The Marseille Contract [The Destructors] *** (1974, Michael Caine, Anthony Quinn, James Mason, Maurice Ronet, Alexandra Stewart, Marcel Bozzuffi) – Classic Movie Review 8990

Director Robert Parrish’s 1974 movie The Marseille Contract [The Destructors] is a commonplace Seventies Euro-thriller yarn of US narcotics agent Steve Ventura (Anthony Quinn) hiring an English killer to bump off evil French crime and drug-running boss Jacques Brizard (James Mason). Quinn turns to a contract killer, former buddy John Deray (Michael Caine), to do the job.

Commonplace Judd Bernard’s script may be, but the fine cast and director Parrish have the muscle to put something fresh into it. Just a little more style and oomph and it would have been special.

Caine comes off best, and it is certainly brisk and short at only 87 minutes, while Douglas Slocombe’s vibrant colour location photography in Paris, Nice, Cannes and Marseille is an asset.

Also in the fine cast are Maurice Ronet, Alexandra Stewart, Marcel Bozzuffi, Maureen Kerwin, Catherine Rouvel, Patr ick Floersheim, André Oumansky, Jean-Louis Fortuit, Jerry Brouer, Georges Lycan, Pierre Koulak, Pierre Salinger, Hella Petri, Vernon Dobtcheff, Gib Grossac, Barbara Sommers and Martine Kelly.

The Marseille Contract [The Destructors] is directed by Robert Parrish, runs 87 minutes, is made by Kettledrum Films and PECF, is released by American International Pictures (1974) (US) and Columbia-Warner Distributors (1974) (UK, is written by Judd Bernard, is shot by Douglas Slocombe, is produced by Judd Bernard and Patricia Casey, is scored by Roy Budd, and is designed by Willy Holt.

Vernon Dobtcheff, born on 14 August 1934 in Nîmes, Gard, France, has an astounding 363 film and TV credits by 2019, running back to 1963.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8990

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com