Don't you just love it, when the story calls for Simon to be shadowed by a policeman, on the orders of his superior?

The policemen assigned to this duty are always portrayed by  bumbling incompetent types, and Simon always manages to run rings around them. Roger's talent for comedy comes into play every time, with some hilarious scenes.

Three episodes that come to mind are: "The Work of Art" "Judith" and "The Better Mousetrap."

I prefer when Simon is working with the police, like in Escape Route, Interlude In Venice, Vendetta For The Saint, and Revolution Racket. I don't remember in which black and white episode someone said that Monte Carlo had the smartest chief of police, but in a color episode The Better Mousetrap, the same chief of police was comedic and incompetent. I love Teal! Once Ivor Dean started playing him permanently, he made the role his own. But he, too,. seemed to be smarter and nicer to Simon in the black and white episodes.

This is one of my favourite bumbling policemen, Alphonse, assigned to follow Simon while spending some time on the French Riviera. The episode is "The Better Mousetrap." Also in the pic, Colonel Latignent, Alphonse's superior.

It is great to see Ronnie Barker here before he hit the big time. He became a very popular  and award winning comedy actor, as well as comedy writer. All 3 of his top tv shows are still being repeated on tv, and he sadly died last year.He's a big loss to British comedy.



Alphonse trying to act discreet, outside Simon's hotel room.



Alphonse is still tailing Simon in the hotel restaurant, backs into a table knocking everything over and startling the  diners, then bumps into a waiter carrying a tray of drinks on the stairs.



I love this scene. Alphonse has followed Simon, who is romancing a lady in his car. Simon realises that Alphonse is there and surprises him by opening the car door, and grabbing him.



Simon explains to his lady friend Natalie, that Alphonse has been following them all evening.He asks him " Are you looking for stolen hubcaps?" Alphonse says "I am on duty Monsieur. My apologies, an unfortunate error. Goodnight Mademoiselle." Simon replies "Bon soir .....Alphonse."

We were on the subject of quotes, and one just popped into my head from The Better Mousetrap. It went something like this: "doesn't the thought of the French police lurking in the underbrush kills your mood, too?" ST said this (or something along these lines (?) to Natalie when they caught Alphonse under the car.