THE SAINT IN PALM SPRINGS

US, 1941, 66 minutes, Black and white.
George Sanders, Wendy Barry, Paul Guilfoyle, Linda Hayes, Jonathan Hale.
Directed by Jack Hively.

The Saint in Palm Springs is the sixth in the popular Saint series, films that were brief, low-budget, used as supporting features. They were based on short stories by Leslie Charteris, the novelist who wrote the Saint series. This was to be the last film for George Sanders as the Saint.

In fact, the main reason for seeing this film is the presence and performance by George Sanders, eternally calm, very well-spoken, with a touch of flirtation, handy at times with the fists, but all times the gentleman.

He is helping out his old friend, Fermack, whose World War I friend is trying to get valuable stamps to his niece in Palm springs. He stages and arrest at the pier when Templar arrives from England. But he eludes the police and goes immediately to Fermack’s office. Fermack is shrewd in motivating Templar to take the stamps to Palm Springs. On the way he meets a pleasant woman played by Linda Hayes – ultimately one of the thieves, a femme fatale who is murdered.

In Palm Springs he meets the niece, played by Wendy Barry who appeared in other Saint films, and enjoys himself at tennis and horseriding. However, a policeman is killed and the Saint goes into action – with some humorous help from his old contact, ex-com, pearly gates, played engagingly by Paul Guilfoyle. The gang makes itself known, Templar organises the situation so that they are all arrested, and all is well. From now on Hugh Sinclair would take George Sander’s place.