Mon 30 Apr 2018
A TV Pilot Review: CBS SUMMER PLAYHOUSE “The Saint in Manhattan” (1987).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV mysteries[11] Comments
CBS SUMMER PLAYHOUSE “The Saint in Manhattan.” CBS, 12 June 1987. Season 1, Episode 1. Andrew Clarke (Simon Templar), George Rose, Kevin Tighe (Insp John Fernack), Liliana Komorowska, Holland Taylor, Caitlin Clarke, Michael Lombard. Based on the character created by Lesllie Charteris. Director: James Frawley.
One way that CBS found to get some mileage out of pilots for TV shows that failed to find a home there was to play them as an anthology series over the summer when they assumed that no one was watching anyway. The Playhouse lasted for three years, but the basis of watching only this one, I’m going to say that it may have been one of the better ones.
I hadn’t heard of its star, Andrew Clarke, before watching, and in fact this may be one of the few times this Australian actor may have appeared on US TV. He may also have been the only actor with a mustache (a bushy one) to have played the Saint, but I could easily be wrong about that. He also had a wide brash smile with lots of teeth.
As the title indicated, the would-be series was to have taken place in New York City, with the Saint constantly bedeviling Inspector Fernack as they clash heads while solving murder cases together (in a matter of speaking). In this one, though, it is the theft of a valuable tiara from the head of the lead ballerina during a dance recital that brings the old foes together. Someone has framed Simon Templar for the job!
The production values are very good, and Clarke, although initially far from my idea of what the Saint looks like, gradually became easier to watch in the role.
Much of the story line is played for light comedy — to the detriment of any fair play detective work, which is hinted at but never quite delivered upon. If I’d known about it at the time, however, I’d definitely have watched this pilot. — and the series as well, if there had been one.
April 30th, 2018 at 10:35 pm
I didn’t think The Saint was ever portrayed by any one with a mustache so this really surprised me. After George Sanders, Roger Moore and Ian Ogilvie the actors who played Simon Templar tend to be virtual unknowns. Of the Val Kilmer film the less said the better.
April 30th, 2018 at 10:42 pm
I don’t think Louis Hayward was unknown and he started the franchise off with what arguably is its best picture and inarguable the one closest in treatment and content to its source.
May 1st, 2018 at 6:16 am
Your classic ’80s pornstache.
May 1st, 2018 at 10:48 am
I agree about Louis Hayward. He later played The Saint in The Saint’s Girl Friday which I saw in the theater. That film came from a different studio than RKO and that may explain why it is often overlooked.
May 1st, 2018 at 5:03 pm
YouTube has the opening and closing titles including the network bit that gave the audience a chance to vote on the pilots.
According to saint.org around 44,000 voted with over 40,000 voting in favor of the series.
This pilot had Robert Baker behind it, the same Robert Baker who was responsible for the Roger Moore version.
May 1st, 2018 at 8:56 pm
Thanks for this, Michael. The opening and closing with describing how the audience could participate was not included in the version I watched. Very interesting!
May 1st, 2018 at 5:24 pm
Hayward is certainly the signature Saint in film, the closest in style and charm to the original despite Charteris dislike. GIRL FRIDAY isn’t as good as NEW YORK, but it’s entertaining and easily seen on YouTube.
The other mustachioed Templar is Hugh Wiliams, the tall gaunt unlikely Templar who replaced George Sanders in THE SAINT’S VACATION and THE SAINT MEETS THE TIGER. Both radio Saint’s, Vincent Price and Brian Aherene frequently sported hair on their upper lip, and John Spanger and Doug Wildey in the long running syndicated strip pictures Templar with mustache and trim beard with Charteris approval, though Mike Roy before them did not, and the Saint appears with that beard on one paperback cover at least.
Among other Saints both Jean Marais and Felix Martin played the role in unauthorized French films, the latter available as DANCE OF DEATH on YouTube with another name dubbed in.
While I agree this film has its pleasures I found Clarke far too sleazy in the lead role — he looked like porn star Harry Reems — and only arguably better suited to the part than the hopelessly colorless Simon Duttine who followed.
The recent Saint film THE SAINT (2013), available on UTube and Netflix, makes the mistake of giving Templar a history, as the Kilmer film did, and a back story but has it’s moments in the return of the outlaw Saint, the return of Patricia Fearing, guest appearances of Roger Moore and Ian Ogilvy, a decent plot, and some great stunts. Ultimately it’s a bit flat, and perhaps too ambitious, but the actor playing the lead has both charm and the physicality the role calls for, and a series might have worked.
May 2nd, 2018 at 9:28 am
Hugh Sinclair rather than Hugh Williams?
May 2nd, 2018 at 7:18 pm
Right, Hugh Sinclair though Williams would have been better.
May 3rd, 2018 at 7:02 pm
And Holm not Fearing. I have to stop writing these at 2 in the morning.
May 11th, 2018 at 10:45 am
Although Bob Baker was credited as a Co-Executive Producer he wasn’t really behind this version, more a distant consultant.