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THE SAINT: SET 1

Simon Templar was created by Leslie Charteris as a popular character in the mystery magazines of the '20s. Templar would be brought to life in various incarnations in the years since, including a film series that began in the late '30s, a radio show in the '40s (voiced by Vincent Price) and, of course, a Val Kilmer movie in 1997. But it's the Moore show that has endured best, and now A&E Home Video those precious providers of classic British TV series on DVD have begun to make the classic adventures available as a fine group of DVD collections.

Set 1 consists of two discs, with a total of six 50-minute segments culled from the 1966 season. Though the show launched in 1962, A&E has chosen to begin their release cycle with these, the first color episodes. The digitally remastered episodes are presented uncut and in their original broadcast order.

Disc one starts with "The Queen's Ransom," as the globe-hopping Templar winds up in Monte Carlo, where he saves a Middle Eastern monarch from an assassination attempt. Soon, the king has hired Templar to accompany his wife on a dangerous mission though the bitchy queen proves to be the most difficult aspect of the trip.

"Interlude in Venice" sees The Saint saving a comely young redhead from a predatory fellow late one night. Turns out the girl is an heiress to a fortune, and soon it falls to Templar to guard the girl and her family from some old foes. Look for William Sylvester (2001), Lois Maxwell (Miss Moneypenny from the Bond films) and Patrick Troughton (DOCTOR WHO) in guest appearances here.

While in Geneva, a Soviet scientist attempts to defect in "The Russian Prisoner," and Templar inadvertently aids in the effort. Soon, The Saint finds himself in trouble with the Swiss police as well as the Russian KGB. The episode has a more traditional spy flavor to it, rather than the lighter aspects seen in most of this set.

The second disc begins with "The Reluctant Revolution," as The Saint takes a trip to Brazil and finds himself embroiled in an assassination attempt against a local dictator. Thing is, the would-be assassin is an attractive young woman, and Templar has a weakness for the breed... He might wind up an assassin himself, if only to get a date.

In "The Helpful Pirate," Templar winds up in Germany, where a scientist who specializes in lasers is in danger. When The Saint looks into the matter, he learns that yet another dictator is to blame.

"The Convenient Monster" changes the pace a bit, as Simon Templar travels to Scotland in search of the Loch Ness Monster! Actually, the wise Saint is less than convinced that the legendary monster truly exists; rather, he seeks to prove that the creature is being used as a cover story for some more nefarious plot.

Each segment offers quite a bit: attempts to portray exotic locations (sometimes successfully, sometimes not); spy-type activities; handsome women-of-the-week for Simon's pleasure; and Moore's perfect fit in the title role. For a 30-year-old-plus television series, THE SAINT is a fairly strong effort in terms of its writing and delivery. Many aspects of the show might appear dated today, but the program tends to offer high-end adventure with only a middling-TV budget to work with. This set is definitely worth a look for fans and the uninitiated alike.

The transfers look great here considering the age of these episodes. Extra features are not extensive, but are adequate nonetheless: photo galleries on each disc, original broadcast trailers for all six episodes, and a Roger Moore bio and filmography are included.