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The Saint: Mr. Important (EP4931) - The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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The Saint: Mr. Important (EP4931)

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas

Mon Mar 16 2026

Today's Mystery: When a treasury agent, a childhood friend of Simon Templar, is shot to death and the Saint Original Radio Broadcast Date: Originating from Hollywood Starred: Vincent Price as Simon Templar, Jeff Chandler Support the show monthly...

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio | Daily Mystery Dramas
Episode: The Saint: Mr. Important (EP4931)
Original Air Date (Drama): October 15, 1947
Podcast Date: March 16, 2026
Host: Adam Graham
Star: Vincent Price as Simon Templar, "The Saint"

Episode Overview

This episode features a vintage radio mystery from The Saint, starring Vincent Price as the suave, witty crime fighter Simon Templar. “Mr. Important” (an alternate title to avoid spoilers) dives into Templar’s pursuit of the underworld’s most elusive boss, following the murder of a close friend. The story’s rapid-fire dialogue, atmospheric noir elements, and Price’s iconic performance combine for an action-packed, suspense-filled adventure.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Setting the Stage

[01:29]

Adam Graham introduces the episode, noting the rarity of this Los Angeles-originating 1947 recording with Price, distinguishing it from the more common NBC runs.
He sets expectations for a hard-boiled, fast-paced story, featuring Templar going after a killer in a city thick with corruption.

2. The Mystery Unfolds

Templar Shakes Down the Town’s Tough ([03:13]–[07:13])

Simon Templar (Vincent Price) is offered a payoff to leave town: “Five grand, Saint, just to leave town and forget you ever been here.” (McGarrett, 03:54)
Templar refuses, insisting:

"That's not my price, Maguire. I want the man who killed John Daniels." – Simon Templar ([04:11])
A tense showdown leads Maguire to reveal key names, under Templar’s persistent pressure: Rose Taylor and Al Bon.

“Rose Taylor and Albon. I warned you, Saint. You ain't scoring against this team.” – Maguire ([06:40])

Encounter with Rose Taylor ([07:13]–[09:04])

Templar seeks out Rose, one of the few who might know the boss’s identity.
- “The man behind the men behind the guns. Rose. Mr. Important.” – Templar ([07:40])
- “That’s no small music, mister. That’s the whole opera.” – Rose ([07:47])
Rose, terrified, refuses to talk:

“In this town, the best way to stay healthy is to stay afraid.” – Rose Taylor ([07:52])
Suddenly, Rose is murdered—shot by an unseen assailant while Templar is in the room.

Accused and Interrogated ([09:16]–[12:14])

District Attorney Richards accuses Templar:

“I'm holding you for murder. You were in the same room when Rose Taylor was killed.” – D.A. Richards ([09:20])
Templar claims a setup and vows to deliver “Mr. Important” by 10am the next day.

The Web Widens ([12:14]–[16:05])

Templar meets Rose's sister and is taken at gunpoint to Al Bon, supposed to know the big boss’s identity.
Al Bon, a former criminal now handling the books, confides he’d called the Treasury to expose his boss for tax evasion (for a 10% cut):

“It’s like this. The Big boy pulls in seven figures a year...of course he don’t pay no taxes...So I thought he should. Out of patriotism, of course. Yeah, out of patriotism. They always treated me so nice in Leavenworth…Out of patriotism and 10%, Saint.” – Al Bon ([15:10])
A booby-trapped package explodes, killing Al before he can reveal the boss’s name.

3. Noir Dialogue & Suspect Banter

The Femme Fatale and Templar ([18:20]–[20:26])

Templar banters in a bar with the sister, mixing flirtation and suspicion:

“Little girls who don't want to be followed shouldn't wear Chanel Number five and strapless evening gowns. Particularly the latter.” – Templar ([18:31])

The Professor – A Twist in the Underworld ([20:42]–[25:23])

Templar is abducted by “The Professor,” a neurotic ex-academic and the gang’s enforcer.
A battle of wits ensues; Templar exploits the Professor’s intense insect phobia to force his release, conjuring a panic attack:

"There’s a fly on your sleeve, Professor..." ([25:02]) "Now you can save me. Please help me." – The Professor ([25:23])

4. The Solution & Showdown

The Reveal and the Double Life ([25:23]–[26:41])

Templar makes his audience with District Attorney Richards, revealing the DA as the secret ringleader:

“Being a district attorney is a wonderful cover up for a crumb bum, isn't it, Richards?” – Templar ([26:37])
- Richards: “You’re insane.” ([26:41])
- Templar flips Richards’ own office intercom, broadcasting the confession.
"Oh, it’s already done. I took the trouble to switch on your Intercom. Richard, I'm afraid our conversation wasn't very private." – Templar ([27:10])

Final Confrontation ([27:34]–[28:10])

Templar subdues Richards, ending with trademark wit:

“I'm sorry I tore up your chandelier, but my old grandmother always taught me to put out the lights before going to sleep.” – Templar ([28:10])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“You must have got into the fire escape. Down. Get down.” ([09:07])
– Classic radio suspense as shots ring out
“My skull’s been creased before by experts. In fact, it has more treads in it than Goodrich puts in his tires.” – Templar to the Professor ([23:23])
“It’s amazing how few people in this town admit to knowing anything—must be grasped in the public school system.” – The Saint ([19:14])

Adam Graham’s Commentary

[31:17]

Praises the cleverness of the alternate title to avoid spoiling the twist (that the DA is the criminal mastermind).
Highlights the episode’s fast-paced, action-heavy adaptation—eschewing book-style elaborate plots for a confrontational, hard-boiled radio style.
Applauds Vincent Price’s “special touches,” particularly the tense scene with the bug-phobic Professor:

“I love the idea of him convincing the professor that he had to untie him because of the professor's extreme bug phobia. I mean, that's a scene Vincent Price can play... a very exciting story right from the word go.” – Adam Graham ([31:17])
Notes the trend in radio adaptations to adjust the style for the hard-boiled detective boom.

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Section | Timestamp | |---------|-----------| | Host’s Episode Introduction | 01:29–03:13 | | Templar confronts Maguire | 03:13–07:13 | | Rose Taylor Interrogation and Murder | 07:13–09:16 | | DA Richards Accuses Templar | 09:16–12:14 | | Confrontation with Rose’s Sister & Al Bon | 12:14–16:05 | | Al Bon’s Confession & Death | 15:44–16:05 | | Bar Banter & Aftermath | 18:20–20:26 | | Professor’s Breakdown | 20:42–25:23 | | Final Showdown (DA Richards Revealed) | 25:23–28:10 | | Host’s Commentary & Analysis | 31:17–34:10 |

Tone & Language

The episode is laced with classic noir wit, rapid-fire comebacks, and Price’s cultivated charm—a blend of sardonic humor, bravado, and tension. The dialogue leans hard into hard-boiled stylings and radio melodrama, with colorful metaphors and brisk pacing throughout.

For New Listeners

If you love hard-boiled detective stories, clever plotting, and the velvet-voiced Vincent Price, this episode is a standout old-time radio gem. The twist ending, brisk action, and noir atmosphere make it as captivating today as it was in 1947.

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Transcript

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Adam Graham (1:29)

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of the Saint. But first, our listener support campaign continues. You can become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetactives.net I want to welcome our latest Patreon supporter, Burke, supporting the podcast at the psalmist level of $4 or more per month. Now, I think one of the most natural things when you think about Vincent price playing the saint is to associate it to NBC in 1950 and 1951. And really that's where the bulk of the recordings come from. But Vincent Price's time playing Simon Templar actually began back in 19 over Cannex radio in Los Angeles. Play the role for 51 weeks, of which we only have one episode available. So here from October 15, 1947 is a case that I'm not going to refer to by the more commonly known fan name, but I'm going to use an existing alternate title. Here is Mr. Important.

Commercial Announcer / Bretzky (3:13)

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Commercial Announcer / Bretzky (9:16)

Rose. Rose. Yes. Yes, I was tailed. Too bad you were the one who had to be tagged. Well, Mr. Templer, I'm glad you decided to visit the office of the District Attorney voluntarily. It does save you the embarrassment of my picking you up, doesn't it? Yes, Mr. Richards. But it also saves you the embarrassment of trying to pick me up. Why this sudden desire to entertain me, Mr. Richards? I'm not entertaining you, saint. I'm holding you from murder. I repeat. Why, you were in the same room when Rose Taylor was killed. So the least I can do to uphold my oath of office, Mr. Templer, is to jug you as, shall we say, a material witness. It's nice material, Mr. Richards, but it makes a badly fitting suit. Why was she killed? Because she was one of the two people who knew the name of your local head crumbum. She told you? I wasn't given enough time to convince her that she should before someone decided it was the fourth of July. But there are other ways to search him out and make sure he keeps his date. His dates, Mr. Templer? Yes. With the chair that men sit in. Only once. A certain John Daniels was a friend of mine from childhood. I was a pallbearer at his funeral, Mr. Richards. And so the bullet in his back made his coffin awfully heavy. It got heavier. In retrospect, when I heard the district attorney had called the case closed, I had to close it. I'd gone up every alley and they were all dead end. There were too many live cases that needed my staff's attention. I know. So I'm playing it my way. I've gone up the same blind alleys in the past few days. Now I'm in an alley with a freeway at the end of it. You mean you know who killed Daniel? Yes, Mr. Number One. The big shot himself. Now all I have to do is learn his name. Is that all? And, of course, take him. I ought to lock you up. For your own safety, you should. But you won't. In fact, you can't. No? No. Because I took the liberty to do a little press agenting. You what? I told the newspapers that I'd be here both today to have a talk and tomorrow morning at 10 o' clock to deliver a murderer the people in this town might not approve of. Your not giving me the chance. All right. Until 10 tomorrow I'll expect you, Mr. Templer. With or without your victims. I'll be here. I know you'll be here, Mr. Templer. The only question is, will you be here dead or alive?

Commercial Announcer / Bretzky (20:42)

Well, Mr. Templer? How convenient of the newspaper to keep its reference. Are you a professional busybody or have you an axe to grind too? Oh, dear me, I'm not a busybody, Mr. Templar. Nor do I have an axe to grind. Merely a gun to shoot, Mr. Templer. You know, someday, somewhere, a man will come up to me on a dark street and merely ask me for a light. I doubt it. I'm afraid your saintly stay in this world of tears and chaos is drawing to its close, Mr. Templer. This time you've poked up the wrong fire. You seem nervous, Mr. Templer. Who are you? Does it matter? We'll be acquainted such a short time. Well, I'd just like to know who it is that I am to come back and hold. Very well. I am known to the exceedingly few who know me as the Professor. The Professor? I've had guns pulled on me by cops, cranks, crooks and coroners. But I believe you're the very first professor. I don't mean to disillusion you, Mr. Templar, but I was merely an assistant professor. Oh, I'm still impressed. If you don't mind the cars over there. After you. Professor, please, no jokes. I assure you, this is a most serious matter. Come. Here we are. You will get in, please. Oh, after you. Oh, no, I forgot. You're not in much of a mood for joking, are you? No, not unless the joke is mine. Like this one. Oh, you hit him just a little harder, Boyce. You better save yourself some bullets. I pay you to drive the car, Steven, not to offer suggestion. Okay, boys, where? Through the country. First we'll go to the place. Stephen. There are some questions I want Mr. Templer to answer. Questions that may require a soundproof rule. Wake up, Mr. Templar. Oh, so there really is someone like you. I didn't think I deserved that bad a dream. Bloody but unbowed, eh, Mr. Templar? For a moment, I was afraid I might have been a trifle too energetic on your skull. I hate to boast, professor, but my skull's been creased before by experts. In fact, it has more treads in it than Goodrich puts in his tires. Still fond of your little jokes, I see. How unfortunate. They must be wasted on me. You see, I'm a humorless man. So I've noticed. I brought you here to ask you some questions, Mr. Templat. You should have warned me, Professor. I'm afraid I didn't come prepared for a quiz. I have various means of Preparing. Preparing you, Mr. Templar. So, to begin, to whom did you describe your suspicions concerning a certain man's identity? Certain man? You wouldn't be meaning the big man, would you? The head rack. I have reason to believe you know who he is. Whom have you confided in? Not prepared, Professor? Shall we try the question once again? Yes, but something tells me you'll never pay me the $64. I can't tell you how impatient I am for your answer, Mr. Templer. See, after you finish talking, I have other things planned for you. How nice of you to take me, a mere stranger in tow like this. I must remember to return all your courtesies. When you untie me, talk certainly to the district attorney. Yes, I read about your boast to emulate the Northwest Mounted by bringing in your man to the district attorney. A pity you won't keep the date. What is it, Stephen? I thought you might be white meat or something. Boys. No, Stephen. When I want your. Stephen, the door. How many times must I tell you to keep it closed, you fool? You know how I feel about an open door. But no bugs came in voice. There practically ain't any this time of the year anyway. You tell me. A former professor of entomology, Assistant professor.

Commercial Announcer / Bretzky (26:41)

You sound insane, Mr. Templar. Rushing in here threatening to kill me, calling me a crook and demanding money I want. Oh, I see. Of course, I'd be perfectly willing to forget all of these things and the various other offenses I find it so cozy to dream up if you'll just quietly leave town to pretend you were never here. You mean just force from my memory some of the happiest moments of my life, Mr. District Attorney. Oh no, you're asking too much. Then it looks as though we've reached a stalemate, Templar. Unless of course one of us chooses to get violent. Once I catch a murderer, Mr. Richards, I leave all further violence to the state executioner. Once you catch him, Templar. Right now you seem to be in the disturbing position of the hunter who caught a tiger with a tail. Put up your hands. Oh, you mean over my head? Your bug crazy professor made me keep them at my side. Templar. Who gave me away? It was a remark I heard, Mr. Richards. I was told that the only thing in this town people aren't afraid of is getting arrested. So? So I checked Mr. District Attorney's record in the newspaper files. You have an abominable batting average, Richard. People, your people, were literally getting away with murder. How clever of you to know this. You controlled the gang because you could set them free. And so you also controlled the racket. I know. But you still have to prove your story, Mr. Templer. Oh, it's already done. I took the trouble to switch on your Intercom. Richard, I'm afraid our conversation wasn't very private. Why you. And now, Mr. Richards, our personal business before the police get here. Give your hands up high. Certainly. Certainly. Is this high enough or shall I raise them higher so I can reach this chandelier? Have a nice nap, Mr. Richards, I'm sorry I tore up your chandelier, but my old grandmother always taught me to put out the lights before going to sleep. Our star, Vincent Price, will be back in a moment. If you're a man who's going places, you want to look your best. So try new Trim Hair Tonic. It conditions your scalp as it grooms your hair. Yes, Trim's the amazing new pepsidant product. It's the first and only hair tonic made with pure virgin olive oil, nature's finest hair and scalp conditioner. Ask your barber for a professional application of Trim Hair Tonic and get a bottle at your favorite toilet goods counter. Ask for Trim. It conditions your scalp as it grooms your hair and I'll. Vincent Price. Ladies and gentlemen. It was Robert Blair in the 18th century who best expressed the fate of our greedy Mr. Richards when he wrote these words. O cursed lust of gold, when for thy sake the fool throws up his interest in both worlds. He's lost in this, condemned in that to come. I sincerely hope you enjoy tonight's show and will be with us again next week for another adventure of the saint. Good night. D Story of the Saint was written by Michael Craboy. Music was composed and conducted by Bill Fontaine. Vincent Price is appearing by courtesy of Universal International Pictures, producers of Ride the Pink Horse. Stay tuned in now for the Whistler which follows immediately over most of these stations. And join us again next week at the same time for another adventure of the Saint. The Robin Hood of modern crime brought to you by Trim Hair Tonic. T R I M. Yes. Trim the first hair tonic with pure olive oil. T R I M. Trim conditions your scalp as it grooms your hair. Trim Hair Tonic. Quick and easy, never greasy. It's easy to look trim with trim. Wendell Nile speaking. This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

Adam Graham (31:17)

Welcome back. I should note first of all, this episode is listed on most websites and I think I even toddled it that way because I didn't know how else I could toddle it the first first time through as the gangster District Attorney. I hate that title because it totally spoils the episode. To be fair, this may have been an original title. It was actually mentioned in the newspaper that way, which would be really odd because as I said, you're kind of spoiling the episode, but I used an alternate title that's out there. Mr. Important. Still not great. But at least I didn't give who did it when I announced the title of the episode. I actually enjoyed this episode even though it differed quite a bit from the books, mainly in how action paced this is in the books. The Saint loved Elaborate Plans. Here it's just kind of confronting everybody head on. But you do have a lot of the the same sort of humor and courage that you get from the Saint. And then of course there are Vincent Pross's special touches. I love the idea of him convincing the professor that he had to untie him because of the professor's extreme bug phobia. I mean, that's a scene Vincent Price can play, but overall, a very exciting story right from the word go. A lot of snappy patter. You can definitely hear some of the influence of the hard boiled detectives in the way that this is written. But this was often the case with theories that were popular as books. They would be adapted into other media, but in such a way as to align with whatever the trend was at the moment. But it's all carried off very well by Vincent Price, who really keeps this story moving along and turns in a very solid performance. And we'll Talk more about Mr. Price in next week's episode. But now it's time to thank our Patreon Supporter of the Day. Thank you to Rob, patreon Supporter since May 2024, currently supporting the podcast at the rookie level of $2 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support Rob. That will actually do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software and and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We will be back next Monday with another episode of the Saint, but join us back here tomorrow for the Big Story where