# The Outfit (1973 film)
**The Outfit** is a 1973 American neo-noir crime film written and directed by John Flynn, based on the 1963 Parker novel *The Outfit* by Richard Stark, the pen name of [Donald E. Westlake](https://www.edgepedia.org/donald-e-westlake). [Robert Duvall](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-duvall) stars as Earl Macklin, an ex-convict who, after his brother is murdered over a botched bank heist, demands $250,000 from the crime family responsible and takes his revenge.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT) • [2](https://www.tcm.com/watchtcm/titles/85991)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director and writer | John Flynn, who wrote and directed the screenplay[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT) |
| Source | The novel *The Outfit* by Richard Stark (New York, 1963), the third of the Parker novels; the novel first appeared in the April 1963 issue of *Manhunt* magazine[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT) |
| Lead cast | Robert Duvall (Earl Macklin), Karen Black, Joe Don Baker (Cody), Robert Ryan, Timothy Carey, Richard Jaeckel, Sheree North, Joanna Cassidy[2](https://www.tcm.com/watchtcm/titles/85991) |
| Production | 26 February to 20 April 1973, in Southern California and at the MGM studio; produced by Carter DeHaven for Aurora Enterprises, distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer[3](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT?cxt=filmography) |
| Release | New York opening 24 April 1974; Los Angeles opening 2 October 1974; an announced retitling to *The Good Guys Always Win* was reversed before release[3](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT?cxt=filmography) |
| Technical details | 102–103 minutes, Metrocolor, MPAA rating PG; British certificate issued 22 October 1973 by MGM-EMI[3](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT?cxt=filmography) • [4](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-outfit-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0yotm4mzq) |
| Music and crew | Score by Jerry Fielding; cinematography by Bruce Surtees; film editing by Ralph E. Winters[3](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT?cxt=filmography) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Two hit men kill Ed "Eddie" Macklin outside his farmhouse. Eddie's brother Earl, an ex-convict, is released from prison and learns from Menner that Eddie's gang, "the Outfit," killed him and now plans to kill Earl as well, because the brothers had held up a bank owned by the Outfit. Earl teams with his old partner Cody and, per the TCM synopsis, demands $250,000 from the crime family to avenge his brother's death.[3](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT?cxt=filmography) • [2](https://www.tcm.com/watchtcm/titles/85991) In the climax, when Earl and Cody go to a church building to retrieve cash, they are swarmed by members of the Outfit, and Earl trips the fire alarm as a distraction so the two can escape.[3](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT?cxt=filmography)
## Production
Flynn initially wrote the screenplay as a period piece set in the postwar 1940s, and for that reason he filled the supporting cast with 1940s "B" picture players, including [Elisha Cook Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/elisha-cook-jr), Richard Jaeckel, and [Marie Windsor](https://www.edgepedia.org/marie-windsor).[5](https://www.oocities.org/soho/nook/5171/articles/outfitintro.html) Filming ran from 26 February to 20 April 1973 at various [Southern California](https://www.edgepedia.org/southern-california) locations and the MGM studio; for the week of 19 April 1973 the production shot at "the former Janss manse on Sunset Blvd. in Holmby Hills."
In a notice dated 21 March 1973, the Daily Variety reported that [Carl Eller](https://www.edgepedia.org/carl-eller), a pro football player, was set to appear on screen for the first time in the picture; nevertheless, he was absent from the released cut. Former tennis champion [Tony Trabert](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-trabert) made his feature film acting debut in *The Outfit*, playing a tennis instructor. A 14 May 1973 *Hollywood Reporter* item stated that MGM was considering a television series based on the film, but no further mentions of the proposed series appeared in the AMPAS library files.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT)
## Release and reception
An 18 February 1974 *Box* news item announced that the title had been changed to *The Good Guys Always Win*, but the film reverted to its original title before release. It opened in New York on 24 April 1974 and in Los Angeles on 2 October 1974.[3](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT?cxt=filmography)
**Contemporary reviews were mixed.** In a 1 November 1973 *Hollywood Reporter* review, Alan R. Howard praised the performances of [Karen Black](https://www.edgepedia.org/karen-black) and [Robert Ryan](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-ryan) and noted that Flynn's treatment of the material hewed close to reality, but he was unimpressed by the narrative, as was Jay Cocks in a 6 May 1974 *Time* review, which stated that the film paled in comparison to more stylish predecessors such as *Point Blank* and *Get Carter*. In a 4 October 1974 review, Richard Cuskelly described the film as "carefully made, quietly menacing" and credited Flynn for his "less is more" approach.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT) Roger Ebert later gave the film 3.5 out of 4 stars, writing that an outline of the plot would make it sound routine but that what makes the picture superior is its richness of detail.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_outfit)
A 28 July 1975 *Los Angeles Herald-Examiner* article reported that the film received a short-lived theatrical release, possibly due to a threat rumored to have been made to MGM by the real-life mafia syndicate called "the Outfit," upset by the film's depiction of mafia members as "pushovers and fools."[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT)
## The Parker connection
The film adapts the third of the sixteen Parker novels written by Donald E. Westlake under the pseudonym Richard Stark, whose title character is an efficient, cold-blooded thief with his own code of conduct. Earlier and later screen versions of the character changed his name: [Lee Marvin](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-marvin) played him as Walker in *Point Blank* (1967), [Jim Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/jim-brown) as McClain in *The Split*, Mel Gibson as Porter in *Payback*, and [Jason Statham](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-statham) finally used the literary name in *Parker* (2013).[7](https://dailygrindhouse.com/thewire/john-flynn-retrospective-outfit-1973/) According to the Metrograph program note, Westlake considered *The Outfit* the finest adaptation of one of the Parker novels.[8](https://metrograph.com/film/9999004750-the-outfit/) The film is the subject of a chapter in Quentin Tarantino's 2022 book *Cinema Speculation*.[9](https://www.netflixmovies.com/the-outfit-1973)
## Cast notes
*The Outfit* was the last released film of Robert Ryan (1909–1973), although *Executive Action*, released in 1973, was actually shot after *The Outfit*.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT) The ensemble brought together 1940s and 1950s noir veterans, including Robert Ryan, Emile Meyer, Timothy Carey, and Elisha Cook Jr., with actors of then-more recent vintage such as [Joe Don Baker](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-don-baker) and Karen Black.[8](https://metrograph.com/film/9999004750-the-outfit/) 1973 was a busy year for Joe Don Baker, who appeared in *The Outfit*, *Charley Varrick*, and *Walking Tall*.[7](https://dailygrindhouse.com/thewire/john-flynn-retrospective-outfit-1973/)
## Later history
Arrow Video issued a limited edition Blu-ray in 2026 with a brand new restoration from the original 35mm camera negative, featuring a never-before-seen ending; the film runs 103 minutes on the disc at an original aspect ratio of 1.85:1.[10](https://nostalgiakinky.com/2026/07/12/the-outfit-1973-on-blu-ray-from-arrow/) • [11](https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Outfit-Blu-ray/411408/) The film should not be confused with *[The Outfit](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-outfit-2022-film)* (2022), Graham Moore's thriller starring [Mark Rylance](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-rylance) as a Chicago tailor, which is a separate work.[12](https://www.focusfeatures.com/the-outfit)
## References
1. [The Outfit, AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT)
2. [The Outfit, Turner Classic Movies](https://www.tcm.com/watchtcm/titles/85991)
3. [The Outfit, AFI Catalog (filmography details)](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67622-THE-OUTFIT?cxt=filmography)
4. [The Outfit, British Board of Film Classification](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-outfit-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0yotm4mzq)
5. [Gregg Press introduction to The Outfit, a Parker novel by Richard Stark](https://www.oocities.org/soho/nook/5171/articles/outfitintro.html)
6. [The Outfit, Rotten Tomatoes (including Roger Ebert's review)](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_outfit)
7. [John Flynn Retrospective: The Outfit (1973), Daily Grindhouse](https://dailygrindhouse.com/thewire/john-flynn-retrospective-outfit-1973/)
8. [The Outfit, Metrograph](https://metrograph.com/film/9999004750-the-outfit/)
9. [The Outfit (1973), NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/the-outfit-1973)
10. [The Outfit (1973) on Blu-ray from Arrow, Nostalgia Kinky](https://nostalgiakinky.com/2026/07/12/the-outfit-1973-on-blu-ray-from-arrow/)
11. [The Outfit Blu-ray (Limited Edition), Blu-ray.com](https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Outfit-Blu-ray/411408/)
12. [The Outfit (2022), Focus Features](https://www.focusfeatures.com/the-outfit)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Crime, thriller, and mystery films (individual works) › 1970s films*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license