FRAMED

US, 1975, 106 minutes, Colour.
Joe Don Baker, Conny Van Dyke.
Directed by Phil Karlson.

Framed is an interesting and tough gangster story about a man with ambitions framed by political gangsters serving his prison sentence and then seeking the truth and then revenge. It was material that Joe Don Baker was to act in many films during the mid 70's. The film was directed by Phil Karlson who over a number of decades was noted for his tough crisp thrillers. This is the same kind of thing 70s style.

1. Title, tone, style? Expectations of gangster film, fulfilment?

2. The quality of the film as a tough American actioner, its style, characters, issues? Conventional, better?

3. The overall impact of the thriller in terms of interest, enjoyment? Five minutes or more lurid material - Susan's rape, Ron's torching of Frankie's car, were eliminated. Does this make a difference to the tone, exploitation of violence and sexuality?

4. How credible the basic situation? Tennessee, people of the Southern State’s issues of money? The outlook for success?

5. Ron and Suscan - a hero and heroine? The background of the Club, Ron's capacity as a gambler, the accidental shattering of their plans and life? Audience sympathy for them both, their hopes, their being victims?

6. The importance of accidents, coincidences? how plausible was the plot, the cover-up? The irony of Ron recovering his money after so many years? Did the coincidences matter for the impact of the thriller?

7. Ron as a type, a big tough hero? Joe Don Baker and his style, size? A winner? His suddenly becoming victim with the shots, the cover-up and his being framed? The experience in hospital, feeling let down by Susan? Reliance on Darcy? Prison and bitterness? Attitude toward Susan? The tour years and their passing, what happened to him in prison - with Sal, Vine? With the police?

8. The importance of his parole, Sal's influence? His attitude on parole, checking in with authorities? The motivation of pursuit, the clues. tracking down the people? The irony of Mayor, Sheriff, DJ? His being helped by Sam and the relationship between the two? Mutual help, especially in terms of threats to Ron's life? Thugs, gangsters? The irony of Vince with a contract? The atmosphere of money, buying people off? The gradual revelations of drugs, the identification of the cars, the Senator? Ron's brutalising of the Senator?

9. Personalities of Mayor, Sheriff, D.A., Senator? Important public types? The atmosphere of cover-ups?

10. The contrast with Saw, noble, his role in the justice of the town, decision to help the ways in which he did? The black racist issues?

11. Ugly America, the necessity of uncovering the truth -how much brutality is needed to do this? How mercenary?

12. The importance of the thugs, their brutalising of Susan? Later attack on Ron, the irony of his killing them by use of the train? Frank and the other thug and Ron's bashing, taking off of the car? Their deaths? The brutal killing of Frank? The confrontation with the Mayor and his being killed by his own dogs? Vince's death?

13. The personality of Sal, his status in the prison, having Ron an his gambler? Help, help with the contract?

14. The solving of the mysteries and the final choice left to Ron? Susan's attitude? Ron's decision about the money? Turning the evidence over to the police? How contrived was this? How appropriate?

15. An action thriller reflecting the attitudes towards justice in the seventies, organized crime, political cover-ups?