The Saint in Palm Springs (1941)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Jack Hively

Writers:

Jerome Cady (writer)
Leslie Charteris (story)

Release Date:

24 January 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Plot Keywords:

Bodyguard | Resort | Murder | Drugging | Pickpocket

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 22

5:30 PM

TCM

Cast

George Sanders	...	Simon Templar / The Saint
Wendy Barrie	...	Elna Johnson
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Clarence 'Pearly' Gates
Jonathan Hale	...	Insp. Henry Fernack
Linda Hayes	...	Margaret Forbes
Ferris Taylor	...	Mr. Evans
Harry Shannon	...	Chief R.L. Graves
Eddie Dunn	...	Det. Barker

Runtime:

66 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-7 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #6789)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Although he is credited for the story, very little of Leslie Charteris' original concept actually made it to the screen. He later adapted his version of the story for his book "The Saint Goes West", which included several digs at the Hollywood movie industry.

Goofs:

Factual errors: No stamp was worth $67,000 in 1941.

Movie Connections:

Follows The Saint's Double Trouble (1940)

Missing stamps and suspicious characters

George Sanders has often been quoted as calling the Saint and Falcon films the "nadir" of his career. Looking at "The Saint's Double Trouble" it is easy to see why he felt that way (badly scripted, poor supporting cast, etc, etc) but his four other Saint entries, at least, are well up to scratch. If this one is a little slack in the chase and gun play departments, never mind. It is an old-fashioned "whodunnit" and Sanders and Paul Guilfoyle (as Pearly Gates, a series regular) seem to enjoy themselves in this tale of missing stamps (worth a fortune) and suspicious characters at a luxury Palm Springs hotel. The plot may bear absolutely no resemblance to Leslie Charteris's short story, but never mind; it is a pleasant little cocktail with which to waste an hour or so. By the way, you're guaranteed not to guess whodunnit, although the chief suspects are shown quite often. No one except Sanders would think of this amiable film as a career low-point; it's a pity he didn't make a few more like this as his career went on.