1078 replies to this topic

[Simon]

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

Ian

...said he, master of the minimalist press release, slayer of all naysayers.

[Ian Dickerson]

We still have some paperwork to get signed but this is a formailty rather than anything else. I'm hoping this will be done within the next week (maybe two). We'll then issue a formal announcement which will include casting (of leading man definitely, as he's signed the contract, and possibly of additional characters) as well as more info on who's done what and who's doing what.

Ian

[Simon]

Well done sir.

Indeed, to have got this far over this length of time ..., patience of a haloed thingy are words that come to mind.

[clublos]

Something tells me that the lengths Ian has gone to in order to get this production off the ground would make for an interesting romp worthy of The Saint himself.

[Simon]

Well, I am aware that he has written (but due to the machinations of this 'trip', is still writing) a book on the Saint in TV. So these experiences are to be included in said book.

I think I have this right.

Link here.
http://lesliecharteris.com/

[Ian Dickerson]

You'll get a taster of some of the fun we've had from my book but I've had to be fairly diplomatic in it for obvious reasons. Certainly readers of this thread will recognise certain phases of the story.

Having said that once we get an episode commitment and a few shows under our belt (no point being pessimistic!) I might well change my mind. Certainly one of the key players involved in all this is very keen that everything be told...

Ian

[scaramunga]

You'll get a taster of some of the fun we've had from my book but I've had to be fairly diplomatic in it for obvious reasons. Certainly readers of this thread will recognise certain phases of the story.

Having said that once we get an episode commitment and a few shows under our belt (no point being pessimistic!) I might well change my mind. Certainly one of the key players involved in all this is very keen that everything be told...

Ian

Thanks for the updates Ian! Looking forward to seeing a new Saint project very soon!

[Harry Fawkes]

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!

Can't wait!

[marktmurphy]

Do you have a broadcast agreed, Ian?

[Brisco]

We still have some paperwork to get signed but this is a formailty rather than anything else. I'm hoping this will be done within the next week (maybe two). We'll then issue a formal announcement which will include casting (of leading man definitely, as he's signed the contract, and possibly of additional characters) as well as more info on who's done what and who's doing what.

Ian

Wow! That soon? (Ha. "Soon." After all this time, anyway!) I can't wait! This is so exciting. I guess there's no point in doing our guessing game again in just a few weeks. I suspect the same old choices stand, anyway... Thanks so much for the encouraging comments, Ian!

[Ian Dickerson]

It's been sold to a number of countries already but key markets such as the US and UK are waiting to see what ends up on screen before committing. To quote one English network almost verbatim "Oh god, we'd love this but haven't got any money at the moment. We might be able to buy it if you can show us some footage".

[scaramunga]

Any further updates in the world of The Saint?

With Network releasing it's Retro Action blu ray sets and The Persuaders! complete series coming to blu ray from Network in 2011, will we be seeing The Saint on blu ray soon?

I hope so!

[Ian Dickerson]

Currently there are no plans for The Saint to be released on blu ray in the UK. This may change but I suspect it's unlikely to be seen before 2012.

I'm busy doing a final proof on my book which will indeed be out next month.

And, and...oh, I've just seen some lovely cover art for a Saint comic...

Ian

[jaguar007]

Ian,
Is there any advancement on the new TV series?

[Byron]

Currently there are no plans for The Saint to be released on blu ray in the UK. This may change but I suspect it's unlikely to be seen before 2012.

I'm busy doing a final proof on my book which will indeed be out next month.

And, and...oh, I've just seen some lovely cover art for a Saint comic...

Ian

Ian,

Forgive my ignorance but what ground will your book cover?

I also purchased the Saint soundtrack and thought it was great - however i was disappointed none of the cues from the B&W episodes were there. Any reason why these were ommitted? And there muct be a huge amount of music still available, any possibility of a second Saint soundtrack?

Thanks.

[David Schofield]

A little off the topic of the new Saint stuff, but in connection with DVDs of the old show...

Just watched Simon Dutton's mega-charismatic performance opposite Lee Mack in "Not Going Out", and it reminded me how good a Saint he really could have been with better material than he was given, and that it would be great to give his Saint shows another go anyway.

So, can anybody recommend the quality of the Network DVDs of Dutton's Saint series? Oz is a long way to get 'em from just to find they're standard VHS-on-a-disc quality!

Any advice greatly appreciated!

[Ian Dickerson]

So, can anybody recommend the quality of the Network DVDs of Dutton's Saint series? Oz is a long way to get 'em from just to find they're standard VHS-on-a-disc quality!

Any advice greatly appreciated!

They weren't released by Network, they were released by Umbrella.

I've not seen them myself but I know a man who has and whilst I can't remember his exact words I don't think the quality was anything special as the masters don't all reside in one country. Thus Umbrella had to source the films from a variety of places and consequently whilst they're all watchable they're nothing special.

Ian

[Ian Dickerson]

Ian,

Forgive my ignorance but what ground will your book cover?

I also purchased the Saint soundtrack and thought it was great - however i was disappointed none of the cues from the B&W episodes were there. Any reason why these were ommitted? And there muct be a huge amount of music still available, any possibility of a second Saint soundtrack?

Thanks.

The book is a history of the Saint on TV and runs from 1940s Hollywood right up to date.

This was an early draft of the blurb for the back cover:

"The adventures of Simon Templar, the Saint, have thrilled TV audiences around the world for over forty years. No other character is so continually reinvented for the small screen and no other character has produced series that span the quality spectrum quite so widely. With a new TV film ofThe Saint currently in development the time has come to discover the real story of The Saint on TV.

Providing the ultimate guide to three Saint TV series (plus a failed pilot) The Saint on TV documents, for the first time, the very roots of the Saint’s TV adventures in 1940s Hollywood and follows them through American TVs formative years in the 1950s to the boom years of the 1960s ITC programme factory. Moving onwards the book shows the full evolution and production of the 1970s series Return of the Saint, and takes an in depth look at why the character faltered in the 1980s, going on to document the various attempts made to revive the character on TV in subsequent decades after Val Kilmer had tried to murder him in the movies.The Saint on TV reveals, for the first time, how plans were for David Niven to be the first TV Saint, in a show written and directed by the Saint’s creator, Leslie Charteris and reveals just who was being lined up to play Simone Templar. It tells the story of how Oliver Reed planned to become blood brothers with the Saint’s creator, Leslie Charteris and how David Hasselhoff desperately wanted a halo .It also reveals just what Simon Cowell was doing on Return of the Saint…

Using exclusive interviews with the cast and crew on all of the Saint’s TV adventures including the forthcoming TV pilot, The Saint on TV is the ultimate guide to well, The Saint on TV.”

The music cues from the black and white episodes are not to be found in the official archives and consequently there won't be another volume of the soundtrack.

Ian

[Royal Dalton]

So, can anybody recommend the quality of the Network DVDs of Dutton's Saint series? Oz is a long way to get 'em from just to find they're standard VHS-on-a-disc quality!

Any advice greatly appreciated!

They weren't released by Network, they were released by Umbrella.

I've not seen them myself but I know a man who has and whilst I can't remember his exact words I don't think the quality was anything special as the masters don't all reside in one country. Thus Umbrella had to source the films from a variety of places and consequently whilst they're all watchable they're nothing special.

Ian

Wasn't that series completed on video? What's out there now is probably going to be about as good as it gets, if it was.

[jaguar007]

I have heard that the Umbrella Dutton DVDs have some scenes missing.

It is too bad about those 6 movies, Dutton made a great Saint, but the poor, rushed production values kind of killed the potential series. Had the production values been better, Dutton may have received the notoriety to become a bit more well known.

[David Schofield]

Thanks for all the advice on the Duttons, lads!

[scaramunga]

I'm happy to hear that Network is putting out the Retro Action blu ray sets with some episodes of The Saint, Return of the Saint and The Persuaders!. Looking forward to complete sets of The Persuaders and The Saint on blu ray in the coming months!!!

I have never seen the Dutton Saint series. I would be interested i seeing them. I wish the George Sanders films could get out on DVD and blu ray too. Just my 2 cents.

[St Louis]

I wish the George Sanders films could get out on DVD and blu ray too. Just my 2 cents.

It's not blu ray, but, in the UK, they are releasing The Saint in Palm Springs, the last one to star George Sanders:

http://www.play.com/...springs}+c{57}+ '> http://www.play.com/...springs}+c{57}+

These old Saint films are being released in a seemingly random order...

[Simon]

The whole thing seems to be random.

They should just release all nine in one set and be done with it. It seems a lot to expect people to shell out £9 for one 60min film ...

[Ian Dickerson]

If you wonder why a new Saint is taking so long it's to prevent like this happening: http://www.deadline....es-no-spinster/

There have been numerous approaches to take the Saint well away from the established character...

[Royal Dalton]

Well, at least we know they'll never make The Saint an American. Oh, wait...

[David Schofield]

Well, at least we know they'll never make The Saint an American. Oh, wait...

You've only just realised Vincent Price was an American????

I remember a few years ago - must be around 2005 - when the Net was full of rumours about EON replacing Brosnan as Bond.

Barbara Broccoli had this idea of replacing Brozza with a British character actor with blond hair, medium height, not convenmtionally good-looking but with a stonking pair of abs and bis, make him a bit of a chavy, chippy commando who gets "educated" into becoming James Bond. A bit of a knee-jerk response to the threat from Jason Bourne.

Good job the "powers that be" resisted - as they had with Sean Bean in '94 - and James Purfoy was cast as Bond #6. Close one, eh?

[Simon]

If you wonder why a new Saint is taking so long it's to prevent like this happening: http://www.deadline....es-no-spinster/

There have been numerous approaches to take the Saint well away from the established character...

Fuh the luv a mike!

Desperation has found a brand spanking new meaning.

[Royal Dalton]

Well, at least we know they'll never make The Saint an American. Oh, wait...

You've only just realised Vincent Price was an American????

I was thinking more of the 'recent' Val Kilmer effort.

Love Vinnie. But then again, who doesn't?

I remember a few years ago - must be around 2005 - when the Net was full of rumours about EON replacing Brosnan as Bond.

Barbara Broccoli had this idea of replacing Brozza with a British character actor with blond hair, medium height, not convenmtionally good-looking but with a stonking pair of abs and bis, make him a bit of a chavy, chippy commando who gets "educated" into becoming James Bond. A bit of a knee-jerk response to the threat from Jason Bourne.

Good job the "powers that be" resisted - as they had with Sean Bean in '94 - and James Purfoy was cast as Bond #6. Close one, eh?

Phew! Thank God that didn't happen. Could have jumped the shark there!

If you wonder why a new Saint is taking so long it's to prevent like this happening: http://www.deadline....es-no-spinster/

There have been numerous approaches to take the Saint well away from the established character...

They're saying now that Jennifer Garner's going to play her!

Oh dear...

[jaguar007]

Good job the "powers that be" resisted - as they had with Sean Bean in '94 - and James Purfoy was cast as Bond #6. Close one, eh?

point well taken