The Outfit (1973) – Review

A Sierra Cab Company Checker pulls up to a countryside gas station. A man dressed as a priest with a hat and a cigar is in back. After a quick check on directions from the attendant, the ‘priest’ and driver are back on the road and arming up with guns. They head further out down dusty roads and finally reach a destination.

The men walk around a home they stopped at and find a man named Eddie out back. This is a hit. A woman named Alma (Greer) pulls up to the nearby gas station and hears that a priest was looking for Eddie. She fears the worst, and is right to.

As Earl Macklin (Duvall) works hard in prison, he is finally paroled. He was inside for robbing a bank, and his side girl Bett Harrow (Black) picks him up. His wife and kid however have ignored him since lockup. The thing is, Earl knew Eddie pretty well, as they were brothers. Maybe revenge is in the air, and danger certainly is. But also, why was Eddie targeted?

Based on a novel, The Outfit has a good story and quite a strong cast of classic actors. Even if the plotline contains mostly basic elements that are similar to many other crime stories, the quality of this feature is well established through its characters and some okay plot turns. Its pacing movies fairly quickly even for an early 70s feature which keeps it interesting, and its runtime is not too long.

The Outfit turns out to be a good time thanks primarily to its plot and focal points of Duvall, Black and Baker which make a good trio. The criminal elements are enthralling and the suspense is fairly well executed during the film. If you want guns, mobsters, felons, revenge, and more, check this one out.