The Saint - The Early Episodes, Set 1
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Ivor Dean, Justine Lord, Larry Taylor, Leslie Crawford, Roger MooreBrand: A&E
Producer: Roger Moore
Writer: Roger Moore
Editor: Lee Doig
Producer: Lew Grade
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Black & White, Box set, Closed-captioned, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 60 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-03-29
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: AAE71174
Studio: A&E Home Video
Product features:
- Fearless, debonair, and determined to see justice, Simon Templar, aka The Saint, took the world by storm in 1962. Now, the dazzling black-and-white debut season of this modern-day Robin Hood is on DVD for the first time. Sympathetic to those in distress, especially when they're wearing a dress, The Saint circles the globe in his trademark white Volvo, deploying lethal charm as his weapon of ch
Movie Reviews of The Saint - The Early Episodes, Set 1
Movie Review: "Sooner or later, the ungodly get what they deserve."
Summary: 5 Stars
Simon Templar, aka the Saint, has been around a loooong time. Author Leslie Charteris debuted him way back in the 1928 novel MEET THE TIGER. Since then the Saint has seen plenty of time on-screen, as fleshed out by a boatload of actors (Louis Hayward, the wonderfully suave George Sanders, Hugh Sinclair, and even Val Kilmer). But, let's be real, no one fit the halo better than Roger Moore.
From 1962 to 1969, the British television series THE SAINT chronicled the globetrotting exploits of Simon Templar as he sought to help the helpless, punish the criminal element, and have a good time doing it. THE SAINT - THE EARLY EPISODES, SET 1 contains the 12 episodes which make up the 1962 debut season. Presented in crisp black & white (the series would be colorized in 1966), these early adventures sparkle with freshness and charm. And, yup, from the get-go, that memorable theme song wormed itself into the brain.
The first episode is titled "The Talented Husband." Its pre-credit sequence unveils a dapper Roger Moore as the Saint gazing at the camera and bemoaning the woes of crappy theater, yet he does this with a twinkle in the eye. This sets the tone for his character as Templar would mostly retain this lighthearted touch even when dealing with the "ungodly," as he calls them. But there are moments when the Saint gets down and dirty and very serious. One of his quotes referencing the "ungodly" is: "Sooner or later, the ungodly get what they deserve." And if it's up to the Saint, it'll be sooner. As exemplified in "The Careful Terrorist," he can be ruthless in his meting out of justice.
One of the things I enjoy best about the show is Templar's habit of breaking the fourth wall and directly addressing the viewers. This would become a signature gimmick in these early episodes. Another conceit of the show is that someone always recognizes him within the first opening minutes, at which point the halo would appear and the opening creds would roll out.
The episodes themselves are well-crafted stuff and mostly aren't mysteries in the classic sense, except for "The Arrow of God." The show doesn't keep you guessing too long as to the culprits's identities. Rather, it fills you in on who the bad guys are and then keeps you in suspense as to how things will turn out. So it's actually more suspense than whodunit. There are nice twists and turns peppered in, of which one very well done example is found in "The Talented Husband." Sometimes the Saint is barely even in the show. The Saint's absence is pronounced in whole chunks of scenes in several episodes as corrupt human drama would play out, only to have Templar come in in the latter stages and don his halo. Anyway, to me, the episodes which stand out are: "The Careful Terrorist" - as the Saint goes against a meticulous bomb-maker called the Engineer; "The Pearls of Peace" - this one's a touching love story (that's right; you heard me); and "The Element of Doubt" - when the courtroom is unable to dispense justice, the Saint offers his own brand.
Cool cars, international villains, ravishing women, and Roger Moore juggling them all with cool, debonair flair. Moore was around 34 years old when he first got this gig and he immediately breathed iconic life into Simon Templar. Dude simply oozes charisma, that crackling aura of something. And the droll, tongue-in-cheek wit doesn't hurt. Never mind James Bond, Moore was always better suited to play the Saint. In fact, as his 007 films progressed, he became more and more of a caricature. As the Saint, Roger Moore never got old.
Not much in the way of special features, but what there is can be found on Disc 3. "The History of the Saint" in text, Roger Moore's Biography & Filmography, and a photo gallery. You'd think there'd be at least an interview with the man. Sucks.
In three discs, here's Season One:
- Episode 1-01 - "The Talented Husband" - Simon helps a sexy insurance agent (Shirley Eaton) investigate a playwright who might have it in for his wealthy wife.
- Episode 1-02 - "The Latin Touch" - In Rome, the city of "yells, bells, and smells," Simon meets a lovely American tourist, only to have her be kidnapped in his presence and him slugged from behind.
- Episode 1-03 - "The Careful Terrorist" - In New York City Simon means to avenge a journalist buddy fatally targeted by a crooked labor union boss.
- Episode 1-04 - "The Covetous Headsman" - On a New York to Paris flight Simon encounters a lovely woman bound for France to meet her long-lost brother. But murder greets them first in the City of Lights.
- Episode 1-05 - "The Loaded Tourist" - In Geneva a stabbing pits the Saint against jewel smugglers.
- Episode 1-06 - "The Pearls of Peace" - Simon financially invests in a friend's pearl diving scheme in Mexico, but the venture goes horribly wrong.
- Episode 1-07 - "The Arrow of God" - This time it's in the Bahamas as the Saint rubs elbows with a dubious household, among whom are an Indian mystic, a malicious newspaper columnist, and a murderer. Gorgeous Honor Blackman guest stars.
- Episode 1-08 - "The Element of Doubt" - This one's a courtroom drama as a murderous arsonist hires an unscrupulous defense attorney renowned for acquitting his crooked clients. But the Saint objects.
- Episode 1-09 - "The Effete Angler" - Simon goes to Miami Beach for some fishing and hauls in a luscious femme fatale and some smugglers as his catch of the day. Guest-starring Shirley Eaton (now playing a different character).
- Episode 1-10 - "The Golden Journey" - No crime-fighting in this one. In Spain Simon teaches a lesson to a spoiled, shrewish girl who's about to marry his good friend.
- Episode 1-11 - "The Man Who Was Lucky" - The Saint tangles with protection racketeers.
- Episode 1-12 - "The Charitable Countess" - In Rome the Saint takes in a thieving street urchin and accepts a risky challenge from a contessa.
Summary of The Saint - The Early Episodes, Set 1
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