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Walking Tall

R Released Feb 22, 1973 2h 5m Crime Drama List
77% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser (Joe Don Baker) carries a big stick after thugs beat him up and kill his wife (Elizabeth Hartman).
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Walking Tall

Critics Reviews

View All (13) Critics Reviews
Pauline Kael New Yorker It is solemnly, unself-conciously square -- a celebration of the same virtues that the Westerns always stood for, but unlike those Westersn, not distances. Those westers weren't rabble-rousing, Walking Tall is. Sep 21, 2023 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness A hopelessly melodramatic revenge fantasy. Rated: C+ May 4, 2005 Full Review Walter Chaw Film Freak Central its broad strokes leave no room for anything so pussified or liberal as a moral compass Rated: 3/4 Sep 26, 2012 Full Review 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. May 19, 2012 Full Review Kam Williams Princeton Town Topics A new, and arguably improved, Walking Tall, starring pro wrestler-turned-actor, The Rock. Rated: 3/4 Apr 25, 2007 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Rated: 4/5 Oct 4, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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NiB Y A great biopic about a great person. Raw, gritty, violent and most important of all: realistic. though the pacing definetely feels off here and there Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/03/24 Full Review Audience Member A young Joe Don Baker takes justice into his own hands when the system completely fails directed by Phil Karlson Based on the true story he plays a former wrestler-turned-Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser during the 1960s He carries a big stick after thugs beat him up and kill his wife Now it's all about cleaning up the small town of Selmer filled with crime and corruption Everyone on the police force to the gangs at the poker club have filthy hands This movie has the theme of one man standing up for his sense of right and wrong Lone wolves are easy prey, there's strength in unity, is there such a thing as true justice?, there's a fine between an honest judge and a dishonest man, we can stand together and join hand in hand Baker is solid as this newly elected sheriff battling an entire town that disagrees with his ideals The car chases are thrilling as are the gun fights Some residents praise Pusser as an honest cop in a crooked town; others denounce him as a bully willing to break some laws to uphold others The ending is quite saddening too This is a portrayal of a real-life Southerner brought to the screen in a heroic role in a straight-from-the-shoulder movie that doesn’t attempt to flay the South with traditional movie stereotype Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/24 Full Review Michael S Sweaty, gritty, and violent - which gives it an unsettling edge. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/06/23 Full Review Audience Member A young Joe Don Baker takes justice into his own hands when the system completely fails directed by Phil Karlson Based on the true story he plays a former wrestler-turned-Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser during the 1960s He carries a big stick after thugs beat him up and kill his wife Now it's all about cleaning up the small town of Selmer filled with crime and corruption Everyone on the police force to the gangs at the poker club have filthy hands This movie has the theme of one man standing up for his sense of right and wrong Lone wolves are easy prey, there's strength in unity, is there such a thing as true justice?, there's a fine between an honest judge and a dishonest man, we can stand together and join hand in hand Baker is solid as this newly elected sheriff battling an entire town that disagrees with his ideals The car chases are thrilling as are the gun fights Some residents praise Pusser as an honest cop in a crooked town; others denounce him as a bully willing to break some laws to uphold others The ending is quite saddening too This is a portrayal of a real-life Southerner brought to the screen in a heroic role in a straight-from-the-shoulder movie that doesn’t attempt to flay the South with traditional movie stereotype Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Powerful. Based on a true story. Great cast. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Sweaty, gritty drama that's at times silly, at times campy, at times exciting, and always entertaining. Love me some quality Joe Don Baker. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Walking Tall

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Cast & Crew

Walking Tall

Walking Tall: Official Clip - Chased by the Sheriff Walking Tall: Official Clip - Chased by the Sheriff 1:59 Walking Tall: Official Clip - We'll Get the Rest of Them Buford! Walking Tall: Official Clip - We'll Get the Rest of Them Buford! 1:58 Walking Tall: Official Clip - 3,630 Dollars You Owe Me Walking Tall: Official Clip - 3,630 Dollars You Owe Me 2:06 Walking Tall: Official Clip - Crashing The Lucky Spot Walking Tall: Official Clip - Crashing The Lucky Spot 1:59 Walking Tall: Official Clip - Road Ambush Walking Tall: Official Clip - Road Ambush 1:42 Walking Tall: Official Clip - Buford Catches A Cheater Walking Tall: Official Clip - Buford Catches A Cheater 2:07 Walking Tall: Official Clip - I Thought You Walked Tall! Walking Tall: Official Clip - I Thought You Walked Tall! 1:48 Walking Tall: Official Clip - Traitor Walking Tall: Official Clip - Traitor 2:11 Walking Tall: Official Clip - The Verdict Walking Tall: Official Clip - The Verdict 1:48 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser (Joe Don Baker) carries a big stick after thugs beat him up and kill his wife (Elizabeth Hartman).
Director
Phil Karlson
Producer
Mort Briskin
Screenwriter
Mort Briskin, Stephen Downing
Distributor
Cinerama Releasing Corporation [us], Vestron Video, Rhino Entertainment Company [us]
Production Co
Bing Crosby Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 22, 1973, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 5, 2017
Runtime
2h 5m
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