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Released by: MGM Limited Edition Collection
Released on: 4/18/2011
Director: Robert Parrish
Cast: Michael Caine, Anthony Quinn, James Mason
Year: 1974
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The Movie:
Directed by Robert Parrish in 1974 and released in the UK as The Marseille Contract, the film follows an American embassy official named Steve Ventura (Anthony Quinn) whose main priority is to bust a narcotics ring and bring in its ringleader, a kingpin named Jacques Brizard (James Mason). This proves to be considerably harder than he first though, and before you know it, the drug ring has knocked off a few of his agents. Not sure what else he can do to solve the problem, Ventura thinks outside the box and decides to hire the services of a skilled assassin named John Deray (Michael Caine).
Problem solved, right? Pay off the killer to take out the drug dealer and get on with it - well, it turns out that Deray and Ventura have a past together and things are about to get complicated for all involved.
While not a perfect film, structurally speaking, the movie has a lot going for it. Filmed on location in and around Paris, the picture has an old school European class to it that ensures that it's always nice to look at. Great architecture and nice scenery go a long way to making the film a whole lot more interesting, while a few well shot chase scenes and a couple of worthy plot twists keep things tense and exciting. The film's problem is that, structurally, it's a bit choppy, moving from one set piece to the next simply because it can and not because it necessarily needs to. As such, it's not the leanest picture ever made and it gets a bit repetitive in the middle stretch.
Thankfully the great cast make it easy to overlook a few pacing problems. Quinn is stoic and noble in his role, even if his character is prone to bending the rules, and you can completely buy him in the part. James Mason isn't maybe the first guy you'd pick to play a drug kingpin but he's good here, he's tough and a bit surly but not without class. The real star of the show, however, is Michael Caine who comes across as just about the coolest son of a bitch to ever walk the streets of Paris. He's the perfect choice to play the hitman and he's excellent in the part.
Despite a few subplots (some involving some attractive female supporting players like Alexandra Stewart, Maureen Kerwin and Catharine Rouvel) sort of walking off into the distance without any actual resolution and despite a few pacing problems, this slow burn thriller features a few stand out action scenes but succeeds primarily on the strength of its visuals and the performances.
Video/Audio/Extras:
The Destructors looks very good in this 1.85.1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. Colors are reasonably bright and bold and detail generally strong throughout. Skin tones look lifelike and natural and while there doesn't seem to have been too much re-mastering done, the print used looks to have been in pretty good shape leaving only very minor print damage in any form.
The only audio option on the disc is a Dolby Digital Mono track, in English, with no alternate language or subtitle options provided. The quality of the track is fine, if a bit flat in spots - in short, it pretty much sounds like you'd expect it to. Dialogue is audible enough and the score sounds good - but this doesn't have a whole lot of range to it despite some left to right channel separation in a few spots.
Extras include a static menu and the film's trailer.
The Final Word:
A tight thriller with a great cast, The Destructors looks good on this no frills release from MGM, the movie itself is well worth checking out.
