1078 replies to this topic

[Simon]

Personally, the best episode from RoTS whereby the Saint is doing saintly type activities is, Tower Bridge is Falling Down.

There are all sorts of swindles and nefarious goings on that, again for me, totally typify the essence of the Saint story. More about the intelligence of setting people up than purely detective work that typified the RoTS show, and to be honest, the majority of the colour episodes of the Moore Saint.

[Ian Dickerson]

It was intended as the pilot, I think. Not a bad episode but not a very typical episode with Simon Templar doing "Saint" type stuff.

No it wasn't. There was never any need for a pilot episode as Bob Baker got a 24 episode commitment from the outset.

Ian

[scaramunga]

Understood. thanks for the post! What episodes do you consider the best for Return of the Saint? I like Ian as an actor, but for some reason just can't seem to warm up to him as The Saint. I'll try and watch a few of them again though. I agree on location work for Return of The Saint. It really gave the show a much higher budget feel.

Hm, let's see... Besides Duel in Venice, I also liked The Village that Sold its Soul for the same reasons of a great location. The Poppy Chain was good, where Simon takes on the drug trade. I liked The Imprudent Professor, with Catherine Schell. (I tend to like things with Catherine Schell!) The Armageddon Alternative was pretty good, in which Simon has to save London from a mad bomber. It's been a while since I've watched these, so I'm afraid I don't actually remember them too well. There was one I remember really liking that culminates in Simon storming a castle (in an Eastern Bloc country) to save a girl being held prisoner there. I think there was also a rocket launcher involved in the attack. Was it Assault Force? It might have been, but I'm a little hesitant to recommend that one outright, because Assault Force could also be the episode I hated most, in which Simon assembles a mercenary team. But I think that one was Yesterday's Heroes, maybe...

I definitely don't like Return as much as I like the Moore series, but I still like it - particularly the location filming and Ogilvy himself. And the Jag.

The episode you are thinking of - the rescue of the woman kidnapped by the Albanian Secret Police - is actually THE JUDAS GAME, not ASSAULT FORCE. It was intended as the pilot, I think. Not a bad episode but not a very typical episode with Simon Templar doing "Saint" type stuff.

Was The Judas Game a two parter? I think I recall that one.

One that I was hoping I would've liked more was The Murder Cartel. It featured Britt Ekland. Thought that one would be good as I really like Britt in The Man With The Golden Gun. However it was just an ok episode.

Thanks for the recommended episodes. I'll have to rewatch some of these. It's been a few years since I watched the series.

[Simon]

Judas was a one-parter.

The Brave Goose / Collision Course was the two-parter.

[St Louis]

Personally, the best episode from RoTS whereby the Saint is doing saintly type activities is, Tower Bridge is Falling Down.

Love that episode and probably the most Saintly story in the run.

There are many good episodes mixed with some dull ones. It's depends what you judge them by. Duel in Venice has the best villain, great location, and both leading ladies were charming. For Ian Ogilvy's best Saintly performance, I'd go for The Diplomat's Daughter, as he's closer to the literary character in that one. The Armageddon Alternative is the most dramatic.

As mentioned above, Assault Force is weak. Leslie Charteris actually raved about the script, but the episode turned out to be slow and looks incredibly dated. Charteris and Ogilvy also stopped a script about vampires from being filmed. I really wish it had been made; imagine how much nostalgia this episode would have generated...

[Ian Dickerson]

One episode of The Saint ('The Queen's Ransom') and one episode of ROTS('One Black September') will be released on blu-ray by Network DVD at the end of Feb. next year. They form part of a three volume release of ITC compilations called "retro-Action!" (The Saint is on vol. 2, ROTS on vol. 3) and are, allegedly, a precursor to full series releases later in the year.

[marktmurphy]

Are these HD versions? I take it they were filmed on 35mm?

[Royal Dalton]

Yes to both, Mark. Nearly all of those filmed ITC series' were shot on 35mm. Although a few (like Jason King) were 16mm.

For any Brits who might be interested, The Saint Strikes Back is showing on BBC Four on Christmas Day.

[jaguar007]

One episode of The Saint ('The Queen's Ransom') and one episode of ROTS('One Black September') will be released on blu-ray by Network DVD at the end of Feb. next year. They form part of a three volume release of ITC compilations called "retro-Action!" (The Saint is on vol. 2, ROTS on vol. 3) and are, allegedly, a precursor to full series releases later in the year.

I assume that these are UK only?

[Ian Dickerson]

I assume that these are UK only?

Yes.

Ian

[St Louis]

Just read this from Saintly author, Burl Barer:

" It's been non-stop SAINT the past few weeks as we work on the screenplay for the new two hour TV-Movie THE SAINT IN NEW ORLEANS. We keep revising, re-writing, answering network notes, etc. It keeps getting better, and there ARE some very funny lines and some hot-hot action! I thought we had nailed it good with the most recent version, and now we only have a couple very minor notes to address, which we will do tomorrow. So, if all goes well, the world will once again experience the joy, humor, and melodrama of Leslie Charteris' famous hero, THE SAINT.

What was I working on when I paused to write THE SAINT IN NEW ORLEANS? I was working on THE RETURN OF THE SAINT -- a new full length novel set in UK, Malibu, Central America, and (briefly) Finland! Mostly it is in the UK where Inspector Teal has been dragged out of retirement, and finds himself once again dealing with our endearingly dangerous desperado, Simon Templar. Hopefully you will see the new TV show, and the new novel in 2011."

http://adoraburl.typepad.com/

Edited by St Louis, 18 December 2010 - 03:13 PM.

[jaguar007]

Good to know Barer is working on the script, at least is means it will be more faithful to Charteris Saint than the 1997 film.

[Safari Suit]

I think that was pretty much gauranteed anyway. If you turn on a camera and film any given motion, there's about a 75% chance what you film will be more faithful to Charteris Saint than the 97 Saint film.

That said, I didn't hate the film and would check out the original/pre-test screening cut if it was ever released

[Simon]

Good to know Barer is working on the script, at least is means it will be more faithful to Charteris Saint than the 1997 film.

Oh God. Do you really think so?

I might agree with that if it is Ian Dickerson's name in the frame, but am not sure of his input to this story. Barer's creativity has to date been too much about self promotion through AdorableBurl websites than anything truly meaningful in terms of fresh creativity. 'Look at me, see what I know' messages are not the character's way forward. I haven't read his assessment book with the 36 word title; my meandering thoughts are based on his Capture the Saint and novelisation regurgitations.

If Barer is well and truly plugged into this pilot because of his 'credentials'(!!?!), I sincerely hope he is tightly reigned in and thoroughly edited otherwise expectations will not supercede pilot character names such as Burl Sanders or Dan Hayward. (even now, I am guffawing in my coffee)

[Ian Dickerson]

I might agree with that if it is Ian Dickerson's name in the frame, but am not sure of his input to this story. Barer's creativity has to date been too much about self promotion through AdorableBurl websites than anything truly meaningful in terms of fresh creativity. 'Look at me, see what I know' messages are not the character's way forward. I haven't read his assessment book with the 36 word title; my meandering thoughts are based on his Capture the Saint and novelisation regurgitations.

If Barer is well and truly plugged into this pilot because of his 'credentials'(!!?!), I sincerely hope he is tightly reigned in and thoroughly edited otherwise expectations will not supercede pilot character names such as Burl Sanders or Dan Hayward. (even now, I am guffawing in my coffee)

This is a tough one to reply to, for Burl has been a good friend of mine for many years, but I understand where you're coming from.

TV though is a collaborative medium and Burl is not working on the pilot script alone. The Saint has got a good team together and the script is looking better than ever. I can't (and won't) go into detail the one thing I can say for sure is that Burl has added some marvellously Saintly dialogue to many scenes...at the same time I've had to flag a few of his ideas as just being...wrong.

I hope to go into more detail about the process we've all been going through once I hear Ron Shelton shout "Action!".

Ian

[Simon]

Ok, and many thanks for replying. The collaborative aspects are understood and I do wish all of you, including Barer, the best of luck in this endeavour. As above, I am not aware of any past creative works, but my vote of confidence in you was based more on a sense of perspective you appear to have than a past canon to review.

It is apparent from your updates that care, attention, hard work and perseverance is being afforded. I hope that you are all rewarded with a product to grace the screens in the fullness of time.

I think it is just an awareness that fans' involvement with their hero has not really paid dividends. Fans do better to review their interest, not advance it. Perhaps then I should read Barer's review piece...!

[Ian Dickerson]

I think it is just an awareness that fans' involvement with their hero has not really paid dividends. Fans do better to review their interest, not advance it. Perhaps then I should read Barer's review piece...!

I find that an interesting perception. Again, I understand where you're coming from and I know full well there's plenty of evidence to support what you're saying but I'm hoping that The Saint is kinda following the Doctor Who model insomuch as we have people behind the camera who not only know and understand the character but also know and understand the way TV works today, both in the financial and creative side.

Time will tell. Just a few weeks in fact...

Ian

[St Louis]

we have people behind the camera who not only know and understand the character

Well, Ian, I hope these are not the same people who came up with notion of The Saint working as an agent for the Knights Templar (or whatever it was), and had Inspector Teal down as an American Interpol detective...

[Simon]

Quite.

[Ian Dickerson]

Well, Ian, I hope these are not the same people who came up with notion of The Saint working as an agent for the Knights Templar (or whatever it was), and had Inspector Teal down as an American Interpol detective...

The particular person who steered it in that direction left the project quite a while ago.

Ian

[scaramunga]

Just saw this on Ian's website that Network DVD is planning on releasing a series of compilation ITV show best of collections on blu ray and DVD!!

http://www.lesliecharteris.com/

An episode of The Saint with Roger Moore (The Queen's Ransom) and an episode of Return of the Saint (One Black September) are included in sets 2 and 3 respectively.

http://www.networkdvd.net/index.php

In addition the network front page states that The Persuaders! series is coming to blu ray in 2011!!

I hope these will be playable on US region 1 blu ray players!

Very awesome news!!

[jaguar007]

Just saw this on Ian's website that Network DVD is planning on releasing a series of compilation ITV show best of collections on blu ray and DVD!!

http://www.lesliecharteris.com/

An episode of The Saint with Roger Moore (The Queen's Ransom) and an episode of Return of the Saint (One Black September) are included in sets 2 and 3 respectively.

Yes, this was mentioned on the previous page of this thread and unfortunately, it is a UK release only

[scaramunga]

Just saw this on Ian's website that Network DVD is planning on releasing a series of compilation ITV show best of collections on blu ray and DVD!!

http://www.lesliecharteris.com/

An episode of The Saint with Roger Moore (The Queen's Ransom) and an episode of Return of the Saint (One Black September) are included in sets 2 and 3 respectively.

Yes, this was mentioned on the previous page of this thread and unfortunately, it is a UK release only

I am very sorry to hear this news!!

I may look at getting a momitsu blu ray player. I believe they can play all regions on blu ray.

There is also the Sharp BD-HP24 which will also play other regions of BD's.

Edited by scaramunga, 21 December 2010 - 03:18 PM.

[TheSaint]

In my regular searches on current Saint news I came across the following holding web page...

Simon Templar TV

I'm hoping this means that the long gestating tv project is coming to a head!

[Simon]

From the Whois lookup;

SIMONTEMPLAR.TV - Domain Information
Domain SIMONTEMPLAR.TV [ Site Info Traceroute RBL/DNSBL lookup ]
Registrar EASYSPACE LTD.
Registrar URL http://www.easyspace.com
Whois server whois.easyspace.com
Created 20-Nov-2000
Updated 25-Jan-2011
Expires 20-Nov-2012
Time Left 662 days 0 hours 43 minutes
Status CLIENT-XFER-PROHIBITED CLIENT-UPDATE-PROHIBITED
DNS servers NS1.ENIXNS.COM 64.91.230.240
NS2.ENIXNS.COM 209.59.140.101

SIMONTEMPLAR.TV - Geo Information
IP Address 84.45.45.133
Host simontemplar.tv
Location GB, United Kingdom
City Poole, D6 -
Organization Enix
ISP Connexions4London Ltd
AS Number AS25577 C4L main AS
Latitude 53°90'00" North
Longitude 1°61'67" West
Distance 2208.13 km (1372.07 miles)


A search on the IP address says nothing as well. This only said because, to me, the above says nothing either ...

Over to others.

[marktmurphy]

Dorset; the centre of Hollywood TV production of course. As yet another 'few weeks' turns into a month this project looks less and less like something which people are so excited about that it has to hit the screen immediately...

[Simon]

Ah of course. Up and coming in more ways than one.

Where does Ian live? Not aware of who else is involved in the UK.

As for 'people being excited', we're a fickle and impatient bunch. In an episode of the Simpsons, someone shows off a new cooker that 'can flash fry a buffalo in 30 seconds.' To which Homer whines,

'But I want it nowww.'

[jaguar007]

Unfortunately I don't think this new Saint TV show will ever get off the ground. We have been hearing "wait for a major announcement in the next month" for over two years now.

[Ian Dickerson]

That site will shortly be transferring to Cajun Pictures, producers of a 2 hour TV movie entitled 'The Saint in New Orleans'.

Ian

[Brisco]

That site will shortly be transferring to Cajun Pictures, producers of a 2 hour TV movie entitled 'The Saint in New Orleans'.

Ian

How soon, Ian? How soon??? And will the site then have casting information for this latest version? Now we get to play that game all over again... Personally, I hope this is an opportunity to go back to James Purefoy.

Seriously, thanks for chiming in again! Whatever's coming, I can't wait for it!