Reviews (11)

A & E Launches the Colour Episodes
When A&E started their series of The Avengers TV Show, they started with the colour Diana Rigg episodes. Then they worked backwards to the black and white Rigg shows, and then the second seaon of Honor Blackman episodes.

Although the colour Saint episodes are better known, I prefer the original black and white shows that were available in syndication. When NBC got involved with showing The Saint as a midseaon replacement show, the budget was upped to make them in colour.

The Saint is a durable character who has survived many incarnations, including radio. As a dubious reviewer remarked, in films George Sanders did not originate the character, but he certainly defined it in some half dozen films - and real Saint fans all know it.

Although others have their opinions, I feel Roger Moore fits the character of The Saint much better than he ever did James Bond. And if Bond fans are buying this series because of Moore, they will be happy to see a lot of supporting players from the Bond films as guest stars - including Lois Maxwell (Bond's Miss Moneypenny). The episodes included here, and in Set 2, had previously been available from Columbia House's Subscription library, but it will be good to see them on DVD.

And here's hoping the black and white episodes are soon to follow.

Even Moore Saintly Than 007
As much as Roger Moore was a fantastic James Bond, he was an even better Saint. In fact, he was the best. Moore took the pulp hero, created by Leslie Charteris, to new heights in the 1960's and this DVD collection is a perfect collection for both longtime fans and newcomers.

Roger Moore's portrayl of "Simon Templar" was suave, debonair, and comedic at times (much like The Saint was in the books). In fact, his sarcastic humour with Inspector Teal and other policeman is spot on with the novels. He loved to walk a tightrope between law and crime, but always had an alibi. Moore captures his buccaneering attitude deliciously. Upon watching these episodes, you can see how much of The Saint he put into his Bond role. While he may never have been as violent or ruthless as he was in the books, you really get a sense of the Saint's carefree, adventurous nature.

Finally available in America and in series order (based on when the episodes appeared on American television that is). These collections contain the episodes filmed in color, and they look fantastic. As the series continues to see new releases, perhaps they will include the earlier black and white episodes as well.

Edwin Astley's loungey score has never sounded clearer. As part of the bonus material, you get the original U.S. trailers for each episode and a nice photo gallery. "The History of The Saint" section, is just some text, and hardly a bonus. You'd be better off picking up the Saint film collection (Turner Classic Movies) with a nice 30 minute Saint history documentary if you really want to learn about the famous "Simon Templar." Better yet, go to (website) and learn everything there is to know.

This collection is a must have for any Moore fan. Keep buying them up so that they will release more in America.

Templar, Simon Templar
Roger Moore IS the Saint first and foremost his appearances both before and after only bracket this role. There had been others who played the roles before Moore and after but they are only imitators for those of us who grew up watching this series. Each week we watched waiting for the magical moment when the halo and the lilting theme appeared. With that much nostalgia involved I was a little concerned that this set could not possibly live up to my memories. I was wrong, they are just as good as I remembered. Yes the special effects are not up to today's standards, the 'exotic' locations I remembered as a child are now very obviously stock footage tacked onto scenes shot elsewhere but that doesn't even matter. Once Moore takes the stage he is the Saint, we are in those locations and delighting as he makes fools of the police, foils the villians and saves the day, all withough mussing his perfectly coifed hair.

This set includes the first six color episodes of the series. The episodes are: The Queen's Ransom - set in Monte Carlo; Interlude In Venice - set in Venice (featuring Lois Maxwell - Moneypenny in the Bond films); The Russian Prisoner - set in Geneva; The Reluctant Revolution - set in San Paul, Brazil; The Helpful Pirate - set in Hamburg and the Convenient Monster - set in Scotland.

In spite of the shortcomings mentioned above the shows are enjoyable to those who do not have fond memories of the original airings. What was lacking in special effects what made up for in writing and acting. The stories all have an O'Henry like twist, just when you think it's over or you have solved the problem something else pops up and changes everything. In addition many actors who appeared here went on to other larger roles, so there is the bonus of seeing them 'when'.

I think that anyone who remembers enjoying these shows when they ran on broadcast TV will enjoy they again those who are much younger, ie under 25, may not get so much out of it.

One additional note - these hour long episodes are just over 50 minutes long, not today's 42!

Well done!
Roger Moore is a stud, debonair and chivalrous. Knowing that these are over 30 years adds to the fun. Interesting mysterys that take you around the world still work.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Some think the world is made for fun and frolic,
And so do I! And so do I!
Some think it well to be all melancholic,
To pine and sigh; to pine and sigh;
But I, I love to spend my time in singing,
Some joyous song, some joyous song,
To set the air with music bravely ringing
Is far from wrong! Is far from wrong!
Listen, listen, echoes sound afar!
Listen, listen, echoes sound afar!
Funiculi, funicula, funiculi, funicula!
Echoes sound afar, funiculi, funicula!

Ah me! 'tis strange that some should take to sighing,
And like it well! And like it well!
For me, I have not thought it worth the trying,
So cannot tell! So cannot tell!
With laugh, with dance and song the day soon passes
Full soon is gone, full soon is gone,
For mirth was made for joyous lads and lasses
To call their own! To call their own!
Listen, listen, hark the soft guitar!
Listen, listen, hark the soft guitar!
Funiculi, funicula, funiculi, funicula!
Hark the soft guitar, funiculi, funicula! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Roger Moore is just great, as "The Saint"...
As I was introduced to "The Saint" via the 60's TV program, I will always associate Roger Moore with the character. He was absolutely perfect for the role, being the right age, and possessing the requisite class, charm, and athleticism. But beyond that, Moore had an air of irreverence that is so essential to the character. "The Saint" was never comfortable with accepting authority. Rules were for others. His life was about living on the edge, taking on all the excitement life had to offer.

The character, the literary creation of Leslie Charteris, has a somewhat nebulous origin. It is said that Simon Templar, motivated by his own sense of justice, took whatever action he deemed necessary, to correct what he perceived were injustices in the world. This usually involved one of the "ungodly" being robbed, or somehow taught a lesson. Somewhere the victim would usually find a note, containing a short message warning them to learn their lesson. Instead of a signature, there would be a drawing of a stick man figure with a halo, the familiar finger pointing "Saint" logo. While Templar was suspected of committing these acts, his guilt was apparently never proved. In eluding his victims and all manner of law enforcement, he achieved a notorious reputation, and the nickname of "The Saint".

"The Saint's" image was cleaned up for television, where he appeared as basically a virtuous character. While his questionable past is often alluded to, specific reference to any criminal activity was avoided. He is presented as a noble figure, to whom committing a criminal act for mere personal financial gain would be simply unthinkable. Crime must not be seen to pay.

"The Saint" does not fit nicely into any particular category, blending the qualities of an adventurer, a detective, and a secret agent. Without a fixed setting, or any regular supporting cast, it falls squarely on Roger Moore to capture and hold the viewers' interest. And he comes through with flying colors, almost single handedly carrying each episode, and maintaining the continuity of the character, no matter what the location, or the situation he finds himself in. This is actually quite an achievement, and one that is easy to overlook, because Moore does it so smoothly.

DVD Sets 1 and 2 contain the program's first color episodes, supposedly presented in the order they were originally broadcast. These collections are a good representation of typical "Saintly" adventures. We find Simon Templar cavorting throughout Europe, and also appearing in Latin America. Being such an adaptable fellow, he becomes involved in adventure in a variety of ways. Part of the fun, is trying to figure out exactly what kind of trouble old Simon has gotten himself into this time.

Favorite episodes from Set 1, are "The Russian Prisoner", with Simon involved in intrigue with the KGB, and "The Convenient Monster", where "Nessie" figures in the conclusion of a story of involving murder and deception. The best from Set 2, would be "Paper Chase" featuring "The Saint" on a rescue mission in East Germany, and "Locate and Destroy", probably the most violent episode in the collection, with Simon on the trail of a ruthless ex-Nazi.

If you are not familiar with this series, you may not find it to be your cup of tea, for "The Saint", like "The Avengers", is something of an acquired taste. If you are a fan, then these sets should be part of your collection, with Set 2 grading out a bit ahead of Set 1. While they may not the best "Saint" episodes, they are the first available on DVD. Picture quality is excellent, colors are true to the original quality, and the images are sharp. A TV series set in a different location each week presents special challenges, and production values are pretty good considering this. The difference between location and studio shots are obvious, but typical for the times. The audio level however, could stand to be cranked up a bit, to match the music level.

One negative is the lack of substantial bonus materials. No printed matter, not even a booklet with a detailed series retrospective. All you get are episode previews, and a few stills. Not much, considering the premium price. This is basically the same minimalist treatment given to "The Avengers". Lacking extensive bonus material, I wish A&E would maximize the medium and package at least four episodes per disc, instead of just three. The studios should remember that the predominant audience for these collections, are the dedicated fans of the program. This is often a niche market, and the faithful really do deserve their best effort.

Finally, one oddity is that actor Ivor Dean, who was wonderful as "Inspector Teal", is listed as being part of the "regular cast" on both sets, but does not appear in any of the 12 episodes. Hopefully we will actually see "Claude Eustace" in future releases.

Give Me Moore Please!!!!
As much as Roger Moore was a fantastic James Bond, he was an even better Saint. In fact, he was the best. Moore took the pulp hero, created by Leslie Charteris, to new heights in the 1960's and this DVD collection is a perfect collection for both longtime fans and newcomers.

Roger Moore's portrayl of "Simon Templar" was suave, debonair, and comedic at times (much like The Saint was in the books). In fact, his sarcastic humour with Inspector Teal and other policeman is spot on with the novels. He loved to walk a tightrope between law and crime, but always had an alibi. Moore captures his buccaneering attitude deliciously. Upon watching these episodes, you can see how much of The Saint he put into his Bond role. While he may never have been as violent or ruthless as he was in the books, you really get a sense of the Saint's carefree, adventurous nature.

Finally available in America, this is the second collection released thusfar, in series order (based on when the episodes appeared on American television that is). Both collections contain the first episodes filmed in color, and they look fantastic.

Edwin Astley's loungey score has never sounded clearer. As part of the bonus material, you get the original U.S. trailers for each episode and a nice photo gallery. "The History of The Saint" section, is just some text, and hardly a bonus. You'd be better off picking up the Saint film collection (Turner Classic Movies) with a nice 30 minute Saint history documentary if you really want to learn about the famous "Simon Templar." Better yet, go to www.saint.org and learn everything there is to know.

This collection is a must have for any Moore fan. Keep buying them up so that they will release more in America.

The one and only
Roger Moore is The Saint to me, and these beautiful A&E DVD's are a great addition to my collection. Watching Roger race around in his gleaming white Volvo 1800 is a joy to behold!

The Saint - Set 2
The Saint is great! We need more quality shows like this to be offered to the public. I watched it all the time when it was offered on the Encore Mystery Channel. When they took it off the air, I haven't watch the Mystery Channel since. I guess that was their choice of programming. Shows like that are worth watching and I hope A&E plans on offering the whole Saint series available on DVD and VHS video tape. I'll buy them all. Maybe A&E can offer the the Saint on their channel and promote to sell the DVD and VHS video tape at the end of each Saint show? What do you think A&E. I wished that you would put back the Rockford Files and Columbo on the air.

Roger is TOO COOL!
Roger Moore is simply fabulous, and his role in The Saint was the perfect warm-up to James Bond! Set 2 is just as good as the first, though some extras would have been nice. Great picture and sound, though, and that's what really matters. Let's hope that A&E release Patrick McGoohan's pre-Prisoner series Danger Man (Secret Agent here in the States) sometime soon! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Twice the Hammer, half the fun
Such a deal Anchor Bay has for you! When I saw these two Hammer films released together costing less than the individual releases, I jumped all over it. Maybe a bit hasty, but I am glad I didn't opt for buying these separately. There are two discs in the set, each containing their respective films.

The first film, The Lost Continent (1968) is quite the horror show, and I don't mean that in a good way. A handful of people elect to take a less than luxury cruise aboard a pretty trampy steamer. Little do they know the captain is also hauling highly volatile explosive call Phos B that detonates when it comes in contact with water. Geez...maybe a leaky cargo ship isn't the best mode of transportation. Apparently only the captain is aware of this particular cargo, but the crew finds out soon enough when a breached hull starts flooding the compartment where a ton (literally) of the stuff is being kept. Good thing it's being stored in sealed, metal containers. Anyway, the ship has to travel outside the usual shipping lanes, as carrying this stuff improperly is highly illegal, and the captain is anxious to avoid such entanglements. The plot starts to deviate here, as a hurricane is coming, and the ship gets caught in some crazy seaweed. There is plenty of talk about how "We go where the weed takes us" which made me laugh as I kept thinking they where speaking of the illegal substance, and not seaweed. The seaweed turns out to house a giant HR Pufnstuf reject that has all kinds of ouchy tentacles and a voracious appetite. And that's not all...within this Sargasso sea are numerous sea faring ships, most derelict, but one is a Spanish Galleon, ruled by a doofus who calls himself 'El Supremo' which made me hungry for Taco Bell. I'm not kidding...there were conquistadors, inquisitors, and more. Supposedly they've been stuck here for a long time, and have adhered to the old ways of torture and fervent religious ideals. As you can imagine, the two groups clash, and the highly volatile explosives come into play. This film was just one great, big mish mash of vague plot threads, underdeveloped characters, lame direction, hokey effects, and annoying dialogue.

The Reptile (1966) is the much better of the two films here, but isn't really considered to be one of Hammer's finer releases, but, I gotta tell you, after The Lost Continent, this movie seemed nothing short of a minor masterpiece. The story involves a man and wife inheriting a cottage from a recently deceased relative who died of mysterious causes. Turns out, he wasn't the only one in this town to die the way he did, and the young couple soon become involved with a well to do neighbor and his daughter who harbor a nasty secret. Seems the well to do man is something of a doctor, who traveled the world studying ancient religious practices. One religious sect that dealt with snakes and such didn't care for their secrets being exposed to the world, so they cursed the doctor and his daughter. What was the extent of the curse? It's pretty easy to figure out, and I felt a bit too much time was spent with the various characters being kept 'in the dark' about what was going on... The sets, locations, costumes all had a suitable gothic feel to them, and the actors all seemed very competent. The direction was good, taking time to develop the plot, but I think more should have been revealed earlier, not relying on such a big hunk of exposition near the end to let the viewer in on the big mystery.

As I said before, you get a real value here, if you are interested in either one of these movies as Anchor Bay seems to be following other studios in releasing some of the more dubious Hammer release in a double feature format. The cost of this one set is equal to the individual releases, so it's a two for one bargain. Special features are available for each film, with The Lost Continent featuring trailers and TV spots, a wide screen picture, a Hammer featurette, and a mini movie poster card. The Reptile features include movie and TV spots, a Hammer featurette called Vamps and a mini movie poster card that highlights this film along with Rasputin - The Mad Monk (1966), which led me to believe maybe these two films were originally released as a double feature, but I may be wrong. I've given this set three stars, but the breakdown is actually two stars for The Lost Continent and four stars for The Reptile, thusly splitting the difference for the dual release.

Cookieman108 ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gentleman adventurer Simon Templar has "quite a reputation," as evidenced by these seven "terribly clever" episodes from the classic British '60s TV series The Saint. Wavy-haired Roger Moore is in his element as Templar, who, like a certain double-O agent Moore would later portray, dresses impeccably, has an eye for the ladies, and dispenses his own unique brand of justice. In "Flight Plan," Simon joins the jet set as he foils a plot to steal London's newest weapon, a supersonic aircraft. Donald Sutherland guest stars as a fellow inmate in "Escape Route," in which Simon goes undercover behind bars to root out "the top man" in a deadly escape operation. In "The Persistent Patriots," Simon comes to the aid of the prime minister of a soon-to-be former British colony. The action revs up in "The Fast Women," in which a rivalry between two top female racers spins out of control. "The Death Game" is kinky enough to be an Avengers episode, as Simon joins a group of psychology students recruited as potential assassins. Suitable for framing is "The Art Collectors," a convoluted caper involving priceless da Vinci paintings. "To Kill a Saint" finds Simon in France, where a plot is afoot to spark a vendetta between him and the king of the Parisian underworld. But the highlight of any Saint episode is the devilishly funny prologue, in which, no matter where he is, someone always identifies our hero as "the infamous" Simon Templar, prompting him to cast his eyes heavenward as he is crowned by his signature animated halo. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Saint - Set 3 Videocassette review
There seems to be some confusion as to what is featured on this video. "The Saint - Set 3", in videocassette form, contains the following three episodes: "The Angel's Eye", "The Man Who Liked Lions" and "A Better Mouse Trap". While all three of these episodes are excellent, don't look for this video set to contain the same material as the DVD.

The Best so far...
Simon Templar, AKA the "Saint" is back, carrying on as only he can. Of the four boxed DVD sets released so far, this one is probably the one you should not miss. These episodes are from the 1967 season, and this time you get a bit more bang for your buck, as there are seven episodes instead of the six in previous sets. Volume 5 is excellent, probably the best so far. Volume 6, contains a bonus fourth episode, is not bad overall. Here's a quick take on the episodes in this set. These episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).

VOLUME 5:

Flight Plan (4)
Simon Templar is back in jolly old England, and immediately leaps into action foiling the attempted kidnapping of Diana Gregory. The young woman's brother, an ex-RAF pilot, is involved in a plot to steal an Osprey, Britain's vertical take-off and landing plane. When the plane is taken, the Saint's mission is to keep it from falling into enemy hands. This exciting, well-written episode is full of action, including the Saint piloting the Osprey.

Escape Route (4)
At long last Claude Eustace! Ivor Dean makes his first appearance on DVD as Inspector Claude Eustace Teal. Realizing the dream of a lifetime, the sour faced detective catches the Saint burgling a safe, and Simon soon finds himself sharing a prison cell with John Wood (Donald Sutherland). Circumstances lead to a daring escape, and the two men find themselves under the control of a ruthless organization that helps criminals to "freedom", for a hefty price. The Saint must succeed in a deadly game of deception. A great episode, with an abrupt ending.

The Persistent Patriots (4)
This one should keep you guessing. The Saint prevents the assassination of Jack Liskard (Edward Woodward), the President of an unnamed African country. Liskard has other troubles too, and enlists Simon's help to retrieve some love letters written to a mistress. What starts out as case of blackmail, gets rough, as Liskard takes a bullet. Who is behind it all? The solution stretches things a bit, but should still surprise.

VOLUME 6:

The Fast Women (2)
There's trouble at the racetrack between rival female drivers, and Simon is right in the middle of it. Sabotage, a sinister bald marksman, and a love triangle are part of this tale. The story however, does not take it to the finish line hard enough to make it a winner.

The Death Game (3)
College students play the "Death Game", where they plan ways to commit make-believe murders. What seems like harmless fun, turns deadly serious, as the game's winners gather in Zurich to be evaluated for their homicidal tendencies. Impersonating one of the players, Simon tries to get to the bottom of things, and winds up being the prey in a human death hunt. Extensive editing was used during the chase scenes in the forest. Roger Moore was present only for the shots in the studio, and was doubled in all the location shots. The result is a little uneven, and not entirely convincing. Watch for examples of doubling in other episodes featuring location work.

The Art Collectors (2)
While in France, the Saint encounters a beautiful woman with three previously unknown Da Vinci paintings for sale. Could it possibly be true? Such a find creates waves in the criminal world, and sharks appear to claim the prize. Simon plays hide and seek with the paintings around the French countryside, resulting in a generous payday for the Saint.

To Kill A Saint (3)
Shots ring out on the streets of Paris, but who wants Templar dead this time? Once again, someone wants to use The Saint as a pawn in a deadly scheme. In a strange twist, Simon is even hired to kill himselt. This episode returns to the harder edge found in Volume 5. Roger Moore was too busy to be present for location shots with the second unit, and so a double was used. In the opening precredit sequence, after shots are fired at the Saint, he runs to his car. You get a quick look at Moore's double as he drives away.

The Saint, Set 3 is a collection with a good variety of stories, with something for most tastes. Volume 5 features episodes with a more of and edge, while Volume 6 is a bit lighter. More of the action is centered in England, and so we see more interplay between the Saint and Inspector Teal. If you liked the first two sets, you will probably like this one even more. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Finally!About time
I bought the entire set from Australia, not knowing they were not "region free" as stated.Been watching them on my PC. Fabulous!What can one say about Roger Moore that hasn't been said.Can't wait to finally watch them on my TV!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A strong finish for The Saint
Roger Moore returns as Simon Templar, alias "The Saint" in the seventh boxed DVD set of his exploits. Templar, the suave "Robin Hood of Modern Crime" is featured in the final adventures of the long running 60's TV series. Here are summaries and/or comments for the episodes in this set. Episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).

Volume 13: (Disc 1)

Where The Money Is (Episode 112): Rating (4) - An obnoxious film producer enlists The Saint to help get his kidnapped daughter back. Simon is off to Paris to act as the go between, and deliver the ransom. The Saint's wits are put to the test as he roams the French countryside pursued by a band of desperate men, in this episode directed by Roger Moore.

Vendetta for the Saint (Episodes 113 and 114): Rating (5) - This two part adventure is based on Saint creator Leslie Charteris's last novel. While in Naples, Simon comes to the aid of an English tourist. When the man turns up dead, The Saint begins to investigate into the mysterious past of a Mafia don. The trail leads to Sicily, where the Saint becomes the marked for death, eventually becoming a prisoner of the Mafia. After a daring escape, The Saint returns with a vengeance to save the day, in one of the finest adventures in the series.

Volume 14: (Disc 2)

The Ex-King of Diamonds (Episode 115): Rating (4) - On the Riviera, a deposed king intends to use a rigged card game to raise funds to buy a shipment of weapons. The Saint teams with a wealthy Texan, and an expert in gambling probabilities, to foil the bold and daring gambit.

The Man Who Gambled With Life (Episode 116): Rating (3) - A rich industrialist is dying, and has selected Simon Templar to participate in a dangerous experiment. The Saint, never one to be made a pawn, looks to take control of the situation, and derail the masterplan, in this slightly off the wall episode.

Portrait of Brenda (Episode 117): Rating (4) - In London, Simon discovers a murdered artist, and begins investigating his death. Mystery revolves around a portait, a spiritual guru, and a dead singer, with a couple of lovely ladies thrown into the mix. Ivor Dean makes his final appearance as police inspector Claude Eustace Teal, lending a helping hand in this adventure that maintains the suspense until the very end.

The World Beater (Episode 118): Rating (3) - The final episode of the series finds Simon Templar behind of wheel of a rally racing car. Intrigue and sabotage abound, as The Saint prepares to drive in a high stakes road rally. A woman from his past makes an appearance, bringing excitement into his life.

The episodes in this collection feature some excellent writing and acting, taking this long running series to a conclusion strongly. After this, Roger Moore would again return to television, teaming with Tony Curtis, in The Persuaders. He would then assume his most famous role, after being chosen to succeed Sean Connery as the new James Bond, debuting in Live and Let Die in 1973.

Everything One Could Want of a Saint and Moore...
Set 7 features seven episodes, of which only one is based on a story by Saint author Leslie Charterlis. Three of the other six use scripts contrived from the writers' perceptions of Charterlis' basic plot: Templar encounters a gentleman with daughters who dote on Daddy who need to be rescued from evildoers or evildoing with their evil Daddy. After watching these three, I concluded that one needs the Charterlis' touch to truly make the Charterlis' ingredients work. Nevertheless I believe the overall quality of the acting and directing talents of The Saint cast make up for any lack in these scripts.

(As an Avengers' fan, I could not help but note how Set 7, like the other color episodes, feature several also The Avengers' co-stars, hereafter identified with an asterisk.*)

In particular Volume 13 features two episodes that each has two unique treats. The first, "Where the Money Is," features Moore as actor-director. (As a music performer-educator, I became intrigued by Moore's directing philosophy that music should enhance, and not overshadow, action and dialogue.) Kenneth G. Warren* does an excellent job playing a bossy American film director. Sandor Elis* plays the head of a kidnapping trio that includes Derek Newark*. These actors are among the many superior co-stars who made this episode work - in spite of Templar's cheesy last line that perhaps could have been scratched.

Episodes 2 and 3, the Leslie Charterlis-based "Vendetta for the Saint," stars the late Ian Hendry*, who played "Dr. Keel" of The Avengers 1961-62 season. "Vendetta" gives us Avengers' fans, who feel loss over having only two of Hendry's episodes available, an entertaining look at this dynamic actor. In "Vendetta" Hendry plays the Italian-American Mafia don Alessandro Gestamio. Templar, upon reading about the death of a British banker at Gestamio's hands, sets out on a one-man war against the Mafia itself, and discovers Gestamio himself has a secret he dare not let the Mafia know. Look for star performances from several actors including Aimi MacDonald*, Steven Plytas*, and a young Rosemary Dexter.

Volume 14 begins with "The Ex-King of Diamonds" (Willoughby Goddard) whose baccarat skills have a sinister core and even more sinister purpose. In this episode Templar is assisted by a mathematical genius (Ronald Radd*), his available daughter (Isla Blair), and a Texas oil billionaire (Stuart Damon). Helpful to me was the explanation by the math professor of baccarat to an inquisitive American tourist (Araby Lockhart). Jeremy Young* continues his excellent character work as a chauffeur/co-conspirator.

"The Man Who Gambled with Life," millionaire scientist-megalomaniac Keith Longman (Clifford Evans*), seeks to lure Templar into a chilling (no-pun intended) experiment. This episode features a hilarious nod to the Emma Peel Avengers' era by Templar and Longman's younger daughter Stella (Jayne Soffiano). It is also the weakest in Set 7 due to its rushed ending. In addition, the timing during the dialogue between Templar and Longman is rather slow. If the producers had made this a two-part, two-hour movie, I believe it would have flowed better.

In "Portrait of Brenda" Templar searches for the killer of an avant-garde artist, and takes a trip through "hip" 60's London that includes the recording scene and Far Eastern philosophy. Templar also gets to cross swords and words with his nemesis, Chief Inspector Teal (Ivor Dean), who, as always, ends up assisting him in spite of himself! Two additional treats are the songs written for this episode - "You Won't See Me No More" by Gary Osborne and "Out to Get You" by Chris Andrews - delightful spoofs of 60's rock-and-roll. Trevor Bannister* plays a very convincing record producer.

Set 7 concludes with a bang as Templar drives "The World Beater" in a car rally with high stakes for a desperate father-son car-building team (James Kerry and Eddie Byrne), an auto mogul (George A. Cooper*), and a former girlfriend named Kay (Patricia Haines*), who has secret schemes behind her need for speed. As always, Templar wins the race that puts mogul, father and son in pocket, uncovers the truth, and beats the villains at their own game. Those who like racing will not be disappointed: the excitement on and off the road are for all to see, as well as some hilarious moments when Templar makes Kay push and dig his car out of the mud!

For the 60's Simon Templar-Roger Moore fans, I believe Set 7 of The Saint is an overall good buy. In our day where acting talent seems based on violence, voyeurism and vulgarity, today's mass media producers should take note that companies like A&E can revive and sell these quality classic shows, and still profit substantially. For people like myself who seek alternatives, the rebirth of The Saint, The Avengers, and other like shows on video and DVD have granted us a welcome refuge, and provided us entertainment redemption. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A true thriller blessed with amazing performances
The Flesh and the Fiends is a thoroughly enjoyable horror thriller. With the impeccable Peter Cushing, sporting a disturbingly droopy left eyelid, playing the misguided Dr. Knox, Donald Pleasance giving an awe-inspiring performance as half of the murdering duo of Burke and Hare, and plenty of illegal traffic in dead bodies, this movie can hardly do less than succeed admirably. Dr. Knox is an instructor at a medical school in Edinburgh during the 1820s. The number of bodies available for dissection by his students, limited to the bodies of executed criminals, is much too low to satisfy him, so he turns to alternative means of acquiring specimens for study. He has no problem paying grave robbers for corpses, so long as they are fresh enough to be useful; in fact, he openly admits the improper solicitation of corpses, much to the dismay of the leading surgeons in town. Eventually, two shiftless vagabonds by the name of Burke and Hare come to realize that traffic in corpses offers them an unusual economic opportunity. When a lodger in Burke's apartment house passes away, he and Hare box her up and trade her in for several guineas. Since the doctor wants the freshest corpses possible, they set out to give him what he wants by murdering individuals and bringing them in almost immediately. Things start to go wrong when the pair murders the sweetheart of one of Dr. Knox's students, yet Knox remains steadfast in his dealings with the loathsome creatures. Murder will out, of course, and Knox must eventually face the music for his actions. This movie, while very good, is by no means perfect. June Laverick gets second billing in her role as Knox's niece, yet her character really serves no purpose at all in the story. Knox's assistant, beset early on with doubts and fears over Knox's acceptance of suspicious corpses, is never fleshed out and ends up behaving somewhat strangely in my opinion. Most of all, the ending (not the real climax, but the ending itself) is just plain weird and makes little sense to me in the context of the story.

Peter Cushing is always fantastic, but the real star of this movie is Donald Pleasance. Even though I knew the future Dr. Loomis from Halloween was in the movie, I quite frankly did not actually recognize him initially. His portrayal of Hare is simply incredible. His calm, assured manner is rarely breached, even in the midst of potential trouble, and his droll manner of explaining his dastardly activities makes of him one of the best truly evil villains I have ever encountered. He is almost capable of convincing anyone, especially his partner, that killing each victim is actually a kindness, for that person will surely be of more use on a dissecting table than he/she is in life. It's thrilling to watch this master criminal mind at work.

The Flesh and the Fiends has been unduly neglected over the years and has itself suffered the noxious wounds of the dissection table of the censors. It was quite graphic for its time (1959): one of the first scenes features a pale corpse being dragged out of a grave by its head, then the murders of Hare and Burke are shown more realistically than one might expect from a film of this particular era. Its bitingly realistic presentation of early 18th century life, complete with rowdy barrooms and miserable living quarters, along with its moments of unusually graphic violence, give the film a superb believability factor. In fact, the basic story of Burke and Hare is indeed a true one, which makes the horror qualities of this film even more affective than they already are.

For years, this movie has only been available in edited form, bearing the title of Mania in the U.S.; it has also been pawned off with the titles The Fiendish Ghouls as well as The Psycho Killers. The complete, 97-minute version of the movie is the one you want, so don't accept a copy of Mania and deny yourself six minutes of delightfully horrific entertainment. Despite the weird ending, this movie ranks among the best horror films of the 1950s and 1960s and stands as much, much more than a mere precursor for the later Hammer films starring the inimitable Peter Cushing.

Don't waste your time
I'm a huge fan of Peter Cushing and the genre...but this was a horrible movie. I have no idea what the people who gave this movie a good reveiw were smoking.

Flesh and the Fiends
Another marverlous performance by Peter Cushing as a doctor whose visions overshadow morality. This may be the best role Donald Pleasance ever had. Fresh bodies being more in demand and worth more in cash, Pleasance (Hare) and his partner Burke decide to "manufacture" a few bodies. The DVD contains the U.K. version and the more violent and adult (nudity) Continental version. If you like the Hammer Horror films, you will love this movie.

Available At Last!
Although my true field of interest remains the silent film (see my other reviews), I just cannot pass up the opportunity to say something about this movie which has been one of my favorites for many years. I first saw it on television back in the 1960's and it has been with me ever since. Despite the lurid title and packaging THE FLESH AND THE FIENDS is not really a horror film. It is a historical drama with horrific overtones. The movie is based on the lives of Burke and Hare, graverobbers in 1828 Edinburgh, who began to murder people in order to supply the local medical school with fresh corpses to dissect. Robert Louis Stevenson based his story THE BODY SNATCHER (which was made into a film in 1943 by Val Lewton starring Boris Karloff) on their exploits. Filmmakers Robert Baker and Monty Berman mounted this project in 1959 hoping to cash in on the burgeoning horror boom created by Hammer Films. They hired Peter Cushing plus a host of character actors to bring the story to life. Special mention should be made of the vivid performances given by George Rose as Burke and Donald Pleasance as Hare. It is really their movie. The film also features Billie Whitelaw in a colorful early role. Like PSYCHO which it predates, THE FLESH AND THE FIENDS. is also a psychological thriller (it was called MANIA in the U.S.). It even eliminates its young protagonists halfway through the film. I wonder if Hitchcock was familiar with it? John Gilling, the director and co-writer, would move on to Hammer after the success of this film where he would make THE REPTILE and THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES. FLESH is well acted, tightly directed, and in the Continental version (also available on this DVD) extremely daring in its use of nudity. An influential film that was ahead of its time, it has only been available in substandard public domain copies up until now. Thanks to Image Entertainment for making it available at last in a beautiful print made from the camera negative. Along with the release of the restored WICKER MAN, fans of intelligent horror films have a double reason to celebrate. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Saint Set 5: Solid action with The Saint...
Roger Moore returns as Simon Templar, alias "The Saint" in the fifth boxed DVD set of his exploits. Templar, the suave "Robin Hood of Modern Crime" is featured in seven more adventures from the 60's TV series. Here are summaries and/or comments for the episodes in this set. Episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).

Volume 9: (Disc 1)

The Gadic Collection - Episode 98: Rating (4)
This tale is set in Istanbul, and unfolds in classic "Saintly" fashion. While observing an assortment of museum pieces know as the "Gadic Collection", a beautiful young woman catches the Saint's eye, leading to an investigation into the collection's authenticity. Soon, Simon is up to his neck in murder, intrigue and deception. Except for some contrived silliness involving moving spiked walls, this a solid well-written story that holds together. Dark-haired beauty, Nicole Shelby is a plus.

The Best Laid Schemes - Episode 99: Rating (3)
In contrast to his "jet set" type adventures, from time to time The Saint would also become embroiled in more run of the mill "domestic" concerns. Here, Simon is in an English fishing village, when a dead body washes up on shore, apparently that of a cantankerous local sea captain. The Saint looks into the matter, and finds no shortage of suspects. The investigation is further complicated by evidence that the good Captain may still be alive. Who is the dead man, and how did he die? Sylvia Syms guest stars.

Invitation To Danger - Episode 100: Rating (4)
Once again, The Saint is set up to be the fall guy, in this instance he is suspected of robbing the casino of one Brett Sunley, a broker in international espionage. A victim of "the neatest piece of framing since the Mona Lisa", (to use the Saint's own words) Simon is backed into a corner, and forced to come out fighting hard. Featured in this episode is Shirley Eaton, the striking actress who had a golden finish as Jill Masterson, in the movie "Goldfinger". A complicated story with twists and turns aplenty.

Volume 10: (Disc 2)

Legacy For The Saint - Episode 101: Rating (4)
When Ed Brown, an ex-criminal leader is killed, The Saint gets involved with his daughter Penny, and in the execution of the dead man's will. The will challenges four of Brown's former criminal rivals to raise a sum of money, in order to receive a matching amount from Brown's estate. The deceased mobster has also left behind a plan for a criminal caper, one that could provide a payoff big enough for someone to claim the prize. All this, and Claude Eustace too, as the intrepid Inspector Teal from Scotland Yard is also on the case. A young and beautiful Stephanie Beacham guests as daughter Penny. This episode is the first to feature the new theme and closing music for the program.

The Desperate Diplomat - Episode 102: Rating (3)
Jason Douglas an old comrade of the Saint, and a diplomat to an African country, is suspected of stealing a fortune, and has now disappeared. Suspecting that he is in Geneva, Simon Templar arrives there with the missing diplomat's daughter Sara, looking to make contact. Also present is a group of criminals looking to get their hands on the loot. Suzan Farmer guests as Sara, the Saint's resourceful partner. Robert Hardy makes a most dislikable villain.

The Organization Man - Episode 103: Rating (3)
Set in England, The Saint goes undercover for the Queen, infiltrating a paramilitary organization training mercenaries for an unknown mission. Of course Simon's task is to find out just what they are up to. A rather implausible story with a lazy conclusion, that indulges someone's desire to see men in kilts. Why would the Saint ever become a mercenary?

The Double Take - Episode 104: Rating (2)
A fairly ridiculous tale, as the Saint is dragged into helping a Greek shipping tycoon who claims he is being impersonated by a perfect double. A dubious Simon Templar reluctantly agrees to help recover a code book, vital to the control of the tycoon's shipping empire. The screenwriting here is scraping bottom, bordering on the absurd, where irrational behavior by the Saint nearly gets him killed.

The Saint Set 5 starts out very strong, but finishes with some lackluster episodes. Still the collection is one of the better ones in the series. The best of the episodes have a no-nonsense approach, with a harder edge, solid action, and some excellent fight scenes. Overall, the writing is good, and not played for laughs. The bevy of beauties is better than average too, with a few ladies below age thirty for a change. As usual, look for Roger Moore's double in most second unit (location) shots.

One note about the episode numbers. Though there are a few different listings for the program, the listing used is one that most closely matches the "broadcast order" sequence that A&E is issuing them in. Episodes were not always released in the order they were produced or filmed. Fans of the Saint, are invited to view my other reviews of the series. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Well, well, of all people to be rescued by--Simon Templar." From Berlin to Nice, our man Simon is always in the wrong place at the right time to get involved in "a bit of adventure." This two-disc set contains seven episodes presented in the order they were first broadcast in 1966 and '67. These entertaining adventures are "more cloak than dagger," but do have some vicariously nasty, Bond-type thrills. Roger Moore is ideally cast as the unflappable Simon, the original international man of mystery created by Leslie Charteris. Whether foiling a counterfeit operation ("The Counterfeit Countess") or masterminding the escape of a Russian spy ("When Spring Is Sprung"), Simon accepts each "extraordinary proposition" with aplomb. This collection also includes "Simon and Delilah," in which a "consistently nasty" screen siren is kidnapped. Lois Maxwell, best known to 007 fans as Miss Moneypenny, costars as the publicist. Speaking of James Bond, there's a nifty little Goldfinger joke in "The Island of Chance," in which the body count rises as an increasingly desperate scientist races to complete a serum that would end all illness. The cold war heats up in "The Gadget Lover," in which the Russians appear to have embarked on a spy "death campaign" using explosion-filled gadgets. "A Double in Diamonds" involves the theft of a priceless necklace. Which is real, and which is the fake? Only Simon may know for sure. Like "The Death Game" in Set 3, "The Power Artists" is bizarre enough to be an Avengers episode. It marks the return of criminal mastermind Adolf Vogler (see "The Death Game" in Set 3) and also includes some hysterical hippie caricatures. Appearing with greater frequency in these episodes is Ivor Dean as the Saint's long-suffering nemesis, Chief Inspector Claude Eustace Teale ("the pride of Scotland Yard") who reluctantly relies on the Saint's cunning to solve these complex capers. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Saint - Set 4 Videocassette contents
There seems to be some confusion as to the contents of "The Saint - Set 4" on videocassette. This video set contains the following episodes: "Little Girl Lost", "Paper Chase" and "Locate and Destroy". While all of these are good, do not look for this version to contain the same material as the DVD.

Good, but could be better
This 4th DVD set of The Saint adds another 7 episodes to the collection. The positive side of the set is that the picture quality is -as always with A&E- good and the fact that there are 7 instead of the usual 6 episodes on the two disc set. The negative side is the fact that the extras are rather disappointing as they are completely identical as the ones of set 1 and 2 except for the episode trailers. I hope this is not a sign that set 5 and 6 that will follow later this year, will be identical as well. Any respectable fan of The Saint or Roger Moore will of course buy them, but there is so much material available to add as extra features on the DVD sets it's a shame to let this opportunity pass.

Hello, fellow Bucaneers...
Every Hero has a following; on the 'Big' screen, Saltzman and
Broccoli made a fortune iterpreting Ian Fleming's 'Ernst Stavro
Blofeld's' seemingly endless but always foiled pursuits of Bond,
James Bond. On the other hand, we who 'follow' the adventures of
Simon Templar, are treated to a huge gang of 'Blofelds' in each different episode. Always good episodes, each one very entertaining.
(...)

A&E Should Be More Careful
There are all sorts of positive things to say about this series on DVD (good prints, clear picture) but I have problems with a number of the DVDs released on the A&E label, and this set is no exception.

For one thing, there are no subtitles. Generally, with The Saint that is not a problem - except when the music drowns out certain key dialogue, or an actor does not speak clearly (star Roger Moore is known for his lazy drawal), and of course there are often times when a character will phrase something in British slang with which American audiences may be unfamiliar.

But worse than that, there are mistakes on the boxes. Take Set 4. The box says there is a photo gallery and a history of the Saint included. There is not. Perhaps it is just as well. That History of The Saint is included on Set 2. Now I can't be misinterpreting it - it says "...nearly 100 Saint novels and stories followed, half of which have never been translated into English..." Huh? Are these people crazy or just incompetent? I have all the Saint books and stories and they are all in English. I am sure they were written in English. If they think they were written in some other language, why don't they identify what it is?

And they also play fast and loose with the facts in the Roger Noore biography and filmography they provide. Do yourself a favor and just watch the shows and ignore their extra "bonus features". They are no bonus. _

Thank you, and keep them coming A&E...
Simon Templar, AKA the "Saint" is back, in the fourth boxed DVD set of his adventures from A&E. These episodes are from the 1967 season, and this time you get a bit more for your money, as there are seven episodes instead of six. Volume 7 has three episodes and Volume 8 contains the bonus fourth episode. Here's a quick take on the episodes in this set. These episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).

VOLUME 7:

The Counterfeit Countess (4)
In this tale, the Saint is on the trail of a gang of counterfeiters. Following the clues, leads Simon from London to Paris, and then to the Countess's country mansion for the final showdown. This is an excellent example of a classic "by the book" Saint adventure, with Simon investigating alone and then taking on the gang in the heart of their lair.

Simon And Delilah (2)
In Rome, while visiting a movie set, Simon gets involved when the stars of the picture are kidnapped right off the set in their trailer. The Saint, suspects an inside job, and sets about proving it. There is a lack of suspense here, and a bit too much is played for laughs. And the resolution to the case, doesn't play fair with the audience.

Island Of Chance (4)
A cable from a friend brings the Saint to the British West Indies. When that friend is killed, Simon is plunged into another adventure, aided by a pretty reporter. The pair soon find themselves in at the laboratory of an eccentric scientist obsessed with his work. The good doctor and his partners have a secret, and are willing to kill to preserve it. Somewhat typical for his adventures in the Third World, this episode is a bit more violent, with an ending that does leave you wondering a bit about the Saint's moral compass.

VOLUME 8:

The Gadget Lovers (3)
The cold war is heating up. Various electronic spy "gadgets" are malfunctioning, resulting in a number of dead Russian agents. The Saint steps in, collaborating with the Russians, impersonating "Colonel Smolenko" to find the source of the sabotaged devices. This adventure veers close to the far end of a credible Saint story, and approaches a poor imitation of "James Bond". One must after all, know one's limitations.

A Double In Diamonds (3)
A bit of concentration is required to follow this story revolving around a valuable diamond necklace. The jewels disappear in the middle of a fashion show, and a copy is found in its place. Simon is along for the ride when the ransom for the necklace is being delivered. The Saint pulls the old "switcharoo" with the jewels more than once, in order to come out on top. This story is a bit complicated, and features a very untidy car crash, that leaves some gaping logical holes in the plot.

The Power Artists (2)
In the Saint's own words, this is a "strange tale", one that goes a bit over the edge. Someone has been impersonating the Saint, setting him up to take a murder rap. Who? Well, not to give it all away, but let's just say that it is an old enemy. In addition, the story features eccentric artists, helpful hippies and large dose of Simon's buddy, Claude Eustace Teal of Scotland Yard. Writer John Kruse's interpretation of the Saint is often not in harmony with the established spirit of the character. This story is a good example of missing the mark.

When Spring Is Sprung (4)
In this adventure, the Saint acts in the interest of the British government, to arrange the escape of a double agent (John Spring) to Russia. Simon must outwit the zealous Inspector Teal, in order to "spring" Spring. The Russians learn an expensive lesson when they try to play the Saint for a fool.

The Saint, Set 4 is a collection with some good stories, and others that are not so well written, but are still entertaining. While there are some fine moments, I would rate Set 3 or 2 above this one. Still it is a must have for any big time fan of the "famous Simon Templar".

What about future releases? I believe there are two episodes from 1967, six from 1968, and thirteen from 1969 left to be released. These include the two part features, "The Saint and the Fiction Makers" and "Vendetta for the Saint". It will be interesting to see how they are packaged. There are also 71 black and white episodes yet to be released on DVD as well. I hope the folks at A&E will keep working hard to ensure that, The Saint will be back! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Saint Set 6: Highs and Lows...
Roger Moore returns as Simon Templar, alias "The Saint" in the sixth boxed DVD set of his exploits. Templar, the suave "Robin Hood of Modern Crime" is featured in seven more adventures from the 60's TV series. Here are summaries and/or comments for the episodes in this set. Episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).

Volume 11: (Disc 1)

The Time To Die - Episode 105: Rating (2)
The Saint, a man with his share of enemies, finds his life threatened by an unidentified source. With the help of a female reporter, Simon attempts to get to the bottom of things. Mediocre writing produces an uneven story that fails to sustain suspense.

The Master Plan - Episode 106: Rating (5)
Cord Thrandel is a nightclub owner, and big time dealer in narcotics. Tony Lane, a courier for Thrandel, wants out of the drug racket, and has dropped out of circulation. Simon Templar, and Lane's sister Jean, while searching for Tony run afoul of Thrandel and his gang. Burt Kwouk guests as an Asian drug king in this tension filled tale that captures the flavor of a traditional Saint adventure.

The House On Dragon's Rock - Episode 107: Rating (2)
Set in Whales, this plays like bad science fiction. Strange happenings in the countryside has the locals spooked. Simon is called by a friend to help, and begins investigating a mad scientist type, at work in an isolated laboratory. This fantasy is hard to swallow, and the production and special effects are rather poor. This story was filmed in a previous season and aired latter, hence it has the old theme music. Also, the writer of the episode is wrongfully credited on the box.

Volume 12: (Disc 2)

The Scales Of Justice - Episode 108: Rating (5)
Five executives at the same company have unexpectedly died within a few months time. The fifth, a friend of the Saint, drops dead while trying to enlist Simon's aid. Determined to find the truth, and bring the guilty to justice the Saint investigates with a vengeance. The tension mounts, as the surviving directors are threatened with a sudden and unexpected death. Guest star Jean Marsh is a step ahead of the Saint, in this realistic and suspenseful tale that features an ingenious murder weapon. Watch for Moore's energetic double in this episode.

The Fiction Makers (Parts 1 and 2) - Episodes 109 and 110: Rating (3)
This two-part adventure, packaged as a full-length feature, has a light comedic tone that fails to produce any real feeling of suspense or danger, until perhaps the very end. This is the "Disney" version of the Saint. Simon Templar is mistaken for a famous author, and is kidnapped by a band of crooks who want his help in carrying out their criminal scheme. There is probably no other Saint story in the entire series that is played strictly for laughs, the way this is. Roger Moore and costar Sylvia Syms, jump thorough a ridiculous set of hoops, and ham it up, in this cartoonish adventure. While entertaining on some level, a story like this tarnishes the image of the character,

The People Importers - Episode 111: Rating (4)
An unscrupulous band is running illegal aliens into England. When things go wrong, one of aliens turns up dead, ruining the Saint's fishing outing. Templar is then on the case searching for the killers, and trying to save the lives of some of the remaining illegal immigrants. A tense adventure, with the Saint matching up against a ruthless gang of criminals.

The Saint Set 6 contains some excellent episodes, and also some poor ones. On balance the positives outweigh the negatives. If you're a collector you will probably want this set, otherwise you may wish to consider The Saint Set 3 or 5 first. As usual, look for Roger Moore's double in most second unit (location) shots.

One note about the episode numbers. Though there are a few different listings for the program, the listing used is one that most closely matches the "broadcast order" sequence that A&E is issuing them in. Episodes were not always released in the order they were produced or filmed. Fans of the Saint, are invited to view my other reviews of the series and a separate review of "The Fiction Makers".

Fiction Makers
I was actually thrilled that the version of The Fiction Makers on this set was the compiled feature version. I love this feature version and think the score and the title sequence help make it among the very best of Moore's Saint adventures. A nice change of pace and i hope they do the same when they issue Vendetta For The Saint.

missed opportunity
Another decent set from A&E, but despite the packaging offering "seven complete, uncut...color episodes", the two-part story THE FICTION MAKERS is presented here as the compliled film version - what a pity... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Two different kinds of movie coexist within this low-budget thriller.One isa civilized sci-fi picture, with a discreet monster (we barely see him,actually) and more impenetrable scientific jargon than you hear in an averageepisode of ER. The other is a British police procedural, with lots of men intrench coats marching stolidly around murky London streets. Neither worksespecially well, which may be why Night Caller from Outer Space isn't betterknown to film history--even under its alternate title, the more lurid BloodBeast from Outer Space. A glowing beach ball lands in English farm country,allowing an alien from Jupiter's moon Ganymede to beam himself down. Thealien places an ad in Bikini Girl magazine (hey, it was swinging London,remember?) in order to lure human females into his plan to repopulate hisplanet. Pretty dull overall, with journeyman B-movie actor John Saxon as thetoken American presence. The ending is actually rather surprising, andincludes a little Day the Earth Stood Still jibe at mankind's insistence onmessing up a perfectly good world. The theme song at the beginning issurprising, too, adding an irrelevant touch of soft-jazz romance to analready askew movie. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Much Better Than The Cover Would Suggest
I am a huge fan of B-Movies from the 1950s to the present, and when I saw the cover art (surely a near reproduction of the original theater poster) I highly suspected that this would be a first class piece of cheese.

I was wrong.

This film is an extremely well made black and white psychological thriller from the mid 1960s. It is taut, has good (for the day) special effects, a plausible story line, genuine suspense, and excellent acting, especially by the young John Saxon (much better than his later role opposite Joe Don Baker in "Mitchell" that MST3K fans would be better acquainted with.) The story concerns an object from Ganymede (a moon of Jupiter) which is an energy door which allows a being, the night caller of the title, to come to Earth. The night caller sets up a system to recruit women (via ads in 'Bikini Girl' magazine!) to return to Ganymede with him. The plot is well executed, and keeps tension high throughout. The conclusion proves both dramatic and cautionary about the future of Earth, and is not overdone with the histrionics so common today.

I liked this film for totally different reasons than I expected to. Although frequently lumped in with other monster movies from that era, this film is well executed, well acted, and suspenseful from start to finish.

Ganymede needs women...
Ganymede ("GAN uh meed"), in case you weren't aware, is the seventh and largest of Jupiter's known satellites and third of the Galilean moons. It's also the name of a Trojan boy of great beauty whom Zeus carried away to be cup bearer to the gods. In the case of The Night Caller (1965), my reference relates to the very real moon and not the mythological figure.

This British film, directed by the prolific and well known John Gilling, stars John Saxon as Dr. Jack Costain, an American scientist working in a research facility in England. While doing some routine research work, an object is observed traveling to Earth. What makes it so strange is that it appears not to be a random piece of space flotsam, but an object guided by some unseen force. The military is also aware of the object, having tracked its' decent, has concern that it may be an atomic device from an unfriendly country, so they are actively seeking the mysterious widget. Once found, the mystery deepens as the orb, about the size of a bowling ball, is comprised of an unknown material and has a temperature of below zero.

After a couple of incidents, one involving a death, the cosmic bowling ball vanishes, and young women from the area begin disappearing. The women all seem to have a common link in that they answered an ad in a magazine, one that is calling for attractive women to model on television, promotional advertising, and such, and a strangely garbed individual calling himself Mr. Medra. As the police search for clues, Dr. Costain feels that the timing of the disappearance of the space orb and the missing girls are linked, along with this shady Medra character. The police, with the help of Dr. Costain, begin to put the pieces together, and the hunt for Medra begins. Will they learn the true nature of the sphere, Medra, and the missing girls? If you've read the cover of the box, you've probably already deduced that Medra is an alien and he is kidnapping the women to take back to his planet, Ganymede, so I don't think I am really giving anything away. For what purpose, though?

The Night Caller is listed as a horror/sci-fi film, but it has a strong element of mystery throughout as the police and Dr. Costain try to track down this Medra, and learn of the nature of his appearance on Earth, and for what purpose he needs the women. The casting of John Saxon in the lead role seems an odd one, but I suppose it was done to help the film sell within the US, as similarly done with other British productions like The Quatermass Experiment (1955) and The Trollenberg Terror (1958), starring American actors Brian Donlevy (actually, Donlevy was sort of a transplanted American, being born in Ireland but immigrating to the US early in his life) and Forrest Tucker, respectively. The science fiction portion is obvious, but certainly competes with the mystery element of the story. The horror aspect is not really in a visual sense, but more of an underlying theme as we are unaware of what purpose the women will serve, and if they will ever be seen again. The reference of the Night Caller is because the character Medra always stayed in the shadows, appearing only at night, and wore dark garments further shrouding himself in darkness. The box would appear to make this look like a cheap, schlocky, run of the mill science fiction feature, but when I saw that Gilling had directed it, I took a bit more interest in it, as I knew I would, at the very least, get an visually entertaining story. Not only that, but it's pretty intelligent and has a light smattering of comedy (the part where the police and Dr. Costain interview the parents of one of the missing girls is rife with your classical, dry British humor). I found surprising a few of the plot twists within the film, and found it interesting that the story developed the way it did. What really shocked (well, maybe not so much shocked, but more startled) me was the way the film ended. I didn't see it coming, and, while some may be unsatisfied with it, I thought it was a pretty gutsy move, going against the some of the conventions I am used to seeing in other science fiction films of the time.

Image Entertainment provides a really good looking print here in full screen format. I am unsure if this was the original aspect ratio, but it shows very little, if any signs of wear and tear. Also provided are fairly detailed listing of filmographies of director Gilling and Saxon, looking like complete listings, rather than 'selected' listings as I am used to seeing whenever a disc has this feature. By the way, love that opening song sung in classical Las Vegas lounge style...you wouldn't think serious science fiction and cheesy lounge music could mix...and you'd be right.

Cookieman108

Better than counting sheep
It's not that this movie is especially bad--it's just boring. I could hardly stay awake as I watched it and I wasn't even tired. A large plastic ball transports an alien to earth from one of Jupiters moons, where he poses as an agent for "Bikini today" to ensnare attractive young women. The acting and story are okay for the time period--it's just not interesting-and it's not "bad" enough to be funny.

It was ok
I had never seen the movie before but I had heard that it was funny because it was so odd and it was! For that very reason I loved it!

Night Caller From Outer Space
Director John Gilling is true to form with his Night Caller From Outer Space a SiFi B Movie Classic! It has all the magical ingredients you would hanker for with a late 60's SiFi movie. Mystery, wonder, plenty of giant buttons & switches and naturaly a beautiful woman! If you have enjoyed such movies as The Mummy's Shroud, My Son The Vampire, The Plague of the Zombies and The Reptile then you are sure to love Night Caller! I did! ... Read more

Reviews (23)

The original and still the best modern zombie movie
Plague of the zombies is a horror film with breeding.In comparison to its illegitimate offspring of the 1980s spawned by such directors as George Romero it boasts what can be done with a skillful combination of a simple story and energetic direction. Never reducing itself to the visceral excesses of the Night of the Living Dead series,as its name might imply,the film relies on creating an atmospheric sense of mystery that engages your imagination rather than the muscles of your digestive system.

The story centres around the dead rising from their coffins to wander the Cornish countryside frightening the locals and providing a scientific enigma for a visiting Professor of medicine from London University (the stalwart Andre Morrell). Mixed up in the proceedings are his inquisitive daughter (Diane Clare),the mysterious squire Hamilton (John Carson),a village Doctor seemingly out of his depth,along with his affected,pale and sickly wife (Brook Williams and Jacqueline Pearce).Numerous members of the peasantry add their weight to the proceedings,while a confused constable (the ever present Michael Ripper)attempts to retain law and order during a period when noone seems to obey the rules,least of all the dear departed.

The film produced by Hammer was Directed by John Gilling,a veteran British screenplay writer of post war, crime and detective yarns. He controls the action with a nicely judged feel for pace ,blending the qualities of both fantasy horror and a sense of adventure in a way that makes the whole experience much more enjoyable. One scene in the film is particularly memorable and can never go unmentioned,the now famous dream sequence,where corpses rise from their graves. Filmed in slightly green hue,with a tilted frame it shows what can be done with simple techniques of the movie makers craft.

This quality DVD edition is an excellent anamorphic transfer by Anchor Bay in the academy standard ratio of 1:1.85 and shows more information on the sides of the frame than any other previous television or VHS panned and scan version.

A curious aside to this release is the fact that two versions were actually produced,the only difference being the placement of the title sequence.In the American release it was placed quite close to the start,as opposed to the British print which introduced it right at the end of the opening sequence,which in all honesty, if you watch the film is the most effective place for it to go.The start of the film is self evidently less dramatic and the build up slightly spoiled in the American print.This DVD of course is the American copy and although the other title arrangement would have been preferred its only a very small criticism.

GOOD HAMMER HORROR.....
"Plague" is a well made British period horror film about a Cornish lord/landowner using voodoo (via rituals he picked up in the islands) to turn the local people into zombies to work his tin mines. Very good production with good acting and atmospheric sets make this highly watchable. Jacqueline Pierce (also in Gillings' "The Reptile") is very good as a victim. I recommend both films to Hammer and horror fans. They're perfect companion peices for each other. "Plague" is stylish and well worth seeing. Although classy and non-gory, it's interesting as an early modern effort to present a zombie story in literate terms. The DVD from Anchor Bay is fine. Enjoy this one.

NO ZOMBIES HERE!
The title of this film is INCREDIBLY Misleading!! There are NO ZOMBIES ANYWHERE in this film! A Terribly Disappointing film to watch or to own. This one CAN "Passed Over" AND Forgotten.

Not bad. Not bad at all! :)
I watched this Hammer production only yesterday and it's worth watching from beginning to end. It's especially a treat to be savored on Halloween night. Although I basically knew what this 1966 film was about, it nevertheless held my interest. Just about all of the movie's elements, such as the script, camera shots and overall direction, have been carefully crafted so that John Gilling would avoid creating a hackneyed, cliche-driven monster flick. Not bad, considering that "The Plague of the Zombies" was filmed in a single month!
Actor Andre Morell stars as Sir James Forbes, a London Professor who travels to Cornwall after answering a distress letter sent by his ex-student Peter Thompson (Brook Williams). Cornwall itself is a small communal village riddled with superstitious beliefs; the villagers won't allow scientific research performed on their dead. Upon arriving, Forbes investigates a mysterious fever that has killed 12 villagers. The cause of this disease is unknown, but Peter's study indicates that every victim suffered dementia, a loss of appetite, and skin discoloration. What makes this case even stranger is how the bodies buried in the Cornwall cemetary are disappearing! Later, Forbes' strong-willed daughter Sylvia (Diane Clare) follows Peter's distressed wife Alice (Jacqueline Pearce) after she suddenly wanders away from home in a trance. Curious about Alice's mental state, Sylvia eventually comes across an abadoned tin factory where Alice's body turns up dead. Sylvia, meanwhile, gets a frightful scare in an accidental encounter with a walking corpse! After collecting a number of scientific clues, Forbes, Sylvia and Peter eventually uncover a devious scheme conducted by Clive Hamilton (John Carson), the town's wealthy Squire. The suave and sadistic Hamilton is secretly performing voodoo rituals to infect innocent villagers with zombification; once transformed, the living dead are forced into slavery, working endlessly in the tin factory's underground mines. In a wicked pattern, Hamilton preys upon each victim by politely asking for a drink of water, dropping the glass and forcing each person to cut his/her skin. This enables the Squire to collect drops of blood and seal each victim's fate with black magic. After discovering this, the alarmed Sir James and Peter race against time; they must break into Hamilton's estate and rescue Sylvia before SHE becomes the Squire's latest zombie slave!
Like I said before, this film is guaranteed to hold your interest in place. Beware for a few scares! Wide-eyed corpses will rise from their graves only to be decapitated and set on fire! Also watch out for masked figures wearing hollow masks and dripping blood into wooden coffins!

Hammer's Only Excursion Into Zombie Horror
By 1966 Hammer Studios were among the leaders in producing stylish horror stories often in a period setting and they were responsible for resurrecting most of the great horror characters of Hollywood's heyday like Dracula, Frankenstein and The Mummy who had been out of favour for almost a decade. The Zombie genre strangely was never a subject Hammer explored, the sole exception being this beautiful 1966 production of "Plague of the Zombies". It incorporates most of the elements made famous by Hammer, an English setting last century, a mysterious plague settling on the unsuspecting townspeople, a dark secret that needs unravelling, and ghoulish deceased residents rising from the dead for a sinister purpose. This film makes terrific viewing with some of Hammer's best atmospheric and makeup work on show in a beautiul full colour production.

"Plague of the Zombies", takes place in a small Cornwall village where a mysterious epidemic is decimating the population. The victims develop a strange lethargy and then die from undeterminable causes. The village doctor Dr. Peter Thompson (Brook Williams), is completely baffled so he writes to his old college mentor in London Sir James Forbes asking him to come down to help solve this problem. Sir James travels down with his daughter Sylvia (Diane Clare). who is a friend of Peter's wife Alice. Upon arriving however they discover that many strange things are going on. They first encounter trouble with the local Squire Clive Hamilton who has recently arrived in the area after a period in Haiti and owns a large estate that includes a disused tin mine. Peter informs them that the villagers distrust him and wont let him perform an autopsy on any of the plague victims making a treatment impossible. Alice alarmingly is also suffering from the epidemic. Sylvia's suspicions are raised when she sees the Alice wandering off into the forest at night. Following her she comes into contact with Squire Hamilton and his young ruffian friends and fears for her life. Alice is later found dead and a local villager found near the body states that he has seen his recently deceased brother wandering in the area with a ghoulish zombie-like appearance. Sir James begins to suspect Squire Hamilton of foul play and after further investigation involoving a clandestine visit to the Hamilton estate, he dicovers that the squire is using voodoo practices from his days in the Carribean to firstly kill and then ressurect the deceased villagers as zombie like slaves to work in his tin mine. Watching Alice's fresh grave Sir. James and Peter witness a ghastly scene whereby Alice's body is turned into a zombie and Sir James is forced to kill her in front of Peter. Squire Hamilton has meanwhile singled out Sylvia as his next target and while visiting her manages to get a sample of her blood which he then uses in his magic magic ritual to lure her into his clutches. Arriving jus