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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
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Nobody plays rougher than The Outfit...
A two-bit criminal takes on the Mafia to avenge his brother's death. Earl Macklin is a small time criminal who is released from prison after an unsuccessful bank robbery only to discover that a pair of gunmen killed his brother.
John Chard
Nov 4, 2017 · via TMDB
The Independent. The Outfit is directed by John Flynn and Flynn adapts the screenplay from the novel written by Richard Stark (AKA: Donald E. Westlake). It stars Robert Duvall, Joe Don Baker, Karen Black and Robert Ryan. Music is by Jerry Fielding and cinematography by Bruce Surtees. It arguably took a further decade to pass before the 1970s would be revealed as a superb decade for neo-noir. For where the 60s purveyors cribbed close to the stylistics of the 40s and 50s, the 70s operators often saw a shift in emphasis on noir plotting over stylistics, using their own ideas on style to befit tone of plot. One such case is The Outfit, a cunningly moody piece that's at times brutal and at others a wry revenger pumped full of dialogue barbs. Nobody's luck holds forever. Plot finds Duvall as Earl Macklin, who upon being released from prison finds his brother has been murdered by "The Outfit" and he himself is on the hit-list as well. It transpires that Earl and his brother knocked off a bank that "The Outfit" had serious ties to, and the rub-out is on. Only thing is, Earl isn't about to put on a concrete overcoat any time soon and turns the tables on his pursuers. Macklin's mission of revenge and financial rewards is filtered through a world populated by unsavoury characters in unsavoury period suits, the locations frequented often drab and colourless so as to sidle up with the narrative drive. At Earl's side is Cody (Baker), a cool bad ass who fears no one and can spot a femme fatale from a mile off. Also along for the journey is Bett (Black), she's Earl's squeeze, an unmeaning fatale who is quickly thrust into the bloody tale to play an active part. In the villain corner overseeing quiet menace is Mailer (Ryan). In one of his last films released in the year of his death, Ryan leaves noir lovers a character whose every word is to hang on, while his spousal relationship with Rita (Cassidy) is amusingly tender yet cold. The rest of the heavies are by-the-numbers, but they are really only serving purpose as fodder for Earl and Cody's machismo fuelled spree, with the dialogue exchanges a thing of caustic beauty. Baker and Duvall are excellent, and they are backed up by a brilliant support cast, it's a roll call of film noir heroes, villains and dupes. In fact the noir credentials are incredibly high here, from source writer Stark (Point Blank/The Grifters) and director Flynn (Rolling Thunder), to the cast list, it's noir nirvana. Sure we hanker for more from the likes of Elisha Cook and Marie Windsor etc, but Flynn makes his point and ensures lovers of the noir form can feel his love as well. Problems? Well yes of course there's the issue of not having some true nighttime noir photography, and in truth Black is quite simply miscast but gets away with it since the makers offer her up for a narrative sting. Elsewhere, the treatment of women will annoy some, but tonally speaking you have to say it sits well in the world the story exists in. Then there's the ending! I haven't seen the TV version of the pic, but have to say the one offered up there is surely (in the noir universe) far greater than the one we have in the official release, and certainly more befitting what has preceded it. Niggles apart, The Outfit is a cracker and well worth seeking out. 8.5/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Robert Duvall
Earl Macklin
Karen Black
Bett Harrow
Joe Don Baker
Jack Cody
Robert Ryan
Mailer
Timothy Carey
Jake Menner
Richard Jaeckel
Kimmie Cherney
Sheree North
Buck's Wife
Felice Orlandi
Frank Orlandi
Marie Windsor
Madge Coyle
Jane Greer
Alma Macklin
Henry Jones
Doctor
Joanna Cassidy
Rita Mailer
Tom Reese
Hit Man
Elisha Cook Jr.
Carl
Bill McKinney
Buck Cherney
Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day
Tony Young
Accountant
Roy Roberts
Sheriff Bob Caswell
Emile Meyer
Amos Hopper
Roy Jenson
Al
Bern Hoffman
Jim Sinclair
John Steadman
Gas Station Attendant
Francis De Sales
Jim
James Bacon
Bookie
Army Archerd
Butler
Lee de Broux
Walter Kinney (uncredited)
Bob Harks
Casino Patron (uncredited)
Charles Knapp
Motel Owner (uncredited)
Mike Ragan
Hotel Doorman (uncredited)
Jeannine Riley
Prostitute (uncredited)
George Savalas
Kenilworth Finance Employee (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre
Horse Auction Attendee (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey
Casino Attendant (uncredited)
Ralph Volkie
Mobster Poker Player (uncredited)
Yvonne Wood
Wardrobe Master
Ronnie Rondell Jr.
Stunt Coordinator
Charlie Picerni
Stunts
Ronnie Rondell Jr.
Stunts
John Flynn
Director
Ralph E. Winters
Editor
Jerry Fielding
Conductor
Ralph Grierson
Musician
Jerry Fielding
Orchestrator
Jerry Fielding
Original Music Composer
Donald E. Westlake
Novel
John Flynn
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Oct 19, 1973
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The Stranglers - Live '78, SF
1978
Saddle Leather Law
1944
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
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Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
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2008 · 14 wins
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1978 · 13 wins
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2000 · 12 wins
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1981 · 11 wins
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