Two seemingly-unrelated plot threads dominate this episode set in Buenos Ares, a city said to be "recovering" from the corruption of the Perón government ("Don't Cry For Me Argentina..."). On the one hand, a daring daylight robbery sees a gold shipment stolen from an armored car and its 2 drivers gassed to death. On the other, a widow from the US gets involved with a man who is alternately romantic and fearful of his life, as it seems he's the leader of a group trying to overthrow the NEW government. Are they connected? In a SAINT story... OF COURSE!
Despite her new friend's warnings, the woman enlists the aide of the "notorious" Simon Templar, who happens to be staying at the same hotel she is. Next thing you know, HIS life is in danger, and one thing leads to another. A determined, frustrated and suspicious police inspector rightly feels there must be more to it when Templar swears out a complaint against 2 thugs who broke into his room. It's like the inspector got slapped in the face when Templar ABRUPTLY tells him he KNOWS where the stolen gold is!
Among the cast are Ann Gillis, who, long before a cameo in 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, starred as LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE way back in 1938.
Also outstanding is John Carson as the man who steals her heart. I've seen him in numerous things over the years, including one of the 3 fathers in TASTE THE BLOOD OF Dracula, 3 episodes of THE AVENGERS, 4 episodes of THE SAINT, one of the voices in THUNDERBIRD 6, CAPTAIN KRONOS VAMPIRE HUNTER, THE NEW AVENGERS ("The Midas Touch"), an incredibly annoying bureaucrat in DOCTOR WHO ("Snakedance") and even POIROT with David Suchet (this guy's really gotten around!). But this may be one of his best roles.
Finally, the police inspector is played by Patrick Troughton, possibly one of England's finest character actors (and star of Seasons 4-6 of DOCTOR WHO).
As with many of Leslie Charteris' stories, the middle may seem a bit slow, but the end more than makes up for it.
Despite her new friend's warnings, the woman enlists the aide of the "notorious" Simon Templar, who happens to be staying at the same hotel she is. Next thing you know, HIS life is in danger, and one thing leads to another. A determined, frustrated and suspicious police inspector rightly feels there must be more to it when Templar swears out a complaint against 2 thugs who broke into his room. It's like the inspector got slapped in the face when Templar ABRUPTLY tells him he KNOWS where the stolen gold is!
Among the cast are Ann Gillis, who, long before a cameo in 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, starred as LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE way back in 1938.
Also outstanding is John Carson as the man who steals her heart. I've seen him in numerous things over the years, including one of the 3 fathers in TASTE THE BLOOD OF Dracula, 3 episodes of THE AVENGERS, 4 episodes of THE SAINT, one of the voices in THUNDERBIRD 6, CAPTAIN KRONOS VAMPIRE HUNTER, THE NEW AVENGERS ("The Midas Touch"), an incredibly annoying bureaucrat in DOCTOR WHO ("Snakedance") and even POIROT with David Suchet (this guy's really gotten around!). But this may be one of his best roles.
Finally, the police inspector is played by Patrick Troughton, possibly one of England's finest character actors (and star of Seasons 4-6 of DOCTOR WHO).
As with many of Leslie Charteris' stories, the middle may seem a bit slow, but the end more than makes up for it.
