Directed by

Jacques Deray
Made by

Adel Productions
See current US streaming, rental, and purchase options for Borsalino and Co. (1974) via JustWatch.
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Borsalino and Co. (1974). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Set against the sunlit docks and shadowy backstreets of 1930s Marseille, Siffredi, a prominent gangster, Alain Delon rules a violent, fragile underworld where loyalty is costly and rivals wait for a slip. The peace is shattered when a new arrival, Volpone Riccardo Cucciolla, arrives with an order that reaches deep into Siffredi’s circle: Capella, the closest ally and confidant, is murdered by Volpone. The revelation ignites a brutal countdown to vengeance. In a decisive act of retribution, Siffredi hurls Volpone’s brother from a moving train, a murder that drags the city into a ravaging gang war. The conflict begins in earnest, a clash fought in alleyways, bars, and the smoky corridors of power, where each side uses intimidation, fear, and raw power to tilt the balance of Marseille’s crime scene in their favor.
The tide turns quickly against Siffredi. His enemies trap him, strip him of dignity, and force a catastrophic humiliation: he becomes an alcoholic wreck, confined to a psychiatric hospital where the world he once ruled seems to have forgotten him. The only glimmer of hope comes from the loyalty of the gang’s sole survivor, who helps Siffredi escape by boat to Italy. The city of Marseille carries on under Volpone’s shadow, a state where the reach of Nazi Germany grows and the police are effectively in Volpone’s pocket, turning the regime of crime into a tool of political power and intimidation.
Three years pass, and Siffredi returns with a new resolve. He has rebuilt his health, amassed a fresh crew, and plotted a more calculated rise. Back in Marseille, Lola—his longtime ally and the woman he loves—is held in a brothel, a symbol of Volpone’s coercive grip on the city’s most vulnerable. Siffredi’s crew stages a daring operation to free Lola, and with striking speed they decimate Volpone’s remaining men, reclaiming streets and reputations alike. The violence resumes, but this time it is a calculated, public confrontation designed to expose the corruption that has long protected Volpone. Siffredi captures Volpone’s right-hand man and teams up with a sympathetic police commissioner to publicly humiliate the regime’s enforcers, a spectacle meant to swing public opinion in their favor. The moment folds into international headlines when journalists are brought in to document the breakdown of Volpone’s empire, a deliberate act that transforms the conflict from street warfare into a televised indictment of crime and complicity.
Yet the battle is far from over. A new police commissioner emerges, one who ultimately decides to let Siffredi finish the job, removing any lingering doubt about who holds the ultimate power in Marseille’s underworld. When Volpone attempts to flee to Germany, Siffredi corners him on a speeding train and completes his long arc of vengeance by stuffing the gambler-king into the firebox of the locomotive, a brutal image that seals Volpone’s fate and signals the end of an era. The city’s old order collapses under the heat of pursuit, and the man who rose from the docks to command the night finally looks for a new horizon. With Lola by his side and the remnants of his gang behind him, Siffredi sails away from Marseille—this time toward the United States—leaving behind a city that has learned the cost of power, loyalty, and revenge.
Throughout the film, the cast threads a tense, noir-tinged tapestry of ambition, corruption, and survival. The threads tied to Marseille’s underworld are pulled taut by Siffredi’s unyielding will, Lola’s steadfast courage, and the chilling presence of Volpone and his network of influence. The story combines intimate, character-driven moments with wide-scale, operatic violence, painting a portrait of a city where crime and politics intersect, and where the price of supremacy is paid in risk, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of a final, undeniable justice.
Follow the complete movie timeline of Borsalino and Co. (1974) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Discovery of Capella's murder ordered by Volpone
Siffredi learns that Capella's murder was ordered by Volpone. The revelation awakens his hunger for revenge and shifts the balance of power in Marseille as he starts plotting against the newcomer. He vows to confront Volpone and reclaim his position.
Siffredi kills Volpone's brother on a moving train
In a brutal act of revenge, Siffredi throws Volpone's brother from a moving train. The assassination triggers an all-out gang war between Siffredi's faction and Volpone's men. Marseille becomes a tense battleground as loyalties fracture.
Gang war and capture of Siffredi; Lola is forced into a brothel
The conflict escalates and Volpone's men gain the upper hand, capturing Siffredi. Lola is forced into a brothel as part of the punishment and power display. Siffredi's leadership crumbles under the pressure of his enemies.
Siffredi is humiliated and confined to a psychiatric hospital
Humiliated, Siffredi becomes an alcoholic wreck and is locked away in a psychiatric hospital. The defeat erodes his influence and allows Volpone's network to tighten its grip. The fate of his gang hangs in the balance as hope seems dim.
Rescue and escape to Italy
Rescued by the only other survivor of his old gang, Siffredi escapes by boat to Italy. He regains his health and begins planning a calculated comeback against Volpone. The voyage marks a turning point from prisoner to seasoned survivor.
Volpone's rule solidified with Nazi backing
Three years pass and Siffredi returns to a Marseille where Volpone rules with the backing of Nazi Germany and a corrupt police force. The city remains under a brutal, entrenched regime that tolerates violence to keep control. Siffredi quietly braces for a renewed clash.
Siffredi rebuilds his gang and returns to Marseille
Back in Marseille, Siffredi has rebuilt his strength and assembled a new gang. He resumes leadership and prepares to confront Volpone anew. The stage is set for a renewed assault on the criminal empire.
Lola is freed and Volpone's men are challenged
Siffredi's faction frees Lola from the brothel and launches a campaign to wipe out most of Volpone's men. The balance of power shifts as renewed battles erupt across the city. Lola's liberation personalizes the struggle and fuels the resolve of Siffredi's crew.
Capture of Volpone’s right-hand man and the police commissioner
They capture Volpone's right-hand man alongside the pliant police commissioner who serves him. Siffredi humiliates them by getting them drunk and staging a public spectacle with journalists. The episode damages Volpone's standing and strengthens Siffredi's legitimacy.
A new police commissioner sanctions the final strike
A new police commissioner decides to let Siffredi finish the job, clearing the path for the final confrontation. The political shift removes key obstacles and accelerates Volpone's downfall. The city braces for the climactic resolution.
Final capture of Volpone on the train
Volpone tries to flee to Germany, but Siffredi pursues and captures him on the train. He traps Volpone in the locomotive's firebox, delivering a dramatic and decisive defeat. The capture signals that Volpone's empire cannot outrun justice.
Escape to the United States
Rather than rebuild Marseille, Lola, Siffredi, and his surviving gang board a ship for the United States. They seek a fresh start away from the violence that defined their past. The ending hints at new beginnings beyond Europe.
Explore all characters from Borsalino and Co. (1974). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Roch Siffredi (Alain Delon)
A prominent 1930s Marseille gangster, Roch Siffredi is driven by a relentless desire for revenge after Capella's murder. He endures a brutal downfall, being humiliated and locked in a psychiatric hospital, before rallying to reclaim his power with a new gang and a calculated plan to free Lola. His leadership is ruthless, strategic, and marked by a willingness to gamble with violence to restore his standing.
Lola (Catherine Rouvel)
Lola is Roch Siffredi’s mistress who becomes a focal point of the conflict. She is captured and placed in a brothel by Volpone's men, but is eventually freed during Siffredi’s renewed campaign. Her presence motivates Roch’s actions and she embodies both vulnerability and resilience amid brutal underworld politics.
Volpone (Riccardo Cucciolla)
A cunning newcomer who orders Capella’s murder and quickly embroils Marseille in a fresh gang war. Backed by Nazi Germany and protected by a corrupt police, Volpone builds an empire by intimidation and manipulation. His right-hand man and the systemic support he commands amplify his reach and danger.
Sam (Reinhard Kolldehoff)
Volpone’s right-hand man, Sam embodies brute force and loyalty to his boss. He participates in the brutal acts that keep Volpone in power and is eventually captured alongside the police commissioner, illustrating the collapse of Volpone’s control once his enemies mobilize.
Inspector Cazenave (André Falcon)
A police inspector who kowtows to Volpone, representing the corrupt alliance between crime syndicates and authorities. He underscores the extent of Volpone’s influence and the systemic obstacles faced by Siffredi’s pursuit of justice.
Learn where and when Borsalino and Co. (1974) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
1930s
Set in the 1930s, the film follows Marseille's underworld as it spirals into violence against the backdrop of rising fascism. The narrative covers the murder, imprisonment, and a long arc of vengeance across years, including a period of recovery and new alliances. The era's political climate — including Nazi influence over police — shapes the power dynamics of the gangs.
Location
Marseille, France, Italy, United States, Asylum
Marseille acts as the brutal cradle of Siffredi’s empire, a gritty port city where crime and politics collide. The action shifts between Marseille’s streets, a moving train that becomes a weapon, a notorious asylum where Siffredi is broken, and later transits to Italy and the United States. The city’s atmosphere is shaped by gang violence, police corruption, and wind-swept coastlines.
Discover the main themes in Borsalino and Co. (1974). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
🗡️
Revenge
Revenge drives Siffredi from defeat to renewed ambition. The assassination of Capella triggers a violent counterstrike against Volpone and his organization. The cycle of vengeance escalates into a city-wide gang war, exposing the ruthlessness of both sides. The quest for payback becomes a means of reclaiming control and Lola, who is central to Siffredi’s motive.
🤝
Loyalty
Loyalty is tested as alliances form and fracture. Siffredi survives thanks to a single survivor from his former gang, and later rebuilds a new crew who remains faithful to him. The bond between Lola and Siffredi anchors his drive, even as power shifts. The police apparatus under Volpone's influence also tests fealty, illustrating how loyalty is negotiated under fear and corruption.
🚢
Escape
Escape is a driving force as Siffredi escapes captivity and rebuilds his empire. The narrative culminates with a dramatic capture of Volpone and a decisive exit from Marseille via sea travel to the United States. The escape route—boat to Italy, then a long voyage—marks the end of the immediate crime war and the start of a new life. The journey underscores the limits of power within one city and the lure of distant shores.

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Explore the mobile appDiscover the spoiler-free summary of Borsalino and Co. (1974). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
Marseille in the 1930s glows under a harsh, sun‑lit sky that reflects off crowded docks and slips into shadowed alleyways. The city’s bustling markets and fragrant flower stalls sit side by side with funeral wreaths, hinting at a fragile peace that could shatter at any moment. A swirl of smog, jazz, and the distant rumble of looming political change—particularly the growing grip of Nazi influence—creates a backdrop where every handshake carries a hidden weight and every street corner whispers of unseen power.
In the heart of this restless world moves Siffredi, a charismatic yet dangerous figure who commands respect through an unspoken code of honor. He navigates a fragile underworld where loyalty is a rare commodity, and the line between protector and predator blurs with each decision. His presence is felt in smoky taverns and the quiet corners of the port, where the very notion of “defending one’s colors” becomes a personal mantra that shapes the lives of those around him. The atmosphere is thick with tension, a noir‑tinged tapestry woven from ambition, betrayal, and the constant threat of violence.
By his side is Lola, a steadfast ally whose courage balances his ruthlessness, and whose own strength hints at deeper layers of resilience within the city’s darkest corners. Their relationship, forged in the heat of Marseille’s relentless grind, suggests both a personal bond and a strategic partnership essential for survival. As rival forces begin to test the limits of the existing order, the city itself seems to hold its breath, waiting to see whether old loyalties will hold or if a new, unsettling era will emerge from the shadows.
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