Roger Moore and The Saint Series
Dr Shatterhand
Posts: 31MI6 Agent
I have recently been enjoying the BBC America's showings of THE SAINT. Even more so, I enjoy seeing the actors and actresses who would eventually work with Moore again in the Bond films.
One episode had a very young Steven Berkoff playing a henchman. Other episodes have had Lois Maxwell, Marne Maitland, Valerie Leon, Julian Glover, Geoffrey Keen, Edward de Souza to name a few.
Has anyone else been watching these episodes?
One episode had a very young Steven Berkoff playing a henchman. Other episodes have had Lois Maxwell, Marne Maitland, Valerie Leon, Julian Glover, Geoffrey Keen, Edward de Souza to name a few.
Has anyone else been watching these episodes?
Comments
I don't know if BBC America is showing the black and white ones, but I miss them. There was a film noir aspect to those, and the story lines, most of which were original Leslie Charteris stories, were superior. He also travelled to more foreign countries in the black and white ones than in the color, which are all set in Europe.
Roger rules as Simon Templar!
Leslie Charteris--who was extremely critical of the many actors who'd played his creation--made an exception for Roger Moore,who he thought was outstanding as the "Robin Hood of Modern Crime".
You can also see Shirley Eaton and Jan Williams, and I've forgotten the name of several others temporarily.
Alex, what's your favorite quote from "The Russian Prisoner"? I love when Templar beats the Russian goons up at the travel agency, and then tries to escape the Swiss police by pretending he is Russian and has diplomatic immunity: he holds up his clenched fist to the police and says "Dostoyevski!" CLASSIC!
And small correction. Actually, it's "Vendetta for the Saint."
Just curious, but is the Russian Prisoner episode the one with Jane Merrow, or am I mixing this up with another episode?
Even though I haven't seen the show in twenty years, the Persuaders is like the Saint in that it is about adventurers travelling to various countries fighting crime
The episode you're thinking of with Jane Merrow is "The Angel's Eye", where Simon travels to Amsterdam to cut a famous diamond.
You might find this site on The Saint of interest:
http://home.arcor.de/simon.templar/saint/
It has an episode guide with brief descriptions.
I always feel bad when I criticize Moore's Bond, because I am a huge fan of his Saint, although it's been years since I've seen the show. It's classic TV, and Moore was perfect. That may be one reason I just couldn't get into him as Bond. He made too big an impression as Simon Templar. I thought he was better than George Sanders in the movies, and that ain't easy, folks.
Same here. I loved that show as a kid. I missed the late 80's version with Simon Dutton, though that was supposed to be poor. I'd still like to see it out of interest. But the Moore series stands up very well. It's about time somebody brought Simon Templar back to TV.
Yes; looking forward to that. There's also a little interview with Roger in the Radio Times (and Michael Caine's on the cover if you pick the right one!
I've got the Caine cover as well. Whose on the other ones?
Macgregor (Trainspotting); Robert Carlyle (Full Monty) and Hugh Grant & Andie Macdowell (Four Weddings)- so obviously only Caine is the one to get!
Shame it's from Zulu, though...
{[] Glad I got the Caine one then. Pity it wasn't in his Harry Palmer coat and specs though. Macgregor is fine in the right role, but I can't be done with Carlyle or Hugh Grant.
What night is this? I used to watch it then on a Wednesday night but haven't checked in for a while. Is it still on on a Wednesday?
For those in the USA who have a multi region DVD player, I'm sure you could order the first series of the Saint off internet somewhere. I have it, but have never really got round to watching it all, just a few episodes.
I am however, really into the Persuaders at the moment as I had them all for my birthday.
Is it possible to get the colour Saint episodes in the UK? I haven't seen them in the shops anywhere or online.
EDIT: Bummer. Due to the wonders of Ebay and wikipedia, I have discovered that I have mucked up. I have an earlier release of the b & w eps, which means that it doesn't contain all of them. X-( Well I'll have to stick it on ebay and buy the newer one.
All the B & W episodes and the colour episodes are available on box sets via the 'Network' label. I only have the older Carlton version of the first 39 B & W episodes, and I'm happy enough with that for the time being (haven't watched them all yet either!).
'Return Of The Saint' is a good series too- it stars Ian Ogilvy as Simon Templar. Ogilvy does indeed look and sound very like Roger, BUT he is excellent in the role and has that same charm/charisma, no question. Of all ITC's series, ROTS is the one I wish had run for more than one series- it's not quite as successful an update as 'The New Avengers' but some episodes are great.
Ogilvy was terrific. The DVD box for Return of the Saint looks to be an excellent release. Bit pricey though.
I've reactivated this very old thread, as it is quite specific.
In the UK, Talking Pictures TV is repeating THE SAINT from Series 1, Episode 1, The Talented Husband, on Sunday evenings at 6pm. As far as I can tell this is going to be a one-episode a week showing, so there's not that commitment to view every single night of the week. I may well drop in and give it a view.
Tempted to do a review series, but my time is taken up with Dr Who and university work, so... watch the space ?
aha! it was @chrisno1 who bumped this ancient thread!
theres a much more recently active and ongoing Saint thread here: Recommend "The Saint" or not?
it might be better to keep discussion to that one thread, because theres a lot of links and other information in that one?
I know I eagerly await your episode by episode reviews Chris! I might not always agree with your subjective value judgements, but you pack more information into each review than I ever see anywhere else, and I love to see may favourite bits of pop culture given such detailed analysis.