Podcast Summary: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | The Saint: The Nineteen Santa Clauses (12/25/1949)

Episode Overview

This festive episode of "The Saint" radio drama, starring Vincent Price as the suave and sharp-witted Simon Templar, takes place on Christmas Eve amidst a web of mistaken identity, theft, and murder. What begins as a charity Santa Claus gig for Simon swiftly turns into a classic whodunit featuring jewel thieves, mistaken identities, a femme fatale, and double-crossing spouses—all set against the backdrop of holiday cheer and mayhem. Through clever sleuthing and sharp banter, The Saint must unravel the riddle of the missing jewels and the murder of the mysterious “Fats” Boylan before Christmas morning.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Setting the Scene: Santa Claus and Christmas Eve Intrigue

• Simon Templar (The Saint) is preparing to play Santa Claus for philanthropist Mrs. Winterbottom’s annual Christmas Eve charity event.
  • Humorous Banter: Simon and his cabbie Louie riff about Santa's costume and weight.
    • “Santa Claus is fat. Oh, you’re not fat.” – Louie (02:48)

2. The First Intrusion:

• Sally Walters bursts into Simon’s room, mistaking him for someone named “Fats” Boylan and waving a gun, demanding "the stuff."
  • Classic Dialogue:
    • “If you’re going to shoot me, I insist on knowing your name.” – Simon (04:14)
    • Sally is panicked, looking for stolen goods, and mistakes Simon for Fats.
    • Sally: "How would you like to get plugged in the bread basket?" (04:20)

3. Enter Joe Hudson: The Second Interloper

• Joe Hudson arrives, similarly mistaking Simon for Fats and demanding the loot.
  • Comic Interrogation:
    • Hudson: “You got something for me?”
    • Simon: “This could be a stall. This could be trouble.” (05:03–05:04)
  • Gunplay ensues: Sally saves the day by firing a gun, causing Hudson to flee. (08:00)

4. Sally’s Identity and Trail to Carla Worth’s House

• Simon and Louie discover Sally’s real identity via her purse.
• Sally recovers, leaves abruptly, and Simon decides to investigate her address, leading them to the opulent home of Carla Worth.

5. The Worths’ Stolen Jewels Riddle

• Carla Worth reveals during a stylish late-night visit that her husband Claude had her jewels stolen in the guise of a charity Santa Claus—hired for a Christmas party earlier that day.
  • Party details: Santa (Fats) vanished along with the jewels; Santa never appeared to be carrying them at the time.
  • Simon deduces the Santa padded the jewels into the costume, a twist on the expected “fat Santa.” (12:15–12:31)

6. Sally’s Interlude & The Boylan Murder

• Sally is found eavesdropping and confesses that Fats’s address is at 17 Beale Street. Simon and Louie investigate, finding Fats dead and the jewels missing.
  • "He’s dead. And Louie... yeah, he wasn’t fat." – Simon/Louie (15:48)

7. Hudson’s Return & Motive Unveiled

• After being followed, Simon and Louie confront Hudson, who admits he was hired by Carla Worth to tail Sally, suspecting infidelity between Sally and Claude Worth (Carla’s husband). (18:00–19:00)

8. The Culprit Revealed: Claude Worth’s Double-cross

• The final confrontation in the Worth residence reveals:

  • Sally and Boylan were minor accomplices in the stolen jewels plot.
  • Claude Worth orchestrated the whole ruse to keep the jewels and claim insurance—intending to kill his partners, including Sally, to cover his tracks.
  • Simon: “The jewels were insured. Therefore, you, Mr. Worth, arranged to have them stolen…” (25:36)

• Climax: Simon disarms Claude via a perfume ruse and a quick punch, sparing Sally and closing the case.

  • "You got him in the eye." – Sally (26:53)

9. Epilogue: Simon as Santa (and Not a Saint)

• As dawn breaks, Carla flirts with Simon, rewarding him with a kiss.
  • Carla: “You’ve been sort of a Santa Claus to me. May I?” (27:08–27:20)
  • Simon: “Santa Claus is no saint.” (27:25)
• Louie playfully reminds Simon about his original charitable Santa gig, ending the tale with a wink and Christmas warmth.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Comic Banter about Santa:

  • “Santa Claus is fat. Oh, you’re not fat.” – Louie to Simon (02:48)
  • “Santa Claus is always say ‘Ho, ho, ho.’” – Louie (02:54)
  • “Santa Claus is no saint.” – Simon (27:25)

• On Mistaken Identity:

  • "If you’re going to shoot me, I insist on knowing your name." – Simon (04:14)
  • “I’m not Fats Boylan.” – Simon (04:49)
  • “I am not, although I’m beginning to waver. Perhaps I am Simon the split personality.” – Simon (05:00)

• On Crime and Motive:

  • “He was playing Santa Claus. And he was a thin man. Santa Clauses... are facts. Therefore, Boylan entered this house wearing padding underneath his costume. He left it with a large jewel box in place of the padding.” – Simon (25:07–25:22)

• Christmas Spirit, with a Twist:

  • “You’ve been sort of a Santa Claus to me. May I?” – Carla (27:08)
  • “Santa Claus is no saint.” – Simon (27:25)
  • Louie: “You may tell Mrs. Winterbottom that the saint ain’t no Santa Claus.” (27:31)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Intro & Santa Costume Banter: 00:32–02:45
• Sally’s Entry & Holdup: 04:01–05:29
• Hudson’s Intrusion & Gunplay: 05:55–08:27
• First Clues at Carla Worth’s House: 10:55–13:23
• Sally Reveals Fat’s Address: 13:56–14:05
• Discovery of Fats’s Body: 15:42–15:48
• Interrogation of Hudson: 17:38–19:00
• Maison Worth Investigation & The Perfume Clue: 22:18–23:57
• Confrontation with Claude & Sally’s Motive: 25:04–26:32
• Epilogue & Christmas Wrap-up: 27:08–27:31

Tone & Language

The episode preserves the wisecracking, lightly sardonic wit characteristic of "The Saint," mixing lighthearted banter with classic detective intrigue. Price’s Templar is urbane, clever, and unflappable, while sidekick Louie provides comic relief. The storyline moves at a brisk, engaging pace, blending classic holiday trappings with a twisty caper and sharp wordplay.

Final Notes

For fans of old-time radio detective stories, this episode delivers a perfect blend of Christmas ambiance and clever sleuthing, wrapped in witty dialogue and seasonal charm. The adventure features all hallmarks of "The Saint": dynamic women, deadly crooks, and a hero who saves both the day and the spirit of Christmas—with a kiss for good measure.