Another Look: WALKING TALL (1973, starring Joe Don Baker)

When this modestly-budgeted, little-heralded film first came out, it walloped the movie-going public like a smack from the “big stick” that played a key role in its storyline. It wasn't uncommon for theater audiences of the time to stand and cheer. Said stick – literally an oversized, hand carved baseball bat – was wielded by star Joe Don Baker in his portrayal of real-life Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser, a lawman who rose to fame (along with a certain amount of notoriety) via his stance against the crime and corruption being introduced into his McNairy County by the Dixie Mafia.

 

WALKING TALL was a huge hit (no pun intended), building on the success of movies like THE BORN LOSERS and BILLY JACK that came a bit earlier and going on to inspire a long list of other popular, often big-budget, “vigilante” films to follow. (DEATH WISH, DIRTY HARRY, JACKSON COUNTY JAIL, TAXI DRIVER, etc., as examples.)

 

What gave WALKING TALL its distinction was that it was based on factual events and, at the time of its initial release, Buford Pusser was still alive and practicing his brand of law (though he would die [as the result of sabotage, in the belief of many] only little more than a year after its initial release). As usual with these “based on true events” films, certain liberties were taken as far as the truth vs. what ends up on the screen. Although, in this case, less so than in many others – mainly a condensation of time between Pusser's return to McNairy County following his retirement from a pro wrestling career to being elected sheriff. The fame that became attached to Pusser following the success of this film and then the controversies that arose after his somewhat suspicious death in a car accident produced many claims and all sorts of speculation that have blurred and in some cases unfortunately diminished his image. At its core, his story, I believe, is still that of a brave man who was willing to risk everything in a stand against evil forces.

 

Taking WALKING TALL strictly as movie entertainment – apart from any subsequent controversies that rose around Pusser the man – it works very well. It is an action/drama with some emotional depth, about a stalwart, quasi-tragic hero who refuses to be swayed from doing what he believes is right, even to the point of great cost. In the hands of celebrated noir director Phil Karlson (99 RIVER STREET, KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL, THE PHENIX CITY STORY) and with an outstanding performance by Joe Don Baker, this film plays like a much bigger production than its budget. Other than veteran actor Noah Beery Jr. in a supporting role as Pusser's father, and a couple B movie heavies like Gene Evans and Kenneth Tobey also on hand, the rest of the cast was made up of little known actors and actresses. Not to say that many of them – particularly Elizabeth Hartman as Buford's wife and Felton Perry as his black deputy – didn't give fine performances. And although some of the casino sets look a little cheap, production values overall are very solid.

 

Re-visiting favorite old movies and books and such from one's younger years can be risky. Too often you find your tastes have matured or changed in some other way, and you're left wishing you would have not bothered and just left the good memory alone. Such was not the case when I sat down for a couple of re-viewings of WALKING TALL after a forty year gap. It held up great. I found it every bit as exciting and emotional as the very first time I saw it. If anything, I came away with an even greater appreciation due mainly to the acting chops of Joe Don Baker, whose size and graceful power satisfied all the action hero requirements but with an intensity that took it to a whole 'nother level.

Buford Pusser's life and career, along with the success of this film, inspired several additional movies, made-for-TV movies, and even a brief TV series. In 2004, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (who tends to make movies I usually like) starred in a big-budget effort that was supposed to be a remake – but aside from using the same title, it changed the locale, the premise, even the Pusser name, to the point of bearing little or no resemblance to the real deal and ending up a dud. As far as the other aforementioned productions (even though one of them starred Brian Dennehy, a good actor who physically should have made a perfect Pusser) I wouldn't recommend wasting your time.

 

But as for the original, it's exacly the opposite. If you've never seen it for a while – or have never seen it – I definitely urge you to check it out. It's playing now on various cable movie channels and is available on DVD. If you crave a hero and like movies that literally kick ass, WALKING TALL gets the job done.