The Saint's Double Trouble (1940)

An enigmatic gang leader known as "The Boss," who is a dead-ringer for Simon, puts "The Saint" under suspicion of murder.

Director:

Jack Hively

Writers:

Ben Holmes (screenplay), Leslie Charteris (from the story by)

Stars:

George Sanders, Helene Whitney, Jonathan Hale

Cast

Complete credited cast:
George Sanders	...	Simon Templar aka The Saint / 'Boss' Duke Bates
Helene Whitney	...	Anne Bitts
Jonathan Hale	...	Inspector Henry Fernack
Bela Lugosi	...	Partner
Donald MacBride	...	Inspector John H. Bohlen
John F. Hamilton	...	Limpy
Thomas W. Ross	...	Professor Horatio T. Bitts
Elliott Sullivan	...	Monk 'Warren'

Storyline

Simon has arranged to send a rare mummy of a pharaoh from Cairo to Phildelphia to his good friend, Keystone University archeology professor Horatio Bitts, whose beautiful daughter does not escape The Saint's attention. Ruthless gang leader Duke Bates, known as "The Boss," is a dead ringer for Simon and a notorious jewel smuggler who uses the mummy to disguise a cache of illegal diamonds. After Bates murders a shady jewel cutter and the professor, Simon finds himself under suspicion... even by his old friend, Inspector Fernack.

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Plot Keywords:

the saint | diamond | mummy | jewel | murder | 

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Taglines:

Master criminal meets his match! All-new thrills on the double-quick as he tricks slick sleuths.

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 January 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

El nuevo caso del Santo

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The fourth of nine classic RKO movies featuring Simon Templar, The Saint starring George Sanders.

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Goofs

The speed at which the Saint writes notes bears no relationship to the measured writing on the actual pieces of paper. This is especially noticeable when he scribbles on the top of The Philadelphia Post newspaper with a pencil, whilst the newspaper is unsupported. The next shot shows the paper is perfectly flat on a stable background and the message he writes is neat and even. Although the Saint ends the message, the following shot shows him still finishing writing as he tears off the strip of paper to hand to the paperboy.

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Quotes

Policeman: [after he's shot "The Boss"] Shall I call an ambulance?
Inspector Henry Fernack: Better make it a hearse.

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Connections

Follows The Saint in New York (1938)

User Reviews

Brisk "Saint" film has George Sanders in a dual role...

You have to be willing to suspend disbelief whenever you watch films like THE SAINT'S DOUBLE TROUBLE, in which GEORGE SANDERS (as "The Saint") discovers that the police are really looking for his exact double who's been committing a number of crimes involving diamond smuggling and a mummy from Egypt. To make sure that audiences know which man we're watching, they have "The Saint" whistling his famous tune as a sort of identification bracelet...but unless you're a fan of the series, you may be missing the clue.

JONATHAN HALE is a nice addition to the cast as Inspector Fernack who, for awhile, is just as confused as everyone else as to the identity of the real criminal. HELENE WHITNEY makes a bland leading lady as the blonde damsel in distress and BELA LUGOSI has a nothing role as a man called The Partner, a colorless part that could have been filled by any nondescript actor in search of work.

There are plenty of escapes for Sanders who is seen narrowly drowning when tied up in a motorboat, leaping onto the back of moving autos to keep track of the kidnapped heroine and making various narrow escapes from the law by devious means. It's his third time as Simon and he looks comfortable enough in the double role, although all the plot twists and turns are a bit hard to swallow with the police and the criminals being unbelievably dumb.

Summing up: Despite obvious drawbacks, it's a fun caper to watch and moves briskly toward a satisfying ending if you're a fan of the series.