Vendetta for the Saint

Roger Moore once commented that although The Saint was often set in exotic locations, he hardly ever left the studio. This edition is an exception. It was set in Sicily with plenty of outdoor action to prove it. Except it isn't. It was clearly filmed on the small, sunny island about 70 miles south of Sicily. Malta. Having been to Malta numerous times it was easy to spot many Maltese tourist attractions. As for the story this is a two parter put together to make one film. It sees our hero going after the next head of the Mafia, with the help, naturally, of two gorgeous women. It is entertaining enough, but for a double header the plot is a bit thin. As a child The Saint was my favourite show, and viewing them 50+ years later it is easy to mock the uncomplicated stories, poor production values and often wooden acting but I still love 'em.

Ian Hendry, who plays Destamio here, was the original on the Avengers back in '61 (John Steed was his assistant), with the classic English accent. Yet here (as an Italian-American gangster), he produces the most tone-perfect Frank Sinatra imitation I've ever heard from a British actor.

"Vendetta for the Saint" is a theatrical release which is actually made up of two episodes of the long-running British TV series "The Saint", starring Roger Moore.

The film begins with some poor schnook recognizing an old co-worker. However, Destamio (Ian Hendry) denies being this old friend....and he has his henchman beat up the guy! Simon Templar (Moore) sees this and intervenes. Some time after this, the poor schnook is murdered...and Simon knows that it was by Destamio's men. But why? Why murder someone just because they think you are someone else? Well, Simon decides to find out why and his trail takes him all the way to Palermo, Sicily...and for a meeting of the various godfathers to pick a new leader for the mob. And, Destamio is one of them. Can he manage to uncover the truth without meeting with an 'accident'?

The integration of the two episodes was seamless...so I assume the shows were originally a two-parter. Regardless, it makes for an interesting story and the Italian locaiton is a plus. Well worth seeing...especially since it feels almost like a James Bond flick.

Originally a two parter on British television this was made into a movie for foreign movie goers. Simon Templar is going for a meal in an Italian restaurant in Italy when he gets involved in an altercation between Ian Hendry and Fulton McKay, McKay is murdered soon after. This gets Templars interest and he's soon on Destamio's (Hendry) tale. It appears that he is indeed Dino Cartelli who was involved in a bank robbery. Templar now gets involve in the murky world of the Mafiosi. This is an interesting and well acted tv thriller much in the Bond style which Moore would become famous for 4 years later. Excellent location work make this an enjoyable watch.

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.