Robert Duvall is paroled after a stretch in the jug and goes after the leader of the local Mob syndicate who put out a hit on Duvall's brother and partner-in-crime who aided him in a Wichita bank robbery. Threadbare anti-heroes formula, a second-feature crime-drama notable mainly for grafting 1930s gangster movie artifices onto a modern-day scenario. Film opens confusingly, with Duvall's arrest and prison time not made clear; also, the women of the piece are treated alternately as saps (Karen Black), as loudmouth broads (Sheree North), or as decoration (Joanna Cassidy). Duvall exudes quiet, angry determination, and Joe Don Baker has some good moments as a new partner (watch him nonchalantly belt a telephone operator on a robbery spree). Robert Ryan is the head of syndicate, and his world-weary face and manner are incredible. Solid John Flynn direction, gritty atmospherics and terrific cinematography (by Bruce Surtees), but the plot is B-movie stuff. A decent early vehicle for Robert Duvall; he's nearly the whole show here. ** from ****
Review of The Outfit
