I've read this account before, and hearing it from the fellow himself, it doesn't sound quite as "nasty" as it does in books. People like to build up the "fact" McGoohan was drunk during that fight sequence. Perhaps he was a bit, therefore couldn't pull his punches as well. But hearing this, it doesn't sound like he was in a bad mood, like it does when you read about it. Was he having fun, or perhaps feeling competitive, like in his school-boxing days? We may never know for sure!
@Monkofmagnesia That is actually not true. Most fight scenes look terribly fake, and look even more so if watched with the sound off. In some of the best fight scenes ever filmed (Flashpoint, Friedkin's The Hunted, etc.), the actors are really hitting each other. You should watch the fight at the end of the Rod Taylor movie Darker than Amber. It was a real fight and both actors had broken bones by the time it was finished.
I've read this account before, and hearing it from the fellow himself, it doesn't sound quite as "nasty" as it does in books. People like to build up the "fact" McGoohan was drunk during that fight sequence. Perhaps he was a bit, therefore couldn't pull his punches as well. But hearing this, it doesn't sound like he was in a bad mood, like it does when you read about it. Was he having fun, or perhaps feeling competitive, like in his school-boxing days? We may never know for sure!
That was interesting learning that physical contact in a fight does not look impressive on film, but not touching anyone looks more convincing.
@Monkofmagnesia That is actually not true. Most fight scenes look terribly fake, and look even more so if watched with the sound off. In some of the best fight scenes ever filmed (Flashpoint, Friedkin's The Hunted, etc.), the actors are really hitting each other. You should watch the fight at the end of the Rod Taylor movie Darker than Amber. It was a real fight and both actors had broken bones by the time it was finished.