighters ) had done westerns before. series lead star , co-creator, patrick mcgoohan said in 1977 interview episode came because show short of story , had desire act in western. prisoner had been conceived mcgoohan serial of 7 episodes, itc managing director lew grade had intention sell series american network , therefore demanded twenty-six episodes. mcgoohan couldn t come many stories, made compromise , decided upon seventeen episodes. in light of these events mcgoohan , writing staff had come ten more episodes, 1 of living in harmony . mcgoohan later state, goal of living in harmony , other padding episodes, make them visually exciting possible still retaining within them part of theme of violence doesn t pay off .

mcgoohan enlisted ian l. rakoff, had worked assistant editor on earlier episodes, write episode. theme of episode, rakoff drew largely upon personal experiences part of leftist movement in south africa during apartheid regime, believed policies , philosophy of apartheid regime resembled of village. idea of sheriff refusing bear arms directly inspired incident occurred while rakoff in south africa, when during night out had intention of shooting man considered racist stopped group member. rakoff explained later, warned. if d wanted go associate full member of group, d have more disciplined , give gun. irresponsible in world, @ time . in addition personal experiences rakoff influenced cowboy marvel comics, title of episode, opening sequence lifted gene autry comic books.

somewhat of dispute arose after episode s production, rakoff claimed tomblin had claimed lion s share of writing credit, while wrote of episode. according rakoff, tomblin able in absence of mcgoohan, in united states filiming ice station zebra. aside conflict, stuntman frank maher claimed part of credit episode in suggested @ 1 point patrick mcgoohan series should include episode western style theme.

during first american broadcast of series, living in harmony not included. cbs stated because of episode s reference hallucinogenic drug use, yet several authors have disputed argument, since mind-altering drugs present in various other episodes, yet these not censored. instead, argue network feared number 6 refusal carry arms interpreted anti-war statement. plot recognisably american, being western, argue, network banned episode in fear carried message against presence in southeast asia, (the vietnam war being @ height). official spokesmen cbs itc have since confirmed episode s implied war commentary why wasn t shown during original run.