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Action Cult Classic

Railroaded by corruption, a gambler fights for vengeance in the rural South.

FRAMED

He was taken by everyone, for everything he had. All he had left was one obsession. To get even. To pay them back two for one.

1975 · 1h 46m · R · Action / Crime / Drama / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

A gambler kills a sheriff in self defense. But as everyone in conspiring against him, he is condemned to a long sentence in prison.

Quick Answer

What is Framed about?

Framed is a 1975 American action-crime thriller directed by Phil Karlson about a nightclub owner and gambler who is falsely accused of killing a deputy and must battle a corrupt justice system.

Programmer's Pick

Framed delivers a Southern-fried cocktail of corruption, revenge, and hixploitation grit. Joe Don Baker smolders as a gambler pushed to his breaking point by a justice system as crooked as a country road. This one’s for fans of payback served with bourbon and a side of rural mayhem.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Framed throws you into the rough-and-tumble world of Ron Lewis, a Tennessee nightclub owner whose ordinary trip home becomes anything but. After stumbling upon a shooting, Ron finds himself the target of a violent deputy’s suspicions. The confrontation escalates, resulting in the deputy’s death and Ron’s brutal arrest. The deck is stacked as corrupt police and lawyers conspire to pin the crime on him, ignoring his pleas of self-defense and sending him to prison. As his girlfriend Susan faces her own threats, Ron’s world narrows to survival behind bars and the looming injustice outside. This gritty Southern drama promises a hard-edged tale of corruption, betrayal, and the lengths one man will go to fight back.

Details & Specs

Director
Phil Karlson
Writers
Art Powers, Mike Misenheimer, Mort Briskin
Release
1975
Runtime
1h 46m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Also Known As
La trahison se paie cash, Ein Mann nimmt Rache

Why This Matters

This film marks the end of director Phil Karlson's Hollywood career and showcases his work in the neo-noir crime genre, with on-location shooting in Nashville during the summer of 1974.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Phil Karlson Writers: Art Powers +2 more

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Why Cult

Southern Corruption

A portrait of rural justice gone bad, with small-town cops and lawyers stacking the odds against an innocent man.

Hixploitation Edge

The film leans into its hixploitation roots, blending rural grit, violence, and a seedy underbelly for a raw viewing experience.

Revenge Prison Drama

Framed isn’t just about surviving prison—it's about plotting payback and peeling back the layers of a frame-up conspiracy.

Joe Don Baker Lead

Joe Don Baker brings a tough, simmering presence to Ron Lewis, anchoring the film’s blend of action and drama.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Nightclub owner caught at scene of a shooting

Threat

Corrupt law enforcement and legal system

Effect

Innocent man imprisoned and his loved ones threatened

Setting

Rural Tennessee

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Framed? +

Framed was directed by Phil Karlson.

How long is Framed? +

Framed has a runtime of 106 minutes.

What genre is Framed? +

Framed is an action, crime, drama, and thriller film.

Where can I watch Framed? +

Framed is available to stream on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips