The Saint Meets the Tiger
Encyclopedia
The Saint Meets the Tiger is the title of a crime thriller motion picture produced by the British unit of RKO Pictures
and released in 1943 by Republic Pictures
that RKO sold the film to after a dispute with Leslie Charteris
. it was the third and last full Saint novel adapted by the RKO series who aroused Charteris' ire by, in his view, copying the traits of Simon Templar in their The Falcon
series.
This was the eighth motion picture based on the adventures of the Robin Hood
-inspired crimefighter, Simon Templar
, a.k.a. The Saint, who had been created by Leslie Charteris
in 1928. This film is, in fact, an adaptation of Charteris' first Saint novel, Meet - The Tiger!.
After his The Saint's Vacation
(1941), Hugh Sinclair
makes his second (and final) appearance as Templar in this adventure, which sees Templar investigating a dead body left on his doorstep. This leads him to a quiet seaside village in Cornwall
where he pursues a mysterious villain known as The Tiger. Though not released until 1943, the film was shot in June 1941.
Co-starring in the film is Jean Gillie
as Templar's love interest, Patricia Holm
. Although this character made many appearances in the book series, this is to date the only film in which she appears.
Following the release of this film, the RKO Saint series took a 10-year hiatus before returning in 1953 with The Saint's Girl Friday
.
RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum theater chains and Joseph P...
and released in 1943 by Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
that RKO sold the film to after a dispute with Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris , born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, was a half-Chinese, half English author of primarily mystery fiction, as well as a screenwriter. He was best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint."-Early life:Charteris was born to a Chinese father...
. it was the third and last full Saint novel adapted by the RKO series who aroused Charteris' ire by, in his view, copying the traits of Simon Templar in their The Falcon
The Falcon (literary character)
The character of Gay Stanhope Falcon, also known simply as The Falcon, was created in 1940 by Michael Arlen in his short story, "Gay Falcon", which was first published in 1940 in Town & Country magazine...
series.
This was the eighth motion picture based on the adventures of the Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
-inspired crimefighter, Simon Templar
Simon Templar
Simon Templar is a British fictional character known as The Saint featured in a long-running series of books by Leslie Charteris published between 1928 and 1963. After that date, other authors collaborated with Charteris on books until 1983; two additional works produced without Charteris’s...
, a.k.a. The Saint, who had been created by Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris , born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, was a half-Chinese, half English author of primarily mystery fiction, as well as a screenwriter. He was best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint."-Early life:Charteris was born to a Chinese father...
in 1928. This film is, in fact, an adaptation of Charteris' first Saint novel, Meet - The Tiger!.
After his The Saint's Vacation
The Saint's Vacation
The Saint's Vacation is the title of a 1941 British-American adventure film produced by RKO Pictures. The film starred Hugh Sinclair as Simon Templar, a.k.a. "The Saint" a world-roving crimefighter who walks the fine edge of the law. This was one of a series of films based loosely upon the...
(1941), Hugh Sinclair
Hugh Sinclair (actor)
Hugh Sinclair was a British actor born in London, England, the son of a clergyman. He was educated at Charterhouse School and a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His first marriage was to the actress Valerie Taylor...
makes his second (and final) appearance as Templar in this adventure, which sees Templar investigating a dead body left on his doorstep. This leads him to a quiet seaside village in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
where he pursues a mysterious villain known as The Tiger. Though not released until 1943, the film was shot in June 1941.
Co-starring in the film is Jean Gillie
Jean Gillie
Jean Gillie was an English film actress of the 1930s and 1940s. Gillie appeared in 20 British and two American films before her career was cut short by her early death.-Career:...
as Templar's love interest, Patricia Holm
Patricia Holm
Patricia Holm is the name of a fictional character who appeared in the novels of Leslie Charteris from the 1920s to the 1940s. She was the on-again, off-again girlfriend and partner of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint" and shared a number of his adventures....
. Although this character made many appearances in the book series, this is to date the only film in which she appears.
Following the release of this film, the RKO Saint series took a 10-year hiatus before returning in 1953 with The Saint's Girl Friday
The Saint's Girl Friday
The Saint's Girl Friday is the title of an Anglo-American crime thriller distributed by RKO in 1953, filmed by Hammer Film Productions and Royal Productions in London, and produced by Anthony Hinds and Julian Lesser. American release of the film occurred in 1954...
.