The Outfit (1973)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

John Flynn

Writers:

Donald E. Westlake (novel)
John Flynn (writer)

Release Date:

October 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

Nobody plays rougher than The Outfit...

Plot:

When the small criminal Macklin is released from prison, he learns that shortly before his brother was shot by two killers...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Revenge | Bookie | Watch | Getaway

Cast

Robert Duvall	...	Macklin
Karen Black	...	Bett Harrow
Joe Don Baker	...	Cody
Robert Ryan	...	Mailer
Timothy Carey	...	Menner
Richard Jaeckel	...	Chemey
Sheree North	...	Buck's Wife
Felice Orlandi	...	Frank Orlandi
Marie Windsor	...	Madge Coyle
Jane Greer	...	Alma
Henry Jones	...	Doctor
Joanna Cassidy	...	Rita
Tom Reese	...	First Man
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Carl (as Elisha Cook)
Bill McKinney	...	Buck

Runtime:

Germany:105 min | USA:103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:16 | UK:AA (original rating) | France:U | Finland:K-18 | Norway:16 (video rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:18 | Norway:(Banned) (1973-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Joe Don Baker's character mentions that his diner (which we see at the start of the film) has a location in Presque Isle. The equivalent character in the novel this films adapts, Handy McKay, also has a diner in a town called Presque Isle. However, that Presque Isle refers to the actual town in Maine (McKay mentions the location in Maine), while this film seems to take place in the Southwest.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Hunter: A Conversation with Author Donald E. Westlake (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Your Guess Is Just As Good As Mine

Tidy crime thriller with good characterizations

A nicely drawn revenge piece starring Robert Duvall and Joe Don Baker. The script is by the renowned Donald E. Westlake adapting one of his own "Richard Stark" novels. If you've ever read a Richard Stark novel featuring the character "Parker" then The Outfit, even though i do not think its an actual "Parker" story will seem familiar: Cool Professional thief gets the shaft from old associates and then sets about rectifying the problem. The books are intriguing for being very consistent: Westlake's protagonists aren't kill crazy revenge machines; they always want the money owed to them and in todays world of millions, billions and more, their demands often seem very reasonable; here Robert Duvall demands only $250,000. But schmucks and wise-guys are always trying to play it cheap in these novels and the films that they often become, leading to much enjoyable mayhem.

I'm also of the opinion that John Flynn had an effective no-frills directorial style. This film, along with Rolling Thunder and Best Seller, showcases his quiet formalism and knack for using simple set-ups and long takes to achieve a realistic, down to earth grit and everyday realism that works well for sleazy crime thrillers and revenge melodramas. I suppose now that he has recently passed away, his critical standing will only improve. Cheers to him. RIP John Flynn