15 replies to this topic

[Agent 76]

Well with this thread, I basically want to ask to The Saint fans, and read also their opinions and toughts about the series. What makes it special and appealing for you.

This is because, I'm thinking of starting to watch this, so tell me all, because unlike what Jack Nicholson's "Col. Nathan R. Jessep" says: I CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH!

thanks

[jaguar007]

The series has alot of charm and is highly entertaining. Roger Moore is at his best as The Saint (I much prefer him as The Saint than I do as Bond). While I prefer the earlier Black and White episodes over the color ones, all of them are basically alot of fun. He is a charming rogue who plays by his own rules and answers to nobody. He is basically the ultimate fantasy hero.

[Four Aces]

I watched this series as a child, have read the books, and also have the DVD collection.

Moore was meant for the role of Simon Templar, and I find the character of Simon Templar much more in line with my personal philosophies than the character of Bond. Here are the characteristics of The Saint that I like the best.

1. He is completely self-sovereign. Takes no orders from others, and quite frankly gives no orders to others.
2. Along with that he is financially independent, this of course allows him to be self-sovereign as he can move about as he wishes.
3. He only undertakes the "assignments" that he sees fit. He has the freedom to pick and choose.
4. He is "moral" not "legal". Since the justice system does not always equate to what is moral, Simon Templar fills this gap as a moral vigilante.

4A

[Agent 76]

Thank you for the opinions so far.


keep them coming!

[Bondian]

Roger, Roger and Roger.

There was a lot of Rogering in this series.

[Agent 76]

Found this on youtube:

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

[TheSaint]

A handsome lead, pretty co-stars, action-packed, a cool car, and a great soundtrack. What Moore could you want?

[Blonde Bond]

I just bought 'The Saint' DVD box, containing 30 episodes of the color series few days ago and so far I've been highly entertained. I can't honestly say whether or not I had seen the series in color before. Though I remember seeing the early black and white episodes.

Anyway, like I said, it's a very entertaining series and basically shows Moore playing a Bond like character in Bond like situations and locations.

Simon Templar seems like a what Roger's Bond would've been like, if he'd kept the camp in minimum. Though, since we have The Saint, it's okay he didn't. Here we have two sides of the same coin. I applaud to that.

Good show!

[Stephen Spotswood]

I thought the Saint was dull as used dishwater. It only became worse when Ian Ogilvy played it. Here's my favorite Saint:

http://www.saint.org...Sanders_3x4.jpg

[Safari Suit]

To be honest, I actually prefer the Ogilvy version.

[TheSaint]

To be honest, I actually prefer the Ogilvy version.

I like Ogilvy, and I love the production values(Man, if they spent that kind of money of the Roger series it would be untouchable)but the action scenes were pretty tame, and the music was unremarkable. Having said that, if they ever released the soundtrack, I would buy it as I am a completist when it comes to the Saint.

[TheREAL008]

I'm actually just now getting into The Saint.

The only actual introduction I've had thus far was the Val Kilmer movie (Bad choice I know) and then afterward when I started on the books, imagine my confusion.

However, thanks to lesliecharteries.com, wikipedia, and saint.org I now have a better understanding of Simon Templar and his intentions and exploits. Haven't seen much of the show but hopefully I'll be able to do something about that.

But for now, I'll start tracking down the novels, hopefully at a reasonable price. you wouldn't believe how much a paperback edition of Meet the Tiger is selling for!

[mccartney007]

THE SAINT is one of my favorites, but I prefer the B&W episodes to the color episodes -- they look sharper and the stories are better. I like the style, class and sophistication of the times and Roger Moore is just damn cool.

[Pete]

THE SAINT is one of my favorites, but I prefer the B&W episodes to the color episodes -- they look sharper and the stories are better. I like the style, class and sophistication of the times and Roger Moore is just damn cool.

I agree the earlier B&W ones were better & much how I thought Roger Moore could have played Bond. The later ones were a bit at times like The Avengers with a few silly "sci-fi" episodes.

I didn't mind the Ogilvy ones at the time but having watched them again recently they do look a bit dated.

[Simon]

And better still are the books, or at least the first two thirds of them before they began to be ghost written.

Charteris fully mastered the novel, novella and short story formats.

Any first published in the 1930's will give you all you need to know.

[David_M]

I have to agree with Four Aces on what makes Templar great, and why Roger is such a good fit.

It's been observed that Roger really isn't as ruthless as the Simon of Charteris' novels, but he does personify one basic quality of the character better than any actor I can imagine (except perhaps Patrick McGoohan, who was also considered) and that is a sense of righteousness; the capacity to feel real moral outrage at injustice and the temperament to do something about it.

This actually made Roger an awkward fit for Bond, a character who basically does what he's told to do out of a sense of duty and patriotism; he lets his bosses decide what's right and wrong (though his conscience does lead him to focus on the most loathsome aspects of his targets once they've been assigned). Somehow Roger just works better as a hero who picks his own battles and defends honor and virtue. In fact during his tenure Bond creeps over into "white knight" territory as 007 does things like saving Octopussy from Kamal's plane, something I'm not at all sure Connery-Bond would have bothered with. And that speech to Orlov is one of his best moments; no Bond does righteous indignation better than Roger. Bond had to be mutated to fit these qualities, though, whereas they seem integral to Templar.

Also, Roger is one of a handful of actors who does a great "wiseguy." Another would be James Garner as Maverick or Rockford, or maybe Robert Wagner as Al Mundy. These are guys who are cool not because they can beat up anyone in the room, but because they are always three steps ahead of the opposition, mentally.

In short, I think "The Saint" was one of those rare and wonderful cases of an actor finding the perfect vehicle for his particular strengths. So if you like Roger, you'll love the show. Beyond that, I have to say the show can look decidedly low-rent, with the same backlot redressed again and again to represent multiple countries, less-than-inspiring rear screen work and what seems like about five musical cues re-used ad nauseum for eight years. Even "The Avengers," with its sometimes minimalist sets and streets cleared of extras, still tends to look downright luxurious next to The Saint.