Action adventure series. Made by ITC (the Lew Grade company responsible for a whole raft of classics – Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Man in a Suitcase, Thriller – many of which the AV Channel have the option to release) and hitting the air in 1962 the Saint (with Roger “Eyebrow” Moore as Simon Templar aka The Saint) was an immediate hit, although of course the character had been around since the 1930’s both as a series of novels and a series of second feature Hollywood movies (with debonair George Sanders as The Saint).
All of the original black and white Saint episodes were based on original Charteris stories (one of the proviso’s of Charteris agreeing to the series being made) and Simon Templar managed to find adventure and intrigue wherever in the world he went (although being ITC and 1960’s TV most of these exotic locales consisted of library footage and studio sets – all of which just adds to the charm) and drove a white Volvo P1800 (number plate ST1).
Twice revived once in 1978 as The Return of the Saint and again very briefly in 1989 with Simon Dutton as the Saint.
production details
USA / ITV – ATV – ITC / 114×60 minute episodes ( 71 episodes black and white 43 episodes colour) / Broadcast 1962 – 1969
Creator: Leslie Charteris / Producers: Robert S. Baker, Monty Norman
cast
Roger Moore as Simon Templar
