"Framed" seems like it would be well received on the drive in circuit. You have a very sympathetic character, Joe Don Baker, framed and sent to prison, by at least a bunch of corrupt city officials. I could have done without a couple of boring lounge songs, but then you wouldn't get easy on the eyes, Connie Van Dyke. John Marley as an imprisoned mafia type adds considerably to what is already above average acting for an exploitation film. There are some nice car wrecks, including a train creaming a Chevy, and more than enough violence. Surprisingly there is no nudity, which seems inappropriate considering the intended audience. "Framed" is a good revenge flick, and is recommended. - MERK
11 Reviews
Worthy follow-up from the original WALKING TALL team
udar5522 June 2008
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!
Very watchable revenge flick.
Hey_Sweden26 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The talents behind the highly successful "Walking Tall" - actor Joe Don Baker, screenwriter Mort Briskin, and director Phil Karlson - reunite for another reasonably compelling combination of action and melodrama, filmed on location in Tennessee.
Baker is likable as gambler Ron Lewis, who's thrown in prison for killing a deputy sheriff (Roy Jenson) in self defense. Watched over in prison by benevolent kingpin Sal Viccarrone (John Marley), Ron does his time and of course is stubbornly determined to find out who did him wrong, in this adaptation of a novel by Art Powers and Mike Misenheimer.
It's to Karlsons' credit that this is as entertaining as it is: it's briskly paced and directed, with a fairly twist-laden story that's not hard to follow. The supporting cast is full of familiar faces who give strong performances. Lovely Conny Van Dyke plays the leading lady, and she does a fine job while also getting the chance to sing a few tunes. Standing out are the rock solid Brock Peters as a brave deputy and former Dead End Kid Gabriel Dell as Rons' fellow jailbird Vince Greeson. Also appearing are John Larch as the sheriff and Warren J. Kemmerling as the mayor, as well as Paul Mantee, Walter Brooke, Joshua Bryant, Hunter von Leer, Les Lannom, Hoke Howell, and Red West; wrestler H.B. Haggerty is particularly fun as a thuggish cop who wants to get back at Ron seeing that the cop Ron killed was his cousin.
"Framed" gets fairly grim, with a pair of creeps dispatched to violate Van Dykes' character, and has some brief bursts of gory violence, especially in one memorable torture sequence. There's also a fantastic train-car collision as a major highlight. Patrick Williams' music score is another asset. The villains are just as corrupt and heinous as we could hope for in a film of this kind, and we're left in little doubt that Ron will see things through to the bitter end.
While this isn't anything truly special when all is said and done, it's still pretty entertaining while it lasts.
Seven out of 10.
Baker is likable as gambler Ron Lewis, who's thrown in prison for killing a deputy sheriff (Roy Jenson) in self defense. Watched over in prison by benevolent kingpin Sal Viccarrone (John Marley), Ron does his time and of course is stubbornly determined to find out who did him wrong, in this adaptation of a novel by Art Powers and Mike Misenheimer.
It's to Karlsons' credit that this is as entertaining as it is: it's briskly paced and directed, with a fairly twist-laden story that's not hard to follow. The supporting cast is full of familiar faces who give strong performances. Lovely Conny Van Dyke plays the leading lady, and she does a fine job while also getting the chance to sing a few tunes. Standing out are the rock solid Brock Peters as a brave deputy and former Dead End Kid Gabriel Dell as Rons' fellow jailbird Vince Greeson. Also appearing are John Larch as the sheriff and Warren J. Kemmerling as the mayor, as well as Paul Mantee, Walter Brooke, Joshua Bryant, Hunter von Leer, Les Lannom, Hoke Howell, and Red West; wrestler H.B. Haggerty is particularly fun as a thuggish cop who wants to get back at Ron seeing that the cop Ron killed was his cousin.
"Framed" gets fairly grim, with a pair of creeps dispatched to violate Van Dykes' character, and has some brief bursts of gory violence, especially in one memorable torture sequence. There's also a fantastic train-car collision as a major highlight. Patrick Williams' music score is another asset. The villains are just as corrupt and heinous as we could hope for in a film of this kind, and we're left in little doubt that Ron will see things through to the bitter end.
While this isn't anything truly special when all is said and done, it's still pretty entertaining while it lasts.
Seven out of 10.
since nobody else has commented
benone799 March 2006
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.
Exciting, action packed film with something extra
toddsolley635 June 2006
"Framed" (1975) was legendary film noir director Phil Karlson's first film after the gargantuan success of his 1973 biopic of Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser, "Walking Tall." In "Framed", Karlson continues the theme of revenge which has dominated his body of work since the early 1950's. His masterpieces include "Scandal Sheet" (1952), "Kansas City Confidential" (1953) and, of course, "The Phenix City Story" (1955). "Phenix City" is a fact based biopic, along the lines of "Walking Tall", about the murder of the Attorney General Elect of the State of Alabama. Long considered Karlson's greatest achievement, it was made prior to the sentencing of those involved in the AG's murder, and greatly affected the outcome of their trial. "Framed", compares well to Karlson's best works. Karlson always worked on a limited budget. Like Samuel Fuller and Don Siegel, Karlson was a talented and resourceful filmmaker whose films are often more than they seem. On the surface, Karlson's films appear to be violent exploitation pieces; but, they are much more. Each of Karlson's efforts, particularly the ones mentioned here, are morality plays. Their protagonist is usually a morally just man who wanders too close to immorality, and pays a price. Gambling is often featured as the tempting vice in Karlson's films and "Framed" is no exception. Joe Don Baker, a remarkable and underrated actor, stars here as a small time gambler who owns a bar with his girlfriend, Connie Smith. Following a successful out of town game, Baker is robbed by an unknown assailant and then nearly killed (in one of the most graphic scenes in any Karlson film) by a crooked Deputy Sheriff responding to the scene. In self-defense, Baker kills the officer. Proving once again that there is corruption at every level of the legal system, Baker is sent to prison by a corrupt District Attorney, a corrupt Judge and a corrupt attorney. There's even corruption at a higher level that will ultimately be revealed. While in prison, Baker meets a powerful mob figure (a fine supporting performance by John Marley), and thereby sets in motion his revenge. Vigilante justice is often also a theme of director Karlson. With or without a badge, Karlson's protagonists carry out true justice in spite of the law, while gaining revenge for themselves. They are ultimately heroes because they can be seen as protectors of "the little people" who are downtrodden by the corrupt hierarchy. "Framed" also contains another Karlson trademark: promotion of racial equality. Karlson's films contain some of the most powerfully accurate portraits of racial prejudice along with black characters who are thoughtful and intelligent. Brock Peters, a fine actor, is very good as a deputy who comes to Baker's aid. What other filmmaker, appealing to a largely white southern audience--well, yes, a predominately "redneck" audience--would have had the courage to feature such characters in his films. An intelligent study of Karlson's body of work is long overdue, and "Framed" should be part of that study. It is entertaining and has something to say about our society. It is expertly directed and the performances are above par. If you are looking for an exciting, action packed film with something extra, look no further than "Framed."
A tough and violent piece of neo-noir
vampire_hounddog1 August 2020
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.
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.
One helluva solid, severely underrated action/revenge drama
tehck14 May 2011
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.
Don't Get Joe Don, Get Done In
Lejink14 June 2021
A rather nasty, low-budget revenge thriller starring Joe Don Baker as a high-rolling professional card-player who encounters a deputy sheriff after escaping an earlier shoot-out set-up. When he kills the cop in clear self-defence, he's quickly railroaded by the so-called justice system, which includes his own solicitor and it seems the rest of the police department, is coerced into taking the rap for the "crime" and so goes to prison. The baddies even send a couple of heavies round to Baker's nightclub-singer girlfriend to stop her background efforts to help him and in fact take this to extremes by raping her under threat of a gun.
Rather like the internee in Stevie Wonder's great contemporary song, "Living For The City", Joe Don unsurprisingly leaves prison embittered and hardened, determined to exact revenge on those who put him inside and abused his girl. While in prison, he's made a couple of useful buddies, one a crime boss with connections and the other a paid hitman, who both come in very handy later on in the proceedings.
From there, you can pretty much get out your abacus to tally up the acts of violence and body count both of which steadily accumulate. You know how these things regularly turn out and this last-man-standing scenario isn't about to offer up any surprises in that respect.
With plenty of brutal scenes of violence depicted, including an unnecessarily cruel slaying of a guard dog, I suppose we must be grateful for the small mercies of the director not going all "Straw Dogs" in the treatment of the sexual attack on the singer, but nonetheless the acting is mixed in quality, although Baker certainly projects his tough-hombre persona even, it seems, while wearing crimplene slacks and a safari jacket.
Listen, I never watched any of the "Death Wish" movies which probably inspired this and I note as a sidebar that this type of feature has sort of come back into vogue, with Liam Neeson's "Taken" movies, not to mention Denzel Washington's "Equaliser" films, but this effort is a rather cheap and nasty affair, being a lot less well acted and directed, making me wish I'd done what Baker failed to do and that is, turn the other cheek when it came up on the screen.
Rather like the internee in Stevie Wonder's great contemporary song, "Living For The City", Joe Don unsurprisingly leaves prison embittered and hardened, determined to exact revenge on those who put him inside and abused his girl. While in prison, he's made a couple of useful buddies, one a crime boss with connections and the other a paid hitman, who both come in very handy later on in the proceedings.
From there, you can pretty much get out your abacus to tally up the acts of violence and body count both of which steadily accumulate. You know how these things regularly turn out and this last-man-standing scenario isn't about to offer up any surprises in that respect.
With plenty of brutal scenes of violence depicted, including an unnecessarily cruel slaying of a guard dog, I suppose we must be grateful for the small mercies of the director not going all "Straw Dogs" in the treatment of the sexual attack on the singer, but nonetheless the acting is mixed in quality, although Baker certainly projects his tough-hombre persona even, it seems, while wearing crimplene slacks and a safari jacket.
Listen, I never watched any of the "Death Wish" movies which probably inspired this and I note as a sidebar that this type of feature has sort of come back into vogue, with Liam Neeson's "Taken" movies, not to mention Denzel Washington's "Equaliser" films, but this effort is a rather cheap and nasty affair, being a lot less well acted and directed, making me wish I'd done what Baker failed to do and that is, turn the other cheek when it came up on the screen.
"Remember what I told you. Play the odds".
lost-in-limbo21 February 2019
Who knew that someone's hanging mashed-up ear could be so hypnotic. After "WALKING TALL", director (Phil Karlson), writer (Mort Brisken) and star actor would reunite again two years later for another beat 'em up, payback crime thriller "FRAMED". Stalwart star Joe Don Baker eases into the role before going on his dogged and calculative rampage. A Tennessee gambler who just happened to score big, later that night unwittingly kills a sheriff under unusual circumstances. His money disappears, it looks like the girlfriend stops caring and he has no choice but to take the plea deal. He spends four years in jail, before getting out on parole thanks to connections inside and returns to wreak havoc on those who framed him. The hard-nosed plot plays out in the same vein as "The Count of Monte Cristo" with pulp noir touches. The mystery of who's behind the corruption is no surprise for the viewer and it's never meant to be, but it's all about trying to unlock the truth of why the set-up. While it's not as action-packed, you do grit your teeth when it does come to blows by feeling the pain and enduring the sweat of some of these nasty encounters and ear splitting yelling. There are two memorable exchanges though that aren't violent, but it's the ballsy banter between Baker and H.B Haggerty that highly amuses. Then there's that train sequence.... wow! A great supporting ensemble cast and location shooting also add immensely to the hardy entertainment.
A must-see for fans of tough '70s action movies
GravyChugger12 January 2023
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.
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.
Phil Karlson till the end....
searchanddestroy-111 March 2024
Rough, tough, gritty, I find here our good old Phil Karlson, his pure, authentic, genuine trademark, the same he gave us in the late forties and fifties, with the likes of KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL or 99 RIVER STREET. Here, Joe Don Baker replaces John Payne but who cares? Till the end of his career, Karlson remains faithful to his DNA, his trademark, his lines. Of course there were some lousy films which he was obliged to make, to pay his bills and fill up the fridge. This one could be seen as a modern western, announcing ROADHOUSE (89) in the atmosphere, and after all this is the WALKING TALL sequel. Karlson's last stand and not the weakest nor the smoothest one. Some sadistic moments which are quite surprising, regarding of the cool atmosphere, sometimes cheesy, like an oater. But those gritty, grue(awe)some torture of fist fight scenes !!!! Oh my God. RIP Phil. I recognized you here.
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