Walking Tall (1973)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Phil Karlson

Writers:

Mort Briskin (writer)
Stephen Downing (writer)

Release Date:

22 February 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Action

Tagline:

Take your best shot... 'cause it'll probably be your last.

Plot:

Based on the life of Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser whom almost single-handily cleaned up his small town of crime and corruption, but at a personal cost of his family life and nearly his own life.

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Corruption | Tennessee | Small Town | Racial Slur

Cast

Joe Don Baker	...	Buford Pusser
Elizabeth Hartman	...	Pauline Pusser
Gene Evans	...	Sheriff Al Thurman
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Grandpa Carl Pusser
Brenda Benet	...	Luan Paxton
John Brascia	...	Prentiss Parley
Bruce Glover	...	Grady Coker
Arch Johnson	...	Buel Jaggers
Felton Perry	...	Obra Eaker
Richard X. Slattery	...	Arno Purdy
Rosemary Murphy	...	Callie Hacker
Lynn Borden	...	Margie Ann
Ed Call	...	Lutie McVey
Sidney Clute	...	Sheldon Levine
Douglas Fowley	...	Judge R.W. Clarke

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 (cut) | Finland:(Banned) (1974) | Finland:K-18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R | Norway:16 (video rating) | Norway:(Banned) (1974-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Henderson, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Bing Crosby Productions

Trivia:

The elected officials of McNairy County, Tennessee, the setting of the movie, were so embarrassed by the national attention brought to the corrupt county that they refused to allow the movie to be shot there. It was consequently shot in neighboring Chester County. The short-sighted officials didn't realize the amount of money it would bring into McNairy County, one of the poorest counties in Tennessee. However, when the remake, Walking Tall (2004) was announced, the county aggressively "courted" the filmmakers, trying to get the movie made in McNairy County. It was to no avail, as the remake was shot in Vancouver, BC.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the assault on Buford's car, his car sustains numerous stray bullet holes, yet miraculously, not one hits the windshield or windows.

Quotes:

Augie McCulluah: We otta take Sir Lancelot's big stick and shove it up his ass!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Devil's Rejects (2005)

Buford Pusser is the best!

One great movie! Joe Don Baker does a great job portraying Buford Pusser. This movies deals with a man that has just givin up pro wrestlng because he is sick and tired of being controlled by someone else. He returns home to Tennessee, and finds the same thing going on. His mother warns him to ignore it, but by accident, he finds out the hard way how these people operate. His battle is an uphill one. First, he is jailed for robbing the local bar. He acts as his own defense at the trial and wins. Then the local sheriff tries to kill him, and is killed himself. Once Pusser is elected sheriff, the fight really begins. He eventually cleans out the graft and corruption in McNairy County, and then he is ambushed, and his wife is tragically killed. Pusser finally has one last showdown with the people at the Lucky Spot. I would like to have seen Joe Don Baker do the other two movies. This movie is a real tear jerker at the end.