Trivia for
"The Saint" (1962) More at IMDbPro »

• Nine episodes were directed by star Roger Moore. These were: "The Saint: Sophia (#2.24)" (1964), "The Saint: The Miracle Tea Party (#3.1)" (1964), "The Saint: The Contract (#3.14)" (1965), "The Saint: The Man Who Could Not Die (#4.6)" (1965), "The Saint: The Old Treasure Story (#4.9)" (1965), "The Saint: Escape Route (#5.14)" (1966), "The Saint: Invitation to Danger (#6.2)" (1968), "The Saint: The House on Dragon's Rock (#6.9)" (1968), and "The Saint: Where the Money Is (#6.14)" (1968).
  
  
• The producers of the movie went to the Jaguar Company to ask for a free car in return for the publicity that would follow a successful television series. Jaguar refused, so the producers went to Volvo which was more than happy to risk one P1800 coupe, and the publicity, as it turned out, far outweighed the value of the car.
  
  
• A version of the car story seen elsewhere says that Jaguar were indeed requested to supply the (then new) E type as an ideal "typically British" steed for Simon Templar, also typically British in the early sixties, Jaguar were bedeviled with strikes and parts supply, and could not deliver on time. Commencement date was looming and finally Roger Moore volunteered his personal car, the now famed Volvo P1800, although stylish it was hardly the racy image needed (post production gave it the exciting exhaust note). For Volvo it was a godsend - the P1800 had been selling sluggishly in the UK, suddenly it was "cool" and sales rocketed and as a result production was extended past the formerly planned finish date. On the rare occasions the vehicle was actually on location on "real" streets it was technically illegal as the "ST 1" licence plate was registered to another vehicle (the cops turned a blind eye).
  
  
• Early episodes included the gimmick of having Roger Moore speak directly to the audience. Later, this was replaced by narration. In one early episode, an old woman guesses Templar's name ... she says his name must be James Bond. Roger Moore of course later went on to play 007.
  
  
• Among the actors offered the role of Simon Templar was Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan turned down the role owing to his disapproval of Simon Templar's womanizing (he also turned down James Bond in Dr. No (1962) for much of the same reason).
  
  
• Roger Moore's commitment to this series cost him the role of James Bond when producers were looking for a replacement for Sean Connery in 1967-68.
  
  
• During the writing of his manuscripts, Leslie Charteris constantly designated Simon Templar by his initials (S.T.) in order to save time. That's how the idea came up to give him the nickname "the Saint".
  
  
• Leslie Charteris guarded the rights to his creation closely, and earlier attempts to televise his stories had come to nothing. Producers Robert S. Baker and Monty Berman were recommended by John Paddy Carstairs, who had befriended the writer whilst directing The Saint in London (1939) (and who would direct "The Saint: The Arrow of God (#1.7)" (1962) and "The Saint: The Romantic Matron (#2.18)" (1964) for this run); Lew Grade proposed a budget of £30,000 per filmed episode which also helped convince Charteris that Templar was in safe hands.
  
  
• The series was sold to 63 countries, and garnered £350m+ in profits.
  
  

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