THE SAINT IN NEW YORK

US, 1938, 71 minutes, Black and White.
Louis Hayward, Kay Sutton, Jack Carson.
Directed by Ben Holmes.

The Saint in New York is the first film based on Leslie Charteris's character - the man who fights crime single-handed, outside the law. George Sanders and his brother Tom Conway took over the roles in the series in the '40s with Louis Hayward, the first Saint, resuming the role in 1953 for one film only. The Saint had better success in television with Roger Moore and Ian Ogilvie.

1. '30s version of The Saint? Crime waves? Combating criminals? The role of the law?

2. B-budget production, black and white photography, international scenes, New York City? Musical score?
3. Louis Hayward as The Saint, suave manner, not modest? His international jaunts? Tracked down? Way of speaking about himself, his career, his notes and the drawing? The plea to go to New York? Arrival, commission, relationship with the law? Going to the courts, the attempt on the inspector and his shooting the criminal, disguised as a nun? The note? The confrontation of the criminals at the clubs, the deaths? The girl and her giving the gun? His visit to the lawyer, threatening him, taking his money? The gangsters, the henchmen, his being captured? In New Jersey, Fay to the rescue, the deaths? The build-up to the meeting with `The Big Fella'? The discussions with the inspector, the date? Meeting his contact from the crime prevention group? Fay's arrival - and the irony that he was The Big Fella? His going on to other jobs?

4. New York City, the crime wave, the gangsters? The vigilant group? The hiring of The Saint? The police, the investigations, wariness about The Saint and the law? The inspector, his enjoying the whisky, befriending The Saint?

5. The sketch of the criminals, big time New York gangsters? The henchmen - especially the man who appreciated The Saint and his poetry and manner of speaking?

6. Fay, mystery woman, attracted to The Saint, giving him the gun, saving his life? Pointing out The Big Fella? Her death?

7. The atmosphere of violence - and The Saint executing criminals beside the law or outside the law? This perspective in the heroes of later police thrillers and espionage thrillers (like James Bond, licensed to kill)?