I'm all done with The Saint for now. The 6th and last series has 20 episodes and like the last series they are all in color. The total number of episodes is 118.
Here's the episodes, below the page break, with synopsis by don @ minifie-1.
6-01 The Best Laid Schemes September 29 1968
Screenplay by Joe Morheim and A Sanford Wolfe, direction by John Llewellyn Moxey.
For several weeks after the body of her husband has been pulled from the sea, Arlene Fleming receives calls from the allegedly dead spouse and finds evidence to suggest that he is still alive. The doctor advises admittance to a sanatorium to prevent a nervous breakdown. The Saint discovers that the main beneficiary to Fleming's will is his nephew, Andrew, who seems to be very closely involved with his uncle's main business rival. The Saint tries to talk to the locals to find out how Fleming died but is greeted by general hostility until one of them tells the Saint she is convinced that Fleming was murdered.
Sylvia Syms, Fulton Mackay and Norman Bird are amongst the guest cast.
6-02 Invitation to Danger October 6 1968
Screenplay by Terry Nation, direction by Roger Moore.
Having gone to the aid of mystery blonde Reb Denning the Saint finds a dying man who tells him, "stop them...Friday night." He is next captured by crooked casino owner Brett Sunley who claims that he has stolen £100,000 from the casino. The Saint manages to escape and tracks down Reb Denning, who tells him that she is a secret agent and that Sunley's casino is a front and that he is a banker for international spies. She gives the Saint an invitation to danger to bring down Sunley and his associates, which, of course, the Saint does not refuse.
Shirley Eaton, Robert Hutton and Julian Glover are the guest stars that I have seen in many other programs. Shirley appeared in 3 different episodes of The Saint, as did Robert Hutton. Julian only had the one appearance on the show but you can see him, while he's still alive, on Game Of Thrones.
6-03 Legacy for the Saint October 13 1968
Screenplay by Michael Winder, direction by Roy Ward Baker.
Having met his maker in an explosion in his car, retired villain Ed Brown shows a posthumous film to several rival gangsters which is also viewed by Brown's daughter Penny, previously innocent of her father's criminality, and the inevitable Saint. The film claims that Ed has deposited a million pounds in a Swiss bank and that whoever can match it can claim the money. A security van is to travel from the coast to London with a million pounds worth of gold bullion on board, making it the ideal target for the 'prize'. The Saint picks up the gauntlet but some of the other villains take Penny hostage and before long the thieves do indeed fall out with one of the gangsters being erased but another seemingly claiming the victory. Both Penny and the loot need the Saint to come to their rescue.
Ivor Dean returns as Inspector Teal of Scotland Yard.
6-04 The Desperate Diplomat October 20 1968
Screenplay by Terry Nation, direction by Ray Austin.
Diplomat Jason Douglas has disappeared, along with a large sum of money, and sinister mystery man Walter Faber holds Sara, Douglas's daughter, hostage in exchange for news of the man's whereabouts. The Saint frees her and they track down her father, who tells them that the money is to be given to help a developing African country. Faber and his heavies catch up with them, threatening dire consequences if he does not get the money. However, the hunter becomes the pursued as the Saint gains the upper hand.
Robert Hardy, Suzan Farmer and Ivor Dean are in the guest spots this episode.
6-05 The Organization Man October 27 1968
Screenplay by Donald James, direction by Leslie Norman.
The Saint is contacted by Jonathan Roper, who is training a small international army, which he invites the Saint to join. In fact the Saint is working undercover for British military intelligence who are curious as to what Roper's plans are. Roper informs the Saint that he wants him to lead an assault on an army vehicle, stealing uniforms. It becomes apparent that Roper intends to disguise his men as British soldiers for criminal purposes. The Saint sets out to stop him.
Tony Briton's career started in 1950, when he was 26, and the last thing he worked on was in 2012. He was only in one episode of The Saint. I haven't seen much of his work but do remember him in The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh. That's the Disney version that was based on the William Buchanan novel called Christopher Syn. The real Dr Syn novels are by Russell Thorndike.
6-06 The Double Take November 3 1968
Screenplay by John Kruse, direction by Leslie Norman.
The Saint is hired by Greek millionaire Eugene Patroclos to locate the man who is impersonating him. However, when the Saint catches up with the impostor he is told that he is the real Patroclos and the man who originally hired the Saint is the fraud. Both men have secretaries called Annabel and the Saint must work out which of the two Annabel's he trusts, to help him unravel the mystery.
Grégoire Aslan, who played Patroclos, was born March 28 1908 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire as Krikor Aslanian. His career started in 1935 and he was working through 1982. You might have seen him in Cleopatra in 1963, or Marco Polo the year before. In 1960 he was in The 3 Worlds Of Gulliver and the year before Our Man In Havana. I just saw him in the Hammer film, The Snorkel, where he played a police Inspector.
6-07 The Time to Die November 10 1968
Screenplay by Terry Nation, direction by Roy Ward Baker.
Whilst in the company of his journalist friend Mary Ellen, the Saint receives a number of death threats, most starkly a wreath which informs him that he will be killed in two days' time. A couple of small-time crooks seem to be implicated in carrying messages for the would-be killer but both are bumped off before they can be of help to the Saint. With a hearse parked outside his door and Mary Ellen in the clutches of the murderer, time is running out for the Saint.
Suzanne Lloyd is Mary Ellen and she's one of those annoying reporters that are always getting people in trouble.
6-08 The Master Plan November 17 1968
Screenplay by Harry W Junkin, direction by Leslie Norman.
The Saint answers a cry for help from Jean Lane, whose brother Tony has got himself into hot water after being black-mailed into working for night-club owner Cord Thrandel, who is an all-round criminal. Having rescued Tony from Thrandel's clutches he investigates a warehouse in which he finds cases of plaster statues which contain heroin. He switches labels on the cases so that Thrandel loses his shipment. Thrandel is not happy and threatens to kill Jean unless the Saint returns his illicit property. Needless to say the Saint is eager to thwart the master plan.
Burt Kwouk plays Mr Ching. He wants to hook the Brit's on heroin. Kind of like the Brit's trying to get the Chinese hooked on Opium. Sadly Burt died last month. I've seen him in a lot of British TV shows and plenty of movies. His careen started in 1957 and ended in 2010.
6-09 The House on Dragon's Rock 24 November 1968
Screenplay by Harry W Junkin which adapted a Leslie Charteris story The Man Who Liked Ants, direction by Roger Moore.
The Saint has been summonsed by the local doctor to a Welsh village where residents have been attacked by strange, monstrous creatures. The link would seem to be with a research laboratory at nearby Dragon's Rock, run by the secretive Dr. Sardon. Sardon's niece Carmen is herself very worried and the Saint joins her to investigate. Carmen is attacked by a large creature whose tracks lead to Sardon's laboratory. He is breeding giant insects one of whose eggs are ready to hatch. The Saint must destroy it before it destroys him.
It's a goofy one. They changed the giant ant to a spider in the episode. Annette Andre, who played Carmen, is the guest on the commentary for the episode. She does ok, has a few stories to tell. Her 30 year acting career ended in 1988.
6–10 The Scales of Justice December 1 1968
Screenplay by Robert Holmes, direction by Robert Asher.
Five members of the board of a company called Combined Holdings have all been recently murdered. It would appear that each one received a card with the words 'The Scales of Justice' printed on it before their deaths and the assassin would seem to a man posing as blind with a blowpipe concealed in his white stick. Gilbert Kirby, a friend of the Saint, is the latest board member to be threatened. He is due to be made Lord Mayor of London and escapes an assassination attempt whilst in the mayoral procession. The Saint examines photos of the pageant and realizes that the would-be killer was on the float submitted by Combined Holdings and has to be a member of the firm. He sets out to unmask him.
Andrew Keir and Jean Marsh are the guest stars that I knew by name.
6–11 The Fiction Makers Part I December 8 1968
Screenplay by John Kruse who adapted his own story, direction by Roy Ward Baker.
The Saint is asked to act as a bodyguard to the best-selling adventure author Amos Klein and, to his surprise, discovers that Amos is a young woman who uses a male pen-name. They are both captured by a man called Warlock, who has a moll called Galaxy Rose - both names of characters in Klein's books - but they too expect Amos Klein to be a man and are easily fooled when the Saint tells them that he is Amos and the young lady is his secretary. Warlock wants 'Amos' to use 'his' novelist's imagination to break in to Hermetico, a former mine that has been converted into a stronghold for gold and other valuable materials. The Saint plays along but makes a break for it with the authoress. However, despite escaping from the grounds of their prison they are recaptured and told they will be killed unless they cooperate in the break-in.
It's presented as a continuous story on the DVD with only opening and closing credits playing once. It's a James Bond spoof with a master villain and his henchmen. Sylvia Syms appears as Amos Klein and Kenneth J Warren appears as Warlock. Nicholas Smith played a henchman called Bishop. Nicholas has been in plenty of British TV.
6–12 The Fiction Makers Part II December 15 1968
Screenplay by John Kruse who adapted his own story, direction by Roy Ward Baker.
Having been re-captured by Warlock and his gang, the Saint, still posing as 'Amos Klein', accompanies Warlock to Hermetico, the underground building Warlock wants to rob, posing as prospective clients, and making a note of the lay-out. The Saint devises a plan to breach its security and begins to train Warlock's men to raid the stronghold. However disaster strikes when one of the gang recognizes the Saint and his cover is blown. The real Amos is taken hostage on pain of death if the Saint does not carry out the robbery as planned.
Of course The Saint puts things right.
6–13 The People Importers December 22 1968
Screenplay by Donald James, direction by Ray Austin.
Whilst fishing off the South coast of England the Saint comes across an unsuccessful boat-builder who is nonetheless in the money because he is in the business of smuggling illegal immigrants into the country. Additionally it is revealed that one of the immigrants who has gone on the run was suffering from small-pox and the Saint must locate him before he can spread the disease.
A rather topical episode about smuggling Indians into the UK.
6–14 Where the Money Is December 29 1968
Screenplay by Terry Nation, direction by Roger Moore.
The Saint agrees to act as go-between, taking ransom money to the kidnappers of Jenny, wayward daughter of film producer Ben Kersh. The kidnappers blindfold him but he has a camera disguised as a wrist-watch, which enables him to re-trace his journey to the hide-out in order to free Jenny. However, the victim seems less willing to be rescued than one might have expected.
Kenneth J Warren is back and this time he's playing Ben Kersh, a bastard of a film producer. Judee Morton plays the daughter. Judee was born in Michigan and mostly worked in the US.
6–15 Vendetta for the Saint Part I January 5 1969
Screenplay by Harry W Junkin and John Kruse, adapted from the novel of the same name by Harry Harrison (though the novel is credited to Leslie Charteris), direction by Jim O'Connolly.
Templar is having a drink at a bar in Naples when he witnesses a mêlée between two of the customers. It appears that one of them has mistaken the other for an old colleague. Templar's suspicions are raised the next morning when he reads in the newspapers that one of the men has been murdered. He begins to investigate only to find himself thrown into the world of the Sicilian Mafia, and that few people are willing to help him.
Ian Hendry is the baddie in the episode. Fulton Mackay is the only name in the rest of the cast that I recognize.
6–16 Vendetta for the Saint Part II January 12 1969
Screenplay by Harry W Junkin and John Kruse, adapted from the novel of the same name by Harry Harrison (though the novel is credited to Leslie Charteris), direction by Jim O'Connolly.
Having survived a bomb attempt on his life the Saint tells Gina that her uncle is a high-ranking Mafia member. He is, in fact, being chosen as a replacement for the dying Don Pasquali, the current Mafia head. Gina eventually believes him. The Saint goes to the family vault to find out what happened to the real Allessandro, but he is captured by the Mafia gang and taken to see Don Pasquali and his replacement. He has to think very fast to sow the seeds of discord into the minds of those present and bring the vendetta to an end.
The two episodes are presented as one continuous show with only credits at the beginning and the end. The two part story was released in a separate DVD with the commentary that appears on this set. Roger Moore, Executive Producer Robert S Baker and Associate Producer Johnny Goodman. It was a fairly entertaining commentary.
6–17 The Ex-King of Diamonds January 19 1969
Screenplay by John Kruse, direction by Alvin Rakoff.
In the South of France the Saint becomes friends with Texan adventurer Rod Huston and the famous mathematician Henri Flambeau and his daughter Janine. They are all amazed at the luck that seems to follow Boris, the ex-king of Slavonia, at the card tables and Henri is convinced that such a run of wins can only mean one thing - the ex-king is a cheat. It soon becomes clear that he is trying to amass enough money to try and regain his throne. The Saint and Rod discover the factory where the king's specially marked cards are made and destroy them, whilst Henri takes the king, now forced to use ordinary cards, on at the baccarat table.
The episode was intended to be a bit of a pilot for The Persuaders. Stuart Damon played the Texan. You might have seen him in The Champions. There's a commentary on this episode with Roger Moore and Executive Producer Robert S Baker.
6–18 The Man who Gambled with Life January 26 1969
Screenplay by Harry W Junkin, direction by Freddie Francis.
The Saint is lured to a house in Cornwall by two attractive young sisters in which he meets their father, Keith Longman, an eccentric millionaire. He tells the Saint that he is dying and that he plans to have himself frozen in suspended animation until such time that a cure can be found for his illness. He also plans to use the Saint as a guinea pig in testing out the process. The Saint is not a willing victim and must work out how to escape.
6–19 Portrait of Brenda February 2 1969
Screenplay by Harry W Junkin, direction by John Gilling.
Alan Williams is found dead having rung the Saint for his assistance. Pop singer Diane Huntley, a friend of Alan's, takes the Saint to meet a guru who runs meditation sessions at a hefty price, and the Saint is convinced the guru is behind the murder. Diane tells the Saint that Alan had a younger sister Brenda, who also saw the guru and who committed suicide. Alan had painted a portrait of Brenda and in its frame are hidden various documents which will lead the Saint to avenge his friend's death.
Ivor Dean returns to the show to play Inspector Teal. David Prowse has a small part.
6–20 The World Beater February 9 1969
Screenplay by Donald James, direction by Leslie Norman.
The Saint is invited by George Hapgood, a designer of racing cars, to test drive his latest model, but the car has been sabotaged and crashes. George's cousin Justin then asks the Saint to drive his latest car, only for a mystery driver to force that car off the road as well. The Saint suspects business-woman Kay Collingwood as being involved, given that she seems close to Justin, but she claims that her main interest is in bugging devices, not cars. The Saint gets ready to drive George's car in a rally, unaware that it has once more been sabotaged.
All done, at least for now. Onto something else.
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