The Outfit (1973)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

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 | Watch | Mafia | Chase

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:

Brian Garfield, in an intro to a reprint of the novel this film is based on, notes that it was originally written by director John Flynn as a period piece, intending to be set in the postwar 1940s. That's why such "film noir" veterans such as Elisha Cook Jr., Richard Jaeckel, Marie Windsor and Jane Greer appear in it. The studio, however, decided it would be too expensive to shoot a period picture, so the script was superficially updated, the World War II vets became Vietnam vets, and actors like Robert Ryan, Karen Black and Sheree North joined the cast. The result was that the story was restored to its original conception (the series this book was based on was written and set in the then contemporary 1960s and 1970s). Had the period piece idea gone through, this would have represented a rare case of backdating a character.

Movie Connections:

References The Killers (1946)

Soundtrack:

Your Guess Is Just As Good As Mine

Library of Congress craziness!

I just saw this film at the Library of Congress as part of a 2 film Timothy Carey festival, you might say. Sometimes they get a little weird at the Library. Anyway, I thought the movie was very good. Some others have mentioned the similarity to Point Blank. I am surprised that no one has pointed out the likeness to Charley Varrick. Both stories revolve around the effects of unintentionally robbing a mob-controlled bank. Of course in Charley Varrick it's the mob trying to get it's money back. Also, Joe Don Baker - not quite the psycho he played in the other film, but when he punched out that receptionist he certainly reminded me of his Molly character. Both fine movies, I think. Got my doubts about Poor White Trash tonight, but. . .