Framed

I was finally able to see this thanks to the new Legend DVD release. Just like WALKING TALL before it, the film certainly covers a lot of ground and hits about 50 different genres including Southern revenge, police corruption, political corruption, rape-revenge, prisons, mean guards, gambling, mafia, hit men, and lounge acts. As always, Joe Don Baker is great as the rugged Southern type who seeks personal justice. In the end, the script tends to be a bit flabby and it could have been cut down by about 20 minutes though. Make sure to keep an eye out for a stunt involving a car vs. train that is insane. No way anyone in Hollywood would attempt that today!

I had seen Framed a couple of times back in the mid 1970s, and I remembered it as a solid drive-in revenge drama on a par with its companion piece, the original 'Walking Tall.' After just watching it again, I have to say I am stunned at how good it really is. It's well acted (the female lead, Conny Van Dyke is perhaps a little weak), tightly scripted with realistic dialog and believable action, and briskly paced. It contains a slew of potentially stock characters, including several corrupt police and political officials, a mafia boss and one of his henchmen, a single honest African-American policeman, and some Southern redneck hoodlums. Still, instead of appearing flat and contrived, they all manage to seem distinct, well-enough rounded, and logically consistent with their context in the story. The direction is totally professional but as straightforward and simple as the story it's telling. It's like the best TV movie you've ever seen with a moderate amount of profanity and a few scenes of ultra-realistic violence thrown in. Altogether, the effect is a kind of realism that can sometimes be mistaken as amateurish but will in fact stand up to some serious scrutiny. It may not have the glossy sheen of a big-budget Hollywood thriller, but Framed also avoids the plot holes, caricatures, and over the top stunts that weaken so many of them. That's not to say it lacks for action. There's plenty of mayhem and bloodshed and even an actual train wreck. And if you like to see the good and bad guys get what's coming to them, Framed will definitely deliver. In short, Framed is a damned good movie, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes action flicks.

FRAMED is an exceptional action film. Unfortunately it is not well-known, which is odd considering that it was directed by the great Phil Karlson, who also directed the previous year's WALKING TALL, which was a major hit that launched star Joe Don Baker's acting career.

Baker stars as Ron, a bar owner with a passion for gambling at poker. He's also passionate about his gorgeous girlfriend Susan (Conny Van Dyke), who sings frequently for his bar patrons. Ron scores big at a high stakes poker game, but his thrills are short-lived when, during his drive home that night, he witnesses a seemingly victimless shoot-out. When he arrives home, a sheriff's deputy accosts him in his garage and tries to arrest him without citing any charges. Ron and the deputy duke it out (a disturbing and exceptionally well-staged fight scene), leading to Ron being charged and convicted, not for the altercation with the deputy but for supposedly killing someone in the shoot-out he witnessed. Before he knows it, he's in prison, where he befriends a jailed mob boss (John Marley) and concocts his revenge strategy for when he gets out. Upon his eventual release, he sets out on his investigation, looking to uncover the truth about his wrongful conviction and punish those responsible.

Director Karlson, who was mostly known for his many outstanding film noir efforts (e.g. KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL and THE PHENIX CITY STORY), directs this - his final film - with a tough, gritty edge. It's a neo-noir, to be sure, with a protagonist who is strong, intelligent and furious. Baker gives one of his finest performances, proving yet again that he could carry a film with his charisma, everyman qualities and undeniable acting skill. The movie's violence is graphic and hard-hitting, earning its R rating with ease, so fans of violent action cinema will likely derive much satisfaction from this one. If you gravitate toward movies of this type, you'll definitely want to seek out FRAMED.

A Tennessee gambler (Joe Don Baker) who also runs a bar accidentally kills a sheriff in an act of self defence and is sent to prison for a long stretch. When he is eventually released early on parole he realises that he was set up and goes after those responsible to exact his revenge.

A very 1970s violent neo-noir small thriller with many violent set pieces. It was made by the team and lead actor who had made WALKING TALL in 1973. Director Phil Karlson was a veteran of tough hardboiled crime, gangster and action films and was allowed to go full force here.

I haven't seen either the original Walking Tall or the new one but I found this movie to be a great revenge type picture. It has a good lead up to the incident that leaves the protagonist to be framed, it then shows his suffering for that and moves on to payback. There are all sorts of great supporting actors that really looked the part. There is plenty of brutal violence that will have you cheering because it is the protagonist who is dishing it out. Look out for a Tarantinoesque scene. You'll know when you see it. I think Tarantino mentioned he liked the original Walking Tall somewhere so hes probably seen Framed too. I wouldn't watch this movie again but I would check out the director's work especially Walking Tall.