The Marseille Contract (1974) – Robert Parrish.

This compelling, thrillingly hard-boiled Euro-thriller has an exceptional international cast, headed by Anthony Quinn, James Mason, and national treasure Michael Caine. Terse action, a sharp script, agile direction, and another magnificently moody score by Roy Budd makes The Marseille Contract nigh on unmissable vintage entertainment. Grizzled veteran DEA agent Ventura (Anthony Quinn) abhors his sedentary desk job in Paris, stymied by bureaucracy, he becomes frustrated, unable to get the dirt to stick on protected higher echelon drug baron Brizzard (James Mason). Opting for more draconian action, Ventura covertly hires Johnny Deray (Michael Caine) to eliminate Brizzard, but his slick, paranoid quarry proves wily, vicious, and utterly elusive. The Marseille Contract remains an vital 70s thriller, gorgeously replete with stunning Riviera vistas, electrifying action, beautiful jet-set babes, and some juicy cat n' mousing betwixt the seemingly omnipotent Brizzard and no less capable killer Deray. Unlike much of the pallid, redundantly recycled, politically correct action baloney of today, The Marseille Contract demonstratively has both of its balls intact. I can still appreciate the fact that 70s action movie foreplay is administered behind the screaming pistons of ton-up, road-burning supercars!