Roger Moore is The Saint!

[Ralph]

No self respecting forum is complete without a Saint thread particularly a Roger one....

[Pamela]

I'm at disc 6 in the Monochrome set at present, and I'm loving it. I haven't started re-watching The Persuaders (bar one episode-answers on a postcard..)yet, and I'm dying to get onto the colour episodes-but I'm determined to do it in the proper order for once.

[Ralph]

I think one of my favourite parts of these monochrome Saints is Roger addressing the audience - it's a nice touch

This format is ideal for Roger's particular style - I'm almost at the end of the monochrome set and I watched the colour ones earlier this year as they were released first.

[Wayne]

Two Saint fans both living in Glasgow.

We shall be expecting the engagement announcement very soon.

Though i shan't give her up without a fight!

[Ralph]

Pam Avenger is clearly a lady of good taste, quality and distinction!

So whats she doing here

[MacNimon]

I'd to scroll away down to page 5 to find this thread!!! I didn't realise that it was so long since anyone had posted here!

So what did you think of the extras on the boxsets, Ralph? I really enjoyed them. Ian Ogilvy gave a thoroughly entertaining narration, imo, sending things up a little bit now and again when required ("who writes this crap anyway?"etc). A few interesting nuggets of information included here, as well. Take Roger's comment on previous Saint actor George Sanders, for example: I never knew that he commited suicide when he was 65, nor that he had been planning this for at least 15 years, having commenting at the age of 50 that he would kill himself at 65.

I also loved the story about Terry Nation, under pressure to get a script in for The Baron, reworking an old Saint story of his basically just changing characters names, locations, etc (but not the plot!) to fit the format of the other series. Although these episodes were made a year or two apart, unfortunately he was left red-faced when both these episodes aired on American tv the same weekend!

Also interesting was the unused b&w title sequence, which was really an early version of the colour series title sequence. It actually worked quite well, I thought, but the new logo at the end just didn't look right to me!

It was a nice touch, having Ian Ogilvy doing the narration on these. It looks as if Roger has returned the favour as he's apparently done the narration for a similar documentary on the Return Of The Saint boxset.

I wonder if this is going to be the last series of the Saint to be released on dvd? I'd love the chance to see the Simon Dutton series again as well, although I remember not being very impressed with it on it's original transmission. I'd also love to see the one-off Australian version of the Saint, starring a guy called Andrew Clarke (I think!) Whether it's any good or not remains to be seen...

[Ralph]

Great to see you enjoyed the extras Mac - I'll come back to this thread later

[Ralph]

I loved the extra features - the combination of Ian on commentry and Roger being interviewed is a great addition to the discs. The animation used with the stickman is a nice touch. I recently got the Return of the Saint and it reverses the roles with Roger on commentary.

On the budget constraints while Roger explained he never got any further than the backlot at Pinewood he made the point that he could go home nights to his family so It seems to have worked very well for him in those years. The comments made on Roger by those who've worked with him always seem favourable, easy to work with, chatting to everyone on set no matter their status and bringing with him a lot of humour. Rogers's biggest criticism as an actor is equally his strength, simply that he acts himself but thats why I watch it. It's only when you see someone else try to take over that you realise just how well he fitted the part.

I've watched other ITC series recently like "The Champions" and "Man In a Suitcase" but I don't find them as compelling to watch for a modern audience - When Roger's on screen he personality carries the whole show along. When Ian Ogilivy took over at the end of the 70s I wasn't impressed because I'd grown up with seeing reruns of Roger - I'm just assessing now if my opinions have changed.

Mac - I've not familiar at all with the Simon Dutton series - when was that made?

[MacNimon]

I loved the extra features - the combination of Ian on commentry and Roger being interviewed is a great addition to the discs. The animation used with the stickman is a nice touch. I recently got the Return of the Saint and it reverses the roles with Roger on commentary.

On the budget constraints while Roger explained he never got any further than the backlot at Pinewood he made the point that he could go home nights to his family so It seems to have worked very well for him in those years. The comments made on Roger by those who've worked with him always seem favourable, easy to work with, chatting to everyone on set no matter their status and bringing with him a lot of humour. Rogers's biggest criticism as an actor is equally his strength, simply that he acts himself but thats why I watch it. It's only when you see someone else try to take over that you realise just how well he fitted the part.

I've watched other ITC series recently like "The Champions" and "Man In a Suitcase" but I don't find them as compelling to watch for a modern audience - When Roger's on screen he personality carries the whole show along. When Ian Ogilivy took over at the end of the 70s I wasn't impressed because I'd grown up with seeing reruns of Roger - I'm just assessing now if my opinions have changed.

Mac - I've not familiar at all with the Simon Dutton series - when was that made?

Very late 80's/early 90's...I think there were only one or two series made. It was a totally different format...double length 'movie' type episodes. Six stories in total, I think... Simon Dutton was also a change from the style of Moore and Ogilvy, which I found to be a distraction. He wasn't the smooth, suave, sophisticated Simon Templar that I was used to...he looked the part, but just didn't seem to be Templar, to my eyes. In a nutshell, the series simply wasn't what I was expecting, and being disappointed in it, gave up after an episode or two. With the benefit of hindsight, Dutton simply wasn't trying to be a carbon copy of the others, but rather attempting to put his own stamp on the character.

I really didn't give the new a version a chance at the time, but I'd love to give it another chance now, I think I'm in a better position now to judge it on it's own merits. Just because I didn't initially enjoy the first episode doesn't necessarily mean that it was a bad series...

The fact that they didn't make any more episodes makes me wonder, though. And I don't think it's been repeated either, but I could be wrong there. I'd still like the opportunity to give it another chance...

[MacNimon]

Some more details here about the Dutton series...The Saint On TV

The Saint
Starring Simon Dutton
In 1989 the Saint was once again welcomed back to television in six 2-hour movies featuring Simon Dutton as Simon Templar, alias the Saint. D.L. Taffner Ltd., produced the episodes as part of The Mystery Wheel of Adventure, a series of ten new made-for-TV movies. Bob Baker was involved as a consultant to the series, but Charteris' expertise was not utilized and his criticisms were ignored.



1989 - Color

The Brazilian Connection, screenplay by Anthony Horowitz
The Blue Dulac, screenplay by Peter Palliser
The Software Murders, screenplay by Peter Palliser
The Big Bang, screenplay by John Goldsmith
Wrong Number, screenplay by John Goldsmith
Fear in Fun Park, screenplay by Patricia Johnson

[MacNimon]

...not to mention this rarity...

The Saint in Manhattan
Starring Andrew Clarke




Robert Baker still believed in the Saint, and decided to give it another go with Australian Andrew Clarke in the lead role. He teamed with D.L. Taffner Ltd., to produce a one-hour pilot episode that aired on CBS. It did not make the fall schedule; instead, CBS decided to show it and have viewers call in and vote to put it on the schedule. About 44,000 people called in, with over 40,000 of them voting in favor of the show. These numbers did not sway CBS, especially since the show did not fair well against whatever was playing on the other two networks that night, and it declined to purchase any future episodes.

1987 - Color

The Saint in Manhattan, screenplay by Peter Gethers and David Handler

[Ralph]

Very late 80's/early 90's...I think there were only one or two series made. It was a totally different format...double length 'movie' type episodes. Six stories in total, I think... Simon Dutton was also a change from the style of Moore and Ogilvy, which I found to be a distraction. He wasn't the smooth, suave, sophisticated Simon Templar that I was used to...he looked the part, but just didn't seem to be Templar, to my eyes. In a nutshell, the series simply wasn't what I was expecting, and being disappointed in it, gave up after an episode or two. With the benefit of hindsight, Dutton simply wasn't trying to be a carbon copy of the others, but rather attempting to put his own stamp on the character.

I think I'm always going to struggle to accept anyone else in the part.

I remember years ago being surprised to find there was some old movies with a character The Saint - growing up I assumed the Roger series was the original.

[MacNimon]

I watched a couple of Saint films this week (the only two that I've got!) for the first time in years, and it was pretty interesting comparing them to the tv series. First up was George Sanders in The Saint Takes Over from 1940-ish, followed by The Saint starring Val Kilmer.

Two different actors, with vastly different interpretations of the character. In a way, I found it easier to watch the b&w Sanders movie, simply because I'm still working my way through the b&w Roger tv series. But even though it takes a few scenes to get used to Sanders as Simon Templar, it soon becomes apparent that this is the same character that Roger played on tv - he doesn't have the same easy going charm that Roger Moore brought to the part so effortlessly, but I soon found that Sanders had many lines which I easily found myself imagining Roger saying (albeit better, in my imagination!). But Sanders' Saint is a suave, sophisticated gent similar to Moore's (but naturally much more dated). But somehow it's hard to think of Sanders' Saint as the adventurer that Moore's (and Ogilvy's) is. as there's a lot of talk in this but not a great deal of action. Another factor which helped me enjoy this film, the plot of which is pretty standard Saint fare btw, is the fact that it is only 65 minutes or so long...not much longer than a standard 60's tv episode. Overall. I'd rate this a 6/10...I'll definitely seek out more Sanders stuff in the future!

Val Kilmer, on the other hand...what can I say? The less, the better! What a wasted opportunity this 1997 film was. They made a big mistake imo by making this an 'origin' story where none was needed...this is The Saint's Casino Royale. Kilmer at no time acts like the Simon Templar (in any of his incarnations) that we know and love. He's totally miscast here, imo. But there's absoluletly nothing here that feels like the Saint...it's simply another Hollywood blockbuster with plenty of action set-pieces, but not much soul. I'm surprised that Robert Baker ever allowed his name to be put to this. It's one of those films which would have been better if it wasn't trying to be something which it obviously wasn't...replace the name Simon Templar with John Smith or something, and it would have been a better film almost instantly. But even then, just a second-rate Hollywood action flick.


So Roger certainly looks like being the definitive Saint...not that I ever doubted it for a moment! But it's good to see different takes on a character now and again...

[stuartdg]

Now i'm thinkin about gettin this on dvd-which is recommended to a saint novice the colour series or the HUGE 18 disc b/w set?

[Ralph]

In response to Mac, I think I might have seen George Sanders in the role but it would be a long time ago. I'm going to keep a closed mind.

stuart - I liked watching the progression from the b/w to colour - I'm probably far too biased to say whats best as I just love it all. I think Mac would be able to give a fairer judgement on this.

[MacNimon]

Ralph...a chance to rediscover Sanders may be available to you sooner than you think...

Stuart...Like Ralph, I'm enjoying watching this series in order, although I'm still on the b&w episodes. I'm really enjoying them, they feel much fresher to me as I haven't seen many of these. I've already seen most of the colour stories though, I recorded them off tv years ago, and I'm more familiar with those.

But basically, you can't really go wrong, whatever you choose.....

As long as you like 60s tv and Roger Moore, at any rate!

[Ralph]

Ralph...a chance to rediscover Sanders may be available to you sooner than you think...

Oh cheers! George Sanders was certainly very good in Village of the Damned - have you seen that one Mac?

Plus I'd agree if you like 60s style TV plus Rog then it's sure to be for you.

Because 60s TV is slower I actually find a it a brilliant escape from the rushed style of some of the modern stuff after all life is a bit rushed these days. So I find these episodes great for chilling



A cuppa with a pretty lady - what more could a guy ask for?

[Pamela]

Two Saint fans both living in Glasgow.

We shall be expecting the engagement announcement very soon.

Though i shan't give her up without a fight!

LOL-I've only just seen this.

I've not watched the extras for the colour Saints yet-due to the tangoed look of them-lovely DD box, shame about the orangeyness.

[Ralph]

LOL-I've only just seen this.

I've not watched the extras for the colour Saints yet-due to the tangoed look of them-lovely DD box, shame about the orangeyness.

He gets very possessive our Wayne - I like to share myself

and I always like extras

[stuartdg]

Well ive ordered the colour series via play;i may wait to see if the b/w set comes down a bit more before ordering;besides Crossroads vol 3 is of greater priority!

[Ralph]

besides Crossroads vol 3 is of greater priority!

[Ralph]

Watched another episode of "Return of the Saint" this morning, thats 3 so far - I think they're getting better. I thought the opener "The Judas Game" seemed dull for debut story, the second "Nightmare Man" with Joss Ackland was Ok and "Duel in Venice" wasn't too bad - some nice views of Venice to look at

Ian Ogilvy seems to have this mid atlantic Cary Grant thing going on with his voice. I don't think he's fooling the girls though

[Pamela]

Ian Ogilvy seems to have this mid atlantic Cary Grant thing going on with his voice. I don't think he's fooling the girls though

Well it sure doesn't work for me.

Still, he tried his wee best lol

[stuartdg]

My copy of the colour series arrived this morning

[Ralph]

My heartiest congratulations!