Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #105242 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-07-10
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Black & White, Full Screen, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 100 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Stepping into the role of Leslie Charteris' "modern-day Robin Hood" Simon Templar (formerly played in films by smoothies like George Sanders), Roger Moore swiftly struck the right poses, adding a raised eyebrow to the character's established trademarks--a stick figure with halo, a whistled theme (co-composed by Charteris himself) and a quixotic commitment to adventure rather than decency. More clean-cut than the vigilante of the novels, Moore's Templar is a reformed thief (with an accent on reformed) whose adventures invariably involve a beautiful girl in trouble, an exotic locale established by stock shots and pantomime-level barroom sets with revolving fans on the ceiling, and "foreign" villains, played by familiar British character actors in false moustaches. The Saint ran from 1962 to 1969. Connoisseurs reckon the earlier, black and white shows are superior to the later colour seasons. From 1979 to 1980, there was a follow-up, The Return of the Saint, in which sufficiently ironic Ian Ogilvy donned Templar's polo neck, but the format seemed outmoded in comparison with The Sweeney and The Professionals.

Volume One contains: "The Talented Husband" in which a playwright is found dead in suspicious circumstances, with guest star Shirley (Goldfinger) Eaton; and "The Latin Touch" which concerns a kidnapping in Rome, with Suzan Farmer and Warren (Alf Garnett) Mitchell. --Kim Newman

Special Features
4:3 Full Frame
DVD 5
English
English
Region 2
Mono English
Mono
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Character Biographies
None

Synopsis
The dashing Roger Moore (most widely know as the third James Bond) stars as the title role in the cult 1960s television series, THE SAINT. As Simon Templar (or Sebastian Tombs, to some people) Moore is an international man of mystery--an enigmatic, clever, and unstoppable hero. This release presents the first two episodes of the show in the order of their original broadcast. Uncut and remastered, the daring adventures of the debonair Saint have never been more enticing. The collection contains the episodes: The Talented Husband and The Latin Touch.

Customer Reviews

It's about time!
I'm glad to see my favourite new film format is not just being used for newer, blockbuster releases and that Carlton is releasing this series, especially the ealier and better black & white episodes. Roger Moore, although playing the role differently to the book characterisation, IS Simon Templer, coming over superbly in these two episodes. Carlton seems to be releasing the episodes in order, and 'The Talented Husband', the first ever episode, sets the tone well, although it is not quite as action packed as later instalments. Look out for 'Goldfinger' girl Shirley Eaton as an insurance investigator. The next episode, 'The Latin Touch', is more typical of the series, with fist fights and Warren Mitchell as a 'comic' side kick. A quality package, well worth collecting the entire series, but only two episodes a disc? Tut tut! Still, at this price, you can't really argue. I hope sales of this release justify future episodes.

The Saint, volume 1
Having never seen the Saint first time around (only the Ian Ogilvy version), I didn't quite know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised!

Excellent picture quality, good plots (albeit a little obvious in 'The Talented Husband') and a good supporting cast in Shirley Eaton and Warren Mitchell.

On the basis of this introduction to the series, I will certainly get the other volumes. Great viewing, well recommended.