The Outfit

There's nothing especially clever about the plotting of 1973's THE OUTFIT, but I didn't much mind.  When something is as coolly executed as this much is forgiven.  A straightforward revenge tale, smoothly directed by John Flynn, who would return to these ideas four years later with ROLLING THUNDER.  Here, a man's brother is gunned down by the Mob, er, the Outfit, a crime syndicate. The man strikes back, hard and often. In real life, this fella would be dead meat.  In the world of Donald E. Westlake, nee Richard Stark, upon whose novel the director's screenplay is based, a noble mission usually metes out justice to the deserving.  But there will be collateral damage; some caught in the crossfire.

Robert Duvall stars as Earl Macklin, said man on a mission of vengeance.  Just out of a two plus year stretch in prison, he will learn that the bank he and his deceased brother Eddie hit was Outfit run.  Thus, a contract was placed on the Macklins.  No matter, Eddie begins robbing Outfit operations, seeking some pocket change while waiting for the 250 K he demands from the Boss, Mailer (Robert Ryan).  He can't bring his brother back, but the money will assuage the trouble.

Earl will be joined by his girlfriend Bett (Karen Black) and old partner Cody (Joe Don Baker) on the road, littered with Outfit henchman and other lowlifes.  One is played by that reliably shady character actor and noir veteran Timothy Carey.  Earl will even have a friendly meeting with Mailer before the inevitable climax.

THE OUTFIT is quietly stylish, never showy.  An exemplary hard boiled neo-noir.  It exudes a confidence both in narrative and editing (by Ralph E. Winters).  Solid work.  Its matter-of-fact m.o. is said to be true to Stark's book.  Bruce Surtees captures small town America perfectly; his cinematography is grimily beautiful and textured.  Duvall is appropriately deadpan; he and Baker make a great team.  Ms. Black once again suffers a thankless role, though has a few good emotional moments.  Ryan is splendidly menacing.

I found it interesting that the women in this film are almost always shown sitting around in crippling boredom while the men go about their mean business.  Bett is stuck in hotel rooms, wondering if Earl will return each night.  Check also Sheree North as the slutty sister-in-law of Macklin's go-to mechanic, the one who makes an unsuccessful pass at Cody.  Or Joanna Cassidy (in her debut) as Mailer's trophy wife, the one who will go out of her gourd if she has to watch another damned football game.  Some definite commentary there.  Not deep, but amusing.

Rest in Peace, Bob.