Return of the Saint
In a way
Return of the Saint was a landmark TV series.
It was without doubt the last of the action-adventure genre tv series, such as
The Saint,
The Champions,
Randall and Hopkirk Deceased,
The Persuaders and countless others.
These ITC-produced TV series were unique in that they were shot as feature films, rather than the video taped in studio with film inserts.
The series is looked upon by some as being a failure, however this is undeserved judgement based almost solely on the fact that a second series was never commissioned.
The series was sold to in excess of 70 countries worldwide, and won Ian Ogilvy a
Most Compulsive TV Character Award in 1978 at the then prostiguous
TV Times Awards.
At that time, the driving force behind ITC was Sir Lew Grade.
It was his retirement from TV, along with the financial ITC Film disaster that was
Raise the Titanic, that combined to ensure this type of TV series was never made again, and so the second series of
Return of the Saint never had a chance.
In terms of production values, by television standards, the series is, even now, almost without parallel.
Whereas, the Elstree Film Studios back lot was often utilised as an exotic local, albeit with rubber palm trees, for the other series previously mentioned.
Return of the Saint actually filmed on location, in the countries where the stories were set; destinations such as Venice, Nice, The Camargue, Cortina, Rome, Florence to name a few.
The series also boasted a fine cast of actors, with the likes of Joss Ackland, Stratford Johns, Ian Hendry, Anton Rogers, Maurice Denham, George Cole and Stuart Wilson to name a few.
And why have
Bond Girls when you can have
Saint Girls, such as Britt Ekland, Mary Tamm, Kate O'Mara, Susan Penhaligon, Judy Geeson, Carolyn Seymour, Rula Lenska and Anouska Hempel!
A fine company of directors was also assembled, with film stalwarts such as Ealing Studio's Charles Crichton,
A Night to Remember's Roy Ward Baker, Barry Norman's father Leslie and Peter Medak and Peter Sasdy, amongst others.
The series boasted one of the most memorable theme tune and opening title credit sequences of all time, rather akin to an animated
Pink Panther film, with a suitable stickman, jumping from bridges, into cars and diving off boats.
The incidental music was also supplied by celebrated British Film Composer John Scott.
Ian Ogilvy's performance is extremely engaging and endearing in the title role.
Cast at the time because of his similarity in looks and approach to Roger Moore.
Every now and again, he brought to his performance a hardness & seriousness that Moore seldom did.
He also displayed a light comedic touch every bit as good as Moore's.
The only thing Ogilvy lacks is perhaps Moore's physicality, being slighter of build.
On the negative side the stories were never likely to win any awards, but this is escapist fun, not
The Wednesday Play.
Another downside (to an extent) were the fight sequences: at least in comparison to other, more gritty, series such as
The Sweeney and
The Professionals made around that time.
However, this was a conscious decision made by the producers themselves to make the series more acceptable for American TV networks, and in particular the American censors.
That said, the fight sequence's aren't bad, and the series does boast some fine car chases & action sequence work.
Perhaps not the very best series of its genre,
Return of the Saint, still remains rollicking good entertainment.
It doesn't exhibit the fast cutting beloved by today's directors, but still boasts magnificent production values and remains more glamorous, exciting and expensive than anything the TV companies can churn out today.
More than anything else, it was designed to be and still is....... FUN!
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DVD Intro
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Episode 1: The Judas Game
Simon decides to rescue a British agent, whom he was once romantically involved with, who has been kidnapped in the Alps and is being held by terrorists.
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http://rapidshare.com/files/215836383/TRotS01TJG.part01.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/215848590/TRotS01TJG.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/215860993/TRotS01TJG.part03.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/215873552/TRotS01TJG.part04.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/215887361/TRotS01TJG.part05.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/215899702/TRotS01TJG.part06.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/215911901/TRotS01TJG.part07.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/215924906/TRotS01TJG.part08.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/215939255/TRotS01TJG.part09.rar
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Episode 2: The Nightmare Man
Templar and an actress investigate a woman's dream premonition of death for an Italian diplomat.
The Saint travels to meet the ambassador and his wife - however she seems a little different...
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http://rapidshare.com/files/216140328/TRotS02TNM.part01.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/216163238/TRotS02TNM.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/216182571/TRotS02TNM.part03.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/216200826/TRotS02TNM.part04.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/216222051/TRotS02TNM.part05.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/216243138/TRotS02TNM.part06.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/216260382/TRotS02TNM.part07.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/216276418/TRotS02TNM.part08.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/216293332/TRotS02TNM.part09.rar
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