THE SAINT IN NEW YORK

THE SAINT IN NEW YORK (1938). Director: Ben Holmes.

New York City is having such a horrendous crime wave, that Inspector Fernack (Jonathan Hale) goes in search of Simon Templar, better-known as The Saint, to offer him a commission to take on the mob using methods that could not necessarily be condoned by the police. While this holds the attention for the most part and has a couple of suspenseful scenes, it sort of runs out of gas before the conclusion. Sig Rumann is excellent as Hutch Rellin, one of the gang leaders, but Kay Sutton doesn't make too much of an impression as Fay Edwards, who betrays the "big fellow" who oversees the others out of love for Templar. However, they could not have found a more appropriate Saint than Louis Hayward, who has just the right way with the material, "light" and steely at one and the same time. A host of good character actors bolster the proceedings. Jack Carson and Ben Welden are especially good as two nasty characters who come afoul of The Saint.

Verdict: Has its moments. **1/2.