Vendetta for the Saint (1969) User Reviews

A pure Roger Moore flick

[sauravjoshi85 · 7/10 · 12 July 2019]

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.

The Saint V's The Mafia...

[P3n-E-W1s3 · 7/10 · 17 January 2018]

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.

Malta impersonates Sicily

[scrubber · 7/10 · 30 October 2022]

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.

Avengers echo

[josh-52612 · 21 January 2019]

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.

Not so bad!

[RodrigAndrisan · 6/10 · 25 May 2021]

Worth seeing because of Aimi MacDonald's beautiful body. And Rosemary Dexter was sweet. Ian Hendry was a very good actor (especially in Polanski's "Repulsion"), and Roger Moore had his unique charm.

Decent pre Bond flick

[neil-douglas2010 · 7/10 · 2 November 2022]

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.

Roger Moore is El Santo

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 7 August 2021]

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.

Rosemary Dexter

[coolatheart · 6/10 · 15 December 2018]

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.

2 TV episodes cobbled together

[malcolmgsw · 4/10 · 23 June 2017]

This is is a very strange film.Although posing as a feature film it is two episodes of The Saint TV series cobbled together.I am rather more familiar with the RKO series of supporting features.Although made on a lower budget they are clearly have superior production values.Furthermore George Sanders is the epitome of class,Roger Moore is just a big bloke bashing up people.Obviously his audition for James Bond.The story is slow to get going.Furthermore Ian Hendry is a poor villain.Supposed to be Italian American his accent is all over the place.He is very wooden.Finally Currie makes his last screen appearance.

Better Than the Godfather

[aramis-112-804880 · 6/10 · 23 August 2022]

Okay, the title is perhaps overblown but so is this piecing together two episodes of "The Saint." I don't like movies that glorify gangsters. I think they're pernicious. And this "movie" doesn't do that. Or does it? You choose.

Moore is up against Ian Hendry, who growls his way through. Also on hand is the lovely Aimee McDonald, for once not playing a cluck.

Simon Templar, who has a way of blundering into things, must learn if a "connected" crime boss is really all he's cracked up to be.

It's a little much to swallow that Templar, usually a pretty good one-man army, can tackle the Mafia in Sicily and survive. And it's a little much to think he can climb those rocks in leather shoes with no traction. But Mafia kingpin Finlay Currie (sans beard) is dying to know the truth. So to speak.

Lots of action (if you consider brawls as action). Otherwise, strangely dull compared to the other two-parter sewn into one feature, the bizarre "The Fiction Makers." Still, though shot in Malta, the heat and dust of Sicily come through. And it's nice to see Moore on location rather than stuck in a studio.