Walking Tall (1973)

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

  (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

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:

Two actresses associated with this film went on to commit suicide: Elizabeth Hartman jumped from the 5th floor of a Pittsburgh apartment building in June 1987; Brenda Benet took her life in April 1982. She had been married to Bill Bixby.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: When Buford is in the Judge's chambers talking to the Judge you can clearly see the shadow of the boom mic visible on the wall behind him.

Quotes:

Callie: You got a warrent?
Buford: Yeah, I keep it in my shoe!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Laserblast (#8.6)" (1996)

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.