User Reviews

Simon Templar sees a woman thrown off a cliff as he goes through a small Italian village.

The dying woman tells him to warn Vincenzo.

When the Saint arrives at the village. They want to see the back of him. The locals are uncooperative.

Only the local ageing aristocrat Prince Lorenzo Castracano (Maurice Denham) is willing to assist. He tells the Saint that the dead woman was a loose woman who the villages unapproved off.

Vincenzo turns out to be the local priest, but he does not believe Templar that his life might be at risk.

This is a good story about suspicious locals who might have been bought off. The Saint needed to think just who had the ability to pay them off.

I did like that the local aristocrat turned out to be penniless and mad. It was strange that the others did not figure this out. I mean, his son was killed in prison. Father Vincenzo should had realised the prince would be angry.

After four mediocre episodes, this is where ( for me at any road ) the show started to pick up. Simon is driving through the Italian countryside when he sees a young woman thrown off a cliff by two men. The victim, Dolores Streso ( Laura De Marchi ) came from the village of Santa Maria, so the Saint goes there to assist in the investigation. The local police chief, Baldoni ( Giancarlo Prete ) is uncooperative, as are the other villagers. Despite repeated requests to leave the area, the Saint stays.

Then a cart is pushed down a steep hill towards him, and he is framed for murder. Just what is going on in the village? With the help of a young widow named Sophia Castracano ( Katia Christine ), the Saint tries to get at the truth...

Leslie Norman ( father of Barry ) was one of the original series' directors, and it was good that he was brought back by the producer, especially as he had undergone cancer treatment which necessitated the removal of his larynx. He does his usual professional job. The location is well chosen; at times 'Santa Maria' puts one in mind of Portmeirion from 'The Prisoner' series, with its twisty streets and distinctive architecture.

The story - by John Goldsmith - is basically an Italian version of the classic 'Avengers' episode 'Murdersville' ( a murder is committed and an entire community gets involved in a cover-up ).

Ogilvy was beginning to hit his stride in the role of 'Templar'. A second season would probably have seen him emerge from Roger Moore's shadow.

That great character actor Maurice Denham plays 'Prince Lorenzo'. Too many credits to name, but he could always be relied upon to give a good performance. Another British actor, Tony Calvin, plays 'Vincenzo'. 'Space: 1999' fans will recognise Giancarlo Prete as 'Dan Mateo' from Season 1's 'The Troubled Spirit'.

Leslie Charteris complained about the proliferation of Italian-based episodes, referring to them as 'Spaghetti Saints'. Robert S.Baker, the producer, pointed out that they were necessary because of the co-production deal with RAI. But when the station tried to impose Italian technicians on the show as well as actors, the deal was called off, and Lew Grade put up the extra cash to finish the show. Quite right too. I'd have hated to have seen 'The Armaggedon Alternative' set in Rome instead of London.