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The Saint (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Saint was an ITC
mystery
spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV
between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris
literary character, Simon Templar
, a Robin Hood
-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise
. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the initial letters of his name (ST) are also an abbreviation for the word saint
. When taking on an American persona he would often use the name Sebastian Tombs.
As a result of the strong performance in the US of the first two black-and-white series in first-run syndication, NBC
picked up the show as a summer replacement on its evening schedule in 1966
. The programme therefore ended its run with both trans-Atlantic prime time
scheduling and colour episodes. It also proved popular beyond the UK and US, eventually showing in over 60 countries, and made a profit in excess of £350m for ITC. With almost 120 episodes, the programme is exceeded only by The Avengers
as the most productive show of its genre produced in the UK.
as Simon Templar. The fictional detective-cambrioleur was created by Leslie Charteris
in the 1920s and featured in many novels and novella
s over the years. Moore drove a white Volvo P1800
on the show. Moore's portrayal of Templar was considered a training ground for his later work as James Bond
. He was reportedly offered the role of 007 at least twice during the run of the series, but had to turn it down both times due to his television commitments. In one early episode of the series, a character actually mistakes Templar for James Bond.
Roger Moore had earlier tried to buy the production rights to the Saint books himself and was delighted to be able to play the part. Moore eventually became co-owner of the show with Robert S. Baker
when the show moved to colour and the production credit became Bamore Productions. Most of the wardrobe Moore wore in the series was his own.
Although Moore had a few recurring co-stars, most notably Ivor Dean
who took over the role of Teal as Templar's nemesis/reluctant ally, Inspector Teal
, he was the only actor to feature for the entire run of the show. This was in keeping with the later format of the Charteris novels wherein the Saint usually worked alone. In early books, however, Templar had a team of compatriots, as well as a regular girlfriend
, but these characters do not appear in the programme. Inspector Teal had been previously played by Norman Pitt and Wensley Pithey
. From the episode "Iris" (7 Nov 1963), Ivor Dean
took over. He had previously starred as a bad guy in the series, in the "Hollywood" episode.
The Saint began as a straightforward mystery series, but over the years adopted more secret agent
and fantasy-style plots. It also made a well-publicised switch from black-and-white
to colour production midway through its run. The early episodes are distinguished by having Moore break the fourth wall
and speak to the audience in character at the start of every episode. With the switch to colour this gimmick was replaced by simple narration. Invariably, the pre-credits sequence ended with someone referring to the Saint as "the famous Simon Templar", at which point an animated halo appeared above Templar's head as the actor usually looked at the camera or directly at the halo. Some episodes such as "Iris" broke away from this formula and had Templar address the audience for the entire pre-credits sequence, setting up the story that followed.
Many episodes were based upon Charteris' stories, although a higher percentage of original scripts appeared as the series progressed. The novel Vendetta for the Saint
, credited to Charteris but written by Harry Harrison
, was one of the last Saint stories to be adapted. Some of the later stories were novelised and published as part of the ongoing series of The Saint novels, such as The Fiction Makers
and The People Importers
. The first of these books, which gave cover credit to Charteris but were actually written by others, was The Saint on TV
, and the series of novelisations continued for several years after the television programme had ended.
The b/w series were first syndicated in the US by NBC
affiliate stations in 1967 and 1968, and 32 of the 47 colour episodes were Networked by NBC from 1968 to 1969, and has since played in syndication in the US for many years after,(the 70s sequel Return of the Saint
aired to high ratings on CBS
in 1979/80). Most series are available on DVD
in North America. A pair of two-part episodes from series 6, Vendetta for the Saint and The Fiction Makers, were compiled into feature films and distributed to theatres in Europe, and often show up on late-night television in America. They are also available on DVD.
In 1978, the series was revived as Return of the Saint
, starring Ian Ogilvy
as Templar. Moore never played the role again after 1969, though he can be heard speaking on a car radio during the 1997 film The Saint, starring Val Kilmer
as Templar. Although the film bore absolutely no similarity to the books or either TV series, the executive producer of the film was Robert S. Baker
, who developed and produced both The Saint and Return of the Saint.
The colour episodes are currently being re-run on ITV4
in the UK. Retro Television Network
in the US is airing the entire series, both the color and black and white episodes.
in Hertfordshire, with very few scenes shot on location outside of the Elstree Studios site. This was achieved by making extensive use of the sets at Elstree, early blue screen technology to simulate different locations in the background, painted or projected backdrops, as well as revolving painted backdrops for moving scenes. There are a few exceptions such as the extensive location shoot on the island of Malta
for 'Vendetta for the Saint'. Look-alikes were used for location shoots where The Saint is seen in the distance entering a well known building or driving past the camera at speed.
"The Fiction Makers" from Series 5 was edited into a two-parter using the revamped theme for inclusion in series 6, as was "Vendetta for the Saint". However, during transmission of series 5, transmission of the episodes caught up with production, meaning repeats of some of the black-and-white episodes had to be slotted into the schedule to slow the broadcast of new episodes. This series started transmission half way through production, leading to only 26 of the episodes being screened. The three unscreened episodes plus "The House on Dragon's Rock", which in some regions was not broadcast because it was thought unsuitable for children, were then mixed in with series 6 for transmission.
released The Saint on DVD in Region 1. They have released two sets of monochrome episodes, the first with three discs, the second with four. Each disc contains four episodes, meaning only 28 of the monochrome episodes are available. All of the colour episodes have been released in seven two-disc sets, as well as in one 14-disc "Megaset." The two-part episodes are only in movie form. These are currently out of print.
In Region 2, Network DVD
has released two multi-disc sets, with all the monochrome episodes available in an 18-disc set, and all the colour ones in a 14-disc set. The colour set includes the theatrical versions of the two double-length stories, as well as the original 48-minute two-part versions. Also included are a 40-minute documentary and isolated music tracks. Prior to this, Carlton Video had released four separate discs, the first one with the first two episodes, and the rest with four episodes each. There is also a 10-disc set that repackages the previous four discs alongside six more, containing the first 39 monochrome episodes. The Monochrome and Colour sets are the best out there, in terms of picture, audio quality and special features.
In Region 4, Umbrella Entertainment
released the entire series in Australia , in five boxed sets of six discs each. These are in PAL format, but with no region code. The boxsets feature numerous extras including a series of audio commentaries recorded in 2004 with surviving members of the cast and crew, ranging from guest stars through to Roger Moore.
. Scottish actor Dougray Scott
is lined up to play Simon Templar.
It is now reported James Purefoy will play The Saint in a remake.
http://blog.saint.org/2011/04/james-purefoy-as-simon-templar-alias.html
ITC Entertainment
The Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution. It was founded by Lew Grade.-History:...
mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris , born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, was a half-Chinese, half English author of primarily mystery fiction, as well as a screenwriter. He was best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint."-Early life:Charteris was born to a Chinese father...
literary character, Simon Templar
Simon Templar
Simon Templar is a British fictional character known as The Saint featured in a long-running series of books by Leslie Charteris published between 1928 and 1963. After that date, other authors collaborated with Charteris on books until 1983; two additional works produced without Charteris’s...
, a Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise
Disguise
A disguise can be anything which conceals or changes a person's physical appearance, including a wig, glasses, makeup, costume or other ways. Camouflage is one type of disguise for people, animals and objects...
. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the initial letters of his name (ST) are also an abbreviation for the word saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. When taking on an American persona he would often use the name Sebastian Tombs.
As a result of the strong performance in the US of the first two black-and-white series in first-run syndication, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
picked up the show as a summer replacement on its evening schedule in 1966
1966 in television
The year 1966 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1966.For the American TV schedule, see: 1966-67 American network television schedule.-Events:...
. The programme therefore ended its run with both trans-Atlantic prime time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
scheduling and colour episodes. It also proved popular beyond the UK and US, eventually showing in over 60 countries, and made a profit in excess of £350m for ITC. With almost 120 episodes, the programme is exceeded only by The Avengers
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
as the most productive show of its genre produced in the UK.
Series overview
The Saint starred Roger MooreRoger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore KBE , is an English actor, perhaps best known for portraying British secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985. He also portrayed Simon Templar in the long-running British television series The Saint.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
as Simon Templar. The fictional detective-cambrioleur was created by Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris , born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, was a half-Chinese, half English author of primarily mystery fiction, as well as a screenwriter. He was best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint."-Early life:Charteris was born to a Chinese father...
in the 1920s and featured in many novels and novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
s over the years. Moore drove a white Volvo P1800
Volvo P1800
-History:The project was started in 1957 because Volvo wanted a sports car, despite the fact that their previous attempt, the P1900, had been a disaster, with only 68 cars sold. The man behind the project was an engineering consultant to Volvo, Helmer Petterson, who in the 1940s was responsible for...
on the show. Moore's portrayal of Templar was considered a training ground for his later work as James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
. He was reportedly offered the role of 007 at least twice during the run of the series, but had to turn it down both times due to his television commitments. In one early episode of the series, a character actually mistakes Templar for James Bond.
Roger Moore had earlier tried to buy the production rights to the Saint books himself and was delighted to be able to play the part. Moore eventually became co-owner of the show with Robert S. Baker
Robert S. Baker
Robert Sidney Baker was a British film and television producer, who at times was also a cinematographer and director.- Movie career :...
when the show moved to colour and the production credit became Bamore Productions. Most of the wardrobe Moore wore in the series was his own.
Although Moore had a few recurring co-stars, most notably Ivor Dean
Ivor Dean
Ivor Donald Dean was a British stage and television actor.With his lugubrious demeanour he was often cast as world-weary police officers or butlers, and indeed it is for the role of Chief Inspector Claud Eustace Teal in the 1960s series The Saint, opposite Roger Moore, that he is best remembered...
who took over the role of Teal as Templar's nemesis/reluctant ally, Inspector Teal
Claud Eustace Teal
Claud Eustace Teal is a fictional character who made many appearances in a series of novels, novellas and short stories by Leslie Charteris entitled The Saint, starting in 1929...
, he was the only actor to feature for the entire run of the show. This was in keeping with the later format of the Charteris novels wherein the Saint usually worked alone. In early books, however, Templar had a team of compatriots, as well as a regular girlfriend
Patricia Holm
Patricia Holm is the name of a fictional character who appeared in the novels of Leslie Charteris from the 1920s to the 1940s. She was the on-again, off-again girlfriend and partner of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint" and shared a number of his adventures....
, but these characters do not appear in the programme. Inspector Teal had been previously played by Norman Pitt and Wensley Pithey
Wensley Pithey
Wensley Pithey was a South African character actor who had a long stage career.Pithey was born in Cape Town, South Africa. A graduate of the University of Cape Town where he studied music and drama, he travelled to England in 1947...
. From the episode "Iris" (7 Nov 1963), Ivor Dean
Ivor Dean
Ivor Donald Dean was a British stage and television actor.With his lugubrious demeanour he was often cast as world-weary police officers or butlers, and indeed it is for the role of Chief Inspector Claud Eustace Teal in the 1960s series The Saint, opposite Roger Moore, that he is best remembered...
took over. He had previously starred as a bad guy in the series, in the "Hollywood" episode.
The Saint began as a straightforward mystery series, but over the years adopted more secret agent
Secret Agent
Secret Agent is a British film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, loosely based on two stories in Ashenden: Or the British Agent by W. Somerset Maugham. The film starred John Gielgud, Peter Lorre, Madeleine Carroll, and Robert Young...
and fantasy-style plots. It also made a well-publicised switch from black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
to colour production midway through its run. The early episodes are distinguished by having Moore break the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
and speak to the audience in character at the start of every episode. With the switch to colour this gimmick was replaced by simple narration. Invariably, the pre-credits sequence ended with someone referring to the Saint as "the famous Simon Templar", at which point an animated halo appeared above Templar's head as the actor usually looked at the camera or directly at the halo. Some episodes such as "Iris" broke away from this formula and had Templar address the audience for the entire pre-credits sequence, setting up the story that followed.
Many episodes were based upon Charteris' stories, although a higher percentage of original scripts appeared as the series progressed. The novel Vendetta for the Saint
Vendetta for the Saint
Vendetta for the Saint is the title of a 1964 mystery novel featuring the character of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint". The novel is credited to Leslie Charteris, who created the Saint in 1928, but the book was actually authored by Harry Harrison, a noted science fiction author who also wrote the...
, credited to Charteris but written by Harry Harrison
Harry Harrison
Harry Harrison is an American science fiction author best known for his character the Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! , the basis for the film Soylent Green...
, was one of the last Saint stories to be adapted. Some of the later stories were novelised and published as part of the ongoing series of The Saint novels, such as The Fiction Makers
The Saint and the Fiction Makers
The Saint and the Fiction Makers is the title of a 1968 mystery novel featuring the character of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint"...
and The People Importers
The Saint and the People Importers
The Saint and the People Importers is the title of a 1971 mystery novel featuring the character of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint". The novel is credited to Leslie Charteris, who created the Saint in 1928, but the book was actually co-authored by Fleming Lee...
. The first of these books, which gave cover credit to Charteris but were actually written by others, was The Saint on TV
The Saint on TV
The Saint on TV is a collection of two mystery novellas by Fleming Lee, continuing the adventures of the sleuth Simon Templar aka "The Saint", created by Leslie Charteris. This book was first published in the United States in 1968 by The Crime Club, and in the United Kingdom later that year by...
, and the series of novelisations continued for several years after the television programme had ended.
The b/w series were first syndicated in the US by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate stations in 1967 and 1968, and 32 of the 47 colour episodes were Networked by NBC from 1968 to 1969, and has since played in syndication in the US for many years after,(the 70s sequel Return of the Saint
Return of the Saint
Return of the Saint was a British action-adventure television series that aired for one season in 1978 and 1979 in Britain on ITV, and was also broadcast on CBS in the United States...
aired to high ratings on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in 1979/80). Most series are available on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in North America. A pair of two-part episodes from series 6, Vendetta for the Saint and The Fiction Makers, were compiled into feature films and distributed to theatres in Europe, and often show up on late-night television in America. They are also available on DVD.
In 1978, the series was revived as Return of the Saint
Return of the Saint
Return of the Saint was a British action-adventure television series that aired for one season in 1978 and 1979 in Britain on ITV, and was also broadcast on CBS in the United States...
, starring Ian Ogilvy
Ian Ogilvy
Ian Raymond Ogilvy is an English film and television actor.-Early life:He was born in Woking, Surrey, England, the son of advertising executive Francis Ogilvy and actress Aileen Raymond .He was educated at Sunningdale School, Eton College and at the Royal Academy of...
as Templar. Moore never played the role again after 1969, though he can be heard speaking on a car radio during the 1997 film The Saint, starring Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
as Templar. Although the film bore absolutely no similarity to the books or either TV series, the executive producer of the film was Robert S. Baker
Robert S. Baker
Robert Sidney Baker was a British film and television producer, who at times was also a cinematographer and director.- Movie career :...
, who developed and produced both The Saint and Return of the Saint.
The colour episodes are currently being re-run on ITV4
ITV4
ITV4 is a British television station which was launched on 1 November 2005. It is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc, and is part of the ITV network. The channel has a male-oriented line-up, including sport, cop shows and US comedies and dramas, as well as classic ITV action...
in the UK. Retro Television Network
Retro Television Network
The Retro Television Network is a system of television stations that airs classic television shows as well as more recently produced programs...
in the US is airing the entire series, both the color and black and white episodes.
Filming locations
In the TV series The Saint lives in London, though the exact address is never revealed, and he is seen traveling to locations across London, the UK, and around the world. In reality this was not the case, as the whole series was shot at Associated British Elstree StudiosElstree Studios
"Elstree Studios" refers to any of several film studios that were based in the towns of Borehamwood and Elstree in Hertfordshire, England, since film production begun in 1927.-Name:...
in Hertfordshire, with very few scenes shot on location outside of the Elstree Studios site. This was achieved by making extensive use of the sets at Elstree, early blue screen technology to simulate different locations in the background, painted or projected backdrops, as well as revolving painted backdrops for moving scenes. There are a few exceptions such as the extensive location shoot on the island of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
for 'Vendetta for the Saint'. Look-alikes were used for location shoots where The Saint is seen in the distance entering a well known building or driving past the camera at speed.
Fan Club
The Saint and its books have a fan club created originally by Leslie Charteris for the fans of the series. The club falls under the control of honorary chairmen Roger Moore and Ian Ogilvy. The club marks events such as the publication of books or other information on the series.Episodes
The black-and-white episodes of The Saint were made in two production runs, the first, of 39 episodes, was split into two separate series on transmission, and the second, of 32 episodes, again split into two series on transmission. Series 5, the first to be produced in colour, consisted of a production run of 32 episodes. The second colour production run consisted of 15 episodes, and has a revamped theme tune marking it out from the first batch of colour episodes."The Fiction Makers" from Series 5 was edited into a two-parter using the revamped theme for inclusion in series 6, as was "Vendetta for the Saint". However, during transmission of series 5, transmission of the episodes caught up with production, meaning repeats of some of the black-and-white episodes had to be slotted into the schedule to slow the broadcast of new episodes. This series started transmission half way through production, leading to only 26 of the episodes being screened. The three unscreened episodes plus "The House on Dragon's Rock", which in some regions was not broadcast because it was thought unsuitable for children, were then mixed in with series 6 for transmission.
DVD releases
A&E Home VideoA&E Television Networks
A&E Television Networks is a U.S. media company that owns a group of television channels available via cable & satellite in the US and abroad...
released The Saint on DVD in Region 1. They have released two sets of monochrome episodes, the first with three discs, the second with four. Each disc contains four episodes, meaning only 28 of the monochrome episodes are available. All of the colour episodes have been released in seven two-disc sets, as well as in one 14-disc "Megaset." The two-part episodes are only in movie form. These are currently out of print.
In Region 2, Network DVD
Network DVD
Network DVD is a DVD publishing company that specialises in classic British television. In particular, it has the rights to a number of well-known ITV programmes...
has released two multi-disc sets, with all the monochrome episodes available in an 18-disc set, and all the colour ones in a 14-disc set. The colour set includes the theatrical versions of the two double-length stories, as well as the original 48-minute two-part versions. Also included are a 40-minute documentary and isolated music tracks. Prior to this, Carlton Video had released four separate discs, the first one with the first two episodes, and the rest with four episodes each. There is also a 10-disc set that repackages the previous four discs alongside six more, containing the first 39 monochrome episodes. The Monochrome and Colour sets are the best out there, in terms of picture, audio quality and special features.
In Region 4, Umbrella Entertainment
Umbrella entertainment
Umbrella Entertainment is an Australian owned, independent all-rights feature film, documentary and television program distribution company that was set up in 2001 by Jeff Harrison...
released the entire series in Australia , in five boxed sets of six discs each. These are in PAL format, but with no region code. The boxsets feature numerous extras including a series of audio commentaries recorded in 2004 with surviving members of the cast and crew, ranging from guest stars through to Roger Moore.
Remake
In September 2009, it was announced that The Saint is to be remade for television by Vancouver-based studio Brightlight PicturesBrightlight Pictures
Brightlight Pictures Inc. is a Canadian film production and television production company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The company was founded in 2001....
. Scottish actor Dougray Scott
Dougray Scott
-Early life:The son of Elma, a nurse, and Alan Scott, an actor and salesperson, Stephen Dougray Scott was born in Glenrothes, Fife and attended Auchmuty High School...
is lined up to play Simon Templar.
It is now reported James Purefoy will play The Saint in a remake.
See also
- James BondJames BondJames Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
- The Persuaders!The Persuaders!The Persuaders! is a 1971 action/adventure series, produced by ITC Entertainment for initial broadcast on ITV and ABC. It has been called "the last major entry in the cycle of adventure series that had begun eleven years earlier with Danger Man in 1960", as well as "the most ambitious and most...
- The AvengersThe Avengers (TV series)The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
- Robin HoodRobin HoodRobin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
- Bulldog DrummondBulldog DrummondBulldog Drummond is a British fictional character, created by "Sapper", a pseudonym of Herman Cyril McNeile , and the hero of a series of novels published from 1920 to 1954.- Drummond :...
- Remington SteeleRemington SteeleRemington Steele is an American television series, co-created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason. The series, starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, was produced by MTM Enterprises and first broadcast on the NBC network from 1982 to 1987. The series blended the genres of romantic...
- Volvo P1800Volvo P1800-History:The project was started in 1957 because Volvo wanted a sports car, despite the fact that their previous attempt, the P1900, had been a disaster, with only 68 cars sold. The man behind the project was an engineering consultant to Volvo, Helmer Petterson, who in the 1940s was responsible for...
http://blog.saint.org/2011/04/james-purefoy-as-simon-templar-alias.html
Further reading
- Barer, Paul. The Saint: A Complete History in Print, Radio, Film and Television of Leslie Charteris' Robin Hood of Modern Crime, Simon Templar, 1928-1992. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2003. ISBN 9780786416806