Theme Song: Men grunting as they fight each other.
Social Context: In 1973 Walking Tall was a box office hit and ostensibly kicked off a wave of 70s/80s vigilante justice films. When it came time to talk about a sequel, the original director (Phil Karlson), writer (Mort Briskin), and star (Joe Don Baker) declined. Instead, they decided to team up for Framed, a sweaty revenge film more nasty and unhinged than their previous effort.
Summary: Ron Lewis (Baker) is some type of hybrid club owner/professional gambler. During a drive home after a big gambling score, he encounters a crime/drug deal in progress and is shot at.
At home, a cop shows up and they proceed to gouge their meaty hands into each other’s sweaty faces as if they were made of clay. It’s really disturbing and the cop ends up dead.
Ron is then railroaded into prison, his gambling profits vanish during the police investigation, and henchmen force his girlfriend into sexual submission. It all happens fairly quickly.
In prison, Sal Viccarrone (John Marley, Deathdream, It Lives Again, Utilities), who is Italian, takes Ron under his wing and the only way we know years have passed is through casual conversation.
So after like 4 years, Ron gets out and proceeds to seek revenge on those who framed him. Things start to get super convoluted and we’re supposed to care that the conspiracy to suppress what was going on that night runs up through the police, mayor, and state senator.
None of that matters much though because all the fighting and stunts in this movie are so balls-to-the-wall intense! It looks like they’re actually hitting each other and everyone’s hands look so fucking meaty and wet it’s ridiculous. And there’s blood and gore, but not over the top–it’s just wild!
There’s even a train stunt in which the stunt person barely rolls out of the way of a car and clearly catches on fire accidentally!
Worth Mentioning:
– Gabriel Dell plays Vince, Sal’s prison lackey who befriends Ron during and after prison. I’m unfamiliar with Dell, but he’s super good in this role. Comedic and intense, I’m looking to check him out some more.
– Director Phil Karlson’s last film. His filmography is insane.
Poster and Box Art: The theatrical poster is a well-designed piece of art. Angular lines, posterized photos, it hits a lot of ‘70s hallmarks.
The home video release is not as exciting, in fact, it’s downright terrible.
I watched a couple of clips on YT and now I HAVE to see this. Good to see an update here, love the site!