Walking Tall
The measure of a man is how tall he walks.
Country
Production
Budget
$500 000
Box office
$23 000 000
Director
Actors
Joe Don Baker, Elizabeth Hartman, Gene Evans, Noah Beery Jr., Brenda Benet, John Brascia, Bruce Glover, Arch Johnson, Felton Perry, Richard X. Slattery
All actors and roles (10)
All actors and roles (10)
Scenario
Mort Briskin
Producer
Mort Briskin, Charles A. Pratt
Camera operator
Jack A. Marta
Composer
Walter Scharf
Artist
Stan Jolley
Audition
Irving Lande
Editing
Harry Gerstad
Whole Team (33)
Whole Team (33)
Short description
Ex-wrestler and Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser walks tall and carries a big stick as he tussles with county-wide corruption and moonshining thugs.
What's left behind the scenes
- Authorities in McNairy County, Tennessee, where the film is set, were so dismayed that their thoroughly corrupt administration had become the center of national attention that they denied the filmmakers permission to shoot, forcing them to film in the neighboring Chester County. The authorities of McNairy County, one of the poorest in the entire state, ignored the influx of funds that the filming would have brought to the county. When the intention to make a remake starring Dwayne Johnson was announced (the film by director Kevin Bray was released in 2004), representatives of the McNairy administration practically pushed their county onto the filmmakers; however, it was all in vain, and the remake was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- The real Buford Pusser wanted Bo Svenson to play him in the movie, but Svenson was unavailable, and the role of Pusser was played by Joe Don Baker. When Baker refused to return to the role in Earl Bellamy's action film 'Walking Tall Part 2' (1975), the part was offered to Svenson, and he immediately agreed.
- The character played by Felton Perry is based—albeit with numerous liberties—on Dave Lipford, the first Black sheriff in the history of the state of Tennessee.
- John Whittier, played by Logan Ramsey, is based on Carl Douglas White, known as 'Towhead' (1936–1969), a member of organized crime. He died under mysterious circumstances, and some believe that Buford Pusser was involved in his death.
- Buford Pusser's home was turned into a museum after his death. The museum displays the car in which he passed away—a red 1974 Corvette.
- The madam of the brothel was played by Rosemary Murphy. This character is based on Louisa Hatcock, a brothel owner and notorious criminal. She fell by the hand of Sheriff Buford Pusser while attempting to kill him herself; however, this occurred not in a bar, but in a motel where she had lured him with a false report of a theft. This took place on February 1, 1966, rather than on Christmas Eve.
- On August 12, 1967, Buford Pusser's wife (played in the film by Elizabeth Hartman) was shot from a passing car. Pusser himself suffered serious injuries during the attack. The perpetrators were never found. On August 29, 2025, Tennessee law enforcement agencies announced that as a result of investigative actions and the exhumation of his wife's remains, it was determined that he had shot her himself and then faked his own injuries.
- Officials in McNairy County, Tennessee, where the film is set, were so dismayed that their thoroughly corrupt administration had come under national scrutiny that they denied the filmmakers permission to shoot, forcing production to move to neighboring Chester County. Despite being one of the poorest counties in the state, McNairy officials ignored the influx of financial resources that the filming would have brought to the area. When it was announced that a remake starring Dwayne Johnson was planned (the original film, directed by Kevin Bray, was released in 2004), McNairy officials practically begged the filmmakers to use their county; however, their efforts were in vain, and the remake was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- The real Buford Pusser wanted Bo Svenson to play him in the movie, but Svenson was unavailable, and the role went to Joe Don Baker. When Baker refused to return to the role for Earl Bellamy's action film 'Walking Tall II' (1975), the part was offered to Svenson, who immediately agreed.
- John Whitter, played by Logan Ramsey, is based on Carl Douglas White, known as 'Towhead' (1936–1969), a member of organized crime. He died under mysterious circumstances, and some believe Buford Pusser was involved in his death.
- The owner of the brothel was played by Rosemary Murphy. This character is based on Louisa Hatcock, a brothel owner and notorious criminal. She fell at the hand of Sheriff Buford Pusser while attempting to kill him herself; however, this occurred in a motel where she had lured him with a fake report of a theft, rather than in a bar. Furthermore, it happened on February 1, 1966, not on Christmas Eve.
- On August 12, 1967, the wife of Beauford Passer (played in the film by Elizabeth Hartmann) was shot from a passing car. Passer himself sustained serious injuries during the attack. The perpetrators were never found. On August 29, 2025, Tennessee law enforcement agencies stated that as a result of investigative actions and the exhumation of the wife's remains, it was determined that Passer had shot her himself and then faked his own injuries.
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Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
