An episode that is like Mission impossible with the Saint out to kidnap a supposed tyrant with a group of specialists, however it wouldn't be a good one if there wasn't some twists and double cross. The first half didn't grab me too much, but it gets better in the second half with teamwork a la mission impossible getting the job done. Kate O Mara co-stars.
3 Reviews
Assault Force
Prismark1030 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
An episode that feels like The Dirty Dozen or The Wild Geese. Simon Templar relies on teamwork and allies himself with mercenaries.
It all begins with The Saint coming to the rescue of a damsel in distress at Heathrow airport. Jeanette (Kate O'Mara) plans to expose the vile human rights record of a southeast Asian country who plans to execute some captured nuns.
The Saint and Jeanette hatch a plan to kidnap a key member of the government as he arrives in Britain to address a conference.
Templar assembles his team but it all goes too smoothly and he has been double crossed. The member of the government planned to denounce his leader.
Now The Saint needs to retrieve him and break inside an embassy.
It is a silly episode with The Saint insisting on no handguns as he does not want violence!
It was still fun and nice to see Ogilvy team up with the likes of Bryan Marshall. It was noticeable though that male actors from this southeast Asian country were Chinese looking while the females were Eurasian.
It all begins with The Saint coming to the rescue of a damsel in distress at Heathrow airport. Jeanette (Kate O'Mara) plans to expose the vile human rights record of a southeast Asian country who plans to execute some captured nuns.
The Saint and Jeanette hatch a plan to kidnap a key member of the government as he arrives in Britain to address a conference.
Templar assembles his team but it all goes too smoothly and he has been double crossed. The member of the government planned to denounce his leader.
Now The Saint needs to retrieve him and break inside an embassy.
It is a silly episode with The Saint insisting on no handguns as he does not want violence!
It was still fun and nice to see Ogilvy team up with the likes of Bryan Marshall. It was noticeable though that male actors from this southeast Asian country were Chinese looking while the females were Eurasian.
Simon's Impossible Mission
ShadeGrenade2 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
In addition to writers and directors, 'Return' also brought back a number of performers from the Moore series - Kate O'Mara being one. The sultry actress had notched up no less than three roles in the earlier show.
Here she plays 'Jeanette', a young Eurasian woman being stalked by a pair of Chinese killers at Heathrow Airport. Simon saves her, then discovers that her country is under the heel of an evil dictator who is holding hostage a group of nuns. To bargain for their release, Simon comes up with the idea of kidnapping Surinit ( Eric Young ) during his next visit to the U.K. Templar cannot do the job alone, so enlists the aid of others.
The kidnapping is successful, but has an unexpected consequence. One of Templar's hand-picked gang is secretly working for the enemy...
In an interview prior to its screening, O'Mara described the Moris Farhi-scripted episode as an 'amusing nonsense story' and said the only reason she did it was because she wished to work with director Peter Sasdy. She's right. Its twists and turns don't really make much sense. It often has the feel of a 'Mission: Impossible' adventure, with its fake ambulances, smoke bombs, planes, and daring break-ins. Quite good fun though.
It was also the origin of an amusing out-take later to appear on Denis Norden's 'It'll Be Alright On The Night'. After making a dramatic speech, Templar goes to leave a room, only for the door knob to come away in his hand.
The guest stars include Burt 'Kato' Kwouk, Neil Stacy ( of 'Duty Free' fame ), and 'Warship's' Bryan Marshall, sporting a none-too convincing Irish accent. That lovely actor Norman Bird is around too.
Here she plays 'Jeanette', a young Eurasian woman being stalked by a pair of Chinese killers at Heathrow Airport. Simon saves her, then discovers that her country is under the heel of an evil dictator who is holding hostage a group of nuns. To bargain for their release, Simon comes up with the idea of kidnapping Surinit ( Eric Young ) during his next visit to the U.K. Templar cannot do the job alone, so enlists the aid of others.
The kidnapping is successful, but has an unexpected consequence. One of Templar's hand-picked gang is secretly working for the enemy...
In an interview prior to its screening, O'Mara described the Moris Farhi-scripted episode as an 'amusing nonsense story' and said the only reason she did it was because she wished to work with director Peter Sasdy. She's right. Its twists and turns don't really make much sense. It often has the feel of a 'Mission: Impossible' adventure, with its fake ambulances, smoke bombs, planes, and daring break-ins. Quite good fun though.
It was also the origin of an amusing out-take later to appear on Denis Norden's 'It'll Be Alright On The Night'. After making a dramatic speech, Templar goes to leave a room, only for the door knob to come away in his hand.
The guest stars include Burt 'Kato' Kwouk, Neil Stacy ( of 'Duty Free' fame ), and 'Warship's' Bryan Marshall, sporting a none-too convincing Irish accent. That lovely actor Norman Bird is around too.
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