Review of Saint: The Complete Colour Episodes, The

Introduction

Wow! I`ve got to start this review by saying that the packaging of this set is just fantastic. Even before you get to watching the DVD`s (and there are twelve of them here) you`ll want to leaf through the contents of this luxuriously constructed box-set.

I want to be clear that I`m not talking about the Network set, which also offers up the colour `Saint` episodes in full. This may well be a good-buy in its own right, though the DDHE edition seems to be the `luxury` option. As well as `digitally restored` episodes this lavish set includes three documentaries featuring Roger Moore and other cast and crew, a Roger Moore audio commentary, original episode trailers, picture galleries for every episode (including many rare behind the scenes stills), two 16 page illustrated booklets, tasty reproduction theatrical posters for the Saint movies, four art cards featuring Saint press book covers and a reproduction of the original Roger Moore Publicity postcard. Nice!

Though `The Saint` first appeared in book form in the late 1920`s, and in comic books and movies throughout the thirties, forties and fifties, for many of us `The Saint` is synonymous with Roger Moore in the TV adaptation. Anyone with a pulse who was around in the 1960`s will remember watching Moore screeching around in his white Volvo P1800, lit cigarette in one hand whilst the other brushes the perfectly brylcreemed hair back with the other. Smooth or smug - who cared? Moore was brilliant and adventure TV was in its heyday.

The Saint was adapted for television in 1962, with the cooperation of author Leslie Charteris (at least initially - he soon tired of the liberties taken with both his plots and character!). Roger Moore was perfectly cast as Simon Templar (alias The Saint), a debonair, playboy adventurer who seemed to be a financially independent free agent, working generally on the side of `good` - regardless of which side of the law that might fall.

Following the initial success of some 71 black and white episodes (the first 39 available from DDHE currently in the UK), colour episodes of the series were commissioned. In common with much ITC output of the period, these were hour-long self-contained episodes (minus the ad time). All 47-colour episodes are included here; 45 standard length as well as two feature length adaptations used for theatrical release (`The Fiction Makers` and `Vendetta for The Saint`).

Re-watching the episodes today, if you can forgive the slightly cheesy back projection as Templar takes to the road, what immediately strikes is the tremendous production values that these episodes had. In common with ITC series, they are tightly directed and as a consequence, may seem a little wooden when set aside the frenetic pace of, say, the CSI series. But this was all beautifully shot on 35mm and stock wasn`t cheap so every shot was carefully considered before rolling. There was no room for crazy experimentation here.

Roger Moore is simply superb throughout, dripping with self-confidence and charm (smarm?), an approach he retained for `The Persuaders` and `Bond`. Had I not recently seen him in the little-seen (but superb) `The Man who Haunted Himself`, shot between the end of `The Saint` in 1969 and the start of `The Persuaders` a year later, I would have been convinced that this was the full extent of Moore`s talents. In truth, it was a role he played so well that he became synonymous with that style, though I feel certain that his acting capabilities were far wider.

Watching these colour episodes is a veritable `who`s who` of British Television and Film of the period. As someone says in one of the included featurettes, we needed a glamorous girl and a crook in every episode. As a consequence, Kate O`Mara, Stephanie Beacham, Sylvia Syms, Yootha Joyce, Peter Wyndgarde, Imogen Hassell, Ronnie Barker, Edward Woodward, Peter Bowles, and many others pop-up in a variety of roles.
Generally, with screenwriters including ITC stalwarts Terry Nation, John Kruse, and Harry W. Junkin at the helm, the stories, adapted and otherwise, are always thoroughly entertaining, and generally intricately interwoven, often with a hint of `cold war` mystery and atmosphere thrown in for good measure.

Every episode is expertly shot, using mainly studio sets but intercut with impressive location footage too. This was far from cheap programming.

Video

Well, not perfect, but better than many of the ITC sets that I have, so I assume that some remedial work has been done in parts. But in the spirit of the thing, without exception, the episodes here are `good enough` and will certainly look every bit as good as you remember them - if not better.

Audio

Audio is variable throughout. In common with most ITC output, I suspect that there was very little time, budget or inclination for audio-post. What you get is something that betters much TV output of the time, though falls short of the movie-level production value that it hits in other areas. For example, studio wide shots are often used with originally recorded sound, whereas in movies this is often used for re-dub reference, as it`s loose, toppy and occasionally echoey. Having said that, it won`t spoil your enjoyment, and I`m glad that they`ve left any temptation to re-work it alone. This will be just as you remember it.

Features

This whole package comes in an LP sized box. When you take off the lid there are two inlay flaps which fold out like doors, unfolding with digipack inserts to reveal 8 of the 12 discs, as well as an Aladdin`s cave of goodies, which, once removed, reveal the final 4 discs.

THE SAINT - THE COMPLETE COLOUR EPISODES - A GUIDE TO THE COLLECTION
This is a full colour LP sleeve type glossy brochure booklet giving you a disc by disc content guide, including photos, a brief synopsis of each episode as well as acting and production credits.

THE SAINT - THE COMPLETE COLOUR EPISODES - VIEWING NOTES
Another full colour, glossy LP sized brochure with 16 pages of photos and facts.

ROGER MOORE PUBLICITY POSTCARD
A reproduction of a standard publicity shot postcard with space for autograph and message on the front.

`VENDETTA FOR THE SAINT` MOVIE POSTER
Full size reproduction cinema poster.

`THE FICTION MAKERS` MOVIE POSTER
Full size reproduction cinema poster.

PRESS BOOK ART CARDS
12" by 8" reproductions on full gloss card of Press Book covers relating to the series and the spin-off movies.

DISC EXTRAS
There are a number of inexpensively produced featurettes which major on interviews with surviving cast and crew. The technical quality of these is sadly lacking (poor lighting and sound), though they remain valuable archival sources of information for the avid fan.

THE FAMOUS SIMON TEMPLAR
Featuring interviews with Roger Moore and others recalling the fun of making the series.

THE GIRLS OF THE SAINT
Features contemporary interviews with some of the many glamorous girls in the cast.

THE STORY OF ST1
This details the surprising inclusion of the classic Volvo. Due to Jaguar`s slowness and lack of foresight, Volvo were able to provide a car quickly and free. And there lies a product placement legend!

AUDIO COMMENTARY
There`s a commentary on `Escape Route` with Roger Moore, Robert Baker and Peter Manley, which is a lot of fun.

PICTURE GALLERIES
There are publicity and production stills included for every episode.

TEXTLESS BACKGROUNDS
Ever wiley, commissioner Lew Grade had these made so that the show could be easily exported - which is why it`s enjoyed in many countries to this day.

Conclusion

Boy, I loved this set. It`s what all `collectors editions` should be. In truth, the fact that the set contains all 45 colour episodes of the series, plus the movies, is only half the fun.

And what a lot of fun they are! I loved this nostalgic re-trawl through some of the finest ITC drama episodes of the sixties, with all its high camp, glimpses of an England lost forever (did it ever really exist?), and its cavalcade of personalities.

Even 100 episodes in it seems that the show never quite lost its steam (unlike, say, `The Avengers` which peaked with Emma Peel and then went downhill). That job was left for the `Return of the Saint` (with the likable Ian Ogilvy in the key role) ten years later.

Despite further adaptations, including the faltering Val Kilmer movie version (which featured a voice cameo from Moore). Roger Moore remains `The Saint` in most people`s hearts and minds, and deservedly so. Who could fail to love this moralistic charmer, as he single-handedly rescues maidens week in week out without ever once getting a hair out of place?

Of course it`s full of continuity errors and wooden dialogue and stilted editing. That was the ITC house style after all. But it`s also full of glamour, humour, fun and action - and thoroughly entertaining to boot.

Why anyone who remembers this series with any degree of fondness wouldn`t want to buy this excellent set is beyond my comprehension. It`s not a `should have` - it`s simply a must have!

For everyone else though, I`m not sure. It`s difficult to be objective about a series that you loved as a child.