Vendetta (1950 film)

Vendetta
theatrical poster
Directed by	Max Ophüls (fired) Preston Sturges (fired) Stuart Heisler (uncredited) Paul Weatherwax (sub for Heisler) Mel Ferrer Howard Hughes (pick-ups)
Written by	Prosper Mérimée (novella) Peter O'Crotty (adaptation)[1] W. R. Burnett (screenplay) Preston Sturges (uncredited) Wells Root (uncredited)
Produced by	Howard Hughes
Starring	Faith Domergue George Dolenz
Cinematography	Franz Planer Al Gilks
Edited by	Stuart Gilmore Robert Seiter Paul Weatherwax
Music by	Roy Webb
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures
Release date	December 25, 1950 (1950-12-25) (US)[2]
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$3 million[3]

Vendetta is a 1950 American crime film based on the 1840 novella Colomba by Prosper Mérimée, about a young Corsican girl who pushes her brother to kill to avenge their father's murder.

The film, produced by Howard Hughes as a vehicle for his latest discovery, Faith Domergue, began principal photography for United Artists in 1946, but was not released until four years later through RKO Pictures, which Hughes had recently purchased. Hughes fired director Max Ophüls as well as his producing partner, Preston Sturges, who replaced Ophüls. Stuart Heisler completed the film, but Hughes decided he wanted more changes and brought in actor/director Mel Ferrer, who is the only credited director on the film. Hughes himself did some direction of pick-up scenes. The screenplay was credited to W. R. Burnett, but the script was worked on by a number of writers, including Sturges, who originated the project at Hughes's behest.

Vendetta is estimated to have cost around $4 million, an extraordinary amount for the time. The film was neither a critical nor a box office success.