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Crime Cult Classic

A jazz saxophonist gets tangled in love, lies, and a deadly frame in Paris's underworld.

FRAME UP BLUES

1990 · 1h 35m · NR · Crime / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

A crime lord offers him a job to catch his cheating wife in the act. The only problem is Finch falls for the woman (Roberta Bizeau). As well as having troubles with his ex-girlfriend/manager, being set up for a murder, & trying to figure out who done it.

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Quick Answer

What is Frame Up Blues about?

Frame Up Blues is a 1990 crime thriller directed by Josée Dayan about a jazz musician hired by a crime lord to catch his cheating wife, only to fall for her and become entangled in a web of murder and false accusations.

Programmer's Pick

Frame Up Blues doesn’t just play the blues—it lives them, with a saxophonist hero who can’t help but fall for trouble. Between a mob boss’s offer, a femme fatale, and a murder frame-up, this Parisian noir hits all the right notes for lovers of smoky intrigue and tangled loyalties.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Finch Palmer, a jazz saxophonist, finds his world turned upside down when a powerful Parisian crime boss hires him for a personal job: catch the boss's wife in the act of infidelity. Finch's professional detachment dissolves when he falls for the alluring woman at the heart of the scheme. Meanwhile, his ex-girlfriend—who also happens to be his manager—complicates his personal and professional life. Soon, Finch is not just caught between two women, but also ensnared in a deadly web of murder, betrayal, and a frame-up that threatens to destroy him. Set against a noir-tinged backdrop of Parisian crime, the film is a cocktail of passion, deception, and danger.

Details & Specs

Director
Josée Dayan
Writers
Robert Geoffrion, Laurence B. Lemaire
Release
1990
Runtime
1h 35m
Language
English, French
Genres
Crime, Thriller
Also Known As
Frame Up Blues, La danse du scorpion (original title)

Cast & Crew

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Director: Josée Dayan Writers: Robert Geoffrion +1 more
Kim Coates Kim Coates Finch Palmer Roberta Weiss Roberta Weiss Camille De Vito Ronald Guttman Ronald Guttman Edouard de Vito BB Beatrice Benscik Lola Jean-Pierre Bouvier Jean-Pierre Bouvier Charles Martin Tatiana Vialle Tatiana Vialle Vito's Maid

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Why Cult

Parisian Underworld

The film dives into the criminal underbelly of Paris, weaving mob bosses and shady dealings into its story.

Jazz Musician Hero

Finch Palmer brings the moody cool of a saxophonist to a world of crime, romance, and murder accusations.

Femme Fatale Dilemma

A classic noir setup: hired to expose a cheating wife, Finch falls for her instead, complicating everything.

Frame-Up Intrigue

False accusations and murder plots keep the suspense taut as Finch scrambles to clear his name.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Crime boss hires Finch to catch his wife cheating

Threat

Frame-up for murder

Effect

Finch becomes entangled in a web of false accusations and danger

Setting

Paris criminal underworld

Questions from the Vault

When was Frame Up Blues released? +

Frame Up Blues was released in 1990.

Who directed Frame Up Blues? +

Frame Up Blues was directed by Josée Dayan.

How long is Frame Up Blues? +

Frame Up Blues has a runtime of 95 minutes.

What genre is Frame Up Blues? +

Frame Up Blues is a crime thriller.

Where can I watch Frame Up Blues? +

You can watch Frame Up Blues on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips

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