Le Saint à Palm Springs

Saint in Palm Springs, The (1941)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

The sixth film in RKO's series has George Sanders returning in the role of The Saint but this here would turn out to be his last in the series as he was replaced for the next two films. This time out The Saint takes a vacation to Palm Springs where he gets involved with a strange motel where some expensive stamps have been stolen from a safe. Out of the five Saint films Sanders appeared in I'd say this one here is the best but it still can't reach the height of the first film in the series. This film here runs 66-minutes and is well paced throughout and it also contains a pretty good story for us to follow. The biggest problem with the screenplay is that the ending really comes out of no where and the bad guy is picked out without too much thrill. Sanders never thought too much of this series or The Falcon series but I think he was actually pretty good here. It seems he has a lot more energy in the role but I guess this could have been due to him knowing this was his last one. Wendy Barrie is nice in her supporting role but it's Paul Guilfoyle who steals the film as the sidekick who's on probation and worried about going to prison.

George Sanders again plays "The Saint" Simon Templar, in the murder mystery series, helping to solve some crime, while whistling and trying to avoid jail time himself. (Roger Moore would play the title character in the very successful TV Series in the 1960s). Sanders, with his quick, proper British accent, is probably best known for his roles in "All About Eve", or "Rebecca". Good story, but WHY do they keep taking the valuables that everyone is after out of the hotel safe ?? It gets a little confusing later in the story on who actually has the coveted valuables, but maybe that's part of the mystery. Also some competition over Templar on the parts of Elna Johnson (Wendy Barrie) and Margaret Forbes (Linda Hayes). It would be interesting to know if ANY of it were filmed in the Palm Springs area, as there is liberal use of stills and backdrops. Pretty good story, some clever scriptwriting, but the ending is a little silly. --- note that many of the actors in the background were also used in "The Falcon" films, another Sanders mystery murder series from RKO.

After now seeing all five films, 'The Saint Strikes Back' was a decent film though had somewhat of a finding-its-feet feel, 'The Saint in London' while not perfect was an improvement, 'The Saint Takes Over' was the best of the series and 'The Saint's Double Trouble' the weakest.

'The Saint in Palm Springs' is bang in the middle when ranking all five films. Like all the films, it's not great, but like 'Takes Over' and 'London' it's good ('Strikes Back', as said, was decent, while 'Double Trouble' was disappointingly average). The pros do outweigh the cons, but 'The Saint in Palm Springs' does suffer from a lack of suspense ('Takes Over' is the darkest of the five, despite the high body count here, and adheres closest to the tougher edge when Louis Hayward was in the role).

As well as an ending that is far too confused and comes far too suddenly with little build up. The screen projection agreed is obvious at times.

On the other hand, the sets are atmospheric and the photography doesn't look hasty or low-budget. Scripting is smart and with the right balance of fun and mystery, while the music is jaunty but also atmospheric. The direction is suitably brisk, as well as a story, that although lacking in suspense, is paced in a lively way and diverting, never dull at least.

George Sanders himself, as said with my previous reviews of his Saint outings, is super-suave, sophisticated and wonderfully caddish, while also giving a charming and humorous edge and delivering some cutting lines with aplomb. Jonathan Hale is fine support, while Wendy Barrie gives one of her better performances of her three appearances in the Saint films. Paul Guilfoyle comes very close to stealing the film in an amusing performance, and Linda Hayes is charming.

In conclusion, good fun and bang in the middle of the five Saint film starring Sanders. 7/10 Bethany Cox

This film or possibly the Leslie Charteris book from which the Saint is derived might very well have been the inspiration over 20 years later for the film Charade. If you remember the Hitchcockian McGuffin in that film were rare postage stamps.

In what would turn out to be George Sanders last appearance as Simon Templar, the Saint is asked by his good friend Inspector Fernack played in the series by Jonathan Hale to guard an old friend on his way west with a fortune that was smuggled out of occupied Europe. And like the fortune in Charade it is contained in three priceless postage stamps.

Sanders proves too late to save Hale's friend, but the stamps are saved and he couriers them to Palm Springs to give to Wendy Barrie who is the daughter of the late friend. Of course news of this kind of loot gets out and all kinds of people are trying for them.

It must have been deja vu all over again for Sanders. In addition to Hale, two members of the cast of the previous Saint film, The Saint Takes Over return. Wendy Barrie died in the last film, but apparently the movie-going public liked her and Sanders together. So she came back as the damsel in distress whom the Saint must aid.

And Paul Guilfoyle repeats his same role as the luckless crook who is determined to go straight in this film. As in the last he's on Simon Templar's side, but his help is somewhat dubious.

The Saint In Palm Springs is a nice entry in the Saint series and a good one for Sanders to go out on.

Two cops attempt to arrest the Saint as he comes ashore from the SS Monrovia. He's wanted in connection with a murder case, they explain—Inspector Fernack sent them. The Saint nods agreeably…then adroitly handcuffs them to each other and runs off—straight to Fernack's office, where (as he suspected) his old friend Fernack just wanted his help.

George Sanders and Jonathan Hale appear once again as Simon Templar and Inspector Fernack in this fast moving and frequently amusing mystery. Fernack requests the Saint's assistance delivering some postage stamps to Palm Springs, three rare stamps worth $200,000. Sensing reluctance, Fernack offers encouragement: "Of course, it would be dangerous…."

Wendy Barrie returns for her third Saint movie, playing a third unique role. This time around she is Elna Johnson, intended recipient of the rare stamps—a family fortune converted into stamps for easier transport out of wartime Europe. Needless to say, a gang is also after the stamps, led by a charming female (Linda Hayes) who meets Templar on the train ride west and is tracking him long before he catches on to her.

Paul Guilfoyle also returns from the previous series entry as Clarence "Pearly" Gates. When last seen, Pearly was a reforming pickpocket assisting the Saint; out here in Palm Springs, his probation officer has signed him up as a house detective at a ritzy resort. (Sure it makes sense.)

The plot is nothing too surprising, but the veteran cast and a lively script add up to an enjoyable hour. Sanders, Barrie and Guilfoyle certainly look awfully familiar together.

A very solid if unspectacular production all the way around.