Simon Templar-The Saint

The first Saint movie has a dynamite performance from Louis Hayward and a tense action-filled story that is very faithful to the book. A great way to start the series.

George Sanders plays the Saint as a suave, sophisticated con-man. The story is not bad. Wendy Barrie overacts a bit and is too intense. The surprise twist isn't very surprising but that doesn't hamper the overall mystery. OK mystery but not Sanders' best.

Sanders' best film as the Saint benefits greatly from London locations and a solid performance by Sally Gray. Good fun all around.

Not bad Sanders Saint film with a funny performance from Paul Guilfoyle as Pearly Gates. Wendy Barrie is (once again) the leading lady. This is on par with The Saint Strikes Back.

Easily the weakest George Sanders Saint film with the stupid gimmick of having him play the Saint and a gangster who is his exact double. Bela Lugosi is wasted in this. The mystery is confusing and not very satisfying. Don't bother with this one.

George Sanders' last Saint film is a lot of silly fun with Wendy Barrie (in her third Saint film) actually playing a decent role and not overacting. Paul Guilfoyle has another funny turn as Pearly Gates. Some very nice shots of Palm Springs and area help a lot.

Hugh Sinclair is miscast as Simon Templar (what's with that mustache?). This British production is ok but really nothing special. Sally Gray is quite good (as she was in The Saint in London) and Cecil Parker is quite the slimy villain. The budget is quite low and the story is average at best. To see only if there is nothing else on.

Based on the very first Saint story, this is Hugh Sinclair's second time as the Saint and he is much better in the role, but he should have shaved off that mustache. Jean Gillie is terrific as Patricia Holm and the villains are all quite nasty. The identity of the Tiger is revealed early so there isn't a great deal to guess. Gordon McLeod does his usual solid turn as Inspector Teal. The location footage, the little that there is, is quite beautiful. Overall, an entertaining Saint film.

Louis Hayward returns as the Saint 15 years after his first go at the character. Nice, taut, suspenseful film with Hayward in great form. The surprise twist at the end is well done and not expected.

Not bad French saint film with a very confident Felix Marten playing Simon Templar (Stuart Thompson in the English dubbed version!). This is typical Charteris territory with a pretty good mystery, beautiful women and our hero fast with a quip and his fists. Very much in the same style as the Roger Moore series that would follow a couple of years later. I give it 6 halos out of 10.

Played strictly for laughs, this is a ridiculous film. Simon Templar is on the hunt for some pilfered money and is followed by several groups including mafioso types and secret agents from Germany and the USA. Jean Marais plays this tongue firmly in cheek and is surprisingly good in the role. Action sequences resemble what you would see in a Three Stooges film. Only worth watching for Jean Marais and the terrific bit by Raffaella Carra.

Roger Moore really made the character his own in the over 100 episodes of the series. The first few years were done on a shoestring budget and it shows. The colour episodes are mostly well done. Overall, good show.

Two-part episode released theatrically has a funny performance from Sylvia Syms but is much too long and drags on.

Two-part episode released theatrically is ok with a great deal of location footage shot in Malta. Not bad overall.

Ian Ogilvy is very good as the Saint in this globe-hopping series. Most of the episodes are quite average but there are a few that rise above mediocrity including The Armageddon Alternative. Love that Jaguar XJS.

Two-part episode stitched together to make a TV movie is not bad. Ian Ogilvy is full of energy which is what counts.

Awful Saint "special" is unfunny and not thrilling one bit. Andrew Clarke is the worst Simon Templar ever. Enough said.

Boy, did they ever miss the boat on this one. It does not resemble anything that Leslie Charteris ever wrote. Don't bother.

Failed TV pilot padded with extra footage shot years later. Resembles pretty much any action film of the decade. I wouldn't bother with this one either.