What did you like / dislike about The Saint episode "Escape Route"? Share most memorable moments from the episode, its characters and actors.  :smt001

Another episode Roger directed, also starred a very young Donald Sutherland, and British character actor John Gregson. Wanda Ventham provided the glamour. Nice to see Jean Marsh in this one too, playing a baddie. She starred in a couple of "Saints" as well as an episode of "The Persuaders." Wanda also appeared in a black and white earlier episode of "The Saint." Inspector Teal  featured in this one too.

The story was about a group of tricksters, who would arrange prison breaks, but only for those who had stolen large sums of money, and had it stashed away until they were free. As part of the deal, the tricksters were to receive part of their stolen goods, in exchange for a passage to   another country, only they never got that far, and would be killed on route.

Simon, in an effort to infiltrate the gang and find the escape route, worked with Inspector Teal, who arranged for Simon to get caught red-handed in possesion of some jewels he had stolen from a safe. Simon went to prison, and teaming up with another inmate, arranged that they would be part of a prison break-out.

The first part of the episode was hilarious. I loved it. The chemistry between Ivor Dean and RM was undeniable. It left me wondering if Teal and Simon planned the whole thing or if the chase and the club scenes were Simon's creation to make things harder for inspector Teal. Having Donald Sutherland was a nice extra. I like this actor. He has been in several TV series recently. And now in the new night time drama Dirty Sexy Money. But I prefer him in his earlier roles. Do you know if he is English or American?

It was interesting to see Saint in jail.

I also noticed the song the girl sang in this episode. They used the same song in several other episodes. It must have been written especially for the Saint series.

Roger and Ivor Dean got on very well in real life, and this especially comes through in this episode. Did you know  Ivor was actually psychic, and would give readings to people he worked with?

Isn't Donald Sutherland a Canadian? Roger told a funny story about directing Donald. In the escape scene, when they were both being rescued by a helicopter, the prison guard played by fight arranger Les Crawford had to jump onto the helicopter as it was taking off.  Donald got carried away, and really started punching and kicking him, as Roger was yelling  "Cut, Cut!"

The voice behind the song  was called Grazina Frame. She  featured several times in different tv and movie productions around the 60's, voicing over for actresses who could not sing. I'll have to check this out, but I'm almost sure she appeared in the  "Saint" story "Portrait of Brenda" playing (not surprisingly) a singer.

Amber wrote:The voice behind the song  was called Grazina Frame. She  featured several times in different tv and movie productions around the 60's, voicing over for actresses who could not sing.

I thought she couldn't sing very well either.    :smt064   On the other hand, the singer in The Portrait of Brenda wasn't as bad, or so I thought. Are you positive they are one and the same person?