CAST:
Ian Hendry - Destamio
Rosemary Dexter - Gina
Aimi Macdonald - Lily
George Pastell - Marco Ponti
Marie Burke - Donna Maria
Finlay Currie - Don Pasquale
Fulton Mackay - Euston
Alex Scott - The Major
Peter Madden - Lo Zio
Anthony Newlands - The Doctor
Guy Deghy - Maresciallo
Edward Evans - The Bank Manager
Eileen Way - The Maid
Peter Kristof - Giorgio
Steve Plytas - Cirano
Agath Angelos - Doorman
Gabor Baraker - Barman
Steven Berkoff - Bertoli
Hal Galili - Bus Driver
Charles Houston - Hotel Reception Clerk
Gertain Klauber - Renato
Richard Montez - Nino
Malya Nappi - Woman Clerk
Salmaan  Peer - Airline Clerk
Derek Sydney - Maitre 'D'
Ernst Walder - First Policeman

Directed by Jim O'Connolly; Screenplay by Harry W. Junkin & John Kruse (Synopsis and Post Production Script on Umbrella DVD)

STORY:
Simon is in a night club in Naples when he observes a strange incident. A man seems to recognize an old friend from many years ago but the other man denies to be that person and claimes to be Allessandro Destamio. One of his men even punches the first man. The Saint inervenes and later gets into a conversation with James Euston, the first man. Euston tells him that he worked with Dino Cartelli in a bank in Palermo long ago. When Euston leaves the night club he gets murdered by Destamio's man. Templar starts investigating. Destamio is in the mafia but he is really Dino Cartelli as Euston said.
The mafia don is dying and he will choose his successor soon. Therefore all the mafia bosses are gathering in Palermo. If they would discover that Destamio is not really what he pretends to be is dangerous information. All of his men are on Simon's tracks soon...

NOTES:
* George Pastell also appears in Episode #4 "The Covetous Headsman", #72 "Queen's Ransom" and #97 "When Spring is Sprung"
* Marie Burke also appears in Episode #2 "The Latin Touch", #12 "The Charitable Countess" and #16 "Teresa"
* Fulton Mackay also appears in Episode #77 "The Convenient Monster" and #99 "The Best Laid Schemes"
* Alex Scott also appears in Episode #19 "The Work of Art", #93 "Island of Chance" and #107 "The House on Dragon's Rock"
* Alex Scott also appears in the first "The Persuaders" episode "Overture"
* Peter Madden also appears in Episode #72 "The Queen's Ransom"
* Anthony Newlands also appears in Episodes #12 "The Charitable Countess" and #33 "The Good Medicine"
* Guy Deghy also appears in Episode #5 "The Loaded Tourist", #39 "The Saint Sees it through" and #74 "The Russian Prisoner"
* Edward Evans also appears in Episode #5 "The Loaded Tourist"
* Steve Plytas also appears in Episode #82 "Paper Chase"
*  Steven Berkoff also appears in Episode #116 "The Man Who Gambled with Life". He would later appear opposite Roger in "Octopussy" (1983), opposite Sean Connery in "Outland" (1981) and as the villain in "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984)
* Hal Galili also appears in Episodes #36 "Sophia", #38 "The Ever-Loving Spouse", #44 "The Revolution Racket" and #73 "Interlude in Venice"
* Charles Houston also appears in Episodes #11 "The Man Who Was Lucky", #21 "The King of the Beggars", #40 "The Miracle Tea Party" and #100 "Invitation to Danger". He also appears in the episode "The Gold Napoleon" of The Persuaders
* Gertain Klauber also appears in Episode #91 "The Counterfeit Countess" (as Gertan Klauber)
* Richard Montez also appears in Episode #10 "The Golden Journey", #16 "Teresa", #44 "The Revolution Racket", #69 "The Saint Bids Diamonds", #83 "Locate and Destroy", #92 "Simon and Delilah"
* Salmaan Peer also appears in Episodes #84 "Flight Plan" and #111 "The People Importers"
* Derek Sydney also appears in Episode #73 "Interlude in Venice"
* Ernst Walder also appears in Episode #55 "The Rhine Maiden"
* Was also shown in theatres across Europe and as TV films in the US.
* Finlay Currie was probably dubbed because of his Scottish accent. (Simper, p.32)
*  The death note for Euston was just glued on an Italian newspaper. (0:06)
*  The falling body looks too much like a puppet. (0:61)
*   The double doors were frequently used as a set item in the colour episodes. In this episode they are shown twice without the usual doorframe. (0:32 and 0:57)
* Commentary with Sir Roger Moore, Executive Producer Robert S. Baker & Associate Producer Johnny Goodman on the Umbrella DVD
* Commentary with Associate Producer Johnny Goodman and Producer Robert S. Baker on the network DVD

Robert S. Baker: <<Our main problem has been production costs which are due to the number of sets, big cast and in particular an expensive foreign location. By very careful scripting we have managed to reduce the locations so that Roger is the only artist that goes aboard. I think we have done that without any loss of production values as I am sure the audience will not even realize it. All in all, I think it makes exciting entertainment.>> (Barer, p.158)

Leslie Charteris, 23th October 1967: <<Making allowances for your restricted budget, the script of Vendetta for the Saint is a workmanlike job with my usual reservations.>> (Barer, p.158)

Johnny Goodman: <<Filming Vendetta for the Saint in Malta was an incredible experience. I'd never seen hero worship like it. The fans used to surround the hotel at night and howl for Roger. In the mornings we used to have to form a phalanx like the Romans and rush him to the car. It wasn't just girls - we pulled one guy off who was kissing and hugging him. Everywhere we went the cars were mobbed and besieged and the local ladies, married to various top dignitaries, were so overwhelmed when I arranged for Roger to meet them over coffee in his hotel suite, that they practically climaxed when he came in the room. [...]
Vendetta should have been shot of course in Sicily. But the prospect of shooting a film about the Mafia in Sicily didn't seem a very good idea.>> (Simper, p.58)

Johnny Goodman about Finlay Currie: <<...he was gone towards the end of filming. There was a scene in Vendetta for the Saint where he was dying and Roger was leaning over him, pretending to be a doctor or something. Anyway, poor old Finlay decided that Roger was actually a doctor and started telling him about all his ailments and showing him where he had various pains. It was all very embarrassing.>> (Simper, p.62)

AIRDATE:
UK: 5th and 12th January 1969

GERMAN TITLE:
Die sizilianische Mafia

AVAILABLE ON:
* VHS (PAL): PolyGram 6391003 (1997)
* DVD (NTSC): AAE-70545 (2002)
* network (PAL): 7952473g (2006)