If I have anything to say about it, and supposedly I do, the new
SAINT TV project for TNT will retain the flavor of Charteris' original.
The Roger Moore series that began in 1962 used the "glob trotting
celebrity" character found in Charteris later short stories, and due to
the restrictive TV codes of the time, Charteris lamented that the Saint
on TV bore as much similarity to his creation as Winnie the Pooh did to
Captain Blood.
Times have changed -- restrictions have relaxed. Soooo...this version
of The Saint will be the more dangerous and picaresque adventurer,
having way too much fun as he takes on recalcitrant and contumacious
oppressors while bedding the requisite bevy of beauties -- including
the mercurial and romantic Ms Patricia Holm. As all Saint fans know,
Simon Templar parks his shoes in numerous international locales, but
Holm is where he hangs his hat -- or halo.
Bill Macdonald asked me to serve as "consultant" to the project, and
has honestly taken my suggestions to heart (and page). The show should
be really cool, faithful to the character, and won't have Charteris
getting what he termed Graveyard Torque from spinning in his metaphoric
grave. What I like best about the project, of course, is that I'm
supposedly getting paid for my wit and wisdom. As with any TV or film
project - or publishing for that matter -- I will be 100% convinced
when the check clears the bank. As Bill has never deceived me in the
past, I trust it will all come out in the wash, even if the spin cycle
makes me crazy.
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Great article! Designing Social Responsibility, for me, is quite amazing and very creative too. It widens up your mind or awareness towards social responsibility and learn it's importance.
Being creative in showing your way of life really allures me. Then success will be a colorful one. Keep it up!
Posted by: guess watches | December 17, 2010 at 07:23 PM
I for one am looking forward to a new saint series. My daughter used
an old paper I wrote years ago showing how the saint
was used by Ian Fleming to
creat James Bond for a film
class at St Lawrence University last semester.
It is a long story but I
was nicked named The Saint back in Prep School by one of my teachers. I also have a small tattoo of the saint which I kind of regret....especially the hangover. Good luck on the project.
Posted by: jeff hudson | June 21, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Looking forward to it. Do us Saint fans proud, Burl.
Posted by: Delmo Walters Jr. | May 28, 2007 at 11:38 PM
If I visit Paris, I'll check out the Hilton just so I can say.. Oh never mind!
Posted by: Mike Barer | April 03, 2007 at 05:24 PM
I'm greatly looking forward to super Saint fans "Ian" and "Dan" in their Volvo stationwagon Saint Mobile as last seen in CAPTURE THE SAINT!
Posted by: www.saint.org | March 27, 2007 at 04:20 PM
I would like to work Paris Hilton, but not into a story suitable for youngsters.
Posted by: burl barer | March 26, 2007 at 03:05 AM
I think you should work Paris Hilton into a story.
Posted by: Mike Barer | March 22, 2007 at 08:46 AM
Noooo...Hoppy will be played by Ian Dickerson, the only man who (a) looks like Hoppy, and (b) can drink like Hoppy.
I'll be the guy in the blond wig and 9" heels -- the new Hollywood Patricia Holm
Posted by: burl barer | March 22, 2007 at 03:46 AM
Oh his name'll be in the credits. He's too shy to tell you he's been cast as Hoppy Uniatz...!
Posted by: Ian Dickerson | March 21, 2007 at 08:43 AM
I hve high hopes that your name will appear on the credits of the new Saint show although I will have to upgrade my cable to see it.
Posted by: David Zarkin | March 19, 2007 at 06:27 AM
Anea, I would love to read your Father's Saint novel. I've seen the listing on Amazon. Unfortunately, it's a little pricey for me. Being disabled and on a fixed income, I have to be a bit selective on my book buying. One can always hope that a mass market paperback will be issued someday.
Posted by: Randy Johnson | March 18, 2007 at 10:34 PM
Well, it SOUNDS great, but as you say -- we shall see. I can't help remember the way Charteris' comments about the Saint movies supposedly led to the creation of The Falcon!
Posted by: Mike Hobart | March 18, 2007 at 08:42 PM
Randy, For the "Saint you know and love" check out my dads original saint novel - available for purchase on amazon (through resellers).
It is really good and I have read all the original saint books (can't be raised by Burl without it).
Posted by: Anea | March 18, 2007 at 11:40 AM
I hope they do pay attention to your suggestions. I could never watch Val Kilmer's version after seeing the trailer, but I did enjoy your novel of the film as a novel. It wasn't the Saint I know and love though.
Posted by: Randy Johnson | March 16, 2007 at 10:31 PM
The job is very cool. The paycheck is even cooler. And if you get a screen credit each week, even if it's scrunched down to the bottom of the screen so that TNT can promote the latest X-Files rerun, that's almost as good as gold (to switch metaphors).
Posted by: Danny Barer | March 16, 2007 at 12:18 PM