Walking Tall

R

Released Feb 22, 1973

2 hr. 5 min.

Crime

Drama

List

77%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

kevin o

...the low budget works to make the film seem like its true.Yes based on a true story usually means less than 50 percent true.Whatever the case this is a great ,violent one man takes on all comers film.Not to be missed.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Phil Karlson

Director

Joe Don Baker

Buford Pusser

Elizabeth Hartman

Pauline Pusser

Gene Evans

Sheriff Al Thurman

Noah Beery Jr.

Grandpa Carl Pusser

Brenda Benet

Luan Paxton

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Walking Tall: Official Clip - Chased by the Sheriff

1:59

Walking Tall: Official Clip - We'll Get the Rest of Them Buford!

1:58

Walking Tall: Official Clip - 3,630 Dollars You Owe Me

2:06

Walking Tall: Official Clip - Crashing The Lucky Spot

1:59

Walking Tall: Official Clip - Road Ambush

1:42

Walking Tall: Official Clip - Buford Catches A Cheater

2:07

Walking Tall: Official Clip - I Thought You Walked Tall!

1:48

Walking Tall: Official Clip - Traitor

2:11

Walking Tall: Official Clip - The Verdict

1:48

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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

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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
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

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