Frame Up (1991)

This work is above his norm for low echelon director Paul Leder, benefiting from contributions made by some talented players along with Leder's competent editing, and occasionally dialogue penned by Leder's son Reuben that gives the actors some marrow, but as with much of the senior Leder's output, an overly cluttered storyline holds the film captive to its lower cut station. Wings Hauser is newly hired Sheriff Ralph Baker of the small town of Orton Creek, California, migrant from Los Angeles where he had been a traffic policeman before tiring of a congested existence; however, he learns that his township is beneath the thumb of local plutocrat Will Curran (Dick Sargent), whose son Don (Tom Hodges) is shielded by unified community officials from being charged for the murder of another youth. During a hazing incident, a prospective fraternity brother is slain by Don and his cohorts, but the blame, as a hit-and-run crime, is readily placed upon a traveling huckster, Frank Govers (Robert Picardo) who keeps his own criminal past a secret while enjoying loyal and romantic support from a young waitress (Heather Fairfield) although these two, as fugitives, are captured and abused by yet two more outlaws, all of which is occurring while the Sheriff's deputies are quitting the Department because of the senior Curran's pressure and political influence. It becomes readily apparent that these several unions, and others as well, are too tall an order for the resources at hand, although there is a good deal of sincere effort displayed by the cast, and Leder wisely allows the players to develop their parts, but blocking is awkwardly arranged and plot flaws interfere with continuity. Heather Fairfield is particularly convincing as a jilted bride who has fastened her love to a man with a very uncertain future, and Frances Fisher performs well as the Sheriff's secretary and lover, with nice turns delivered by Lauren Woodland, playing Baker's young daughter, and Kris Kamm as an innocent fraternity member, in this never boring but uneven production shot in northern Los Angeles County.