As I’ve been enjoying the John Telford audiobook versions of Leslie Charteris’ “The Saint”  collection ( or at least 50 of the pugs)  each of them begins with an introduction written by someone who has a connection with either Charteris,  the Roger Moore television series,  is a relative of a major player,  has actually played Simon Templar in a movie role ( like Adam Rayner),  or has otherwise been very affected by the novels and short stories.
 so many of the stories tell the same story I’m a young boy who suddenly comes across and novel by Leslie Charteris,  or who found the 1960s Roger Moore series on late at night in reruns,  or was completely hurt by Ian Ogilvy’s for trail and the return of The Saint.

As for myself,  I was sorted stuck in the middle as an adolescent in the 1960s caught between two potential idols both who first on the scene in 1962,  and both who had the same old way of introducing themselves with their last names first,  followed by their complete name.  a lot of people think that Sean Connery Was Alone in introducing himself as”Bond,  James Bond;”  but at the very same time I’m if you look at season 1 of The Saint  you will find a Roger Moore introducing himself occasionally as “ Templar,  Simon Templar.”  it is actually a practice that goes back to the early 1900s in Britain and it’s quite common.

the event in my growing up. I was presented with these two icons as role models of manhood.  while I enjoyed Sean Connery’s betrayal of James Bond,  And became a fan like just about everyone else,  he did not have the deep-rooted appeal that Simon Templar had –  and that was really because Simon Templar had a deeper moral compass and was the more complex character then Bond was in the films.  he was also a much better role model and how he treated women –  and I saw that right off.

Now we have gone through a whole variety of iterations of Simon Templars.  Prior to Roger Moore,  there were the films done by RKO Studios starring Hugh Sinclair and (and to my mind)  a terribly miscast George Sanders.

After Roger Moore and Ian Ogilvy,  we have had some less than successful TV series and films,  including paramount first attempt via Val Kilmer in 1997 –  if Sean which was universally panned.

But it’s when you actually read or listen to the books themselves that you realize the true problem.  and that is that Leslie Charteris’ character in the books is diminished by any medium that surpasses reading or hearing them read aloud.  Simon Templar, as Charteris wrote him, is smarter,  stronger,  swift,  more ruthless,  and even a lot more fun and funny than anything that is yet been portrayed via the radio, television or film.

My sources tell me that things have utterly bogged down at OParamount who have lost any vision for the true potential the Saubnt perpetually offers (especially right now when they are hopelessly lost in so many ways any time they get away from anything not Star Trek based). Hopefully they will give up and release the rights to sp, one with a vision like say, for a period piece or series (like Agent Carter which was dine for two seasons by Marvel?) I mean amidst all the anger and warpedness how about some good old fun and saintly mayhem unleashed upon the ungodly just for the adventure?