The Saint Takes Over
| The Saint Takes Over | |
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| Directed by | Jack Hively |
| Produced by | Howard Benedict |
| Written by |
Lynn Root Frank Fenton based on characters created by Leslie Charteris |
| Starring |
George Sanders Wendy Barrie Jonathan Hale |
| Cinematography | Frank Redman |
| Edited by | Desmond Marquette |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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69 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Saint Takes Over, released in 1940 by RKO Pictures, was the fifth of eight films in RKO's film series about Simon Templar, also known as "The Saint", the Robin Hood-inspired crimefighter created by Leslie Charteris. George Sanders returned as Templar, with Wendy Barrie playing his latest romantic interest, in her second of three appearances in the Saint film series (playing a different role each time).
On an ocean liner making its way to New York, Simon Templar (George Sanders), "the Saint", rescues a fellow passenger (Wendy Barrie) from card cheats, though she refuses to give him her name and is offended when he kisses her without invitation. He later sends the mysterious woman a rose corsage by way of apology.
The Saint learns that his friendly nemesis, Inspector Henry Farnack (Jonathan Hale), has been suspended from the police force after $50,000 was found in his safe. He has been framed by "Big" Ben Egan (Pierre Watkin) on behalf of his race-fixing gang, which Fernack was investigating. The other members of the gang - "Rocky" Weldon (Roland Drew), Leo Sloan (Robert Emmett Keane), Sam Reese (Morgan Conway) and Max Bremer (Cy Kendall) - each pay a quarter share of the $90,000 cost of the frameup. Rocky himself has just been cleared in a trial after the testimony of his bodyguard, Clarence "Pearly" Gates (Paul Guilfoyle) and the murder of the main prosecution witness, Johnny Summers.
Egan orders two henchmen to pick up the woman passenger when the ship arrives. Fortunately, Templar is able to foil them, and the woman drives off in a taxi. Templar goes to see Fernack. Weldon sends Gates to rob Egan, but Egan catches the safe cracker. At gunpoint, Gates confesses that Welden sent him. Egan orders him to lure his boss into a trap, but after Gates leaves, an unseen shooter kills Egan. Templar and Fernack meet when they both sneak into Egan's place. The Saint finds the hidden camera and later develops the photograph. He also picks up a clue, a rose petal.
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Wikipedia