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

It's amazing how the issue of illegal immigration is just as alive today as it was back then! That's what I love about The Saint. It's a well rounded series with stories touching just about every subject that was happening at that time.

I may be mistaken here, but I'm sure I read somewhere that one of the actors died during this one, and the rest of his scenes were filmed from a distance using a double?

Yes, the story is still very much relevant today.  I noticed the sister was played by Imogen Hassall who also starred in "The Persuaders."

Connie wrote:I may be mistaken here, but I'm sure I read somewhere that one of the actors died during this one, and the rest of his scenes were filmed from a distance using a double?

Connie, do you know which one and what happened?

Yes, the story is still very much relevant today.  I noticed the sister was played by Imogen Hassall who also starred in "The Persuaders."

During The Persuaders audio commentary someone mentioned that she committed suicide.  :smt009

Connie, you're right, it was Gary Miller who died during filming. He played one of the henchman.  I'll post his pic very soon. He died of a heart attack in 1968.

He was also a singer, and as well as making several recordings in the 1950's he sang the theme song to the children's  tv show "Stingray." He had a really beautiful voice,  well suited to ballads, and I confess to watching the  show just to hear his song right at the end.

The song is played on this clip after around a minute of the opening credits to the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGQ07PFwDeE

Incidentally, one of the voices of the puppets is listed as Lois Maxwell - Miss Moneypenny. Also the name Derek Meddings crops up in productions, didn't he do work on Roger's Bond movies too?

Yes, Imogen Hassall did commit suicide, sadly. It was reported at the time that she feared she was losing her looks, which made her very depressed.

Gary Millar and Imogen Hassall from "The People Importers." Gary had quite an important role in this episode too. What a shame it had to be his last.

Gary Miller doesn't look old. He must have been in his 40's in that episode. How old was Imogen Hassall when she died? Do you know what nationality she was?

Imogen Hassall was only 38 when she died. She was British, but I think her parents/grandparents maybe came from India or somewhere similar?

Amber wrote:Imogen Hassall was only 38 when she died. She was British, but I think her parents/grandparents maybe came from India or somewhere similar?

I figured she was British by citizenship, I was wondering about her nationality/heritage. You maybe right, she does look like her parents could have been from India.

This is what I got about her fron IMDB:

Date of Birth
25 August 1942, Woking, Surrey, England, UK


Date of Death
16 November 1980, Wimbledon, London, England, UK (suicide by overdose)


Nickname
The Countess of Cleavage


Mini Biography
Imogen Hassall is sometimes referred to as "The Countess of Cleavage" as she was better known for her glamorous celebrity than her acting talent. Imogen was born on August 25 1942, in Woking, Surrey, England and rose to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s as an international B-movie starlet. To her frustration, her fame was brief and she never became a star in her own right. She died at age 38, in London on November 16 1980, after taking an overdose of sleeping pills.