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But much better than the one made a year later, "Vendetta for the Saint"(1969). Kenneth J. Warren is funny as Warlock. But the main attraction is Justine Lord as Galaxy Rose.

Naturally, I was aware of Roger Moore having been Simon Templar aka The Saint (a character created, complete with instantly recognizable theme, by Leslie Charteris) before he was Agent 007 aka James Bond, but I’d never actually watched him in the role (other than catching bits and pieces from the TV series when it was broadcast on Italian TV or the Bravo Cable channel).

Anyway, a number of episodes from “The Saint” (the series began shooting in black-and-white, then switched to color) were compiled to make up two individual features (the other being VENDETTA FOR THE SAINT [1969], which is to follow) and released to theaters. However, there was no mistaking the flat TV style (despite employing a veteran film-maker who had even worked in Hollywood), the full-frame ratio, or the studio-bound look (the big-budgeted James Bond adventures clearly could afford to be a great deal more elaborate); nevertheless, the cinematographer of this one – Michael Reed – went on to lens the very next 007 outing i.e. ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE (1969)!

The film, as a whole, emerges to be mildly enjoyable and serves up a fairly ingenious plot: Templar is mistaken for a popular pulp fiction novelist (actually a woman, played by Sylvia Syms) and kidnapped by a gang – hiding under the aliases of the criminal organization (complete with an H.Q. built to specifications) and characters ‘he’ had himself created – in order to plan a heist from an impregnable site! The leader of the villains is played by a flustered Kenneth J. Warren, who has fun with the role; his associates, then, include Nicholas Smith (later to be seen in the ARE YOU BEING SERVED? comic TV series!) and the engaging Justine Lord (who would prove a memorable femme fatale, literally “The Girl Who Was Death”, in the episode of that name from what was possibly the cult TV series of the era i.e. THE PRISONER).

As I said, the film suffers most from its ultra-modest budget – allowing for thrills and action highlights which, while not disagreeable in themselves, are decidedly bland and predictable, especially when stacked alongside what was being delivered in similar vein on the big screen…

Adventurer Templar, known for cocking his eye upwards at his animated halo, agrees to do a favour for a publisher friend (Peter Ashmore) to look after best-selling thriller writer Amos Klein - who writes macho Ian Fleming-type books but is actually scatty, cute, short-sighted Sylvia Sims, who is being targeted by criminals who want their expertise to pull off an impossible crime.

A wacky, spoof of the James Bond franchise, this a fun two-part series made into a feature film which benefits from its two stars - Roger Moore and Sylvia Sims. Their interactions is what makes this all so enjoyable. The Saint regular Justine Lord is beautiful as ever. It's a nice way to pass the time, even though the wackiness can be tiring at times.

2 episodes of the classic series sewn together for a UK cinema release. Simon Templar is mistaken for a writer of clever thrillers by a group of fanatics hell bent on robbing an impregnable strongroom.

Whether a parody or a straight copy, the similarities to Goldfinger are pretty blatant. Accepting this, this remains a fun enough piece of hokum if you like the tv series, helped considerably by the presence of Sylvia Syms.

(1968) The Fiction-Makers ADVENTURE ACTION

Co-produced (uncredited) and starring Roger Moore starring as the infamous Simon Templer nicknamed as "The Saint" the character created by Leslie Charters. A movie made as a result of the popular television series that starred Roger Moore. The set up has Simon Templer being involved with popular author and novelist, Amos Klein (Sylvia Syms) as her safety is in jeopardy. And since many of the readers do not know what the author looked like, Simon Templer thought it be best if he pretended to be author, Amos Klein and she would pretend to be her secretary, Joyce Darling. And Simon does get abducted by a guy who calls himself Warlock (Kenneth J. Warren), another character from her novels, Simon is then forced by him and four of his cohorts- all consist of names from the authors novel to devise a plan to rob the most secured bank. The four of Warlock's cohorts consist of characters from her novels, that includes Bishop (Nicholas Smith), Nero Jones (Roy Hanlon), Simeon Monk (Tom Clegg) and Warlock's right hand man, Frug (Philip Locke). And then there's Galaxy Rose (Justine Lord) who is supposed to provide whatever Simon needed while being confined to his room.

I thought it was slick and may have an understanding why Ian Fleming originally wanted Roger Moore to play James Bond. As Moore is very charismatic and respectful and not out of synch with the The Saint character. And viewers who did not like this movie are obviously no fans of the TV series that was popularized by Moore whatsoever.