That Man from Rio (1964) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film spans multiple locations across three countries. It begins in Paris where Adrien is on leave, then moves to Rio de Janeiro with its vibrant city life and crime, continues to Brasília's modernist skyline, and concludes deep in the Amazon rainforest at a floating jungle cafe.

• paris
• rio de janeiro
• brasília
• amazon
• setting
• locations

The movie takes place in the mid-1960s, during an era defined by stylish espionage adventures and fast-paced international capers. The contemporary technology, fashion, and atmosphere reflect the period's spirit of adventure and global intrigue.

• 1960s
• time period
• era
• mid-1960s
• setting

Three golden statuettes hidden by an Amazonian tribe guard the secret to a priceless treasure. The pursuit of these statuettes drives the plot, pulling characters from museums to airports to remote jungle rivers as they race against greedy rivals seeking the same fortune.

• treasure hunt
• statuettes
• amazon
• gold
• fortune

Professor Catalan, initially appearing as a trustworthy curator, is revealed to have murdered Agnès' father and orchestrated the theft for personal gain. His betrayal exposes how greed corrupts trust, turning the treasure hunt into both a physical chase and a personal vendetta.

• betrayal
• catalan
• greed
• trust
• villain

Adrien is an audacious French airman on eight-day leave in Paris who becomes the film's hero. Quick-thinking and fearless, he dives into danger to rescue his fiancée Agnès, driven by loyalty and a can-do spirit that keeps the high-stakes chase moving forward.

• adrien dufourquet
• hero
• main character
• airman

Agnès is Adrien's fiancée and the key connection to her father's lost expedition. She becomes a captive whose fate drives Adrien's quest, displaying resilience despite being drugged and threatened by the criminals pursuing the statuettes.

• agnès villermosa
• fiancée
• captive
• love interest

Professor Norbert Catalan is the museum curator who masterminds the theft of the golden statuettes. He is calculating and cultured, willing to murder to protect the statuettes' secret. His betrayal forms the moral core of the film, showing how greed corrupts intellectual sophistication.

• professor catalan
• villain
• curator
• betrayal
• antagonist

Lola is a glamorous operator who funds Professor Catalan's scheme and runs a floating jungle cafe in the Amazon. She bridges the criminal underworld with the protagonists, embodying the film's seductive, dangerous edge while providing crucial support to the treasure hunt.

• lola
• jungle cafe
• criminal
• supporting character

Adrien and Agnès' budding romance anchors the thriller amid breakneck action. Their relationship provides both motivation and emotional depth, Adrien's determination to rescue Agnès fuels his daring escapes, while their bond offers tender moments throughout the chaos.

• romance
• love
• relationship
• adrien agnes

The film is built on a relentless chase, from stolen planes to races across Brasília's skyline and daring cable crossings between skyscrapers. This pursuit-driven structure creates the film's energy, with Adrien using quick wits and daring stunts to stay ahead of rivals seeking the statuettes.

• chase
• pursuit
• action
• stunts
• adventure

Rio de Janeiro serves as the first major backdrop for the chase, representing a city of bright lights and danger. Its inclusion establishes the film's globe-trotting scope and international intrigue, transitioning the story from Parisian normality to exotic adventure.

• rio de janeiro
• brazil
• chase
• city setting

That Man from Rio is an adventure comedy combining action, comedy, and epic heroics. The tone is light and fast-paced despite plot elements like kidnapping and murder, presenting violence in a stylized, adventurous context typical of 1960s spy capers with a happy, triumphant ending.

• genre
• comedy
• adventure
• action
• 1960s caper
• tone