THE SAINT

US, 2017, 91 minutes, Colour.
Adam Raynor, Eliza Dushku, Ian Ogilvy, James Remar, Roger Moore, Enrique Murciano, Thomas Kretschmer, Beatrice Rosen, Yani Gelman, Kyle Horne, Adam Woodward.
Directed by Ernie Barabash.

There has been a continual popularity of the novels written by Lesley Charteris since the 1930s, featuring Simon Templar with his codename, The Saint (and his characteristic card with the stick sketch of the Saint). Many actors have portrayed him including George Sanders and his brother, Tom Conway. They have also been several television series starring Roger Moore and Ian Ogilvy both of whom appear in this film as villains.

This is an updated version for a 21st-century audience. Adam Raynor portrays Simon Templar as suave in the James Bond style but also muscular and skilled in fighting arts. And his accent is very British. He is involved in all kinds of situations, opening in Moscow, moving to Romania, a special quest to find money swindled from Nigeria, investigating the abduction of the daughter of the financier who handled the swindle, building up to a confrontation with his nemesis, The Fixer who is revealed to be his childhood trainer Xander, who is also revealed as the murderer of Simon’s parents in the name of the brotherhood.

There is quite extensive explanation of Simon Templar’s origins especially as a boy, in a variety of flashbacks. He is assisted by an attractive IT ultra-expert, Eliza Dushku whom he had rescued from captors in the desert. Templar is considered a criminal by the FBI and there are several agents tracking him, one of them involved in the confrontation, finally, with the villain.

With the personality and style of the Saint, this is a rather up-market political action adventure show.


1. The popularity of Leslie Charteris’s books? His character, Simon Templar? The sketch of the Saint, the card? The variety of films over the decades, from the 1930s on? The television series? The tribute to Ian Ogilvy and Roger Moore here? The irony of their being villains?

2. An adaptation for the 21st-century? The filling in of the back story, Simon Templar at school, the stealing and the reaction of the teachers, his wanting to be liked, his relationship with his parents, the tutor, Xander, the training in martial arts? The irony of Xander and his belonging to the brotherhood? His executing Simon’s parents? The effect on Simon, running? Audience response to this background in understanding Simon Templar?

3. The range of settings, Moscow, Bucharest, London, the American cities, Los Angeles, San Diego? The musical score?

4. The opening, the terrorists in Moscow, the confrontation, everyone collapsing – and Simon Templar administering the drink? The FBI on surveillance, Cooper and his brashness, the attack? The confrontation between the two? Templar disappearing?

5. Templar, his contact with Patricia? Her back story, the revelation of her being married to Marius? In the desert, her attack on her captors, Templar’s arrival on the bike, the rescue? Their working together? Her IT skills and knowledge? The continued contact? Romantic and not romantic? Relying on Doyle, young, knowledge, information, on missions, his fears?

6. The inspector, the FBI, Templar considered a criminal and his mission to trap Templar?

7. The story of the Fixer, his interview with the Nigerian president, promise of being a benefactor, swindling all the money, Valecross and the transfer? The treatment by The Fixer, Valecross and his wife, daughter and her tantrum, his decision to go to the authorities, to save the money for Nigeria? His meetings with the FBI? His meetings with Templar? The helicopter attack, Marius and the shooting? His death? The abduction of his daughter, her being held to ransom?

8. The ring, the code, the search, phone calls and tracking? The headquarters, the security? Templar and Doyle entering? Patricia and to interventions, saving Doyle? The contact? The arrival of the FBI? Getting the codes?

9. The visit to Valecross’s wife, her welcoming them, the revelation of her being a criminal?

10. The yacht, on board, the confrontations?

11. The mansion, The Fixer, the phone call from his superior (the irony of Roger Moore)? The revelation that he was Xander? The fight with Templar? The arrival of the authorities? His arrest? And the Saint disappearing?

12. In the tradition of the original, 21st-century update, the suave playboy, alleged criminal, generous with money, helping the poor?

13. This film as a television pilot, not followed through?