Eady, David

The Saint Megaset

Nineteen actors have portrayed Simon Templar, the gentleman adventurer created by Leslie Charteris in 1928. Among the most memorable incarnations were George Sanders (in a series of 1930s films) and Vincent Price (who voiced the character on radio in the 1940s). But for baby boomers, there is only one Simon: Roger Moore, who starred in this classic 1960s British TV series. Moore makes a better Templar than he did a Bond (and he is certainly better than Val Kilmer, who stared in the 1997 feature film), and the inside jokes include guest appearances by Lois Maxwell, best known to 007 fans as Miss Moneypenny. Except for the gadgets, The Saint has all the pleasures of the Bond films: a real international man of mystery impeccably dressed (these entertaining adventures are "more cloak than dagger"), exotic locations, cold war intrigue, sparkling bons mots, and beautiful (albeit chaste) women, and the highlight of any episode is the devilishly funny prologue, in which, no matter where he is, someone always identifies our hero as "the infamous" Simon Templar, prompting him to cast his eyes heavenward as he is crowned by his signature animated halo. This 14-disc set includes all 47 original color episodes presented in their U.S. broadcast order. --Donald Liebenson

The Saint - The Early Episodes, Set 1

Fearless, debonair, and determined to see justice, Simon Templar, aka THE SAINT, took the world by storm in 1962. Now, the dazzling black-and-white debut season of this modern-day Robin Hood is on DVD for the first time. Sympathetic to those in distress, especially when they're wearing a dress, THE SAINT circles the globe in his trademark white Volvo, deploying lethal charm as his weapon of choice. Based on the best-selling novel Meet the Tiger by Leslie Charteris, Roger Moore's portrayal of this glamorous mystery man with a heart of gold created a television legend. With impeccable taste for the finer things in life, Templar dashed through one heart-pulsing adventure after another, forever chased by Scotland Yard's peppermint-chewing Inspector Teal. Action-packed, stylish, and dependably sexy, this three-disc DVD set features all 12 black-and-white episodes from the debut season of THE SAINT. DVD Features: Roger Moore Biography and Filmography; The History Of The Saint; Photo Gallery; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

The Saint - The Early Episodes, Set 2

The suavest saint this side of trouble is back in black and white!

Always attuned to those in distress, as well as to those in dresses, Roger Moore's portrayal of THE SAINT is the stuff of television legend. Circling the globe in his distinctive white Volvo, charm was Simon Templar's weapon of choice. Bringing with him an impeccable taste for life's finer things, THE SAINT dashed through one heart-racing adventure after another, forever chased by Scotland Yard's peppermint-chewing Inspector Teal.

Fearless and debonair, with a rogue's eye toward justice--Simon Templar, otherwise known as THE SAINT, embarks upon 16 dazzling episodes of intrigue!

DVD Features: The History of THE SAINT; Roger Moore Biography and Filmography; Photo Gallery; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

The Saint, Set 1

Nineteen actors have portrayed Simon Templar, the gentleman adventurer created by Leslie Charteris in 1928. Among the most memorable incarnations were George Sanders (in a series of 1930s films) and Vincent Price (who voiced the character on radio in the 1940s). But for baby boomers, there is only one Simon: Roger Moore, who starred in this classic 1960s British TV series. Moore makes a better Templar than he did a Bond (and he is certainly better than Val Kilmer, who stared in the 1997 feature film). This eagerly awaited boxed set contains three entertaining episodes, beginning with the gem "The Queen's Ransom," which launched the series' 1966 season and was the first episode in color. "The infamous Simon Templar" (who is also called "arrogant, smug, self-important, and impertinent") teaches a queen (Dawn Addams, who starred in Charlie Chaplin's last film, A King in New York) honesty and dignity as he accompanies her on a mission to sell her jewels to finance her deposed husband's coup. In the 1967 color episode "Interlude in Venice," Simon comes to the aid of an American heiress who becomes a pawn in a blackmail plot. Lois Maxwell (better known as James Bond's Miss Moneypenny) costars as her (wicked?) stepmother. In the 1966 color episode "The Russian Prisoner," Simon comes to the aid of a Russian scientist who has had "an attack of revisionism" and whom the KGB will stop at nothing to keep from defecting. Except for the gadgets, The Saint has all the pleasures of the Bond films: a real international man of mystery, exotic locations, cold war intrigue, sparkling bons mots, and beautiful (albeit chaste) women. --Donald Liebenson

The Saint, Set 3

Gentleman adventurer Simon Templar has "quite a reputation," as evidenced by these seven "terribly clever" episodes from the classic British '60s TV series The Saint. Wavy-haired Roger Moore is in his element as Templar, who, like a certain double-O agent Moore would later portray, dresses impeccably, has an eye for the ladies, and dispenses his own unique brand of justice. In "Flight Plan," Simon joins the jet set as he foils a plot to steal London's newest weapon, a supersonic aircraft. Donald Sutherland guest stars as a fellow inmate in "Escape Route," in which Simon goes undercover behind bars to root out "the top man" in a deadly escape operation. In "The Persistent Patriots," Simon comes to the aid of the prime minister of a soon-to-be former British colony. The action revs up in "The Fast Women," in which a rivalry between two top female racers spins out of control. "The Death Game" is kinky enough to be an Avengers episode, as Simon joins a group of psychology students recruited as potential assassins. Suitable for framing is "The Art Collectors," a convoluted caper involving priceless da Vinci paintings. "To Kill a Saint" finds Simon in France, where a plot is afoot to spark a vendetta between him and the king of the Parisian underworld. But the highlight of any Saint episode is the devilishly funny prologue, in which, no matter where he is, someone always identifies our hero as "the infamous" Simon Templar, prompting him to cast his eyes heavenward as he is crowned by his signature animated halo. --Donald Liebenson

The Saint, Set 2

Whether it's toppling a corrupt government or capturing the Loch Ness monster, Simon Templar is "just waiting for an invitation" to fight injustice and meddle in other people's affairs. This three-volume boxed set contains three 1966 color episodes from the classic British series starring Roger Moore in his breakthrough role as the gentleman adventurer. In "The Reluctant Revolution," Templar becomes embroiled in a tangled plot of revolution and revenge. Barry Morse (Lieutenant Gerard on the original Fugitive TV series) guest stars as the president of San Pablo's right- ("and left-") hand man whose past returns to haunt him in the form of the daughter of his former business partner. Next, it's off to Hamburg, where Templar uses his "unique talents" to find a missing laser scientist in "The Helpful Pirate," which is based on an original story by Saint creator Leslie Charteris. Last stop, Scotland, where something--or someone--is terrorizing the residents of Loch Ness in the atmospheric "The Convenient Monster," which is also based on an original story by Charteris. Though somewhat dated, The Saint is time-capsule Brit-cool that will have fans wanting Moore. --Donald Liebenson

The Saint, Set 7

The Saint, Set 4

"Well, well, of all people to be rescued by--Simon Templar." From Berlin to Nice, our man Simon is always in the wrong place at the right time to get involved in "a bit of adventure." This two-disc set contains seven episodes presented in the order they were first broadcast in 1966 and '67. These entertaining adventures are "more cloak than dagger," but do have some vicariously nasty, Bond-type thrills. Roger Moore is ideally cast as the unflappable Simon, the original international man of mystery created by Leslie Charteris. Whether foiling a counterfeit operation ("The Counterfeit Countess") or masterminding the escape of a Russian spy ("When Spring Is Sprung"), Simon accepts each "extraordinary proposition" with aplomb. This collection also includes "Simon and Delilah," in which a "consistently nasty" screen siren is kidnapped. Lois Maxwell, best known to 007 fans as Miss Moneypenny, costars as the publicist. Speaking of James Bond, there's a nifty little Goldfinger joke in "The Island of Chance," in which the body count rises as an increasingly desperate scientist races to complete a serum that would end all illness. The cold war heats up in "The Gadget Lover," in which the Russians appear to have embarked on a spy "death campaign" using explosion-filled gadgets. "A Double in Diamonds" involves the theft of a priceless necklace. Which is real, and which is the fake? Only Simon may know for sure. Like "The Death Game" in Set 3, "The Power Artists" is bizarre enough to be an Avengers episode. It marks the return of criminal mastermind Adolf Vogler (see "The Death Game" in Set 3) and also includes some hysterical hippie caricatures. Appearing with greater frequency in these episodes is Ivor Dean as the Saint's long-suffering nemesis, Chief Inspector Claude Eustace Teale ("the pride of Scotland Yard") who reluctantly relies on the Saint's cunning to solve these complex capers. --Donald Liebenson

The Saint [Region 2]

Cup Fever [Region 2]