The Saint on TV

Episode 61: The Crime of the Century

"THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY"

What will Roger Moore look like when he is a bit older? Not, he hopes, quite
like he does in this Saint episode. "The Crime of the Century," in which he
adds several years to his age when impersonating a tough, greying-haired
American safe-breaker throughout most of the action. The Saint assumes this
guise when he agrees to help foil a plan for what Inspector Teal describes
as the biggest crime in history. It is also the most hazardous venture in
the Saint's history.

Andre Morell portrays the arch-criminal, with William Lucas and Peter
Jeffrey as his henchmen, and on the glamour side Roger Moore has the support
of Sarah Lawson and Carol Cleveland - and several other pretty faces as
well. Other principal roles are played by David Saire, John
Forbes-Robertson, Brian Weaks, John Trenaman and Nevil Whiting, with Ivor
Dean again portraying Inspector Teal, as he has done in so many of the
"Saint" stories.

Simon Templar, the Saint (ROGER MOORE), and Chief Inspector Claude Eustace
Teal (IVOR DEAN) do not always see eye-to-eye. Teal, nevertheless, has never
disguised the fact that he has a certain admiration for his adversary (as,
indeed, Simon has for him), and he makes use of his long-standing
acquaintance with the Saint to help him deal with what he describes as the
biggest crime plan in history. Simon is the only man, he admits grudgingly,
who could help.

One of Teal's undercover men got the tip-off, before being murdered, about
the plan, which is being organised by one Bernhard Raxel (ANDRE MORELL),
reputed to be one of the world's wealthiest men and now plotting to become
even more fabulously wealthy.

It is known that Raxel is hiring top operators - safemen, drivers, gelignite
boys. One of them is an ace American safe-breaker named Munster (RAY MARLOW)
who bears sufficient resemblance to Simon to have inspired Teal with the
idea of diverting him on his way over and letting Simon, aged somewhat with
the aid of make-up, take his place.

Raxel's plan is to obtain, through a very elaborate operation, the materials
with which to make fool-proof banknotes. In short: to steal the special
paper and actual plates used for the making of Bank of England notes.

The plan entails the kidnapping of a girl scientist, Betty Tregarth (SARAH
LAWSON), who has been heading a research team which has perfected a nerve
gas - and, by holding her brother David (DAVID SAIRE) with threats that he
will be mutilated, forcing her into manufacturing the gas for the gang's
purpose.

The Saint satisfactorily passes the tests of identity and ability and is
accepted by Raxel as Munster; but one of his right-hand men, Marring (PETER
JEFFREY) is not satisfied. Just to make sure, Marring arranges for Munster's
dizzy American girl-friend, Gloria Mancini (CAROL CLEVELAND), to be flown
over from the States. To the Saint's astonishment and relief, Gloria, when
she arrives, accepts him as Munster.

The raid is planned and rehearsed with military-like precision. So much so
that there is no opportunity for the Saint to warn Teal of the details and
timing of the robbery.

Raxel displays even more ruthlessness than anyone has expected. The moment
arrives when it looks as though the Saint, Gloria, Betty Tregarth and her
brother face what seems to be certain annihilation. But things are not quite
what they seem to be......



PRODUCED BY ROBERT S. BAKER and MONTY BERMAN
DIRECTED BY JOHN GILLING
SCRIPT SUPERVISION HARRY W. JUNKIN
ROGER MOORE SIMON TEMPLAR
ANDRE MORELL BERNHARD RAXEL
SARAH LAWSON BETTY TREGARTH
WILLIAM LUCAS CRANTOR
IVOR DEAN INSPECTOR TEAL
PETER JEFFREY GREGORY MARRING
DAVID SAIRE DAVID TREGARTH
JOHN FORBES-ROBERTSON PHILIP GREY
CAROL CLEVELAND GLORIA MANCINI
ALEXANDRA BASTEDO JOAN VENDEL
CYRIL CHAMBERLAIN FLAVEL
MAGGIE WRIGHT MADELINE