Walking Tall
Walking Tall is a 1973 American neo-noir biographical vigilante action thriller film based on the life of Buford Pusser, a professional wrestler-turned-lawman in McNairy County, Tennessee, played by Joe Don Baker. The film was directed by Phil Karlson. It has become a cult film with two direct sequels of its own, a TV movie, a brief TV series, and a remake that had its own two sequels.
Plot
Buford Pusser, at his wife Pauline's behest, retires from the professional wrestling ring, and moves back to Tennessee to start a logging business with his father, Carl Pusser. With a friend, he visits a gambling and prostitution establishment, the Lucky Spot, and is beaten up after catching the house cheating at craps. Pusser is seriously injured with a knife, and receives over 200 stitches. He complains to the sheriff, but is ignored, and soon becomes aware of the rampant corruption in McNairy County.
More details
author | John Michael Hayes |
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contentLocation | Tennessee |
director | Phil Karlson |
editor | Harry W. Gerstad |
genre | action thriller |
keywords | ambush arrest attack betray cheat crap gamble hickory clubs hickory tree honest cop illegal distilleries injured kill log moonshine one night parking lot sheriff tree branch wrestling ring |
musicBy | Walter Scharf |
producer | Mort Briskin |
productionCompany | Bing Crosby Productions |
publisher | Cinerama Releasing Corporation |
theme | biographical neo-noir professional wrestling vigilante |