The Marseille Contract

The Marseille Contract

Year: 1974

Runtime: 91 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert Parrish

CrimeActionThriller

Living a life of luxury, they are drawn into a deadly game. In Marseille, a powerful drug lord is suspected of ordering the murder of an American agent. His political connections make prosecution impossible, prompting the dead agent’s superior to enlist a professional hitman to eliminate the trafficker.

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Timeline & Setting – The Marseille Contract (1974)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Marseille Contract (1974). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1970s

The events take place in the 1970s, a period marked by organized crime and international drug trafficking. The film portrays a tense European crime environment, with police corruption and clandestine deals shaping the pursuit of Brizard. The era’s style and technology influence the chase, car races, and covert operations depicted in the plot.

Location

Marseille, Paris

The story unfolds across two key French locations: Marseille, a bustling port city known for its seafaring history and vibrant underworld, and Paris, where high-stakes intrigue spills into political circles. Marseille serves as the primary backdrop for Brizard's drug operations and Deray's infiltration. Paris provides the setting for investigative pressure and a high-society confrontation that culminates in a violent showdown.

🌊 Coastal city 🏛️ Port city 🕵️‍♂️ Crime thriller

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:23

Main Characters – The Marseille Contract (1974)

Meet the key characters of The Marseille Contract (1974), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

John Deray / John Davos (Michael Caine)

A skilled contract killer who travels to Marseille under a false identity to scout Brizard's villa. He is recruited by Ventura and uses his lethal talents to navigate a web of deception, forming a tense dynamic with Lucienne. Deray becomes Brizard's asset and a key piece in the drug lord's plans, but he ultimately dies in the crossfire.

🎯 Professional 🕵️‍♂️ Cunning 💀 Lethal

Steve Ventura (Anthony Quinn)

The French DEA station head who struggles to bring Brizard to justice through legal means. He collaborates with Deray and orchestrates a counter-move against Brizard, ultimately taking matters into his own hands at a political fundraiser. He embodies a determined, ruthless willingness to pursue results.

🎯 Determined 🧩 Calculated 💥 Vengeful

Jacques Brizard (Jacques Brizard) / Brizard

A powerful drug lord with political connections who uses murder, manipulation, and fear to maintain control. He tests Deray, manipulates police attention, and uses his daughter's privileged lifestyle to secure compliant behavior. He escapes immediate danger at the confrontation but is eventually targeted by Ventura.

💼 Powerful 🕵️‍♂️ Cunning 💊 Drug trafficking

Inspector Briac (Maurice Ronet)

A French police inspector deeply involved with Brizard's operations, shown to betray and attempt to kill Brizard to seize the drugs for himself. His duplicity underscores the film's theme of corruption within the pursuit of justice and adds an extra layer of danger to the investigation.

🕵️‍♂️ Corrupt ⚖️ Bureaucracy 💣 Betrayal

Lucienne (Maureen Kerwin)

Brizard's daughter, living a life of privilege and fast cars. She catches Deray's attention with her lavish lifestyle and extends him an invitation to the villa, highlighting the allure and danger of wealth. Her role mixes charm with a hint of vulnerability amid the power dynamics at Brizard's estate.

🏎️ Luxury lifestyle 💫 Charismatic 🎭 Manipulative

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:23

Major Themes – The Marseille Contract (1974)

Explore the central themes of The Marseille Contract (1974), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗡️ Betrayal

Betrayal threads through the plot as Brizard uses Deray as a cover while Briac contemplates a double-cross to seize drugs for himself. The relationships between the hitman, the drug lord, and the police inspector are built on shifting loyalties and hidden agendas. The culminating gunfight exposes how alliances can crumble under pressure and personal ambition.

💰 Corruption

The story centers on a criminal empire connected to political power and law enforcement. Brizard's network shows how wealth and influence corrupt institutions and individuals alike. Inspector Briac's involvement with Brizard highlights how corruption can pervert justice, bending investigations toward personal gain.

🔥 Vengeance

Vengeance drives the finale, with Ventura pursuing Brizard beyond legal means and delivering his own form of justice at a political fundraiser. The pursuit blends professional duty with personal anger, culminating in a decisive act that shifts the balance of power. The personal stakes for Deray—his survival and ultimate fate—also reflect a vigilante-like spirit in a world where formal channels fail.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:23

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Narrative Summary

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Narrative Summary

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Why These Movies?

They share a specific combination of steady pacing, high tension, and a heavy, often bittersweet emotional payoff. The experience is defined by atmospheric dread and a focus on professional, methodical characters operating in a dangerous, unforgiving world.

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The Marseille Contract Summary

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The Marseille Contract Summary

The Marseille Contract Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Marseille Contract with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Marseille Contract Timeline

The Marseille Contract Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Marseille Contract Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Marseille Contract

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