Vendetta for the Saint

The movie is a revenge movie starring Roger Moore, Ian Hendry, Rosemary Dexter, Aimi MacDonald and Maria Burke.

This is a revenge movie and a typical Dependent on Roger Moore and you will not get disappointed.

Acting of the central characters are good but support cast disappoints.

The movie is not long and is good. Direction is ok, screenplay is nice, location is again ok.

Overall a typical Roger Moore movie.

Simon Templar is on holiday in Naples when a small uproar on a lunch table draws his attention. An English tourist attempts to greet an Italian businessman as an old friend, but the Italian refuses to acknowledge the greeting and claims never to have met him.

The Vendetta for the Saint is a feature version of a two-part episode of THE SAINT, and it's quite an enjoyable watch. Roger Moore charismatically dons the halo as he takes on Ian Hendry, a fake mafia don, dodging a bomb device placed in his car, almost getting injected with scopolamine and running around the Palermo countryside hunted by Hendry's goons. There's some good fights, nice location. If you're fan of the Saint series, you would naturally like this.

One of the true beauties of 60/70's Euro Cinema. Rosemary Dexter is in this, making it most worthwhile. I've read everything about her I can find. Very intriguing life.

When television shows becomes theatrical features, it's usually a cheat like in the case of THE SAINT two-part episode VENDETTA FOR THE SAINT, which, pieced together, becomes a 90-minute movie...

Although herein, there IS a kind of theatrical touch, for two reasons: villain Ian Hendry, as a mobster who was once someone else and now goes by a fake name while working as an aging/dying mob-boss's sophisticated, falsely-related henchman, is always great on both the big (GET CARTER) and small (THE AVENGERS to THE SWEENEY) screen...

But it's director Jim O'Connelly, mostly known for bringing Ray Harryhausen's dinosaurs to life in the novelty science-fiction western VALLEY OF GWANGI... before creating terrifically fast-paced theatrical noirish crime programmers THE TRAITORS, THE HI-JACKERS and SMOKESCREEN...

Moving Roger Moore along just the same in his career-making series that's otherwise mostly expository dialogue, here more action-oriented from beginning to end, getting in and out of trouble ranging from old antique dungeons to car chases and gun-play while protecting Hendry's gorgeously vulnerable pseudo-niece Rosemary Dexter and reluctant blonde mob moll Aimi MacDonald as, just as he would as 007, Moore's always perfect when traipsing around unexpected bulwarks at every turn.

There's something about The Saint that I didn't like as a kid. It could have been the whole anti-hero thing or his slimy suaveness... though I'm not particularly sure what it was. Now, after watching "Vendetta" I have the urge to watch the original series again, through older eyes. Maybe there was something subtle that I just didn't get as a kid and therefore missed out on the entertainment and enjoyment of a pretty brilliant character. Connery may be Bond but Moore is Templar.

In this story, we have Templar in Italy, for some nefarious reason no doubt, and while he's taking a rest he spots a near brawl between two supposed friends. Euston (Mackay) spots a man he believes to be an old work colleague and walks over to say hello. However, he is met with threats and not greetings. Templar moves in when it looks like a fight is about to ensue. Buying Euston a drink he is told the story of the two friends. However, the man claims to be called Destamio (Hendry) and not his friend at all. Something about this sticks in Templar's claw... and he becomes more intrigued when Euston is murdered. With the Italian military and police not bothering with the killing Templar decides to investigate... and what he learns brings him head to head with the Mafia.

I have to admit that I like the character Simon Templar as he is a thief, with morals, and has a strong self-assurance and bravado. This, along with his charm and good looks, definitely makes him a lady-killer. These traits alone can make for good stories. So when you add a good story with action, twists, and tension you surely have a winner - and you do.

This is back when actors would try to accent their voices accordingly. And to be honest, Ian Hendry does a very good and more than passible New York Italian. He is also a perfect hard guy as he protrudes an air of strength and menace, which is almost tangible. In fact, all the actors and actresses do wonderful jobs in their portrayals making it more enjoyable to watch.

O'Connolly directs at a pretty steady pace, which works well with the script. Though there's nothing new in the film, directorial-wise, this isn't a bad thing as what he does allows the actors and actresses to shine. For example, the chase scene. When Templar escapes he runs down a hillside. Today this would probably be shot continuously with the cameraman running down the hill too, with all the camera shake that is all too evident today. Whereas O'Connolly uses static camera's for the shots and pans to follow the action. For me, this works better and adds to the movie.

If you like action thrillers with a good story, strong characters, well written, and nicely filmed then this flick could be right for you. Either way, I would recommend this as an afternoon treat, especially on a Sunday after Dinner - while supping the vino.