CAST:
Angela Douglas - Jenny Turner
Alan McNaughtan - Dr. Manders
George Murcell - Vogler
John Steiner - Grey Wyler
Bernard Horsfall - Bill Bast
Katharine Schofield - Gretl
Stuart Cooper - Joe Halston
Rick Jones - John Garton
Michael Anthony - Duval
Karen Ford - The French Girl

Directed by Leslie Norman; Screenplay by Harry W. Junkin from a story by John Kruse

STORY:
On a lot of universities a new game has spread among the students. The objective: the 'hunter' kills the 'victim' (the attempt is not carried out to the last consequence). The more ingenious the killing is the more points the student receives. But soon the game gets real when skeptical professor Bast is killed. The winners of the "Death Game" win a trip to Zurich where the world wide winner will be selected. Simon takes over Bast's place.

OPINION: I never really liked this episode and its sequel Episode #96 "The Power Artists". Compared to classic B/W episodes the story seems rather weak and too far fetched. Also a lot of it seems quite dated. George Murcell gives a good performance though.

NOTES:
* Alan McNaughtan also appears in Episode #101 "Legacy for the Saint"
* George Murcell also appears in Episodes #69 "The Saint Bids Diamonds" and #96 "The Power Artists" (same role)
* Katherine Schofield also appears in Episode #78 "The Angel's Eye"
* Michael Anthony also appears in Episode #42 "Jeannine"
* Bernard Horsfall would later play in the Roger Moore movies "Gold" (1974) and "Shout at the Devil" (1976).
*   In both of these scenes you can see the string which 'guides' the missile to its target. (0:01 and 0:32)
*  This scene was film backwards and then reversed. (0:45)

Leslie Charteris: <<This guy Kruse is really the find of the operation. "The Death Game" synopsis sounds just as good as "The Fiction Makers". It would certainly be tough to squeeze into 50-odd minutes, but I suspect he is hoping for another two-parter, and there is plenty of meat for that. And even for another theater film...? [...] With Kruse's crackling dialogue, this should be a great one.>> (Barer, p.141)

John Kruse about the co-writing: <<I don't think Harry Junkin tended to take much out, but he was inclined to put something extra in. (Laughs.) He had to do that because he was after a stake in the credits. I think when he owed a lot of bills he then nudged his way into the script! [...] I must admit it mystified me. It seemed to happen again on Vendetta for the Saint. I never quite discovered what he was doing on that, or what the hell he added to The Fiction-Makers.>> (Simper, p.38)

QUOTE:
"You are now the famous but dead Simon Templar."

AIRDATE:
UK: 20th January 1967

AVAILABLE ON:
* VHS (PAL): ITC 1040 (1992)