Altogether not too bad a Saint entry, the big problems being it was low budget and the annoying decomposition of the film when the '50's TV dupe was made. Unfortunately this can give you the feeling that by mistake you're watching Dick Barton, another (ultra) cheapo British sleuth series I like. I take it the original is lost? To make up for it they did their British best with some atmospheric sets, nice Templar repartee and a competent story.
I haven't seen this film for over 20 years now or read Meet the Tiger for over 30 but it seemed familiar ie faithful to Charteris's first Saint story written in 1929. I can't remember Inspector Teal in it however but all of the stalwart British cast work well together in an effective potboiler. The incidence of a man murdered on the Saint's doorstep leads him and valet (Mr Memory from the 39 Steps) - and Teal - to a nest of savage gold smugglers in a quaint English seaside town. There's a pretty frank love interest and many twists and turns and multiple plot lines going on to keep you guessing how it will all turn out, although if you know your Saint you know the ultimate outcome with the opening titles. Hugh Sinclair was not my idea of Simon Templar - he was chunkily adequate - but at this distance I wish he'd gone on to make a dozen or so more I'd yet to see!
So, imho well worth watching for fans and completists alike, especially if you can get over the bad condition of the print.
I haven't seen this film for over 20 years now or read Meet the Tiger for over 30 but it seemed familiar ie faithful to Charteris's first Saint story written in 1929. I can't remember Inspector Teal in it however but all of the stalwart British cast work well together in an effective potboiler. The incidence of a man murdered on the Saint's doorstep leads him and valet (Mr Memory from the 39 Steps) - and Teal - to a nest of savage gold smugglers in a quaint English seaside town. There's a pretty frank love interest and many twists and turns and multiple plot lines going on to keep you guessing how it will all turn out, although if you know your Saint you know the ultimate outcome with the opening titles. Hugh Sinclair was not my idea of Simon Templar - he was chunkily adequate - but at this distance I wish he'd gone on to make a dozen or so more I'd yet to see!
So, imho well worth watching for fans and completists alike, especially if you can get over the bad condition of the print.