IMDb > Walking Tall (1973)
Walking Tall
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Walking Tall (1973) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 18 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   1,449 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 32% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Phil Karlson
Writers:
Mort Briskin (writer)
Stephen Downing (writer)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Walking Tall on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
22 February 1973 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Action more
Tagline:
Take your best shot... 'cause it'll probably be your last. more
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. full summary | add synopsis
User Comments:
A manipulative action yarn, but a darn good one more (37 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
125 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
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 more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Offered to Kris Kristofferson. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: The ambush on Buford Pusser and his wife occured in August, 1967. Many of the police cars used in the movie, including the one Pusser has, are 1972 Dodge Polaras. more
Quotes:
Buford: Hey Arno, howzit hangin? more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in Walking Small (1992) (V) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful.
A manipulative action yarn, but a darn good one, 21 April 2003
8/10
Author: Joseph Riesenbeck (eazyguy62) from United States

*******Plot Points**********

I doubt if there has ever been a more manipulative movie made than Walking Tall. Every scene from the beginning to the end of this movie is written solely to extract some kind of emotional response from the viewer, leading up to a tear-jerking, totally contrived ending. The funny thing about it though, is it all works just the way it's supposed to, as long as you don't stop to think too much about some of the shenanigans happening on the screen. This is meant as pure entertainment, and though based on the real life exploits of Buford Pusser, you probably won't find out too much about the real person, but then I'm sure you're not supposed to.

A large part of the credit for making it work, has to go to Joe Don Baker. In undoubtedly his best role, he gives us a hero we can root for and sympathize with. When he is first beaten up and knifed at The Lucky Spot, we feel his pain. When he returns to extract his revenge, we can root for him because he just wants the money for his car and the money his friend lost at the craps table. Of course he is arrested, which leads to a trial Pusser makes an unbelievable appeal to the jury, but we root for him anyway because what's right is right, which should have been the real tagline for this. After his acquittal, Pusser runs for Sheriff, is almost run down by the current Sheriff Al Thurman, who promptly wrecks trying to do so, but this enables Pusser to Save Thurman's deputy Grady, who is grateful enough to come over to Buford's side. All this and we're only a little over a half hour into the movie so you get the idea by now. There's something going on in practically every frame.

Some people would try to read some kind of social commentary into this movie about law and order. Personally, I think that's kind of ridiculous. This is just a good guys versus the bad guys action movie, and taken on that level, pretty darn good at what it does.

The copy I just purchased is of very poor quality, not even a good VHS to DVD transfer. The price is reasonable, but still, would a decent transfer have really been that much more expensive to issue?

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (37 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Walking Tall (1973)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The song at the end eliam-1
Walking Tall to be re-released on DVD on November 20 Blob1965
Great movie, great trilogy... clauderm
The Boys From Alabama rossrjensen
Idea for a new Walking Tall Movie shannoncastleman
Suicides Whedon_Fan
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Boxcar Bertha Batman Batman Begins The Liberation of L.B. Jones Joshua Tree
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Crime section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.