SAINT, THE: THE RUSSIAN PRISONER (TV)
Summary
One in this series of programs about Simon Templar, a.k.a. "The Saint," a wealthy, ingenious international troubleshooter. In this episode, Templar arrives in Geneva, known for its "ominous international intrigue," intending to keep an eye on a disarmament conference. Swiss Inspector Oscar Kleinhaus immediately suspects that Templar is up to something and orders him to leave the conference guests alone, while elsewhere a Soviet soldier, Milanova, discovers that her countryman, scientist Karel Jorovitch, has made contact with his long-lost daughter Irma and intends to defect from the U.S.S.R. Her colleague warns her not to harm Jorovitch, however, as they still need his scientific knowledge. Nevertheless, Milanova dispatches two thugs, Kirill and Pyotr, who grab Jorovitch as he reads a letter from Irma, and Templar intervenes and causes a fight. As he is the only one not protected by diplomatic immunity, Templar is quickly hauled off by the police, and Jorovitch is taken away by Milanova's men. Kleinhaus exasperatedly berates Templar for assisting the "stranger" and orders him to stay out of trouble, but Irma soon finds Templar and begs for his help, explaining that he disappeared shortly before their would-be reunion and is likely in trouble because of his defection plans.
Templar agrees to help her find Jorovitch and crashes the conference's cocktail party, stating that he is on a "goodwill mission." Milanova grabs Templar and, learning that he is searching for Jorovitch, offers to "help" Irma reunite with her father. Templar shakes her off and investigates the Russians' office, discovering Irma's photo in Jorovitch's letter, but he is caught by the Soviets and make a quick exit with Kleinhaus. He tells Irma that her father is indeed in trouble, and Irma frets that Templar too is now being watched by the Russians. The wily concierge, Andre, then calls Templar from downstairs and warns him that Kirill and Pyotr have tracked him down, and Irma quickly hides herself. She is forced to reveal herself when the henchmen threaten to shoot Templar, but they inadvertently reveal that Jorovitch is being held at a villa at Bürgenstock Mountain near Lucerne, and Templar fights them off before escaping with Irma. Milanova arrives and chastises the two for "bungling" the attempt, and romantic sparks fly between Irma and Templar as they drive up into the mountains and spy on the villa.
The two hatch a plan for breaking Jorovitch out, though Irma frets that he may already be brainwashed, requiring them to take him by force. They make their way into the villa, with Irma pretending to be a stranded motorist, but Jorovitch, confused, declares that he does not recognize the young woman. Irma states that he has indeed been turned against them already, but Templar reveals that he has known all along that she is not the real Irma at all, but a Russian spy. "Irma" angrily shoots Templar and accuses a shocked Jorovitch of betraying his country, but when Milanova joins them, they are surprised by Kleinhaus, who has them all arrested. Templar "recovers," explaining that he filled the fake Irma's gun with blanks, and Kleinhaus assures Jorovitch that his request for asylum has been granted and that he and his real daughter, for whom the Swiss police have conducted a "diplomatic trade," will be reunited and whisked off to Stockholm within hours. Milanova, Fake Irma and the henchmen are declared persona non grata and kicked out of the country, and Templar bids an amused farewell to his would-be paramour before departing. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: August 13, 1967 Sunday 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:50:14
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T77:0350
- GENRE: Drama, action/adventure
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, action/adventure; Drama, mystery/suspense; Russia; Defectors
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1967-1969
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert S. Baker … Producer
- John Moxey … Director
- Harry W. Junkin … Writer
- Leslie Charteris … Based on an original story by, Theme Music by
- Edwin Astley … Music by
- Roger Moore … Cast, Simon Templar
- Penelope Horner … Cast, Irma Jorovitch
- Joseph Furst … Cast, Karel Jorovitch
- Guy Deghy … Cast, Insp. Oscar Kleinhaus
- Yootha Joyce … Cast, Milanova
- Godfrey Quigley … Cast, Kirill
- Anthony Booth … Cast, Pyotr
- Robert Crewdson … Cast, Mikhail Zhukov
- Sandor Eles … Cast, Andre
- Raymond Adamson … Cast, Guard at Villa
- Alexis Chesnakov … Cast, Aristov
- William Buck … Cast, Clerk