Alfred Hitchcock was in talks to direct The Saint in New York (1938) as his American film debut, but producers wouldn't let him abuse any blondes.

Hitchcock was interested in directing the first Saint film, 1938's The Saint in New York. After a slow start, it has the kind of picaresque plot the director was using in the '30s. The Saint infiltrates and takes down a series of criminal gangs. A mystery woman helps him now and then. Obvious twist at the end. Quirky performance by the star.