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Joe Don Baker, Noah Beery Jr., Brenda Benet, Lynn Borden, John Brascia ... see more see more... , Ed Call , Sidney Clute , Gene Evans , Leif Garrett , Bruce Glover , Elizabeth Hartman , Arch Johnson , Ted Jordan , Don Keefer , Sam Laws , Gene Lebell , Dawn Lyn , Pepper Martin , Rosemary Murphy , Gil Perkins , Felton Perry , Logan Ramsey , Richard X. Slattery , Russell Thorson , Kenneth Tobey , Lurene Tuttle , Red West , Douglas Fowley , Carey Loftin , John Myhers

A runaway box-office hit to the tune of 17 million dollars, Walking Tall is the unabashedly manipulative story of real-life Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser. As played by Joe Don Baker, Pusser can eith... read more read more...er be regarded as a tireless champion of justice or a baseball-bat-wielding hooligan. But with some of the most scurrilous villains this side of a Republic serial as the main targets of Pusser's wrath, the audience cannot help but applaud the sheriff's strongarm methods. When the town baddies seek vengeance by killing Pusser's wife (Elizabeth Hartman), the you-know-what really hits the fan! Never resorting to subtlety, Walking Tall was such a winner that it spawned two sequels, a made-for-television movie, and a weekly TV series -- none of which were enjoyed by the real Buford Pusser, who had long since died under questionable circumstances. At the time of the film's theatrical release, the MPAA rating system was comparatively new, so the studio launched an ad campaign aimed at parents, letting them know that the R-rated Walking Tall contained violence and not sex, and therefore was good family entertainment. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

72% liked it

6,475 ratings

Critics

73% liked it

11 critics

R, 2 hr. 5 min.

Directed by: Phil Karlson

Release Date: February 22, 1973

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DVD Release Date: July 21, 1998

Stats: 216 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (216)

  • ajv2688
    December 30, 2010
    ajv2688
    I saw this after seeing the remake, and I have to say that this one is a lot stronger. I really liked it, it's realistic, even with the violence. The beginning is a little slow, but it doesn't matter, the rest is great. I really liked this movie.
  • rayman0071
    August 3, 2007
    rayman0071
    Forget the remake featuring The Rock,cause it doesn't even compare to the original. However,this was weirdly marketed as a right wing screed upon its initial release in 1973(and became a surprise runaway boxoffice hit especially a huge following within the drive-in theatre circui... read moret in the South).Walking Tall was a really tragic,graphically violent post-noir film based on the life and times of Tennessee county sheriff Buford Pusser. However,Joe Don Baker gives a riveting and powerful performance as Pusser who took on determined force of crime and corruption in his town at great personal expense. Directed with an intentionally crude force by Phil Karlson,one of the toughest filmmakers of the 1950's and 1960's. Here,the film's grimness doesn't let up and neither does the scenes of raw language and strong graphic violence that gave this film a strong influence of the racial stride and hatred that went on in the South. Interesting note about this picture...It was produced by BCP Productions which was Bing Crosby's production company(yes folks,Bing Crosby was still around in 1973)and theatrically released through Cinerama Releasing Corporation. The theme song was done by none other than the great Johnny Mathis. Elizabeth Hartman(plays Pusser's wife) and Noah Beery also star in this runaway boxoffice hit which was one of the highest grossing films of 1973.
  • patrickdol
    February 12, 2008
    patrickdol
    Southern-fried justice, holding a big stick.
    This film was a delicious slice of Americana kick-ass and Joe Don Baker is amazingly effective as the human embodiment of a Timex watch, playing a real dude Bufford Pusser.
    Although this film is longish, it doesn't drag and it is jam... read more packed with content and doesn't really loose momentum as it barrels down a hill made of Buford's desire to take the law into his own hands. AND it has a car chase, with a pick-up and a squad car, how great is that.
    There are some glaring political incorrectness that borders on offensive but it comes with the time as this film's era sticks out like a me at a hip-hop.
    Although the filmmaking was intentionally crude you can see the boom mic peeks into shots and hang out more times than you can count.
    That being said it's a classic. See this and for get about Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Sorbo, their films don't even have Bufford Pusser, and he's some kind of guy.
  • 70sgirl
    November 11, 2010
    70sgirl
    This movie was better than I expected, it's much cooler than the new one too. The only thing that I didn't like was how long it was, the beginning could have been shortened. Anyway, it's pretty cool, and vigilante justice becoming law is awesome.
  • wyatte53
    March 13, 2009
    wyatte53
    this is much better than the rock's remake.
    it is the true story of a small town sheriff fighting the good old boy gang that is ruining his town.

    there is no comedy thrown in here to gain some viewers. it is violent and messy.

    of course it's 1973 so it's a little cheesy.... read more

    this was actor joe don baker's only claim to fame. this was a huge hit in 1973.
  • TxJethro
    October 13, 2008
    TxJethro
    Excellent movie. Not completely fact based, but the inaccuracies are minimal. Like the age of the kids at the time and such. Overall a MUST SEE ! I believe Buford is the inspiration for The Shield and all the ones like it.
  • yarply
    May 3, 2008
    yarply
    Great raw movie. You truly feel the anger and grief portrayed by Joe Don Baker in this film.
    One of the best Baker films ever, if not THE best. Plenty of action, women, humor and grief. At the end you will be pissed off, yet sad for what Bufford had gone through. This Is a classi... read morec, and you will want to add this one to a home collection.
  • bigmac32792
    February 10, 2008
    bigmac32792
    amazing! it was a lot more violent and bloody than i imagined and way better than the version with the rock
  • MovieGuruDude72
    June 27, 2007
    MovieGuruDude72
    Made 2X4 carrying vigilante sherriffs chic, even though Joe Don Baker makes Sly Stallone look like Olivier.
  • gabbygail63070
    February 7, 2007
    gabbygail63070
    This one is better than the newest one, The Rock is great but just not in this movie. some things are better left alone

View All Walking Tall Reviews

Critic Reviews

Sean Axmaker
May 19, 2012
Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com

... the film was a sensation, becoming a big hit and spawning a whole industry of southern-fried vigilante lawman action pictures. Full Review

Kam Williams
April 25, 2007
Kam Williams, Princeton Town Topics

A new, and arguably improved, Walking Tall, starring pro wrestler-turned-actor, The Rock. Full Review

Nick Schager
May 4, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

A hopelessly melodramatic revenge fantasy. Full Review

Rich Cline
November 8, 2004
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

A macho 1970s classic

Ken Hanke
June 16, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Overbearing, immensely popular pro-vigilante drama.

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Cole Smithey
October 4, 2005
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
July 17, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Jonathan R. Perry
May 19, 2005
Jonathan R. Perry, Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

No review available.

Christopher Null
April 18, 2004
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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