leslie charteris series of novel of the adventure of the slightly shady simon templar ( the saint ) be bring to the screen in the late 1930s with the up and come george sander a templar . it be a careful choice sander usually would play villain with occasional nice role ( ffoliott in foreign correspondence and the title hero in the strange case of uncle harry and the framed best friend of robert montgomery in rage in heaven ) . here his willingness to bend the rule and break a law briefly fit his heavy persona and while his good look and suave behavior make templar a fit shady hero like chester morris boston blackie and and ( to an extent ) peter lorre mr. moto . the film be not the best series of movie mystery serial but they be serviceable . like rathbone holmes series or oland chan series the show frequently have actor repeat role or play new one ( the anti heroine in the film here be play by wendy barrie and who would show up in a second film in the series ) . this and and slightly familiar movie set make the series a comfortable experience for the viewer and who hear the buzz of the dialog ( always show sander braininess in keep one step ahead of the bad guy ) and without note the obvious defect of the plot . all these mystery have defect due to the fact that even the best writer of the genre can not avoid repeat old idea again and again and again . here the moment when that happen be when one of the cast admit his affection for barrie and which she be long aware of . shortly after he try to protect her from the police . but a the film dealt with the identity of a criminal mastermind and it become obvious that this person be make so slightly noble a to merit be the mysterious mastermind ( i. e. and the script disguise him a the least likely suspect ) . barrie be after the proof that her father ( who die in prison ) be frame by the real criminal in a robbery gang . she have several people assist her mug like william gargan and she get advice from the mastermind on plan embarrass burglary that can not be pin on her . the d. a. who get her father convict ( jerome cowan ) be determine to get barrie and her gang . the only detective who seem to have a chance to solve the case be jonathan hale and who be shadow sander but reluctantly work with him . the cast have some nice moment in the script hale ( currently on a special diet ) be tempt to eat a rich lobster dinner make for sander by willie best . he get a serious upset stomach a a result and enable sander and barrie to flee sander apartment . best have to remind him ( when he feel well ) to head for a location that sander tell him to go to at a certain time . there be also an interesting role for gilbert emery . usually play decent people ( like the brow beaten husband in between two world ) he play a socially prominent weakling here whose demise be reminiscent of that of a character in a bogart movie . on the whole a well make film for the second half of a movie house billing in 1939. it will entertain you even if it do not remain in your memory .