Angie Dickinson and Lee Marvin in Point Blank (1967).
Vitals
Lee Marvin as Walker, revenge-driven armed robber
San Francisco, Summer 1967
Film: Point Blank
Release Date: August 30, 1967
Director: John Boorman
Costume Designer: Margo Weintz
Background
Responding to another request from BAMF Style commenter Ryan Hall, this post looks at Lee Marvin’s wardrobe in 1967’s Point Blank, the first cinematic adaptation of Donald E. Westlake’s crime novel The Hunter. The book became the first in the long-running Parker series penned by Westlake (as “Richard Stark”) that led to a total of 23 books before Westlake’s death in 2008.
At this point in the film, Walker (the film’s re-named version of Parker) is edging closer to getting his $93,000 back. Together with his sister-in-law Chris (Angie Dickinson), Walker heads to the home of syndicate boss Brewster (a pre-All in the Family Carroll O’Connor) to move the endgame into place.
What’d He Wear?
Although Point Blank is set in summertime, San Francisco’s year-round chilly weather means Walker’s warm, creative earth tones makes a great fall outfit.
Walker’s rust brown flannel sport jacket is single-breasted with distinctive notch lapels that roll down over the top of the three-button front. The left lapel has a buttonhole and a sporty throat-latch tab edging out into the notch. The shoulders are padded with roped sleeveheads.
Walker’s jacket has some sporty details like the throat latch lapel tab and the flapped breast pocket.
All three external pockets – the breast pocket and the straight hip pockets – are flapped. The jacket has a relatively short fit, both to stay in step with 1967 fashions and also because Lee Marvin is a tall man at 6’1″. Like Walker’s other sportcoats (but not his suit jackets), this jacket has double vents and 1-button cuffs.
Walker’s salmon orange poplin shirt appears to be a polyester/cotton blend. It has a slim spread collar, button cuffs, and a wide front placket with mother-of-pearl buttons. His patterned tie is three shades of brown that provide a cooler contrast against the warmer brown flannel jacket and clash with the bright orange shirt; a dark brown abstract grid on the tie connects a series of tan and brown dots and figures.
A jaded Walker reflects on the events that led him to Brewster’s apartment.
Like his other trousers in Point Blank, Walker’s dark brown flat front trousers in this scene are worn beltless with a fitted band that rises high on his waist. They taper down the leg to the plain-hemmed bottoms.
Walker kicks back.
Walker wears the same brown leather 4-eyelet longwing brogues by Bally throughout Point Blank, and they are especially fitting with the earth tone outfit in this scene. Due to their construction with wings extending the full length of the shoe, longwing brogues are always derbies (aka bluchers). These brogues, with their perforated wingtip, were made by Bally as proven by the British Film Institute site. He likely wears them with dark brown socks here.
How to Get the Look
A man of few words, Walker isn’t afraid to let loud clothing do his talking for him.
- Rust brown flannel single-breasted 3-button sportcoat with notch lapels (with throat-latch tab), flapped breast pocket, straight flapped hip pockets, 1-button cuffs, and double vents
- Salmon orange poplin dress shirt with slim spread collar, front placket, and button cuffs
- Tri-tone brown patterned tie
- Dark brown flat front trousers with fitted waistband, side pockets, and tapered plain-hemmed bottoms
- Brown leather 4-eyelet longwing brogue bluchers with perforated wingtips
- Dark brown socks
Do Yourself a Favor and…
Buy the movie.
