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      The Destructors

      PG 1974 1 hr. 29 min. Crime Drama List
      Reviews 47% 50+ Ratings Audience Score U.S. agent Steve Ventura (Anthony Quinn) is stationed in Paris to investigate a drug ring led by Jacques Brizard (James Mason). Unsettled by the news that Brizard's men have killed his predecessors, Ventura seeks a way to bring him down. Taking a local policeman's advice, he hires a hitman to take out the kingpin, and it turns out he's hired his old friend, John Deray (Michael Caine). After learning that Brizard is wanted alive, Ventura must find a way to stop the hit before it's too late. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Not a lost classic but what a cast! This Anglo-French co-production has Anthony Quinn playing a burnt-out DEA agent assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Paris (basically a more sympathetic version of the cop he played in Across 110th Street). His target is a very successful Heroin dealer played by James Mason (basically being a variation of the master criminal he played in North By Northwest) . Every agent the DEA has sent to investigate Mason and his organization has been killed and Quinn is relegated to a desk job by his superiors. After a failed attempt on his life, Quinn hires a professional assassin played by Michael Caine (playing a less psychotic and more likable variation of his Get Carter character). That is the basic plot. The positive points are the performances of the three professional actors in the lead roles; a Sepia-quality to the film that posits it in the 1970s; great use of Marseilles and Paris locales; and some really great moments such as when Quinn and Mason (whose characters have never met but are fully aware of each others existence) spot each other at a charity event and recognize each other immediately. Unfortunately, character development is limited. It turns out Quinn and Caine's characters are old friends; many sources say that they are old War buddies but the script does not establish when and where these men met in the past. Lots of chase scenes and fights that do not add anything to the Action genre are not particularly spectacular (apart from a flirtatious chase between Caine and Catherine Rouvel in sports cars in the hills above Marseilles which was unique). Not a lost classic but a worthy Anglo-British attempt at a Eurocrime Thriller. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member I remember it as a videotape back in the day... Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member The head of the US Narcotic Bureau in France hires a hitman to kill a French businessman who distributes drugs after one of his men is killed and he becomes a target. The cop ends up doing the job himself. Average despite a good cast. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member one of the best movies!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member if you like Get Carter..you will like this...period Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Smooth seventies criminal thriller/drama with Anthony Quinn, James Mason and Michael Caine. An american drug squad police man (Quinn) working in Paris, France revolutionizes standard procedures by letting a paid killer do some of the handy work. The killer (Caine) get to work, gets laid and gets to hang around in cool jazz bars and marinas. There are some cool turns in plot and really nice views of 1974 Paris and Marseille, great score by Roy Budd and some cool or ridiculous outfits for the heroes to wear but it's not a masterpiece. Caine is stiff cool but Quinn feels a lot of out of place. James Mason plays the bad guy well. Women are either drunk and really stupid or just wainting to get nailed one way or another. We also se an erotic car chase scene. We don't see many of them. Bon appétit Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Destructors

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      Critics Reviews

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      Matt Brunson Creative Loafing Even though he doesn't appear until approximately the half-hour mark, Caine earns top honors as the smooth assassin. Rated: 3/4 Sep 26, 2015 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews With enough clichés to fill the Seine. Rated: C Aug 8, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis U.S. agent Steve Ventura (Anthony Quinn) is stationed in Paris to investigate a drug ring led by Jacques Brizard (James Mason). Unsettled by the news that Brizard's men have killed his predecessors, Ventura seeks a way to bring him down. Taking a local policeman's advice, he hires a hitman to take out the kingpin, and it turns out he's hired his old friend, John Deray (Michael Caine). After learning that Brizard is wanted alive, Ventura must find a way to stop the hit before it's too late.
      Director
      Robert Parrish
      Rating
      PG
      Genre
      Crime, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (DVD)
      Apr 18, 2011