The Saint in Manhattan

Simon Templar touches down in New York aboard the Concorde, an air of restlessness clinging to him as the city breathes around him. The Saint moves with his usual mix of charm and danger, whether bending rules or skimming through trouble. A message from a former lover surfaces, throwing him into a case that blends fast talk, clever disguises, and plenty of peril. In this 1987 TV movie, the setup doubles as a test of whether Templar can helm a fresh series revival. The story keeps the focus on urban intrigue, conspiracies, and the wry, self aware wit that fans expect from the character. Along the way he trades barbed quips with contacts, while a wary investigator tracks his steps.

Directed by James Frawley, The Saint in Manhattan was developed by Peter Gethers, David Handler and Leslie Charteris, drawing on Charteris's Saint canon. It aired as a television movie in 1987, intended as a launching pad for a series revival.

Because it was produced for television, there are no conventional box office figures for The Saint in Manhattan. It was broadcast to TV audiences and functions more as an anchor for a series revival than a standalone commercial release altogether.

Cultural impact is modest but notable as part of a 1980s push to reboot classic crime heroes for television. The project illustrates how networks experimented with aging IPs, keeping Simon Templar in the public eye even as plans for a The Saint series ultimately stalled in the 1980s, during development.

Reception was limited by its TV movie format and the era's shifting taste. Critics noted a suave, trotting tone and a willingness to adapt the Saint to modern urban crime while preserving the droll charm. Themes include dual loyalty, clever deception, and the tension between law and the rogue hero.