The Saint Strikes Back (1939)

Simon Templar, the Saint, travels to San Fransisco to solve crime mysteries within the police department.

Director:

John Farrow

Writers:

John Twist (screenplay), Leslie Charteris (novel)

Stars:

George Sanders, Wendy Barrie, Jonathan Hale

Cast

Complete credited cast:
George Sanders	...	Simon Templar - the Saint
Wendy Barrie	...	Val Travers
Jonathan Hale	...	Inspector Harry Fernack
Jerome Cowan	...	Cullis
Barry Fitzgerald	...	Zipper Dyson
Neil Hamilton	...	Allan Breck
Robert Elliott	...	Chief Inspector Webster
Russell Hopton	...	Harry Donnell
Edward Gargan	...	Pinky Budd
Robert Strange	...	Police Commisioner
Gilbert Emery	...	Martin Eastman
James Burke	...	Headquarters Police Officer
Nella Walker	...	Mrs. Betty Fernack

Storyline

A disgraced policeman's daughter in San Francisco is busy acquiring a name for herself as a crime boss in her own right. But when Simon Templar helps her get away after a shooting in a night-club and subsequently chooses to bring down his old acquaintance Inspector Fernack from New York, the question as to who is on which side of the law becomes increasingly confused -- especially when the vital evidence, in the shape of eighty thousand stolen dollars, spends most of the film in the Saint's pocket!

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Plot Keywords:

police | the saint | criminal | california | police inspector | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Saint Strikes Twice

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

64 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The novel upon which this film is loosely based was also published under the titles "The Saint Meets His Match" and "She Was a Lady", the latter being its original publication title. Many changes were made, including changing the local from Europe to San Francisco, replacing Scotland Yard inspector Teal with NYPD Inspector Fernack, and changing the female lead's name from Jill Trelawney to Valerie Travers. Jill/Valerie was also British in the original book. Charteris' novel, which is given official credit in titles, is "Angels of Doom."

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Quotes

Allan Breck: [after Simon kisses Val and is slapped by her] Mr. Templar!
Simon Templar, aka 'The Saint': [to Val] I'm very sorry but under certain circumstances I simply can't resist the temptation to be a cad.
[Referring to Breck]
Simon Templar, aka 'The Saint': I can see by this gentleman's manner that he's never kissed you but, uh, would like to.
Val Travers: Get out if here!
Simon Templar, aka 'The Saint': As you get to know me better, you'll realize that I have moments of almost maudlin sentimentality. Actually we're quite bit alike. You could never live without adventure, and neither could I.

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Connections

Followed by The Saint's Double Trouble (1940)

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Soundtracks

"Comin' Thro' the Rye"
Music traditional
Words by Robert Burns
Played and sung by the organ grinder
Sung by the organ grinder with modified lyrics

User Reviews

The Saint comes to San Francisco

I've just seen The Saint Strikes Back for the first time and found it quite good. This was George Sanders's first appearance as the Saint, where he replaces Louis Hayward.

In this one, the Saint is sent to San Francisco to investigate a shooting at a night club. With the help of his acquaintance Inspector Fernack who has come down from New York, they help a daughter of a crime boss.

Joining Sanders in the cast are Wendy Barrie and Jonathan Hale.

Not a bad Saint movie. Worth seeing.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.