#kenjin takari
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The Saint: The Sign of the Claw (3.18, ITC, 1965)
"Before you die, you'll regret that!"
"I regret it now; I should have snapped your leg off."
#the saint#the sign of the claw#leslie charteris#terry nation#leslie norman#roger moore#suzan farmer#peter copley#godfrey quigley#geoffrey frederick#leo leyden#kenjin takari#burt kwouk#john rees#kristopher kum#michael chow#anthony chinn#per the end credits‚ this ep is based on a Charteris short story called Arizona about a nazi scientist trying to steal a ranch in the US of#A; Nation appears to have used only the ranch aspect in his script‚ bc this is another unusually topical Saint ep. we're in nowhere more#specific than South East Asia‚ but reading between the lines this is clearly Borneo at the height of the Indonesia Malaysia conflict#old Tel is surprisingly forthright in his politics once or twice; Simon's opening monologue is all about how‚ despite the use of euphemism#this really should be considered a war (an actual criticism leveled both then and since) and later uses a villainous white character to#suggest that perhaps colonialism isn't actually all that great and self governing for former colonies is right and proper. i mean it isn't#a hugely leftwing script or anything‚ but by Saint standards this is almost radical. there are some choices in language which are#regrettable (by both the villains and Simon) but notably this is maybe the first episode in such a setting to not feature any yellowface#and actually cast asian actors (a low bar but one frequently limbo'd under by 60s tv). Kwouk had worked for ITC as a regular on The#Sentimental Agent and would pop up in many of their shows. it didn't occur to me until the episode had finished‚ but i have no idea to what#the title refers; there is no claw nor sign of it‚ and whilst i get Terry couldn't exactly call it Arizona‚ it's a weird choice. also i#feel obliged to point out to any potential viewers of a delicate disposition regarding war films etc; this is perhaps the most bloodthirsty#episode so far‚ with Simon alone gunning down half a dozen or more ppl. the jungle sets are surprisingly well realised too for sound stages
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