Runtime: 125 minutes
Directed by: Phil Karlson
Starring: Joe Don Baker, Elizabeth Hartman, Noah Beery, Jr., Bruce Glover (RIP), Rosemary Murphy
From: Cinerama Releasing
A belated RIP to Bruce Glover. While I’ve only seen a small amount of his work, he should be known more for than just "He was Crispin Glover's father." Walking Tall is a movie I have known of since literally childhood yet it’s never been viewed before last night. Heck, I’ve had a copy of this film-nevermind how-for a little while. Now was finally the time to see Walking Tall and tip my cap to a late character actor who was talented no matter what poor schlock he was in. Even before hearing details about DIE HARD DRACULA, the presumption is that it is never something to be viewed seriously. No, I don’t plan on tracking down Die Hard Dracula for viewing.
The movie was “suggested by certain events” in the life of Buford Pusser. He was a tall athlete (6 foot 6, i.e. 2 meters tall) who was in pro wrestling, although for not as long as suggested by the film. Pusser became a sheriff in Tennessee and the reason why he achieved enough notoriety to have multiple films then a brief TV show made in the 80’s about him: Buford the Bull fought crime in a corrupt area via force, whether it be a literal big hickory stick or bullets.
What a figure he was; I do so that with the knowledge that there are rumors of his involvement in the death of someone close to him. In fact, that county’s law enforcement is finally taking another look literally now in 2025. Remaining spoiler-free, that death is allegedly not what Pusser said it was or what was portrayed in this movie-both the same account of what occurred. No matter the truth of Buford as a human being, the movie portrayed him as an honest person, a family man from the South (Tennessee, to be exact) who became a sheriff to help the honest people of Adamsville, Tennessee and also to get revenge on those that attempted to murder him… he was almost killed a shocking amount of times in real life.
Walking Tall takes its time. Not to flog a dead horse but a methodical 70’s-style pacing is usually not an issue with me-and that was not a problem here. So is the TV movie vibes this has at times, to echo other reviews. There are bloody action scenes where people are brutally beat up-no wonder this was a popular movie at the time, even if it can be jarring that this vacillates between TV movie and rough violence. Glover’s role was at the deputy of the corrupt sheriff that was in power when Buford arrived back in town. At first you’d think he was a typical toady but as the film progresses… Walking Tall made it easy to root for Pusser as his opposition were real A-holes. This was a nice job of acting on Glover’s part.
The movie doesn’t always have the most credible plot; be that as it may, I was still entertained by the mix of a naïve Pusser, genuine sentimentality and graphic carnage. The cast as a whole was fine; however, Joe Don Baker was the highlight as Pusser. MST3K once skewered him for that goofy film Mitchell but that wasn’t entirely fair. I’ve always enjoyed him in a film. The Rock remake of this movie likely is sanitized nonsense not for me but the 70’s sequels are of interest. Bo Svenson-Pusser’s idea of who should portray him-took over the role and I’m interested in his portrayal
As those may not be reviewed for months, best close this out by noting that Glover did return for the sequels, this was a nice way to pay tribute, and Pusser himself passed away at a young age due to an auto crash. Of course, there’s been rumors that the accident wasn’t so accidental; who knows for certain.
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