John FlynnThe Outfit [Remaster]

This movie is yet another of the untold examples for why I'd like to pound the heads of the movie production execs. When is this going to be released on DVD? Okay enough ranting, I'll get to the specifics.A small time hood Macklin (Robert Duvall) is released from prison just in time to find out a couple of killers shot his brother. The bank they robbed was run by the syndicate. Its the classic crime deal gone wrong scenario. When a killer comes after him also, he ruthlessly sets out for revenge with the aid of his friend Cody (Joe Don Baker.)This thriller moves with contiguous action. There aren't any unnecessary scenes. I credit the fast paced direction of John Flynn (who also co-wrote the excellent script.) This was only his third movie as a director, and believe me, this doesn't contain any of the corny stuff found in "Out To Justice."Duvall makes a convincing ruthless thug. Its a scary portrayal. There are solid performances all around from an excellent supporting cast, consisting not only of the aforementioned Joe Don Baker, a gorgeous Sheree North (cameo), in addition to three of Hollywood's late great legendary icons of the classic film noir days: Elisha Cook, Jr. (Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, The Gangster, et al); Jane Greer (Out of the Past, The Big Steal); and in his last film appearance, the great Robert Ryan (The Set Up, The Racket, et al).Now if the production companies would stop putting out retarded remakes 60s/70s shows (hello!!!) and give us restored classics like this one our Saturday nite's would always be fly. Criterion, please save us!

This 1973 Neo-Noir film delivers a punch to the gut with excellent performances, direction, and screenplay, all in top-notch form. This neglected film was Robert Duvall's 1st starring role and he delivers big-time playing Earl Macklin, a character based on Richard Stark's "Point Blank"(1967), hero "Parker". Macklin has just been released from jail and when he discovers that his brother has been knocked off by the Mob, he puts his revenge plan in motion despite overwhelming odds. He recruits his partner, Cody, played by Joe Don Baker, and starts his climb up the ladder to reach the #1 boss. The film is a Noir-lover's delight. It's co-stars include Robert Ryan, Jane Greer, Marie Windsor, Timothy Carey, Richard Jaeckel, and Elisha Cook, Jr. All are well known film-noir veterans. The cast also includes Karen Black as Macklin's girl, Archie Moore, Joanna Cassidy, and Sheree North. Robert Ryan's appearance was his last on film. From the opening 5 minute pre-credit sequence, to the final frames of the film, the action moves along very well. It is significant to note that Duvall made this film in between "The Godfather"(1972), and "The Godfather Part 2"(1974). Also, Joe Don Baker starred in his box-office smash "Walking Tall", also in 1973. So, both actors were in top-notch form as gunmen, in the film. The Director and Screenwriter was John Flynn, who adapted the film from the novel by Richard Stark. It is significant to note that Macklin is a free-lance robber who finds himself under attack from The Syndicate and chooses to engage in active retaliation. TCM screened this film on last Wednesday, 5-22, and it was hosted by Robert Osborne. The film was shown in the pan & scan version and I was delighted to see this film in Widescreen, 16x9, 1.85:1. The film is part of The Archive Collection by Warner Brothers. The remastered film is an excellent transfer. The film is truly an action-fan's delight! The running time is 103 minutes. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! SMRZ!!!

Great film 70s style.

For a PG crime film not bad. Good 70s and noir stars from the 40s 50s here and there. Robert Duvall and Joe Don Baker are great in this.

Not only exceptionally cast, this gritty, mid-seventies powerhouse has so many glorious segments woven into it that after having not seen it in ten years, I rewatched it recently and realized that I remembered many segments but thought they were from different movies (but of course was delighted to be reunited with this, the hardboiled conglomerate that is THE OUTFIT).Based on the Richard Stark (nome de plume of Donald E. Westlake, natch) novel, the story in other hands could have been written as a standard pulp revenge-fest, but instead buys you a ticket aboard a fast-moving and entertaining locomotive-like piece of cinema full of seriously hardened criminals and loopy hotheads alike.Robert Duvall provides a measured and intense-as-all-get-out performance, while Joe Don Baker is well cast as his no-nonsense sidekick. Throw in a batch of Film Noir regulars and you have a not-too-well-known slice of downbeat seventies heaven!As a final note, do NOT watch the trailer before the movie, as it does the unthinkable and takes some of the juice out of the ending (and it is very good; you'll want to absorb the full impact after riding out the main feature).

For me, THE OUTFIT still ranks behind Point Blank in getting it right. Richard Stark(Donald E. Westlake)'s Parker is a tough man with his own code. As a professional thief, he expects the people he works and deals with to be as straight up as himself. Do that and you get equal shares on everything. Cross him and you will likley end up dead.He's Earl Macklin(Robert Duvall) in this one and when his brother is murdered by a hit team, attempts are made on him, and his partner Jack Cody(played by Joe Don Baker), Macklin moves against the people, the Mob, who set up the contracts on the three. Being a professional, he names a price to make him go away, promising to hit mob business until it's paid, and everything taken before then is gravy.Unfortunately, he's double-crossed and it sets him on the path that ends with an invasion of the big mob boss, Mailer(Robert Ryan), at the end.Recommended.

A pretty good action/thriller with an excellent cast that makes it work!

リージョンフリーのDVD-Rですので、我が国のレコーダーでも鑑賞可能。但し、日本語字幕はありません（英語字幕もなし）。特典映像はワーナーのアーカイブ・コレクションにしては珍しく劇場用予告編が収録されています。画質はイマイチです。復刻シネマライブラリーとして日本でもリリースされてますが、こちらもDVD-R。既に廃盤ですし、北米版は安いので、私はこれで充分でした。但し1点だけ注意点が。ワーナーのアーカイブ・コレクションは何本か購入していますが、本ソフトだけはプレーヤーの表示板に経過時間が表示されません。所詮はダウンロード商品だと思いました。既に中身の濃いレビューがされているので、同じようなレビューではなく、私の独断と偏見に満ちたレビューをします。本作は何と言っても出演者が通好みで素晴らしい。主人公のアール・マックリンを演じるロバート・デュヴォール。禿げ頭三羽烏の一人（他はピーター・ボイルとチョット若いけどエド・ハリス）。先日観た「バッチ373」と立て続けに犯罪映画で主役を演じ『こりゃショーン・コネリーみたいにカツラ付けて大スターの仲間入りか』と思わせたが、結局名バイプレーヤーに落ち着いた（とは言うもののアカデミー主演男優賞に3度ノミネートされているので、脇役ばかり演じていたわけではないが）。本作でも相棒2人を引き連れて何時もの様に良い味出してます。その相棒2人の内の1人のコディを演じているジョー・ドン・ベイカー。この人は正真正銘のB級映画スター。彼が主演した「黒幕は最後に殺せ」「ヘロイン大追跡」「怒りの群れ」は全てB級作品（「ヘロイン大追跡は日本未公開）。これらに比べたら「ウォーキング・トール」はまだA級かもしれません。どの作品も彼が演じるキャラは似たり寄ったりで、知性の欠片も感じられない役処ばかり演じてますが、でも存在感はバッチリ。こんな役者今のハリウッドには見当たりませんねぇ。本作でもキャラは立ってますが、デュヴォールを食ったりはしていません。其処がこの人の良いところであります。本作では最後にバッチリ決め台詞を吐きます。これは観てのお楽しみ。相棒2人の内のもう1人がカレン・ブラック。アールの愛人であり娼婦のベットを演じていますが、本作の彼女は実に可愛い。個性的な顔立ちが災いして、癖のある役が多いのですが本作は可愛い女を演じてます。この他にも組織のボス役にロバート・ライアン、その女房役にジョアンナ・キャシディ、改造車を扱う自動車工場のオーナーにリチャード・ジャッケル、その弟にビル・マッキニー、弟の女房にシェリー・ノース。チョット垂れ気味ながら巨乳のシェリー・ノースはシャワーを浴びた直後の体にバスローブを羽織り、乳首が透けた状態でコディを誘惑するが、けんもほろろに断られる。頭にきたシェリーは旦那に『コディにレイプされたわ。何とかしてよ！』と嘘八百を並べ立てるんだから恐ろしい。典型的アバズレ女ですが、こういう役させると天下一品ですわ。ビル・マッキニーは「脱出」のネッド・ビーティに一発かます小汚い農場主役や「ガントレット」の田舎のアホ警官役などロクな役がないですが（「パララックス・ビュー」の殺し屋役は別）、観るものに強烈なインパクトは残しますね。本作でも女房に嗾けられ、コディを襲うが返り討ち。情けねぇ役です。それとパッケージの解説によると40年代50年代のフィルムノワールで活躍した役者だ大挙出演しているようです。ジェーン・グリア、マリー・ウィンザー、ティモシー・キャリー、エリシャ・クックなど。流石に当時のバイプレイヤーにまで思い入れがない為、本作で誰がどの役をやっているのか判別できず。ですので郷愁を感じる事もなかったですが、こういう人達が起用されたのはジョン・フリン監督の趣向なんでしょうね。全然関係ない話ですが、その昔大阪梅田に梅田東映会館と言う複合ビル、いや雑居ビルがあって、そのビルの一階に東映プレイガイド（だったと思う）という怪しげなチケット販売所が居を構えていた。そのチケット販売所は売れ残った映画パンフレットを定価で販売していて、40年ほど前に本作のパンフも200円の価格で売られていた。本編を観ていない私だったが『こりゃスゲェ。お宝ゲットだぁぁぁ』と思わず購入。あぁ懐かしいなぁ．．．

Una pelicula de serie B, pero que no tiene nada que envidiar a producciones con mayor presupuesto. Robert Duvall quizas el mejor actor americano vivo.

I read that this film sucked during it's original theatrical release, well, that was then. I really enjoyed this film that has such a great cast of familiar faces and a lot of action.The picture and audio are good. No complaints here.

If you are living in Ireland or Ukorder Spanish release, not French (none removable subs) the Spanish version plays in English without subtitles and nice picture quality. English dub goes out of sync near end of movie.If you liked this movie years ago, you will still like it today.