A television adaptation of the novel was released as a theatrical film, also entitled Vendetta for the Saint, in 1969.

Vendetta was the first Saint volume published after Leslie Charteris, who created the character in 1928, stopped writing the adventures himself.

Vendetta was written by Harry Harrison, a noted science fiction author who also wrote the syndicated Saint comic strip.

The reference work The Saint: A Complete History by Burl Barer, however, indicates that Charteris was heavily involved in editing the book[2].

Set on the island of Sicily, the story shows a slightly older, more mature Saint.

Templar learns that the Englishman, Euston, is absolutely certain the Italian Businessman was his old friend Dino Cartelli.

Next day, a limousine arrives at the hotel and the Saint is courteously invited to have a meeting with Mr. Destamio.

Luckily a senior officer, Inspector Ponti, arrives, dismisses the Saint and even recommends him a good restaurant for lunch.

At night, he visits the mausoleum of the Destamio family, but before he can investigate the grave inscriptions he is clubbed unconscious.

Ponti has mobilised a secret military strike force, ready for battle and very grateful to learn from the Saint the location of the Mafia headquarters.

After that the army troops arrive and although several top men are arrested, Destamio again escapes through a back garage.

After the series ended, the two episodes were edited together as a movie that was distributed theatrically in Europe and was also released to TV and, much later, home video.