Movie:
Based on the character created by Leslie Charteris in the 1920s, The Saint has appeared in mystery magazines, books, newspaper strips, radio shows, TV shows, and movies since then, including the 1997 feature film starring Val Kilmer. However, despite his appearances prior, it wasn't until the 1960s British TV series starring Roger Moore that the character gained widespread attention and fame. The series ran 118 episodes from 1962 to 1969: the first season in color was 1966, which was released previously in The Saint: Sets 1 & 2. The Saint: Set 3 includes the complete and uncut first seven episodes of the 1967 season on two volumes, which are episodes 84-90.

Simon Templar is The Saint (Roger Moore), a mysterious rogue adventurer who's suave, charming, and sophisticated. Dedicated to fighting injustice wherever he turns up, Simon frequently finds himself on both sides of the law, which prompts him to stay one step ahead of Police Inspector Teal (Ivor Dean).

Volume 5:

Flight Plan
After foiling an attempted kidnapping of Diana Gregory, Simon discovers the woman's brother, an ex-RAF pilot, is involved in a plot to steal an Osprey, a top-secret vertical take-off and landing jet. Simon must get the plane back, before it falls into enemy hands.

Escape Route
After being caught red-handed looting a safe full of diamonds, Simon is convicted to ten years in prison. On the inside, his cellmate quickly befriends him and the two are provided an escape from a ruthless criminal organization for a lofty price – but now Simon must find a way out of their clutches before they take everything.

The Persistent Patriots
After preventing the assassination attempt on Jack Liskard, the president of an African country, Simon is asked to aid him in other business matters. But when he's later shot, Simon must discover the person behind it all.

Volume 6:

The Fast Women
Following a sabotage attempt on the top woman driver, Simon soon finds himself in the midst of a female rivalry, where the goal quickly becomes survival.

The Death Game
Alfred Vogler has devised the perfect way to find assassins: he takes the winners of "The Death Game," a game which college students plan ways to commit murder, and evaluates their homicidal tendencies in Zurich. Simon, there to investigate, soon finds himself their prey in a death hunt.

The Art Collectors
When three mysterious Da Vinci paintings turn up for sale and in the possession of a beautiful woman, Simon is called in to protect them from the criminal element looking to make a fortune.

To Kill a Saint
After an attempt on his life, Simon searches for the people responsible and quickly finds himself the pawn in an insidious scheme.

Previous to this collection, my only exposure to The Saint had been the 1997 film. While Simon Templar was a master of disguise and used various gadgets in Kilmer's outing, Moore's character relies on neither. Though I enjoyed Kilmer's The Saint, after having watching these episodes, I can now appreciate the criticism leveled at the film, as Kilmer's character is almost a complete departure from Moore's version. I really enjoyed these episodes, in particular Escape Route, which has Donald Sutherland guest-starring. Though somewhat dated, the episodes are quite fun to watch, and I can easily see why Moore was offered the Bond franchise after Connery's departure.

Picture:
The Saint is presented in 4:3 full frame, as it originally appeared on TV. The episodes look great, considering their age, but do display some infrequent flaws. These include scratches, marks, specks, and lines. Much of the time, the image is clear, though does occasionally flicker or darken.

Sound:
The Saint is presented in Dolby 2.0 Mono in English. Dialogue is mostly clear and easy to understand, though there are some places where the music drowns out the dialogue or when the actors speak unclearly. Some slight distortion is also present. There are no optional subtitles.

Extras:
Extras include trailers for all seven episodes, a biography and filmography for Roger Moore, and production credits. The History of the Saint and a Productions Stills Gallery, both of which are listed as being included on the box and the case for Volume 6, are not included.

Summary:
The Saint is an entertaining viewing experience for those who missed his original adventures during the 60s. Longtime fans of the series should definitely consider a purchase, as A&E has provided the series with a decent presentation, though few extras. Newcomers, especially fans of Moore's 007, should also give the series a try. Recommended!