The Saint in Palm Springs

Two cops attempt to arrest the Saint as he comes ashore from the SS Monrovia. He's wanted in connection with a murder case, they explain—Inspector Fernack sent them. The Saint nods agreeably…then adroitly handcuffs them to each other and runs off—straight to Fernack's office, where (as he suspected) his old friend Fernack just wanted his help.

George Sanders and Jonathan Hale appear once again as Simon Templar and Inspector Fernack in this fast moving and frequently amusing mystery. Fernack requests the Saint's assistance delivering some postage stamps to Palm Springs, three rare stamps worth $200,000. Sensing reluctance, Fernack offers encouragement: "Of course, it would be dangerous…."

Wendy Barrie returns for her third Saint movie, playing a third unique role. This time around she is Elna Johnson, intended recipient of the rare stamps—a family fortune converted into stamps for easier transport out of wartime Europe. Needless to say, a gang is also after the stamps, led by a charming female (Linda Hayes) who meets Templar on the train ride west and is tracking him long before he catches on to her.

Paul Guilfoyle also returns from the previous series entry as Clarence "Pearly" Gates. When last seen, Pearly was a reforming pickpocket assisting the Saint; out here in Palm Springs, his probation officer has signed him up as a house detective at a ritzy resort. (Sure it makes sense.)

The plot is nothing too surprising, but the veteran cast and a lively script add up to an enjoyable hour. Sanders, Barrie and Guilfoyle certainly look awfully familiar together.

A very solid if unspectacular production all the way around.

This film or possibly the Leslie Charteris book from which the Saint is derived might very well have been the inspiration over 20 years later for the film Charade. If you remember the Hitchcockian McGuffin in that film were rare postage stamps.

In what would turn out to be George Sanders last appearance as Simon Templar, the Saint is asked by his good friend Inspector Fernack played in the series by Jonathan Hale to guard an old friend on his way west with a fortune that was smuggled out of occupied Europe. And like the fortune in Charade it is contained in three priceless postage stamps.

Sanders proves too late to save Hale's friend, but the stamps are saved and he couriers them to Palm Springs to give to Wendy Barrie who is the daughter of the late friend. Of course news of this kind of loot gets out and all kinds of people are trying for them.

It must have been deja vu all over again for Sanders. In addition to Hale, two members of the cast of the previous Saint film, The Saint Takes Over return. Wendy Barrie died in the last film, but apparently the movie-going public liked her and Sanders together. So she came back as the damsel in distress whom the Saint must aid.

And Paul Guilfoyle repeats his same role as the luckless crook who is determined to go straight in this film. As in the last he's on Simon Templar's side, but his help is somewhat dubious.

The Saint In Palm Springs is a nice entry in the Saint series and a good one for Sanders to go out on.

After now seeing all five films, 'The Saint Strikes Back' was a decent film though had somewhat of a finding-its-feet feel, 'The Saint in London' while not perfect was an improvement, 'The Saint Takes Over' was the best of the series and 'The Saint's Double Trouble' the weakest.

'The Saint in Palm Springs' is bang in the middle when ranking all five films. Like all the films, it's not great, but like 'Takes Over' and 'London' it's good ('Strikes Back', as said, was decent, while 'Double Trouble' was disappointingly average). The pros do outweigh the cons, but 'The Saint in Palm Springs' does suffer from a lack of suspense ('Takes Over' is the darkest of the five, despite the high body count here, and adheres closest to the tougher edge when Louis Hayward was in the role).

As well as an ending that is far too confused and comes far too suddenly with little build up. The screen projection agreed is obvious at times.

On the other hand, the sets are atmospheric and the photography doesn't look hasty or low-budget. Scripting is smart and with the right balance of fun and mystery, while the music is jaunty but also atmospheric. The direction is suitably brisk, as well as a story, that although lacking in suspense, is paced in a lively way and diverting, never dull at least.

George Sanders himself, as said with my previous reviews of his Saint outings, is super-suave, sophisticated and wonderfully caddish, while also giving a charming and humorous edge and delivering some cutting lines with aplomb. Jonathan Hale is fine support, while Wendy Barrie gives one of her better performances of her three appearances in the Saint films. Paul Guilfoyle comes very close to stealing the film in an amusing performance, and Linda Hayes is charming.

In conclusion, good fun and bang in the middle of the five Saint film starring Sanders. 7/10 Bethany Cox

The Saint is in charge of $200,000 worth of stamps in "The Saint in Palm Springs," a 1941 entry into the series starring George Sanders, Wendy Barrie, Paul Guilfoyle and Jonathan Hale. Simon needs to deliver the stamps, a young woman's inheritance, safely to Palm Springs and into her hands. The formula in this one is similar to the one used in "The Saint Takes Over," though it's not quite as effective: valuables in a safe, the hand holding a gun coming through the window and murder - in this case, three of them.

Sanders is wonderful as usual and in this film, he wears some casual clothes and looks terrific, so tall and broad-shouldered. Paul Guilfoyle is funny as Pearly Gates, trying to keep his nose clean while on probation. Wendy Barrie again is the female interest and again playing a woman with an aura of sadness around her.

"The Saint in Palm Springs" is perhaps most notable for some of the worst-looking process shots on record - the obvious filmed background while the actors are in front of it riding bikes or horses. If you think the walking scene in "All About Eve" is obvious, catch these.

Mildly entertaining.

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.